Around Dodge City and in the territory on West, there is just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with a U.S. Marshal and the smell of gun smoke.
Gun Smoke, starring William Conrad, the story of the violence that moved West with Young America, and the story of a man who moved with it.
I'm that man, Matt Dillon, the United States Marshal, the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancey job, and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely.
Doc, how could you get sweet-talk into a spot like this? I just can't understand it.
No, I think you've got it all wrong, Mr. Donnie. It's kindly an honor, and I'm just proud to know, Doc.
Now hold it, hold it right there. You're not going to wear that. What's the matter with you? You two are pretty smug, Doc. Well, now Doc, anyone with an ounce of brains knows that an umpire wears a stone-pipe hat.
Well, yes, but that's Arthur Meeker's undertaking, huh? And it happens to be the only one in town. Looks like to me that Meeker's trying to promote a funeral. Let me look at this again. Yes, you're right. I hate to admit it, but it does look kind of similar.
We've won one point anyway. Chester. Yeah, Doc? Maybe you'd step next door to the depot and see if anything came for me on the evening stage.
Yeah, sure. What were you expecting? I sent back to the Brooklyn Eagle for a copy of Chadwick's rules. Rules? Why, you've got the boys' book of games, the rules all in there.
Chester. Yes, sir? Don't argue with the umpire.
Oh, sure. But anybody knows the rules. He expects to be an umpire if he don't know the rules.
Oh, Manchester. Matt, what in the world have you got such a long face for? You're not really expecting trouble.
Well, yes I am, Doc.
But why?
I just can't seem to get it through your head that baseball isn't the same game you keep talking about. It's changed.
Well, the rules maybe have changed, but it's still a gentleman's game. Why, back East the Saturdays I spent watching the Knickerbockers and the Mutuals.
But those were businessmen, Doc, playing for a keg of beer and a little exercise. These are professionals.
I know that, but what about it?
Look, even if you can keep the gamblers and the hoodlums and the drunks away, the fanatics, the fans as they call them, are always stirring up some kind of a ruckus.
And if none of them cause trouble, the chances are the teams themselves will start a free-for-all.
Well, I'll admit we do have a few hotheads in town who might care their loyalty a little too far, but I don't think so.
Oh, oh, Mr. Lindstrom.
Hello, Marshall. Hey, Doc, why aren't you over there?
Over where?
At the Long Branch. Now, Lindstrom, why should I be at the Long Branch?
The whole Eastern team is there and we've got to have our meeting with them.
Well, that meeting's supposed to be at the Dodge house at 9.30, isn't it?
Man, if you wait that long, you're going to have to stack them like cardwood and haul them there in a buckboard.
Well, he was there all right.
Hello, Mr. Lindstrom.
Hello, Chester.
And Chester, did you get it?
The agent says it's been there for two days and what you want...
Never mind, never mind that, Chester. Just give it to me, please.
Well, I'll just tell you what the agent said.
Lindstrom, you meet me at the Dodge house in 20 minutes.
Where are you going, Doc?
Where do you think I'm going?
Well, it's starting already and I'm coming with you.
Well, that meeting's supposed to be at 9.
Come on, Chester, we're going to the Long Branch.
Yes, sir, but I thought...
Just come along. We're going to give Doc his first look at the Eastern All-Star Professional Baseball Club.
I know he's supposed to be the manager and all, but Lindstrom is from Shoria's taking this game serious.
Well, anything he does, he takes serious.
Maybe he's going out of his way.
Oh, let's say Don Noss.
You know, he went through us before he died last week.
Yeah, what about it?
He talked Colonel Whitfield into releasing four enlisted men for the game.
He said they'd strengthen up the team.
Players?
Yes, sir. Four men he heard about that played with Durye Zouavs during the war.
Oh, did you hear that, Doc?
Four men from that 165th New York injury team playing for Dodge.
I heard it, I heard it. It'll make it a better game.
There's certainly nothing unethical about it. The All-Stars take anybody from anywhere as long as they play good ball.
Well, that may not be unethical, but it sure shows Lindstrom isn't thinking of this as just a friendly exhibition.
Yeah, Matt, you're sure doing your best to scare me off.
