The Coward: Gunsmoke (January 4, 1959)

“The Coward” is an episode of Gunsmoke, the old-time radio show, first broadcast January 4, 1959. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

A man is shot dead in Matt Dillon's office while sitting in the marshal's chair, wearing a hat like his. The killer apparently mistook the victim for Matt, suggesting someone is trying to assassinate the marshal. Matt must investigate who the dead man is and discover which of his many enemies is behind this attempt on his life.

Dodge City in the 1870s

Characters: Matt Dillon, Doc, Kitty

Listen for: The investigation into who was killed and why they were mistaken for Marshal Dillon

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.