Gunsmoke #77 | "How to Die for Nothing" (1953 Radio Classic) | Full Episode

In Gunsmoke #77, "How to Die for Nothing," Dodge City becomes a powder keg when a pair of rowdy cowboys ride into town, looking to blow off steam after a long drive from Texas. But what begins as a night of drinking and reckless gunplay quickly turns deadly when one of them draws on Marshal Matt Dillon. Forced to defend himself, Dillon is left with no choice but to shoot.
Now, the dead cowboy’s brother, Howard Bulo, swears vengeance and vows to kill Dillon-by any means necessary. Knowing that Bulo isn’t the type to face him in a fair fight, Dillon braces for an ambush, whether from a dark alley or a hidden rifle in the night. Meanwhile, tensions in Dodge rise as a gang of Texans demand Bulo’s release from jail, threatening to burn the town to the ground if Dillon doesn’t comply.
As the town watches in fear, Dillon must make an impossible decision: release a man determined to kill him or stand his ground and risk an all-out gunfight with a violent gang.
📜 Episode Highlights:
A drunken cowboy’s reckless actions lead to a tragic shooting
Howard Bulo swears revenge and lurks in the shadows, waiting for his chance
A gang of Texans arrives, demanding Dillon release Bulo-or face their wrath
A dramatic and intense standoff that pushes Dodge City to its breaking point
🎙️ Originally aired: October 10, 1953
🕰️ Relive this tension-filled Western tale of justice, revenge, and survival from radio’s golden age. Subscribe for more timeless episodes of Gunsmoke!