No, Doc, I'm just trying to bring you down to earth. Maybe a look at the All-Stars will do it. Come on.
I've got it.
Oh, Matt, hey.
This is Dr. Giddie.
Doc, Giddie, Matt, if you hadn't walked in that door when you did, I was just going to send for you.
You mean the Eastern All-Stars?
You can call them that if you want. I've already thought of a hundred better names for them.
They're pretty loud, Giddie, but they're not armed, and they're not fighting.
Oh, I know, like their manager says. They're just playful.
If it gets any worse, I'll stop them.
But I brought Doc over to take a close look at the Chamberlain athletes. He's going to be umpiring tomorrow.
How about finding us a table, huh?
Oh, sure.
How's this table, Matt?
That's fine. Three beers, too.
I'll bring them to you.
Well, Doc, you just relax and look them over.
My, land, Doc.
You didn't tell a sure-do Luke Rolton, were you?
I see how they look, Chester.
You know, it's not too late to back out, Doc.
I am not going to back out.
Here you are. Three beers for three gentlemen.
Oh, thank you, Giddie.
Thank you. Oh, my, and Lance, look at that. Over there.
He looks like he's been teasing a wild horse from behind with a sharp stick.
Yeah, look at that face. No teeth in front of him. That's who she knows.
I'm only guessing, but I'd say he has to be the catcher.
And them fingers.
That left hand looks like a branch of gnarly oak.
All right, all right. Every profession has its price, Chester.
Why, I tell you, there's just a lot of fooling.
Well, Doc, there's one of the hotheads I was talking about.
Where?
Over there. Ziff Williams. Talking to one of the players.
He sure is red in the face.
Yeah, and he's wearing a gun, too.
I'll be back in a minute.
I'll leave this one to you.
I'll make fun of our boys.
Now, look here, I wasn't making fun of your boys.
I wonder if you dance as good as you talk.
Well, you take off your gun and we'll see who does the dance.
Why, you are...
All right, that's enough, Ziff.
You. You're the manager of these players?
That's right. Manager and pitcher.
What's your name? A. Sir Granville.
All right, tell me, Granville, what did you do to get this man so riled up?
Nothing. He wanted to bet on the game, and when I offered him fair odds, he got mad.
Is that right, Williams?
There was no bet. There was a brag about how good the All-Stars are.
Marshal, he wanted to bet on Dodge to win.
And I laughed because I'd be stealing his money.
Yeah? And then what?
Well, to give him a fair shake, I offered to bet even money that we'd score at least a hundred.
Williams, I think this man was saving you from making a fool of yourself.
Nobody in town except you and Lindstrom really thinks Dodge has a chance to beat the All-Stars.
That's all you know about it, Marshal.
I got faith in our boys, even if the rest of you ain't.
Well, I can't stop you from having an opinion, Williams.
But I'm going to tell you one thing.
If you plan to be at that game tomorrow, you better check your gun at my office till it's over.
Now, you better get on home.
Well, Marshal, you know...
Well, thank you, Marshal.
I've done a lot of arguing in my time, but I'm never against a gun.
Well, I've done you a favor. Now I want you to do me one.
What is it, Marshal?
You seem to be the only sober one of your crowd, so see how fast and how quiet you can get your boys out of here and over to their rooms at the Dodge house.
I guess they were getting a little loud, weren't they?
Ah, they should be getting to bed anyway.
When you get them put away, just remember that you've still got a meeting in the lobby at the hotel.
I'll be there as soon as I can.
Okay.
All right, boys, come on. Come on.
Come on.
Well, Kitty, I think this place will start to quiet down in a few minutes.
Thanks, Matt.
Chess suit.
Yes, sir.
You stay in case Kitty needs you.
I'm going to escort Doc here over to the Dodge house.
Oh, well, thank you.
Well, come on, umpire.
Your Columbia phonograph dealer has it.
The new sound of pleasure, Stereo One by Columbia.
Number one in the wonderful world of sound.
Just wait until you hear the beautiful sound of true three-dimension stereophonic high fidelity.
It's a thrilling experience that makes all your records, stereo or regular, sound better.
