The Tragedian: Gunsmoke (October 26, 1958)

“The Tragedian” is an episode of Gunsmoke, the old-time radio show, first broadcast October 26, 1958. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Marshal Matt Dillon catches Edward Vanderman cheating at poker in the Long Branch saloon. The man claims to be a famous stage actor from back east, but he's broke and desperate. Rather than run him out of town, Matt takes pity on the hungry stranger and offers him shelter in jail for the night.

Dodge City, Kansas - the Long Branch Saloon and Marshal's office

Characters: Matt Dillon, Chester, Edward Vanderman, Nick, Cliff, Cornard

Listen for: The confrontation over the marked deck in the poker game and Edward Vanderman's explanation for his cheating.

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.