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Season 1 (CBS)(1955-56)
(30 min black-and-white)
Sponsors L&M Cigarettes
(season 1 verified)
Episode Guide
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Sal Crisanti, James Beer
references:
TV Guide /
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
################## Gunsmoke ##################
############# season 1 1955-56 ##############
############## (b-w half-hour) ###############
CBS Saturdays 10:00 - 10:30 pm Eastern (Half-hour slot) (39 episodes)
1.1 [--] Gunsmoke:
MATT GETS IT
(1955)(b-w)(30 min) (verified -SC)
10Sep55 CBS
Premiere Episode Hosted by John Wayne
DIRECTED BY CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN.
SCREENPLAY BY CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN
STORY BY JOHN MESTON.
GUEST CAST:
Paul Richards ................. Don Grat
Robert Anderson ............... Jim Hill
Malcolm Atterbury ............. Bird
SYNOPSIS:
A HUNTED GUN-HAPPY OUTLAW NAMED DAN GRAT IS FORCED INTO A GUNFIGHT
WITH MATT DILLON. [SC]
1.2 [--] Gunsmoke:
HOT SPELL
(1955)(b-w)(30 min) (verified -SC)
17Sep55 CBS Sat
DIRECTED BY CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN.
SCREENPLAY BY E.JACK NEUMAN.
GUEST CAST:
John Dehner ................... Cope Borden
James Westerfield ............. Rance Bradley
Marvin Bryan .................. Jason Bradley
SYNOPSIS:
EX-CON COPE BORDEN IS ACCUSED OF HORSE STEALING AND IS ABOUT TO BE
LYNCHED. MATT DILLON COMES TO HIS AID AFTER FINDING OUT THAT HE IS
INNOCENT OF THE CHARGE. [SC]
1.3 [--] Gunsmoke:
WORD OF HONOR
(a.k.a. Marked Man) (b-w)(30 min) (verified -SC)
01Oct55 CBS Sat
DIRECTED BY CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN.
SCREENPLAY BY CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN
STORY BY JOHN MESTON.
GUEST CAST:
Robert Middleton .............. Jake Worth
Claude Akins .................. Harry
Ray Boyle ..................... Jeff Worth
Will J. Wright ................ Ed Worth
Dick Paxton ................... Rudy
Thom Carney ................... Jack
Recurring Cast:
MILBURN STONE....AS DOC ADAMS.
SYNOPSIS:
DOC ADAMS IS CALLED TO AID A WOUNDED MAN WHO IS A WITHNESS TO A MURDER,
AND IS BEING SOUGHT BY THE FIENDS OF THE VICTIM AND THE KILLER. [SC]
1.4 [--] Gunsmoke: HOME SURGERY
(b-w)(30 min)
08-Oct-1955 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Joe De Santis ......... Hawtree
Gloria Talbott ........ Holly Hawtree
Wright King ........... Ben Walling
Synopsis:
While riding through the desert, Matt and Chester come upon a lonely ranch and
find a frightened girl trying to
save her dying father. Though the injuries seem to be the result of an accident.
Matt and Chester are suspicious. [JB]
1.5 [--] Gunsmoke:
OBIE TATER
(b-w)(30 min)
15-Oct-1955 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Royal Dano ............ Obie Tater
Kathy Adams ........... Ella
John Shepodd .......... Mitch
Pat Conway ............ Quade
Synopsis:
Matt takes action against a brutal gang of killers which tries to force
information from an old prospector
reported to know of a hidden cache of gold. [JB]
1.6 [--] Gunsmoke:
NIGHT INCIDENT
(b-w)(30 min)
29-Oct-1955 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Peter Votrian ......... Timmy Wyatt
Robert Foulk .......... Hinton
Amzie Strickland ...... Mrs. Hinton
Anne Warren ........... White Fawn
Lance Warren .......... Maggie
Jeanne Bates .......... Mrs. Wyatt
Lou Vernon ............ Cal Ross
Synopsis:
Townsfolk ignore the story of a young boy who claims he overheard a highwayman
and his wife plan a series
of robberies. The youngster is too well known for some previous tall tales. [JB]
1.7 [--] Gunsmoke:
SMOKING OUT THE NOLANS
(1955)(b-w)(30 min) (verified -SC)
5Nov55 CBS Sat
DIRECTED BY CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN.
WRITTEN BY JOHN MESTON.
