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This article is about the radio and television series. For the classic arcade game, see Gun.Smoke. GunSmoke is a vertical Scrolling shooter Arcade game created by Capcom in 1985 (its author is Yoshiki Okamoto)
The cast of radio's Gunsmoke: Howard McNear (Doc), William Conrad (Matt), Georgia Ellis (Kitty) and Parley Baer (Chester)
The cast of radio's Gunsmoke: Howard McNear (Doc), William Conrad (Matt), Georgia Ellis (Kitty) and Parley Baer (Chester)

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. Howard T McNear ( January 27, 1905 &ndash January 3, 1969) was an American film television and radio character actor Georgia Ellis (1917 &ndash 1988 was an American actress who is best known for her recurring role of Kitty in the popular Western radio drama Gunsmoke. Parley Baer ( 5 August 1914 &ndash 22 November 2002) was an American Actor in Film, Television The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Western is a fiction Genre seen in Film, Television, Radio, Literature, Painting and other Visual arts. Norman MacDonnell (born November 8, 1916, in Pasadena California; died November 28, 1979, in Burbank California) was John Meston ( July 30, 1914 &ndash March 24, 1979) was an American Radio and Television Writer best The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. For the 1939 Western movie, see Dodge City (1939 film. Dodge City is a City and County seat of Ford Kansas ( is a Midwestern state in the central region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the American " The Western United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American West or simply the West &mdashtraditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost

The radio version ran from 1952 to 1961 and, according to John Dunning[1], amongst old-time radio fans, "Gunsmoke is routinely placed among the best shows of any kind and any time. John Dunning may refer to John Dunning (film editor (1916–1991 American film editor John Dunning 1st Baron Ashburton (1731–1783 Old-Time Radio (OTR and the Golden Age of Radio refer to a period of Radio programming lasting from the proliferation of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s until " The television version ran from 1955 to 1975 and is the longest running prime time drama and the second-longest running prime time fictional program in U. S. television history, its record surpassed only by the Disney anthology television series and Hallmark Hall of Fame. The first incarnation of the Walt Disney anthology television series, commonly called The Wonderful World of Disney, premiered on ABC on October 27 Hallmark Hall of Fame is a long-running irregularly scheduled anthology program on American Television.

Contents

Radio version

In the late 1940s, CBS chairman William S. Paley, a big fan of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe radio serial, asked his programming chief, Hubell Robinson, to develop a hardboiled Western series. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. William Samuel Paley ( September 28, 1901 &ndash October 26, 1990) was the chief executive who built Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS Philip Marlowe is a fictional character created by Raymond Chandler in a series of novels including The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye Radio drama is a form of audio storytelling broadcast on radio. Robinson contacted his West Coast CBS Vice-President, Harry Ackerman, who had created the Philip Marlowe series, to take on the task. Harry Ackerman ( November 17 1912 in Albany New York - February 3 1991 in Burbank California) was a famed TV Executive

Ackerman and his scriptwriters, Mort Fine and David Friedkin, created an audition script called "Mark Dillon Goes to Gouge Eye". Two auditions were created in 1949. The first was very much like a hardboiled detective series and starred Rye Billsbury as Dillon; the second starred Straight Arrow actor Howard Culver in a more Western, lighter version of the same script. CBS liked the Culver version better, and Ackerman was given the green light to proceed.

But there was a complication. Culver's contract as the star of Straight Arrow would not allow him to do another Western series. So the project was shelved until three years later, when Norman MacDonnell and John Meston discovered it while looking to create an adult Western series of their own.