There's a complete selection of Columbia Stereo One phonographs,
ranging from smart new portables to handsome single and twin unit consoles,
crafted like fine furniture.
And there's a Columbia Stereo One phonograph for every room,
for every budget, and for every listening need.
No matter what you want in stereo, Columbia has it.
And your Columbia phonograph dealer is headquarters for Columbia phonographs.
Portables are priced as low as $24.95,
and elegant console models start at the amazingly low price of $129.95.
See them all.
Hear them at your Columbia phonograph dealer.
Now, as I understand it, Granville, you play New York baseball.
Well, we can play the Massachusetts game, but it just don't have the same pep.
And we play strictly a fly game.
You mean the batter ain't out if the ball is caught on the bound.
That's right.
Oh, my, we've been playing that way for years now.
You must really think we're backwards out here, Doc.
I don't think he intended any offense, Lester.
Well, maybe not.
Now, Doc, what about that licorice ball?
What about it?
Well, it's Lim's best pitch.
Do you Eastern fellows use it?
No, not anymore.
Well, how come?
Well, it ain't really a rule, but generally before it came,
we agreed that neither pitcher can chew licorice.
Well, I think that's unfair.
If you want to use a licorice ball, go ahead.
It won't bother us none.
Just messy, that's all.
What's messy about a little licorice on a ball?
Vincent, if you hold your mouth for just a minute,
there are some other things that should be settled first, and we'll get to them.
First of all, the game will be nine hands.
Innings.
Huh?
They call them innings now.
Oh, all right.
Nine innings.
Three outs to a side per inning.
Now, at the end of that time, the team with the most aces wins.
The team with the most runs.
All right, all right.
Come on, get on with it.
Yes.
Ah, now, now.
Now, Chadwick's newest rule book of baseball.
I have it right here, and we should read it.
The batsman calls the pitch.
That's what it says.
He can call for a high ball, a low ball, or a middle ball.
If the umpire decides the pitch was in the area, call four.
He shall rule it as a strike, even though the batsman does not swing.
Three strikes are out.
Any questions?
Well, not on that, but what about that walk thing?
Oh, the walk.
Well, I'd like to explain that, Doc, if you don't mind.
Go ahead.
Well, you see, we found the game was dragging,
so the association passed a rule that if the umpire calls nine unfair balls
against the pitcher, the batsman can walk the first base,
and the next batter comes up.
Oh, man, that sounds awful tough on the pitcher.
Oh, they're even talking about cutting it down to eight balls next year.
Excuse me just a minute, Jim.
Chester, don't just stand there in the door wiggling your fingers.
If you want to see Matt, come on in.
I'm sorry, Doc.
I'll come out there, Chester.
You go right ahead.
Thank you, Matt.
Ah, now, let me see.
We will continue to hear that.
The pitcher shall release the ball no closer than 45 feet from home plate.
His feet shall be together at the time of the pitch.
The elbow shall be stiff, and the pitching hand shall not rise above the belt.
Are there any questions?
Yeah, Doc, I got a few questions, and they're all for Mr. Granville.
Well, go ahead.
Do you or your players ever bet on the games you play?
Why, of course we do.
Do your players ever bet against themselves?
What are you getting at, Marshal?
Just answer my question.
Well, we do not.
I'm not talking about betting whether you win or lose.
I know you've never lost a game.
I'm talking about sucker bets.
Why, you heard me turn down a sucker bet at that saloon, and the bet I offered was squared.
Yeah, I know.
You offered to bet you'd score more than 100 runs, and you said it good and loud in front of everybody.
That made you look real honest.
So after you left, your ringers could move in and clean the town.
I swear, Marshal, I don't know what you're talking about.
Chester, I want you to tell everybody here what you just told me.
Well, these two gamblers over at the Long Ranch right now, strangers in town, and they're taking all comers.
The gamblers is given good odds that the All-Stars won't score more than 50 runs.
Just about everybody in Dodgy is betting they will.
I sure don't know who the gamblers are, but they ain't very smart.
Unless maybe they know something that I don't.
Like what?
If you and your boys are as good as you're supposed to be,
you're the only ones who can make sure that you didn't score more than 50 runs.
