Gunsmoke

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Gunsmoke was a long-running old-time radio and television western.

The radio show ran 1952-1961, with William Conrad as Marshall Matt Dillon, Howard McNear as Doc, Georgia Ellis as Kitty, and Parley Baer as Deputy Chester.

The television show ran 1955-1975 on CBS, to this day the longest run of any single dramatic series in prime-time TV. James Arness played Marshall Matt Dillon throughout its run, the longest any actor has played the same role in the same show in prime time. (Kelsey Grammer has since tied the role-playing record as Frasier, but that role spanned two different shows.) Actors asked to play Matt Dillon on TV before Arness included John Wayne and Denver Pyle. It was Wayne who recommended Arness.

His deputy was at first Dennis Weaver playing Chester, then Ken Curtis playing Festus. Other important ongoing characters were the alcoholic doctor, Doc (Milburn Stone) and the saloon girl, later saloon owner, Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake).

Some critics have argued the radio program was far more realistic than the television program.

From 1955 to 1960, Gunsmoke was a half-hour show. It then went to an hour-long format for the rest of its long run. From 1955 to 1966, it was in black and white, then in color from 1967 to 1975. In its fifteenth year, CBS planned to cancel the series, but widespread viewer response -- it was even mentioned in Congress -- convinced them to continue it.

Regular Cast, Major Characters:

Regular Cast, Minor Characters:

  • Clem (bartender; 1959-61): Clem Fuller
  • Sam (bartender; 1961-73): Glenn Strange
  • Rudy (bartender; 1965-67): Rudy Sooter
  • Floyd (bartender; 1974-75): Robert Brubaker
  • Quint Asper (blacksmith; 1962-1965): Burt Reynolds
  • "Thad" - Deputy Clayton Thaddeus Greenwood (1965-1967): Roger Ewing
  • Newly O'Brien (gunsmith; 1967-1975): Buck Taylor
  • Wilbur Jonas (storekeeper, 1955-63): Dabbs Greer
  • Howie Uzzell (hotel clerk, 1955-75): Howard Culver
  • Moss Grimmick (stableman; 1955-63): George Selk
  • Jim Buck (stagecoach driver; 1957-62): Robert Brubaker
  • Louie Pheeters (town drunk; 1961-70): James Nusser
  • Ma Smalley (boardinghouse owner; 1961-72): Sarah Selby
  • Hank Miller (stableman; 1963-75): Hank Patterson
  • Mr. Bodkin (banker; 1963-70): Roy Roberts
  • Barney Danches (telegraph agent; 1965-74): Charles Seel
  • Roy (townsperson; 1965-69): Roy Barcroft
  • Halligan (rancher; 1966-75): Charles Wagenheim
  • Mr. Lathrop (storekeeper; 1966-75): Woody Chambliss
  • Nathan Burke (freight agent; 1966-75): Ted Jordan
  • Percy Crump (undertaker; 1968-72): Kelton Garwood
  • Ed O'Connor (rancher; 1968-72): Tom Brown
  • Judge Brooker (1970-75): Herb Vigran
  • Dr. John Chapman (1971): Pat Hingle
  • Miss Hannah (saloon owner; 1974-75): Fran Ryan

There was also a Gunsmoke video game produced for the NES by Capcom.


References

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