MacDonnell and Meston wanted to create a radio Western for adults, in contrast to the prevailing juvenile fare such as The Lone Ranger and The Cisco Kid. The Lone Ranger is an American, long-running Old-time radio and early Television show created by George W The Cisco Kid was a film radio television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O Gunsmoke was set in Dodge City, Kansas during the thriving cattle days of the 1870s. For the 1939 Western movie, see Dodge City (1939 film. Dodge City is a City and County seat of Ford Dunning[2] notes, "The show drew critical acclaim for unprecedented realism. "

Radio cast

The radio series first aired on April 26, 1952 ("Billy the Kid," written by Walter Newman) and ran until June 18, 1961 on CBS. Events 1467 - The miraculous image in Our Lady of Good Counsel appear in Genazzano, Italy. Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Walter Newman ( 11 February 1916 – 14 October 1993) was an American radio writer and Screenwriter active from the late Events 618 - Coronation of the Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It starred William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon; Howard McNear as the ghoulish, brittle and then, as the series progressed, kind-hearted Doc Charles Adams; Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell; and Parley Baer as Dillon's assistant (but not his deputy), Chester Proudfoot. Marshal Matt Dillon is a fictional character featured on both the Radio and Television versions of Gunsmoke. Howard T McNear ( January 27, 1905 &ndash January 3, 1969) was an American film television and radio character actor Georgia Ellis (1917 &ndash 1988 was an American actress who is best known for her recurring role of Kitty in the popular Western radio drama Gunsmoke. Parley Baer ( 5 August 1914 &ndash 22 November 2002) was an American Actor in Film, Television (On the television series, Doc's first name was changed to Galen, and Chester's last name was changed to Goode. ) Chester's character had no surname until "Proudfoot" was ad libbed by Baer during an early rehearsal, while Doc Adams was named after cartoonist Charles Addams. A surname is a name added to a Given name and is part of a Personal name. Charles Samuel Addams ( 7 January, 1912 - 29 September, 1988) was an American Cartoonist known for his particularly In a 1953 interview with Time, MacDonnell declared: "Kitty is just someone Matt has to visit every once in a while. Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and We never say it, but Kitty is a prostitute, plain and simple. Prostitution is the act of performing Sexual activity in exchange for Money. " (Dunning, 304)

William Conrad was actually one of the last actors who auditioned for the role of Marshal Dillon. He was already one of radio's busiest actors and had a powerful and distinctive baritone voice. Though Meston championed him, MacDonnell thought that Conrad might be overexposed. During his audition, however, Conrad won over MacDonnell after reading just a few lines.

Distinction from other radio westerns

The show was distinct from other radio westerns, as the dialogue was often slow and halting, and due to the outstanding sound effects, listeners had a nearly palpable sense of the prairie terrain where the show was set. The Western is a fiction Genre seen in Film, Television, Radio, Literature, Painting and other Visual arts. A dialogue (sometimes spelled dialog) is a reciprocal Conversation between two or more entities. For the album by The Jam see Sound Affects. Sound effects or audio effects are artificially created or enhanced Sounds Prairie, from the French prairie ("meadow" "grassland" "pasture" refers to an area of land of low topographic relief that historically The effects were subtle but multilayered, giving the show a spacious feel. John Dunning writes: "The listener heard extraneous dialogue in the background, just above the muted shouts of kids playing in an alley. John Dunning may refer to John Dunning (film editor (1916–1991 American film editor John Dunning 1st Baron Ashburton (1731–1783 He heard noises from the next block, too, where the inevitable dog was barking. " (Dunning, 305) Dillon as portrayed by Conrad was a lonely, isolated man, toughened by a hard life. Meston relished the upending of cherished Western fiction clichés and thought that few Westerns gave any inkling of how brutal was the Old West. A cliché (from French, klɪ'ʃe or cliche is a phrase expression or idea that has been overused to the point of losing its intended force Dunning writes that Meston was especially disgusted by the archetypal Western hero and set out "to destroy" that type of "character he loathed. " In Meston's view, "Dillon was almost as scarred as the homicidal psychopaths who drifted into Dodge from all directions. List of countries by homicide rate Homicide ( Latin homicidium, homo human being + caedere to cut kill refers to the act of killing another Psychopathy ( is a psychological construct that describes chronic immoral and Antisocial behavior " (Dunning, 304)