And it could just be that those gamblers are betting with your money.
Well, I'm not going to answer that, Marshal.
But if you want to get rich fast, sell everything you got and take the bet there off.
That's the last thing I'd do.
But if I'm wrong, Mr. Granbull, you'll have an apology from me before you leave town tomorrow.
You better start thinking it up right now, Marshal.
But if I'm right, you and your boys won't be leaving.
...
Well, Chester.
Hi, James Dillon. I'm glad you're here.
How's the game going?
Oh, I'm good.
See there? Pretty bad.
Well, the cards just ain't no good at all.
In the three innings they batted, Lem struck out seven of them.
They ain't got a single run.
How many runs for Dutch?
Four. We sure didn't deserve them, and we're going to get more.
Ain't nobody out, and that Granbull ain't pitching the ball no worse near Willie Linton.
Four. Eight by four.
I had to wait for an answer from St. Louis. I ought to have been here sooner.
Did you find out anything about them gamblers?
Yeah, plenty. Have you got them spotted?
Yes, I have. Right on the edge of the crowd over there, but first base, see?
Yeah, I see them. Let's watch this a minute.
All nine!
Get your face!
See there? He walked Willie on purpose.
Yeah.
Now, who's this coming on?
It's one of them players I was telling you about that men from Gotham-Ford died. I don't know his name.
Tell me something, Chester.
What?
Don't these all-stars look to you like maybe they're scared?
You look kind of nervous.
Now, that's the first real hit we've had.
Yeah, that's a good one, all right. At least two bases. That should score Willie easy.
Willie's stopping it early.
Yeah, he can't make it all of it. He doesn't keep moving.
So why would he stop?
I don't know. Looks like the third baseman's talking, so...
Now, if that don't beat all that... Now he's coming on again. Look at that boy run!
Look at him!
I want to talk to Willie. Come on.
That was a good play, Willie.
Oh, hello, Marshall.
You always stop and talk to the baseman?
Well, I...
Look, Willie, there's something strange about the way this game is going. I want you to tell me what it is.
I don't know what you mean.
I think you do. Now, you tell me.
All right. I promised I wouldn't, but...
Well, them all-star boys is really scared. I'm afraid they'll get shot.
What?
That's what the third baseman was telling me. There's two rifles pointed right at him from the loft, the Wohlford Speed Store.
Right through that open window.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, no.
They have a clean shot at every all-star player on the field.
And any man that plays too good is as good as dead.
Okay, Willie, thanks.
What are you going to do, Mr. Dillon?
Go after the two men in the loft?
Mr. Dillon, you can't go up them outside stairs. You'd be walking right into rifle fire.
Now, there's a ladder to the loft inside the store, Chester. I think I can surprise them.
Oh, in the meantime, you keep an eye on those two gamblers. And Willie...
Yeah, Marshal?
You get back to the other players like nothing happened, huh?
Music
Today, a great premium is placed on speed. Speed of transportation, communication, of automation.
In keeping with today's accelerated pace, it's understandable that millions of Americans
prefer to hear the events of the day via radio, the swiftest, most concise news medium of all.
CBS News maintains its top reputation in the field of news reporting and commentary.
Skilled newsmen in our central bureaus of CBS News constantly monitor their many sources of news
in this country and abroad, so each broadcast will be accurate and up to the minute.
In addition to the many news broadcasts heard each day on CBS Radio, weeknights,
veteran CBS newsman Lowell Thomas continues to bring you the colorful brand of news commentary
that's long kept him one of America's most familiar, most popular voices on the air.
Make it a habit to hear Lowell Thomas and the many more broadcasts of CBS News right here on CBS Radio.
Music
Hey, wouldn't them fellas say they're going to pay us a $50 right after the game?
So they wouldn't dare pull the same thing at St. Louis?
Of course not.
You don't think them fellas are doing this just for the money they can pick up here and die?
They ain't.
Mostly they want them all-stars to look bad here, so when the St. Louis fans read about it,
they'll think their team has a chance.
And these fellas will be able to bet big on all-stars and really clean up.
That's what I call...
Drop your guns.
I said drop them!
