Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke was a long-running old-time radio and television Western drama program set in Dodge City, Kansas during the settlement of the American West.

Television

The television show ran from September 10, 1955 to September 1, 1975 on CBS. To this day it is the longest run of any single entertainment series with continuing characters in prime-time TV in the United States. Conrad was the first choice to play Dillon, having established the role, but his increasing obesity led to more photogenic actors being considered. Raymond Burr was considered, but he too was seen as too heavyset for the part. Rumors that the part was offered to John Wayne have been largely debunked.

Related Topics:
September 10 - 1955 - September 1 - 1975 - CBS - Obesity - Raymond Burr - John Wayne

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James Arness played Marshal Matt Dillon throughout its 20-year run, the longest uninterrupted period 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 Crane, but that role spanned two different shows, Cheers and Frasier). Actors possibly asked to play Matt Dillon on TV before Arness included John Wayne and Denver Pyle. It was Wayne who recommended Arness, and "The Duke" also introduced the first episode of the series.

Related Topics:
James Arness - Prime time - Kelsey Grammer - Frasier Crane - Cheers - Frasier - John Wayne - Denver Pyle

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Dillon's assistant/deputy was at first Chester Goode, played by (Dennis Weaver), then Festus Haggen, played by Ken Curtis. Other important ongoing characters were the town doctor, Doc Adams (Milburn Stone) and the saloon girl, later saloon owner, Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake). While Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty clearly had a close personal relationship, viewers were seldom offered a deep look into that side of Dodge City life. There were character differences between the radio and TV characters. The radio series Doc was acerbic, somewhat mercenary, and at times, came close to being alcoholic. The television Doc, though crusty, was in many ways softer and warmer. Another difference in characters was Miss Kitty, who in the radio series was just a saloon girl, not the owner, and it was often hinted that she did more than serve customers. Producer Norman Macdonnell put it bluntly in an interview with Time magazine: "We never say it, but Kitty is a prostitute, plain and simple." On television, if the Long Branch did house prostitutes, the show put a good spin on Miss Kitty and viewers were never made privy to what exactly she did besides run the Long Branch saloon.

Related Topics:
Dennis Weaver - Ken Curtis - Milburn Stone - Amanda Blake - Norman Macdonnell

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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 1965, it was in black and white, then in color from 1965 to 1975. In the early 1960s, older episodes of the series were rebroadcast under the title Marshal Dillon.

Related Topics:
1955 - 1960 - 1965 - Black and white - 1975 - 1960s

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In 1967, the show's twelfth season, CBS planned to cancel the series, but widespread viewer response -- it was even mentioned in Congress -- along with domestic pressure on the CBS head of programming by his wife, convinced them to continue it in the early evening on Mondays instead of Saturday nights.

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In 1987, many of the original cast reunited for the made-for-television film, ', which was filmed in Alberta, Canada. This was a huge ratings success and led to four more reunion films being filmed in the U.S.: ' (1990), ' (1992), ' (1993), and ' (1994). The series also inspired a Gunsmoke video game produced for the NES by Capcom.

Related Topics:
1987 - Alberta - Canada - 1990 - 1992 - 1993 - 1994 - Video game - NES - Capcom

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As of the start of 2005, two American series are aiming at matching or beating Gunsmoke's 20-year record. The sitcom The Simpsons, now in its 17th season, has been renewed through its 19th season, whilst the police procedural Law & Order, now in its 15th year, is also expected to be a possible 20-year survivor. WWE RAW claims to have aired more shows than Gunsmoke as of a July 25th airing; this claim has yet to be conclusively validated.

Related Topics:
2005 - Sitcom - The Simpsons - Police procedural - Law & Order - WWE RAW

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