The Joke's on Us: Gunsmoke (February 9, 1958)

“The Joke's on Us” is an episode of Gunsmoke, the old-time radio show, first broadcast February 9, 1958. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

A frontier town hangs an innocent man for horse theft after catching him with stolen horses. When the man's wife reveals that he was actually trying to return the animals, Marshal Dillon begins investigating the real thief. As revenge killings start, the Marshal must find the guilty party before more blood is spilled.

Dodge City and the surrounding prairie territory in the American West

Characters: Matt Dillon, Jake Kaiser, Silas Tillman, Mrs. Tillman, Clay, Doc, Benson, Jennings

Listen for: A tense hanging scene that turns tragic when the truth emerges too late, followed by the Marshal's investigation into both the original theft and the subsequent revenge killing.

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.