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The Best Episodes of Gunsmoke Season 1

Every episode of Gunsmoke Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Gunsmoke Season 1!

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and...
Genres:WesternAction & AdventureDrama
Network:CBS

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Matt Gets It" is the best rated episode of "Gunsmoke" season 1. It scored 8.1/10 based on 508 votes. Directed by Charles Marquis Warren and written by N/A, it aired on 9/10/1955. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Hot Spell".

  • Matt Gets It
    8.1/10508 votes

    #1 - Matt Gets It

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/10/1955

    Dan 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.

    Director: Charles Marquis Warren

    Writer: N/A

  • Hot Spell
    8.0/10345 votes

    #2 - Hot Spell

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/17/1955

    Matt 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.

    Director: Charles Marquis Warren

    Writer: E. Jack Neuman

  • Word of Honor
    7.7/10288 votes

    #3 - Word of Honor

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/1/1955

    Hank 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.

    Director: Charles Marquis Warren

    Writer: N/A

  • Home Surgery
    7.9/10304 votes

    #4 - Home Surgery

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/8/1955

    When 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.

    Director: Charles Marquis Warren

    Writer: John Meston

  • Obie Tater
    7.8/10292 votes

    #5 - Obie Tater

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/15/1955

    Two 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.

    Director: Charles Marquis Warren

    Writer: N/A

  • Night Incident
    7.0/10273 votes

    #6 - Night Incident

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/1955

    Little Timmy Wyatt witnesses a series of bizarre murders. He has a habit of telling tall tales, so no one will believe him.

    Director: Charles Marquis Warren

    Writer: N/A

  • Smoking Out the Nolans
    7.5/10263 votes

    #7 - Smoking Out the Nolans

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/1955

    Clay 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.

    Director: Charles Marquis Warren

    Writer: John Meston

  • Kite's Reward
    7.9/10248 votes

    #8 - Kite's Reward

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/1955

    Matt 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.

    Director: Charles Marquis Warren

    Writer: N/A

  • The Hunter
    7.1/10242 votes

    #9 - The Hunter

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/26/1955

    Buffalo 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.

    Director: Charles Marquis Warren

    Writer: N/A

  • The Queue
    7.7/10260 votes

    #10 - The Queue

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/3/1955

    Two bullies cut off Chen's pig-tail, gravely dishonoring him in Chinese culture. Chen vows vengeance.

    Director: Charles Marquis Warren

    Writer: N/A

  • General Parsley Smith
    7.6/10240 votes

    #11 - General Parsley Smith

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/10/1955

    Old-timer Smith is a former Army officer considered a butcher. He arrives in Dodge City speading rumors about the new Banker, Drew Holt.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: John Meston

  • Magnus
    8.2/10310 votes

    #12 - Magnus

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/24/1955

    Chester 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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: John Meston

  • Reed Survives
    7.9/10286 votes

    #13 - Reed Survives

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/31/1955

    Lucy 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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Professor Lute Bone
    7.4/10229 votes

    #14 - Professor Lute Bone

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/7/1956

    Doc 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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • No Handcuffs
    8.1/10226 votes

    #15 - No Handcuffs

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/21/1956

    A dishonest deputy sheriff steals a prisoner from Matt's jail, so Matt and Chester hunt them.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: John Meston

  • Reward for Matt
    8.1/10247 votes

    #16 - Reward for Matt

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/28/1956

    Matt kills a man and his widow posts a $1,000 bounty in vengeance. Everyone from sodbusters to gunslingers are out for that reward.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Robin Hood
    7.6/10220 votes

    #17 - Robin Hood

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/4/1956

    Witnesses refuse to testify against a notorious outlaw.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Yorky
    7.7/10228 votes

    #18 - Yorky

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/18/1956

    Yorky, 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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Sam Peckinpah

  • 20-20
    7.4/10217 votes

    #19 - 20-20

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/25/1956

    A former lawman tries to keep his failing eyesight a secret from his enemies.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Reunion '78
    7.7/10209 votes

    #20 - Reunion '78

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/3/1956

    A well-liked hardware drummer is actually a man wanted for multiple murders.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Helping Hand
    7.2/10205 votes

    #21 - Helping Hand

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/17/1956

    A 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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Tap Day for Kitty
    7.6/10237 votes

    #22 - Tap Day for Kitty

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/24/1956

    An 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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Indian Scout
    7.7/10217 votes

    #23 - Indian Scout

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 3/31/1956

    When an old Indian scout (Eduard Franz) murders a man (DeForest Kelley), Matt pursues him into Comanche territory.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Pest Hole
    8.0/10246 votes

    #24 - The Pest Hole

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 4/14/1956

    Doc must find a way to thwart a typhoid epidemic in Dodge (Howard McNear appears).

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Big Broad
    7.7/10238 votes

    #25 - The Big Broad

    Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 4/28/1956

    Matt has to figure a way around a six-foot-tall, 200-pound woman with a six-gun.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A