Dunning writes that Dillon "played his hand and often lost. He arrived too late to prevent a lynching. Lynching is an Extrajudicial punishment meted out by a mob Lynching an enumerated Felony in some states in the United States, is defined by some He amputated a dying man's leg and lost the patient anyway. Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or Surgery. He saved a girl from brutal rapists then found himself unable to offer her what she needed to stop her from moving into. Rape, also referred to as Sexual assault, is an Assault by a person involving Sexual intercourse with or Sexual penetration of another person . . life as a prostitute. Prostitution is the act of performing Sexual activity in exchange for Money. " (Dunning, 304) Some listeners, such as vintage radio authority Dunning, have argued that the radio version of Gunsmoke was far more realistic than the TV series. Episodes were aimed at adults and featured some of the most explicit content of their time, including violent crimes, scalpings, massacres, and opium addicts. A violent crime or crime of violence is a Crime in which the offender uses or threatens to use violent force upon the victim Scalping is the act of removing the Scalp, usually with the hair as a portable proof or trophy of prowess in war Opium is a Narcotic formed from the Latex (ie sap released by lacerating (or "scoring" the immature seed pods of opium poppies ( Many episodes ended on a somber note, and villains often got away with their crimes. Nonetheless, thanks to the subtle scripts and outstanding ensemble cast, over the years the program evolved into a warm, often humorous celebration of human nature.

Talk of adapting Gunsmoke to television

Not long after the show began, there was talk of adapting it to television. Privately, MacDonnell had a guarded interest in taking the show to television, but publicly, he declared that "our show is perfect for radio," and he feared that, as Dunning writes, "Gunsmoke confined by a picture couldn't possibly be as authentic or attentive to detail. " (Dunning, 305) "In the end," writes Dunning, "CBS simply took it away from" MacDonnell and began preparing for the television version of Gunsmoke. (Dunning, 305)

Conrad and the others were given auditions, but they were little more than token efforts -- especially in Conrad's case, due to his obesity. However, Meston was kept on as the main writer. In the early years, a majority of the TV episodes were adapted from the radio scripts, often using identical scenes and dialogue. Dunning writes: "That radio fans considered the TV show a sham and its players impostors should surprise no one. That the TV show was not a sham is due in no small part to the continued strength of Meston's scripts. " (Dunning, 304)

MacDonnell and Meston continued the radio version of Gunsmoke until 1961, making it one of the most enduring vintage radio dramas. The Gunsmoke radio theme song and later TV theme was titled "Old Trails", also known as "Boothill. " The theme was written by Rex Koury & Glenn Spencer. The original radio version was conducted by Rex Koury. The TV version was thought to have been first conducted by CBS West Coast Music Director, Lud Gluskin. Ludwig Elias Gluskin (also Ludwig Grassnick) (December 16 1898 New York City ? or Russia ? - October 13 1989 Palm Springs California) was

Television version

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke title card
Format Western
Created by John Meston
Starring James Arness
Milburn Stone
Amanda Blake
Dennis Weaver
Ken Curtis
Burt Reynolds
Buck Taylor
Glenn Strange
Theme music composer Herman Stein
Country of origin United States
No. The Western is a fiction Genre seen in Film, Television, Radio, Literature, Painting and other Visual arts. John Meston ( July 30, 1914 &ndash March 24, 1979) was an American Radio and Television Writer best James Arness (born as James Aurness on May 26 1923, Minneapolis Minnesota) is an Emmy -nominated American Actor Milburn Stone ( July 5 1904 - June 12 1980) was an Emmy Award winning American television actor who was the Nephew Amanda Blake ( February 20, 1929 &ndash August 16, 1989) was an American actress best known for the role of the red-haired saloon William Dennis Weaver ( June 4[[ 924]] &ndash February 24 2006) was an Emmy Award -winning American Actor, best known for Ken Curtis ( July 2, 1916 - April 28, 1991) was an American singer and Actor best known for his role as " Festus Haggen Burton Leon Reynolds Jr (born February 11 1936 is an American Actor. Walter Clarence Taylor III, known as Buck Taylor (born May 13, 1938) is an American Actor and water color Artist Glenn Strange ( August 16, 1899 - September 20, 1973) was an American Actor who appeared mostly in Western Herman Stein ( August 19 1915 &ndash March 15 2007) was an American Composer who wrote music for many of the 1950s The United States of America —commonly referred to as the of seasons 6 ('Marshal Dillon', syndication re-titling of half-hour episodes)
14 ('Gunsmoke'),
20 (total seasons)
No.  of episodes 233 ('Marshal Dillon', syndication re-titling of half-hour episodes), 402 ('Gunsmoke'),