GUEST CAST:
John Larch .................... Clay
Ainslie Pryor ................. Josh Nolan
Jeanne Bates .................. Mrs. Nolan
Ed Platt ...................... Mr. Burgess
SYNOPSIS:
MARSHAL DILLON TRIES TO AVERT A RANGE WAR BETWEEN A LANDOWNER AND A
HOMESTEADER. [SC]
1.8 [--] Gunsmoke:
KITE'S REWARD (1955) (b-w)(30 min) (verified -SC)
12Nov55 CBS Sat
PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN.
SCREENPLAY BY CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN
STORY BY JOHN MESTON.
GUEST CAST:
Adam Kennedy .................. Andy Travis
James Griffith ................ Joe Kite
HERBERT LYTTON.....JAKE CROWELL.
SYNOPSIS:
A REFORMED OUTLAW MUST DEFEND HIMSELF FROM A BOUNTY HUNTER. MATT
LEARNS OF THE ORDEAL AND WANT'S TO RUN THE BOUNTY HUNTER OUT OF TOWN.
[SC]
1.9 [--] Gunsmoke:
THE HUNTER
(b-w)(30 min)
26-Nov-1955 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Peter Whitney ......... Jase Murdock
Richard Gilden ........ Golden Calf
Lou Vernon ............ Cal Ross
Robert Keene .......... Dude
Synopsis:
A buffalo hunter defies Marshal Dillon and insists on invading sacred Indian
hunting grounds.
He does not reckon with the vengeance of the Indians. [JB]
1.10 [--] Gunsmoke:
THE QUEUE
(b-w)(30 min)
03-Dec-1955 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Keye Luke ............. Chen
Sebastian Cabot ....... Ed Bailey
Robert Gist ........... Rabb
Devlin McCarthy ....... Howard
Synopsis:
An unemployed Chinese cook arouses the prejudice of some trouble-makers in Dodge
City.
A faction of narrow-minded citizens want to run him out of town. [JB]
1.11 [--] Gunsmoke:
GENERAL PARSLEY SMITH
(b-w)(30 min)
10-Dec-1955 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Raymond Bailey ........ General Parsley Smith
James O'Rear .......... Drew Holt
John Alderson ......... Ed Nash
Synopsis:
Parsley Smith, who calls himself a general, is known for his reputation of
telling tall tales. When he claims that
the town banker plans to abscond with the money belonging to investors, no one
pays attention to him. Then Matt Dillon
notes that the banker has acquired a new crony---a notorious gunslinger. [JB]
1.12 [--] Gunsmoke:
MAGNUS
(a.k.a. The Uncivilized) (b-w)(30 min)
24-Dec-1955 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Robert Easton ......... Magnus Goode
James Anderson ........ Lucifer Jones
Than Wyenn ............ Dealer
Tim Graham ............ Cowboy
Dorothy Schuyler ...... Olive
Synopsis:
Chester tries to teach his brother some manners. [JB]
(Syn Rerun Tue 19Dec 67 WMTV-15 Madison, WI 12am)
1.13 [--] Gunsmoke:
REED SURVIVES
(b-w)(30 min)
31-Dec-1955 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Lola Albright ......... Lucy Hunt
John Carradine ........ Ephraim Hunt
James Drury ........... Booth Rider
Virginia Arness ....... Gypsy
Synopsis:
A former saloon hostess plots to kill her husband. [JB]
(Syn Rerun Wed 20Dec67 WMTV-15 Madison, WI 12am)
1.14 [--] Gunsmoke:
PROFESSOR LUTE BONE
(b-w)(30 min)
07-Jan-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
John Abbott ........... Professor Lute Bone
Jester Hairston ....... Wellington
Gloria Castillo ....... Mrs. Ringle
Don Gardner ........... Mr. Ringle
Strother Martin ....... Mr. Stooler
Sally Corner .......... Mrs. Stooler
Synopsis:
The citizens of Dodge are furious at a peddler whose patent medicines have
proved fatal. [JB]
(Syn Rerun Thu 21Dec 67 WMTV-15 Madison, WI 12am)
1.15 [--] Gunsmoke:
NO HANDCUFFS (b-w)(30 min)
21-Jan-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Vic Perrin ............ Hank Springer
Charles Gray .......... Sheriff
Mort Mills ............ Brake
Marjorie Owens ........ Woman
Herbert Lytton ........ Hunter
Cyril Delevanti ....... Turnkey
Synopsis:
Marshal Matt Dillon is forced into a showdown with the vicious lawman of a
neighboring frontier town.
