Season 1

1955 · 39 episodes

This is a list of episodes from the first season of the television series version of Gunsmoke.

1Matt Gets ItDan Grat, a gunman hunted by Texas authorities, seeks refuge in Dodge City. Marshal Dillon goes into action against this outlaw who shoots before he talks.
2Hot SpellMatt intercedes on behalf of ex-con Cope Borden, when Rance Bradley accuses Cope of horse theft and attempts to lynch him. Cope is proven innocent of the charge, but later kills Bradley's nephew in a fair fight during a gambling dispute. Matt is caught in an awkward situation when he must defend the unsavory Cope against the decent people of Dodge.
3Word of HonorHank Worth, son of wealthy rancher Jake Worth, is kidnapped by three men and held for $20,000 ransom. They shoot him in the back for trying to escape. They call on Doc but Hank dies. The killers decide to let Doc go because he is the only doctor within 400 miles and they fear they might need his services someday. Before sparing his life and freeing him, they force the reluctant Doc to give his word of honor that he will never reveal their identities.
4Home SurgeryWhen returning to Dodge, Chester and Matt are confronted by Holly Hawtree, whose father is desperately ill with gangrene. His only hope for survival is amputation of the affected leg. Matt performs the surgery, but the gangrene has spread too far and the old man dies. Matt later discovers that the presumed accident leading to Mr. Hawtree's condition was actually caused by Ben Walling, who has his sights on Holly.
5Obie TaterTwo outlaws seek the rumored hidden fortune of old prospector Obie. They drag him to get him to tell. Obie forgets his cares and disappears on honeymoon with newcomer Ella May. Matt suspiciously questions the simple Obie about Ella May's motives and finds Obie is deeper than he seems.
6Night IncidentLittle Timmy Wyatt witnesses a series of bizarre murders. He has a habit of telling tall tales, so no one will believe him.
7Smoking Out the NolansClay Young is trying to evict Josh Nolan, who says he paid for the property. Matt and Chester are tied up in reluctantly enforcing eviction law unless they can find another way.
8Kite's RewardMatt warns skilled gunman Andy Travis, of his choice between quitting the gun or else being constantly hunted and forced to prove himself. Matt finds a way to foil the $1000 bounty on Andy's head.
9The HunterBuffalo hunter Jase Murdock is warned by storekeeper Ross to stay out of Indian territory. Matt talks with Murdock's skinner, Golden Calf, who determines that Murdock's medicine is no longer good.
10The QueueTwo bullies cut off Chen's pig-tail, gravely dishonoring him in Chinese culture. Chen vows vengeance.
11General Parsley SmithOld-timer Smith is a former Army officer considered a butcher. He arrives in Dodge City speading rumors about the new Banker, Drew Holt.
12MagnusChester is embarrassed at a visit by his estranged mountain man brother Magnus. To prove that Magnus is too uncivilized for town, Chester tours him through the highlights of Dodge: card gambling, drinking, and talking with Kitty. Meanwhile, the Long Branch women plan a Christmas Eve dance which is busted by the spiteful Lucifer Jones.
13Reed SurvivesLucy professes her love for handsome Booth Rider, and concocts a scheme against Ephram. Booth becomes the unwitting pawn in a homicide that culminates in an ironic twist of fate.
14Professor Lute BoneDoc is enraged by traveling medicine man Professor Lute Bone and his opium elixir, and digs up a gun to shoot him with. A lad also hunts him because his father died drinking his elixir, so Bone reconsiders the patent medicine business.
15No HandcuffsA dishonest deputy sheriff steals a prisoner from Matt's jail, so Matt and Chester hunt them.
16Reward for MattMatt kills a man and his widow posts a $1,000 bounty in vengeance. Everyone from sodbusters to gunslingers are out for that reward.
17Robin HoodWitnesses refuse to testify against a notorious outlaw.
18YorkyYorky, a white boy who was brought up by Arapahoes, is victimized by horse thieves. Accused of their crime, he is shot by the vengeful Abe Brandt and his son. Matt is also targeted by the horse thieves.
1920-20A former lawman tries to keep his failing eyesight a secret from his enemies.
20Reunion '78A well-liked hardware drummer is actually a man wanted for multiple murders.
21Helping HandA would-be tough guy picks on the wrong man in an attempt to make a name for himself when he tries to involve Marshal Matt Dillon by staging a street fight.
22Tap Day for KittyAn old sodbuster comes to town and decides he wants to marry Kitty. When he won't leave her alone she declares she'll shoot him if he pesters her anymore.
23Indian ScoutWhen an old Indian scout (Eduard Franz) murders a man (DeForest Kelley), Matt pursues him into Comanche territory.
24The Pest HoleDoc must find a way to thwart a typhoid epidemic in Dodge (Howard McNear appears).
25The Big BroadMatt has to figure a way around a six-foot-tall, 200-pound woman with a six-gun.
26Hack PrineHack Prine, a friend of Matt's rides into Dodge. However he is there as a gunman, for Matt Dillon.
27CooterA dishonest gambler (Vinton Hayworth) uses a mentally challenged man (Strother Martin) in a plot against Matt (Robert Vaughn appears).
28The KillerCharles Bronson guest stars as a cowardly gunslinger who only goes after old men or young kids who aren't very experienced with guns. But, when Matt Dillon gives him an ultimatum, he shows his true colors.
29Doc's RevengeA stranger comes to Dodge, and Doc bewilders and dismays Chester and Matt by arming himself and vowing to kill the man.
30The PreacherSeth, a newcomer to Dodge is bullied by Keeler, a boxer.
31How to Die for NothingThe brother of a man Matt was forced to kill vows to kill Matt by any means necessary (Mort Mills appears).
32Dutch GeorgeMatt's Childhood hero, Dutch George is now the leader of a notorious gang of horse thieves he must now stop.
33Prairie HappyA bitter old man spreads rumors of an impending Indian raid on Dodge.
34Chester's Mail Order BrideWhen Chester's mail-order bride arrives, neither she nor Chester are what the other are expecting (first credited appearance of Bert Rumsey as 'Sam').
35The GuitarAn ex-Union soldier is forced to use violence against a pair of diehard Rebels (Jacques Aubuchon appears). First episode without the "Boot Hill" intro.
36CaraMatt encounters an ex-girl friend---who's now working on the wrong side of the law.
37Mr. and Mrs. AmberA self-styled religious prophet (Ainslie Pryor) is making life miserable for his daughter and new son-in-law..
38Unmarked GraveA young outlaw uses an old woman as a pawn in his bid for freedom.
39Alarm at Pleasant ValleyWhile on the way back to Dodge, Matt and Chester discover a homsteading family fleeing Pleasant Valley, which is besieged by Indians.

Episodes