635 (total episodes)
Production
Running time 30 minutes (1955-1961), 60 minutes (1961-1975)
Broadcast
Original channel CBS
Picture format Black and white (1955-1966), color (1966-1975)
Original run September 10, 1955 – March 31, 1975
External links
IMDb profile

The television series ran from September 10, 1955 to March 31, 1975 on CBS for 635 episodes. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Black-and-white is a number of Monochrome forms in Visual arts. Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde. The year 1955 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1955. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor The year 1975 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of television-related events in 1975 Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde. The year 1955 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1955. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor The year 1975 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of television-related events in 1975 CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Until 2005, it was the longest run of any scripted series with continuing characters in American primetime television.

Conrad was the first choice to play Marshal Dillon on TV, having established the role, but his increasing obesity led to more photogenic actors being considered. Marshal Matt Dillon is a fictional character featured on both the Radio and Television versions of Gunsmoke. Obesity is a condition in which excess Body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be negatively affected Losing the role embittered Conrad for years, though he later starred in another CBS television series, Cannon (1971-1975). Cannon is a detective series which ran on CBS from 1971 to 1976. Denver Pyle was also considered for the role, as was Raymond Burr who was ultimately seen as too heavyset for the part. Denver Dell Pyle ( May 11, 1920 – December 25, 1997) was an American Film and Television actor Raymond William Stacey Burr ( May 21, 1917 &ndash September 12, 1993) was a Canadian Emmy -winning Actor and According to a James Arness interview, John Wayne was offered the role, but couldn't do it. James Arness (born as James Aurness on May 26 1923, Minneapolis Minnesota) is an Emmy -nominated American Actor John Wayne ( May 26, 1907 &ndash June 11, 1979) was an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award -winning American

In the end, the primary roles were all recast, with James Arness taking on the lead role of Marshal Matt Dillon upon the recommendation of John Wayne, who also introduced the first episode of the series; Dennis Weaver playing Chester Goode; Milburn Stone being cast as Dr. James Arness (born as James Aurness on May 26 1923, Minneapolis Minnesota) is an Emmy -nominated American Actor William Dennis Weaver ( June 4[[ 924]] &ndash February 24 2006) was an Emmy Award -winning American Actor, best known for Milburn Stone ( July 5 1904 - June 12 1980) was an Emmy Award winning American television actor who was the Nephew Galen "Doc" Adams; and Amanda Blake taking on the role of Miss Kitty Russell, owner of the Long Branch Saloon. Amanda Blake ( February 20, 1929 &ndash August 16, 1989) was an American actress best known for the role of the red-haired saloon MacDonnell became the associate producer of the TV show and later the producer. Meston was named head writer. Arness, in his role on Gunsmoke, achieved what no other actor at the time had ever matched: he played the same character on the same scripted series for 20 years - at the time the longest uninterrupted period a primetime actor had played the same role in the same show.

In 1963, singer/character actor Ken Curtis did a guest role as a shady ladies' man. Ken Curtis ( July 2, 1916 - April 28, 1991) was an American singer and Actor best known for his role as " Festus Haggen After Weaver left the series to venture out as the lead in his own TV series, Kentucky Jones, Curtis was added to the show's lineup. William Dennis Weaver ( June 4[[ 924]] &ndash February 24 2006) was an Emmy Award -winning American Actor, best known for He played the stubbornly illiterate Festus Haggen, a character who came to town (in an episode titled "Us Haggens") to avenge the death of his twin brother, Fergus Haggen, and another brother, Jeff Haggen, and who decided to stay in Dodge when the deed was done. Festus Haggen was Marshal Matt Dillon 's only official deputy on the CBS television series Gunsmoke. Initially existing on the fringes of Dodge society, Festus Haggen was slowly phased in as a reliable sidekick to Matt Dillon and was eventually made a deputy. Festus Haggen was Marshal Matt Dillon 's only official deputy on the CBS television series Gunsmoke. Interestingly, his twin was never again mentioned on the show. In the episode "Alias Festus Haggen," he is mistaken for a robber and killer whom he has to expose to free himself (both parts played by Curtis). In a comic relief episode ("Mad Dog"), another case of mistaken identity forces Festus to fight three sons of a man killed by his cousin. Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work often to relieve tension Other actors who played Dillon's deputies for two and a half to three-year stints included Roger Ewing (1966-1968) as Thad Greenwood and Burt Reynolds (1962-1965) as Indian/white Quint Asper. Burton Leon Reynolds Jr (born February 11 1936 is an American Actor. Buck Taylor, who played gunsmith Newly O'Brien from 1967-1975, also served as one of Dillon's deputies.

While Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty clearly had a close personal relationship, the two never married. In a July 2, 2002 Associated Press interview with Bob Thomas, Arness explained, "If they were man and wife, it would make a lot of difference. The Associated Press ( AP) is an American News agency. The AP is a Cooperative owned by its contributing Newspapers radio The people upstairs decided it was better to leave the show as it was, which I totally agreed with. " The nearest that Matt and Kitty had to a romantic encounter was in a comic episode ("Quiet Day in Dodge"), where Matt, tired from a long day of settling disputes, was about to have dinner with Miss Kitty. However, she was distracted and found poor Matt sound asleep. Kitty ended up storming out of the room, furious. In another episode ("Hostage!", Season 18, Episode 13, December 11, 1972) Kitty was gravely injured. Matt spent hours at Kitty's side in Doc's office, holding her hand before she stirred and he knew he would not lose her. The Marshal took off his badge to pursue the bad guy as a personal vendetta. When Kitty awoke and Doc told her of Matt's mission she feared for his safety. As Doc reassured her, "The sun hasn't come up on the day that Matt can't take care of himself," Kitty answered, "I couldn't live without him. "

In an episode featuring Johnny Whitaker as a boy with a prostitute mother, her madam questions Dillon as to why the law overlooks Miss Kitty's enterprise. Johnny Whitaker (born John O Whitaker Jr on December 13, 1959) is an American Actor best known for several notable television and It appears that bordellos could exist "at the law's discretion" (meaning the Marshal's).

Differences between the characters on the radio and television versions

There were differences between the characters on the radio and TV versions of Gunsmoke. The radio series Doc was acerbic, somewhat mercenary and borderline alcoholic -- at least in the program's early years. The television Doc, though still crusty, was in many ways softer and warmer. Miss Kitty, who in the radio series likely engaged in prostitution, was viewed more as "the proprietor of a saloon" on the television series, and except for a few early scripts taken from the radio series, viewers only saw Miss Kitty as a kindhearted businesswoman.

Format

From 1955 to 1961, Gunsmoke was a half-hour show (re-titled Marshal Dillon in syndication). Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It then went to an hour-long format. The series was entitled "GUN LAW" in the UK.

Popularity

Gunsmoke was TV's No. 1 ranked show from 1957 to 1961 before slipping into a decline after expanding to an hour. In 1967, the show's 12th season, CBS planned to cancel the series, but widespread viewer reaction (including a mention in Congress and pressure from the wife of the head of programming at CBS) prevented its demise. The year 1967 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1967. The show continued on in a different time slot: early evening on Mondays instead of Saturday nights, cancelling the popular Gilligan's Island in the process. Gilligan's Island is an American TV sitcom originally produced by United Artists Television. This seemingly minor change led to a spike in ratings that saw the series once again reach the top 10 in the Nielsen ratings until the 1973-1974 television season [3]. Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television In 1975, the show was finally cancelled after a long twenty-year run. Gunsmoke was the show that ushered in the age of the adult Western, and although over 30 Westerns came and went during its 20-year tenure, Gunsmoke outlasted all of its imitators and was the only Western still airing when it was cancelled.

Arness and Stone had remained with the show for its entire run (although Stone missed seven episodes in 1971 due to illness and was temporarily replaced by Pat Hingle, who played "Doctor Chapman" while Doc Adams ostensibly left Dodge to further his medical studies on the East Coast). The year 1971 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1971. Martin Patterson "Pat" Hingle (born July 19, 1924) is an American Actor.