An innocent man has been ordered arrested to cover up the sheriff's misdeeds. [JB]
1.16 [--] Gunsmoke:
REWARD FOR MATT
(1956)(b-w)(30 min)
(verified -SC)
28Jan56 CBS Sat
PRODUCED AND DIRECTD BY CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN.
STORY AND SCREENPLAY BY JOHN MESTON.
GUEST CAST
Paul Newlan ................... Jeremy Stoner
Helen Wallace ................. Sarah Stoner
Val Dufour .................... Day Barrett
Jean Inness ................... Mrs. Reeves
John G. Lee ................... Young Farmer
SYNOPSIS:
A WIDOW OFFERS A REWARD AFTER MATT DILLON KILLS HER HUSBAND. VARIOUS
CHARACTORS FROM GUNSLINGERS TO HARD CASES KEEP ARRIVING IN DODGE TO
TRY AND COLLECT THE BOUNTY. [SC]
1.17 [--] Gunsmoke:
ROBIN HOOD
(b-w)(30 min)
04-Feb-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
William Hopper ......... John Henry Jordan
James McCallion ....... Vince Butler
Nora Marlowe .......... Mrs. Bowen
Barry Atwater ......... Mr. Bowen
S. John Launer ........ Judge
Synopsis:
Marshal Dillon comes up against a blank wall when witnesses refuse to testify
against a notorious highwayman.
The outlaw is reputed only to rob the wealthy. [JB]
1.18 [--] Gunsmoke:
YORKY
(b-w)(30 min)
18-Feb-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Jeff Silver ........... Yorky
Mary Gregory .......... Mrs. Seldon
Howard Petrie ......... Brant
Dennis Cross .......... Tom
Malcolm Atterbury ..... Seldon
Synopsis:
A young white boy, raised by Indians, goes outside the law to seek vengeance
against horse thieves. [JB]
1.19 [--] Gunsmoke:
20-20
(b-w)(30 min)
25-Feb-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Martin Kingsley ....... Lee Polen
Wilton Graff .......... Troy Carver
Pitt Herbert .......... Dealer
Synopsis:
Once renowned for his prowess as one of the fastest guns in the West, a former
lawman is now in fear of his life.
An enemy has learned of his failing eyesight and plots to involve him in a gun
duel. [JB]
1.20 [--] Gunsmoke:
REUNION '78
(b-w)(30 min)
03-Mar-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Val Dufour ............ Jerry Shand
Maurice Manson ........ Andy Culley
Marion Bransh ......... Belle Archer
Joe Perry ............. Witness
Mason Curry ........... Marty
Synopsis:
A vengeful outlaw vows to take the life of an outlaw who wronged him years
before. He does so,
but he claims he did it in self-defense. [JB]
1.21 [--] Gunsmoke:
HELPING HAND
(1956)(b-w)(30 min) (verified -SC)
17Mar56 CBS Sat
DIRECTED BY CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN
SCREENPLAY BY DAVID VICTOR AND HERBERT LITTLE,JR.
GUEST CAST:
Ken L. Smith .................. Pence
James Nusser .................. Wilkins
Brett Halsey .................. Steve Elser
Russ Thorson .................. Emroert Bowers
Michael Granger ............... Hander
SYNOPSIS:
A MAN CLAIMING TO BE TOUGH AND REAL GOOD WITH A GUN, PICKS A FIGHT
WITH AN EXPERIENCED GUNFIGHTER. MATT DILLON GETS INVOLVED BY TRYING
TO STOP THE STAGED GUN FIGHT, AND PREVENTING AN UNWANTED KILLING. [SC]
1.22 [--] Gunsmoke:
TAP DAY FOR KITTY
(b-w)(30 min)
24-Mar-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
John Dehner ........... Nip Duffers
Mary Adams ............ Nettie
John Patrick .......... Jonas
Evelyn Scott .......... Olive
Dorothy Schuyler ...... Kate
Charlene Brooks ....... Blossom
Synopsis:
Nip Cullers, a wealthy eccentric miner, announces he is going to marry Kitty,
although she denies it.
