Rex Koury

"Kite's Reward" is a poignant exploration of the challenges faced by those trying to escape their violent pasts in the American West. The story centers on Andy Travis, a skilled young gunman who reluctantly kills a man in self-defense at the Long Branch Saloon. Recognizing Andy's exceptional skill with a gun, Marshal Matt Dillon offers him a stark choice: continue down the path of a gunfighter and face a life of constant challenges and bloodshed, or hang up his gun and build a peaceful life. Andy chooses the latter, taking a job at Moss Grimmick's stable and quickly becoming a valued member of the Dodge City community. His attempt at redemption is cut short when bounty hunter Joe Kite arrives, revealing Andy's past connection to the Fisher gang and the $1,000 reward on his head. In a tragic twist, when confronted by Kite, Andy instinctively reaches for the gun he no longer carries, giving Kite the opening to shoot him. As Andy lies dying, he confesses to Matt that he had genuinely left the outlaw life behind, hoping for a fresh start. The episode concludes with a morally complex resolution as Marshal Dillon, feeling responsible for Andy's death, takes a form of justice into his own hands. He denies Kite his bounty by telegraphing Laramie that he himself killed Andy, effectively preventing the bounty hunter from profiting from Andy's death. This powerfully bittersweet ending exemplifies Gunsmoke's reputation for adult-oriented storytelling that refused easy moral resolutions, instead reflecting the harsh realities and difficult choices of frontier life.

"Jaliscoe" - Gunsmoke Radio Episode (May 10, 1952) Essential Western Radio Drama: Tension on the Frontier In "Jaliscoe," the third episode of CBS's groundbreaking radio Western Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon (William Conrad) confronts rising tensions between cattle ranchers and homesteaders after a settler family is brutally murdered. When evidence points to Jaliscoe Pete and his outlaw companions disguising their crime as an Indian attack, Dillon must solve the case before it ignites a bloody range war and provokes military action against innocent Kiowa tribespeople. Historical Significance & Fun Facts This episode marks the first appearance of Georgia Ellis as the character "Miss Kitty," who would become a cornerstone of the series. Ellis had appeared in the premiere episode, but as a completely different character named Francie Richards. "Jaliscoe" was written by Les Crutchfield, who would go on to become the second most prolific writer for Gunsmoke (radio and TV combined), with 138 scripts to his credit. The episode aired just two weeks after the series premiere and helped establish Gunsmoke's reputation for tackling adult themes and complex frontier conflicts. The character dynamics between Marshal Dillon and Kitty begin to develop in this episode, establishing one of radio and television's most famous relationships. Gunsmoke was deliberately created as an "adult Western" to counter more juvenile fare like The Lone Ranger, and this episode exemplifies that approach with its nuanced portrayal of racial tensions and land disputes. William Conrad's commanding performance as Matt Dillon in this episode helped cement his reputation as the definitive radio voice of the character, though he would later be replaced by James Arness when the series moved to television. The sound design and effects in "Jaliscoe" demonstrate the show's commitment to creating an immersive prairie setting that was revolutionary for radio drama of the era.