Marshal, you ain't going to...
Marshal, I threw my gun down. Now don't shoot me, Marshal.
Stay away from that door.
I'm not going to do it.
All right, hold it right there.
All right, Mr. Dillon.
Come on down here. I got lots of help.
Yeah, you sure have. Looks like you drafted an army.
Oh, sir, these are all volunteers. 18 you leave, new hoes up.
So they just kept playing. They heard the shots, then we'd come around and...
Let them come down, Marshal. We'll take care of them.
All right, how about it, you?
You want to try your luck against 18 men with baseball bats?
No, I ain't running. You got to protect me, Marshal.
Send them down, Marshal!
Don't think I wouldn't like to.
But most of you came here to see a real game of baseball played by men who make their living at it.
Now, those two gamblers there and this hired gun and a dead one up here in the loft had a different idea.
Don't you worry about the gamblers, Marshal. My boys have them.
Good. Well, there's still time to start over and play a full game before dark, and I think you should get going.
Any bets you made with these fellows won't hold.
Now, how about it?
All right, Doc.
Is that agreeable with you, Lin Strum?
Why not? And you, Granville?
Of course it is. Then what are we waiting for?
Play ball!
I'm sure I am anxious to find out how poor old Doc's feeling this morning.
Yeah, so am I. He looked pretty worn out by the time it was over.
116 to 12.
That was all war. I was just watching them all start to keep running around the bases.
Maybe he's not up yet.
No, please don't tease him, Mr. Dillon.
I'm not going to tease him, Chester.
Hey, Doc!
Doc?
What do you want?
Good morning, Doc.
We just want to make sure you're all right, Doc.
I asked you two to get back to your jail attendant and leave me alone.
I don't stand there with your back to us, Doc. We're not going to laugh at you.
Does it hurt much?
Here, let's get that shade up and get some light in here. There we go.
All right, now take this towel away.
Oh, oh, oh, ain't that a beauty?
Oh my, I never seen so many colors. What, isn't these green and blue, purple and black?
Can't you see out of it at all?
Not yet.
What, I had no idea them foul balls was that deadly.
How's the one on your head there? Let me see.
That's right here.
Oh, I'm sorry. I just barely touched it.
At least the skin ain't broken down.
Yeah, it's quite a knobbo, Doc. I'm sure sorry.
Why should you be sorry?
Well, I shouldn't have laughed about that stovepipe hat. If you'd been wearing it, you'd have one less bruise.
Is there anything at all we can do?
No, just takes time.
Yeah, well, we got to get our prisoners fed, Doc. I'm taking all three of them up to Hayes City this afternoon.
But Chester will be here.
And I sure will look in on you, Doc.
Doc, I just got one thing to ask you.
Go ahead.
Now that you're the prop-possessor of Chadwick's newest rulebook of baseball, can Chester and I have your boys' book of games?
Why, yes, if you really want to.
Oh, get out of here.
Improved case, I tune up the tune-up in again.
Filling up, sir?
Yeah, regular's good.
Say, that engine of yours sounds like real tired iron.
Thanks.
Improved case, I tune up the tune-up in again.
You got a valve sticking, too. What do you get to a gallon?
Not much.
Improved case, I tune up the tune-up in again.
Want a tune job?
Haven't got time.
You don't need time.
How can a tune job not take time?
Improved case, I tune up, mister. One can in your gasoline and one can in your oil will clean your motor, your carburetor, your plugs.
The works. And case, I tune up will unstick those valves, get you more power and smoother performance.
Quicker starting, too.
Okay, but how much?
Dollar and a quarter a can. Results guaranteed or double your money back.
Would you start her up, please?
Still sounds lousy.
I haven't added it yet.
Improved case, I tune up the tune-up in again.
Gunsmoke, produced and directed in Hollywood by Norman MacDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.
The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Vic Tarrant, with editorial supervision by John Meston.
Featured in the cast were Joseph Kern, Barney Phillips, Ralph Moody, Vic Tarrant, and Harry Bartel.
Harley Bear as Chester, Howard McNear as Doc, and Georgia Ellis as Kitty.
This was George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story on Gunsmoke.