Later, Nip is blasted by a shotgun, and he blames Kitty. In desperation, she
asks Matt to help her. [JB]
1.23 [--] Gunsmoke:
INDIAN SCOUT
(b-w)(30 min)
31-Mar-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Eduard Franz .......... Amos Cartwright
DeForest Kelley ....... Will Bailey
William Vaughan ....... Twitchell
Tommy Hart ............ Clay
Pat Hogan ............. Buffalo Tongue
Synopsis:
Will Bailey, bitter over the death of his cavalryman brother in a Comanche
ambush, tries to start trouble with Amos
Cartwright, an Indian scout. Bailey accuses Cartwright of being responsible for
the killing. [JB]
1.24 [--] Gunsmoke:
THE PEST HOLE
(b-w)(30 min)
14-Apr-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Patrick O'Moore ....... Pelzer
Howard McNear ......... Bradley
Norbert Schiller ...... Berkleman
Evelyn Scott .......... Olive
Synopsis:
Marshal Dillon and Dodge City's only doctor, Galen Adams, have a full-scale
panic on their hands when a typhoid
epidemic breaks out. [JB]
1.25 [--] Gunsmoke:
THE BIG BROAD
(b-w)(30 min)
28-Apr-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Dee J. Thompson ....... Lena Wave
Joel Ashley ........... Nate Bannister
Terry Becker .......... Emmett Fitzgerald
Heinie Brock .......... Drummer
Synopsis:
Unpredictable Lena Wave, a woman who stands six feet tall, and her henpecked
husband arrive in Dodge City to start up
a card game. Before Lena is through, she beats up Chester for accusing her of
running a crooked game, and kills a man
she says attempted to kill her. [JB]
1.26 [--] Gunsmoke:
HACK PRINE
(1956)(b-w)(30 min) (verified -SC)
12May56 CBS Sat
PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY CHARLES MARQUIS WARREN.
STORY AND SCREENPLAY BY JOHN MESTON.
GUEST CAST:
Leo Gordon .................... Hack Prine
George Wallace ................ Dolph Trimble
Hal Baylor .................... Lee Trimble
Wally Cassell ................. Oley
TYLER MCVEY.....TOWSMAN,
LARRY BLAKE.....TOWNSMAN,
PAUL KEAST.....TOWNSMAN,
TEX PALMER.....STAGE DRIVER.
SYNOPSIS:
MATT FACES A HIRED GUN WHO ONCE SAVED HIS LIFE, BUT WHO HAS NOW BEEN
HIRED TO KILL HIM. [SC]
1.27 [--] Gunsmoke:
COOTER
(b-w)(30 min)
19-May-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Brett King ............ Pate
Strother Martin ....... Cooter
Vinton Hayworth ....... Sissle
Robert Vaughn
Synopsis:
A mentally retarded youth is enraged when he realizes he's been made a victim in
a plot to discredit
Marshal Dillon. Armed with a gun, the youth goes berserk. [JB]
1.28 [--] Gunsmoke:
THE KILLER
(b-w)(30 min) (verified -SC)
26-May-1956 CBS Sat
Directed By Robert Stevenson
Screenplay By John Dunkel/Story By John Meston
Guest Cast:
Charles Bronson ........ Crego
David Chapman .......... Jesse Hill
James Nusser........as The Man
Synopsis:
Marshal Matt Dillon pursues a cowardly killer who's victims are young
and older men that have no experience with guns. [SC]
1.29 [--] Gunsmoke:
DOC'S REVENGE (b-w)(30
min) (verified -SC)
09-Jun-1956 CBC Sat
Directed By Ted Post
Story & Screenplay By John Dunkel
Guest Cast:
Chris Alcaide........as Clem Maddow
Ainslie Pryor........as George Maddow
Harry Bartel........as Ben Bartlett
Bert Rumsey........as The Bartender
Synopsis:
Doc Adams attemps to shoot a man that just arrived in Dodge,and has no
explanation for his actions. [SC]
1.30 [--] Gunsmoke:
THE PREACHER
(b-w)(30
min) (verified -SC)
16-Jun-1956 CBS Sat
Directed By Robert Stevenson
Screenplay By John Dunkel/Story By John Meston
Guest Cast:
Royal Dano........as Seth Tandy
Chuck Connors........as Sam Keeler
Paul Dubov........as Humbert
Jim Hyland........as The Stage Driver
George Selk........as Moss Grimmick
Synopsis:
A professional boxer named Sam Keeler comes to Dodge and provokes
a fight with a local preacher. Matt Dillon intervenes, and has no
choice but to challenge Keeler.[SC]
