Gunsmoke | Ep42 | "Cain"

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Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

[@wendyreis1233]

I was almost 6 when Gunsmoke began on TV. I watched it faithfully for the whole 20 years. Two things: I was not aware of how well the radio show was written, or how many times the TV show re-used the radio scripts.

[@richardmcleod5967]

The part of Cain is one of the most touching of any character in the radio "Gunsmoke" series.

[@brianboisguilbert6985]

I liked his voice, really fit the character

[@robertolander8658]

Great opening old time references used in show!

[@richardmcleod5967]

Harry Bartell plays the part of Cain very believably and emotionally touchingly.

[@richardmcleod5967]

I wonder if anyone knows the name of the song played by Cain as requested by Miss Kitty on his guitar? He repeats it on one other occasion when Marshall Dillon visits him. Chester hums the old gospel song titled "Love Lifted Me" at the very beginning of this episode which he does on several occasions and various episodes on the Radio version throughout the entire run of the radio show. "Love Lifted Me" must have been a favorite of Parley Baer as he uses the song so often.

[@vincentsartain3061]

Chester might as well have been humming "Alexander's Ragtime Band" which was written and composed in 1911; "Love Lifted Me" came out around the same time or about a year later.

[@richardmcleod5967]

In his personal life, Parley Baer was quite a religious person. He gave the Eulogy at Howard McNear's Funeral and was known to attend church services regularly. Most of the historical information on the "Gunsmoke" radio series was based on actual fact of incidences that came from 1870's America, just after the War Between the States. I doubt the song was selected by the Director, but rather a choice made by Parley Baer. This is a minor point, but one I notice as the old time gospel hymn "Love Lifted Me" is still remembered and sung today in certain churches. I can only assume that Parley Baer found the old Gospel Hymn a favorite of his and chose it to "hum" during certain episodes of the series even though it was written after the 1870's period. He primarily hums a part of the Hymn, and never from what I have heard on any of the shows actually sings the words of the song, just humming the melody on certain shows. He hums a portion of "Love Lifted Me" it at the beginning of this episode while sweeping the floor and it is also heard in several other episodes.

[@vincentsartain3061]

@@richardmcleod5967 so far, I've listened to the first 150 episodes, and I've caught Baer / "Chester" humming the hymn at least twice. 🙂

[@dontaylor7315]

The fact Chester hums a hymn is consistent with his backstory, because I gather from remarks here and there throughout the series that Chester's mother was a pious woman who would have taken him to church regularly during his childhood.

[@sketcher68]

Hi I was wondering if you realised you have this episode on twice (no.24 aswell) Thank you for the uploads. Nice to listen to them as I walk my dog. Take care. S

[@anonymousperson8487]

Yeah he's not all "there" he's into making his own music video as well.

[@rubenmontoya4147]

Also, there no episode no. 23.

[@BETTERWORLDSGT]

Doc was Floyd the Barber in these Radio Episodes!

[@stephenclifford6323]

Old time radio gunsmoke

[@richardmcleod5967]

Doc Adams initially states that Cain would die in Arizona, but that turned out not to be the case as Cain dies in Dodge shot to death by Joel Adams.

[@robertolander8658]

Doc Holiday?

[@TowGunner]

Would have been better if Julie was Cains sister