The entire cast was stunned by the cancellation, as they were unaware CBS had been considering it. According to Arness, "We didn't do a final, wrap-up show. We finished the 20th year, we all expected to go on for another season, or two or three. The (network) never told anybody they were thinking of cancelling. " The cast and crew heard the news in typical Hollywood fashion: they read it in the trade papers. (Associated Press, July 2, 2002, Bob Thomas)

Revivals

In 1987, many of the original cast reunited for the TV movie, Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge[4], filmed in Alberta, Canada. The year 1987 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1987. Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905 Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Ken Curtis declined returning, citing a contract dispute, saying, "As Dillon's right hand man, I felt the offer should approximate Miss Blake's. " Instead, Buck Taylor became Dodge's new marshal, though the retired Matt Dillon was the hero. A huge ratings success, it led to four more TV films being made in the U. S. After Amanda Blake's death, the writers built on the 1973 two-part episodic romance of "Matt's Love Story", (which was noted for the marshal's first overnight visit to a female's lodgings). The year 1973 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1973. In the episode, Matt loses his memory and his heart during a brief liaison with "Mike" Michael Learned of The Waltons. Michael Learned (born April 9, 1939) is an American actress known for her role as Olivia Walton on The Waltons. The Waltons is an American Television series created by Earl Hamner Jr In preserving the ethics of the era and the heretofore flawless hero's character, the healed Dillon returns to Dodge City. Movie number two, Gunsmoke: The Last Apache[5] (1990), had Learned reprising the role of "Mike Yardley" to divulge that Matt and "Mike" conceived a daughter who is now a young woman named Beth. The year 1990 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1990. Other films (which all featured daughter Beth) included Gunsmoke: To the Last Man[6] (1992), Gunsmoke: The Long Ride[7] (1993), and Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice[8] (1994). The year 1992 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1992. The year 1993 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1993. The year 1994 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1994.

Longevity

As of April 2008, two American series that have been poised to beat Gunsmoke's 20-year record are the animated sitcom The Simpsons, now in its 19th season, and the police procedural/courtroom drama Law & Order, now in its 18th year. International holidays and other major events April 1 - April Fools' Day April 4 - Qingming Festival (Mainland The bouncing ball animation (below consists of these 6 frames The police procedural is a sub-genre of the mystery story which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a Police force as they investigate Crimes A legal drama is a work of dramatic Fiction about crime and civil litigation Law & Order is an American Police procedural and Legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf. The half hour Simpsons has been renewed for 2008-2009 and will in fact tie Gunsmoke for 20 seasons in September 2008. Gunsmoke, which ran a full hour through most of its run, still beats the comedy's total air time; Law & Order is also expected to be a possible 20-year survivor. Internationally, a number of British primetime dramas and comedies have beaten Gunsmoke, and Law & Order, including Last of the Summer Wine (34 years), Taggart (23 years), Casualty (21 years) and the longest running primetime scripted show, Doctor Who. Last of the Summer Wine is a British sitcom written by Roy Clarke that is broadcast on BBC One. Taggart is a long-running Scottish detective Television programme created by Glenn Chandler (who has written many of the episodes Casualty is the longest running emergency medical Drama series in the world and the second-longest-running medical drama in the world behind America's General Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC.

Ratings

Syndication

In syndication, the entire 20-year run of Gunsmoke is separated into three packages by CBS Paramount Television:

DVD releases

Certain episodes are available on DVD in two volumes. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is Twelve episodes from 1955 to 1964 were selected for the Gunsmoke: Volume I box set, and another twelve episodes from 1964 to 1975 were selected for the Gunsmoke: Volume II box set. Both are available on Region 1 DVD.

Paramount Home Entertainment released Season 1 on DVD in Region 1 on July 17, 2007. Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and Distribution company, based in Hollywood California. Season 2: Volume 1, which features the first 20 episodes of season 2 was released on January 8, 2008. Season 2: Volume 2, which features the last 19 episodes of season 2 is to be released May 27, 2008.

