The Piano: Gunsmoke (August 17, 1958)

“The Piano” is an episode of Gunsmoke, the old-time radio show, first broadcast August 17, 1958. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

A stagecoach carrying $20,000 is held up by robbers who shoot the driver Mike. Marshal Dillon and Chester pursue the outlaws into the darkness, cornering two of them near a creek. One is captured and badly injured, while the other escapes. Dillon and Chester must find shelter for the wounded man in a nearby house whose owner is reluctant to help.

Dodge City and the Kansas territory, pursuing outlaws across open country at night

Characters: Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc, Kitty, Mike, The stage driver

Listen for: The tense pursuit of the stagecoach robbers and the confrontation with a suspicious homeowner who must decide whether to harbor the wounded outlaw

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.