Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Gunsmoke" - Paid Killer (01-17-53)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Gunsmoke" - Paid Killer (Aired January 17, 1953)


The radio show first aired on April 26, 1952 and ran until June 18, 1961 on the CBS radio network. The series starred William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon, Howard McNear as Doc Charles Adams, Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell, and Parley Baer as Deputy Chester Proudfoot. Doc's first name and Chester's last name were changed for the television program. Gunsmoke was notable for its critically acclaimed cast and writing, and is commonly regarded as THE true adult western and one of the finest old time radio shows. Some listeners (such as old time radio expert John Dunning) have argued that the radio version of Gunsmoke was far more realistic than the television program. Episodes were aimed at adults, and featured some of the most explicit content of the day: there were violent crimes and scalpings, massacres and opium addicts.

THIS EPISODE:

January 17, 1953. CBS network. "Paid Killer". Sustaining. Lawson Hales hires a killer to gun down Marshal Dillon for $5000 in gold. The script was used again on November 22, 1959. Strangely enough, in 1959, the price offered to shoot the Marshal was only $1000! William Conrad, Parley Baer, Harry Bartell, Lawrence Dobkin, Jack Kruschen, Ralph Moody, Roy Rowan (announcer), Rex Koury (composer, conductor), Les Crutchfield (writer), Norman Macdonnell (director), Georgia Ellis. 30:05.

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