DVD Name Ep # Release Date
The First Season 39 July 17, 2007
The Second Season, Volume 1 20 January 8, 2008
The Second Season, Volume 2 19 May 27, 2008

Comic strips and books

Comic books based on the series were also published. Events 180 - Twelve inhabitants of Scillium in North Africa are executed for being Christians Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common A comic book (often shortened to simply comic and sometimes called a comic paper or comic magazine) is a Magazine or Book of narrative Dell Comics put out five issues of their Four Color Comics series on Gunsmoke (issues #679, 720, 769, 797, 844). Dell Comics was the Comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in Pulp magazines. Four Color, also known as Four Color Comics and One Shots, was an extremely prolific American Comic book This was followed by Gunsmoke #6-27 (1958-62). Gold Key Comics continued it with #1-6 in 1969-70. Gold Key Comics was an Imprint of Western Publishing created for Comic books distributed to Newsstands History Gold Key

A comic strip version of the series ran in British newspapers for several years under the show's UK title, Gun Law.

A novel based upon the television series, entitled "Gunsmoke: The Last Dog Soldier", written by Joseph A. West, was published by Signet in May 2005.

Games

Lowell Toy Manufacturing Corporation ( "It's a Lowell Game" ) issued Gunsmoke as their game No. 822. Along with many other Lowell games of this era, Gunsmoke is a highly coveted collectible. The TV series also inspired a Gunsmoke video game produced for the NES by Capcom. A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The Nintendo Entertainment System (often abbreviated as NES or simply Nintendo) is an 8-bit Video game console that was released by For the original NASA meaning see capsule communicator. is a leading Japanese International developer

Regular cast; major characters

Cast

Sources

Miscellanea

Quotes

"If I had known it would last this long, I would never have created the darn thing. for other people called David/Dave Gallagher/Gallaher see Gallagher David Matthew Gallaher: (born 1975 is Honolulu -born American writer High Moon is a Werewolf western Webcomic series developed in 2004 with a debut in 2007 as a part of Zuda, DC Comics " — John Meston

"Our attempt to create as realistic and entertaining a program as possible is not, of course, the only one of its kind. But we did proceed and were on the air, trying, before the release of such pictures as High Noon and Shane. High Noon is a 1952 Western film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. Shane is a 1953 Western film made by Paramount Pictures. It was produced and directed by George Stevens from a Screenplay " — John Meston

"We had a great childhood and boyhood. It was a wonderful time through those years. A lot of it was through the Depression years, when things were tough, but my dad always had a job. But I had a great time. I was kind of restless, and I had a hard time staying in school all day, so me and a few pals would duck out and go out on these various adventures. " — James Arness, on growing up with brother, Peter Graves, of Mission: Impossible fame. Peter Graves (born March 18 1926)is an American film and television Actor. Mission Impossible (often referred to as Mission Impossible The Original Series) is an American Television series that chronicles

"I wouldn't care if they tattoo 'Festus' all over. He's been good to me. " — Ken Curtis

"I'm really proud of Gunsmoke, We put on a good show every week—one that families could all watch together without offending anyone. " — Ken Curtis

Notable guest stars

See also: List of Gunsmoke cast members
(partial list, alphabetical):

References

  1. ^ See Dunning, 1998
  2. ^ Dunning, 1998
  3. ^ ClassicTVHits.com: TV Ratings > 1970's
  4. ^ Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge
  5. ^ Gunsmoke: The Last Apache
  6. ^ Gunsmoke: To the Last Man
  7. ^ Gunsmoke: The Long Ride
  8. ^ Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice
  9. ^ ClassicTVHits.com: TV Ratings

Notable directors

Notable composers

External links

Elmer Bernstein ( April 4 1922 - 18 August 2004) was an Academy and two-time Golden Globe award winning American Franz Waxman (24 December 1906 &ndash 24 February 1967 was a Jewish German American Composer, known for his bravura Carmen Fantasie Jerrald King "Jerry" Goldsmith ( February 10, 1929 – July 21, 2004) was an American Film score Composer
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