1.31 [--] Gunsmoke: HOW TO DIE FOR NOTHING
(b-w)(30 min)
23-Jun-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Mort Mills ............ Howard Bulow
James Nolan ........... Zack
Maurice Manson ........ Reisling
Laurence Dobkin ....... Jackfin
Bill White, Jr. ....... Ned
Herbert Lytton ........ Stranger
Synopsis:
Marshal Dillon finds himself marked for death by the brother of the man who lost
in a gunfight to the marshal. [JB]
1.32 [--] Gunsmoke:
DUTCH GEORGE
(b-w)(30 min)
30-Jun-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Robert Middleton ...... Dutch George
Tom Pittman ........... Jimmy McQueen
Synopsis:
Matt Dillon comes face to face with his boyhood idol. The man is now the leader
of a notorious
gang of horse thieves. Matt, as marshal, must bring him in for justice. [JB]
1.33 [--] Gunsmoke:
PRAIRIE HAPPY
(b-w)(30 min)
07-Jul-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Robert Ellenstein ..... Tewksbury
Anne Barton ........... Quiet One
Tyler McVey ........... Father
Bruce Holland ......... Boy
Jack Holland .......... Danvers
Roy Engle ............. Citizen
Synopsis:
An embittered old man terrorizes Dodge with a false story of an impending Indian
raid. [JB]
(Synd. Rerun WMTV-15 Madison, WI Thurs 29Feb 68 12:05 a.m. CST)
1.34 [--] Gunsmoke:
CHESTER'S MAIL ORDER BRIDE
(b-w)(30 min)
14-Jul-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Mary Carver ........... Ann Smithwright
Joel Ashley ........... Linus
Russell Thorson ....... Brady
Synopsis:
Chester finds himself to be a reluctant bridegroom when a young woman leaves her
Philadelphia home to accept
his letter of proposal. [JB]
1.35 [--] Gunsmoke:
THE GUITAR
(b-w)(30 min)
21-Jul-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Aaron Spelling ........ Weed Pindie
Charles Gray .......... Tyler
Jacques Aubuchon ...... Short
Duane Thorsen ......... Delmer
Bill Hale ............. Tom
Joseph Mell ........... Pence
Synopsis:
Veterans of The Civil War breed violence and death in Dodge City when
Confederate and Union conflicts are revived,
and a guitar-playing ex-soldier is at the center of the storm. [JB]
1.36 [--] Gunsmoke:
CARA
(b-w)(30 min)
28-Jul-1956 CBS Sat
Guest Cast:
Jorja Curtwright ...... Cara
Charles Webster ....... Sheriff Benson
Douglas Odney ......... Tolliver
Synopsis:
Marshal Dillon renews his acqaintance with a former girl friend, but she's now
on the opposite side of the law. [JB]
1.37 [--] Gunsmoke:MR. AND MRS. AMBER (b-w)(30 min)
04-Aug-1956 CBS Sat (Rerun 24Aug56 CBS)
Guest Cast:
Ainslie Pryor ......... Peak Fletcher
Paul Richards ......... Neil Amber
Gloria McGhee ......... Sarah Amber
Bing Russell .......... Simon
Synopsis:
A man struggling for survival on the praire is driven to theft by his brother, a
religious fanatic. [JB]
1.38 [--] Gunsmoke: UNMARKED GRAVE (b-w)(30 min)
18-Aug-1956 CBS Sat (Rerun 2Aug58 CBS)
Guest Cast:
Ron Hagerthy .......... Rusty
Helen Kleeb ........... Mrs. Randolph
William Hopper ........ Tasker Sloane
Than Wyenn ............ Sheriff Darcy
Joe Scudero ........... Munro
Boyd Stockman ......... Stage Driver
Synopsis:
An elderly woman, who is unaware of his background, befriends a young but
ruthless outlaw.
The shrewd desperado uses the woman as a pawn in a desperate battle for freedom.
[JB]
1.39 [--] Gunsmoke:
ALARM AT PLEASANT VALLEY
(b-w)(30 min)
25Aug56
Lew Brown ..................... Sam Fraser
Dorothy Schuyler .............. Alice Fraser
Bill White, Jr. ............... Ted Fraser
Helen Wallace ................. Ma Fraser
Dan Blocker ................... Lieutenant
Matt joins the Army's fight against renegade Indians.
################# Gunsmoke
###################
############# end of season 1 ###############
##############################################
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