Get out of Dodge!

1955 · 20 seasons · Western

6.7 Popular

Series finished

Western Action & Adventure Drama

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television.

Country of origin: 🇺🇸 United States
Year: 1955

Created by: John Meston
Channel: CBS
Studio: Filmaster Productions · Arness Production Company · CBS

Trivia & behind the scenes

Origins

CBS chairman William S. Paley, a fan of the Philip Marlowe radio series, asked his programming chief to develop a hardcore Western that was essentially a 'Philip Marlowe of the Old West', which eventually led to Gunsmoke's creation.

Origins

An audition script called 'Mark Dillon Goes to Gouge Eye' was recorded twice in 1949, once as a hardcore detective-style version starring Michael Rye and once as a lighter Western version starring Howard Culver; CBS preferred the Culver version, but the project stalled for three years when Culver's contract with Straight Arrow blocked him from starring.

Origins

Producer Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston originally wanted to title their new adult Western 'Jeff Spain' after a character from their earlier anthology shows, but had to use the title 'Gunsmoke', which had already been coined by Harry Ackerman and was preferred by CBS.

Casting

William Conrad won the role of Matt Dillon on radio almost by accident: producers initially wanted to avoid casting him because he was already overexposed in film and radio, but after auditioning many actors, they called him as a last resort and hired him after just a two-line reading.

Casting

When Gunsmoke moved to television in 1955, CBS gave only token auditions to the radio cast and rejected William Conrad for the lead role largely due to his weight; Raymond Burr was also considered but deemed too heavy for the part.

Casting

It has long been rumored that John Wayne was offered the role of Matt Dillon, but according to director Charles Warren and castmate Dennis Weaver, Wayne was never actually considered for the part, though he did encourage James Arness to take the role and personally introduced the pilot episode.

Trivia

Doc Adams' radio character was originally named Dr. Charles Adams, a name suggested by William Conrad in reference to cartoonist Charles Addams, poking fun at the character's initially ghoulish personality; when the TV version was cast, Milburn Stone was given free rein to pick a first name and chose 'Galen' after the ancient Greek physician.

Reception

In 1967, after its twelfth season, CBS planned to cancel Gunsmoke, but public backlash—including a mention in Congress and pressure from Babe Paley, wife of CBS president William S. Paley—saved the show; Gilligan's Island was cancelled instead to make room for it.

Reception

When CBS finally ended Gunsmoke in 1975 after 20 seasons, the decision was made without any public announcement or advance warning to the cast and crew, who learned of the cancellation by reading about it in the trade papers.

Casting

For the 1987 TV reunion movie 'Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge', Ken Curtis (Festus) declined to return over a salary dispute, so the screenwriters wrote around his absence by making the character Newly the new Dodge City marshal instead.

Music

The Gunsmoke theme song, titled 'Old Trails' (also known as 'Boothill'), was composed by Rex Koury; although the lyrics were never used on the radio or TV show itself, they were recorded and released separately by singer Tex Ritter in 1955, backed by Koury and the radio show's orchestra.

References

A 1958 fight scene from the episode 'Buffalo Man' featuring James Arness and guest star John Anderson became a staple teaching tool, appearing in the American Cinema Editors' educational film 'Film Editing: Interpretation and Value' and is still used in film school editing classes.

Memorable quotes

Concerning arresting an abused starving sodbuster wife: "Blaming her would be like blaming the night for being dark."

Matt Dillon Refusing to blame an abused wife for a crime

Commenting of Doc Adams's grumpy disposition: "What's the matter Doc? Someone pull you through a knot hole?"

Chester Teasing Doc about his grumpy mood

On a long ride with Matt, Chester declares, "Why I'm so hungry, my stomach is growing teeth."

Chester Complaining of hunger on a long ride

On observing a prisoner Matt is releasing from jail, Chester addresses the prisoner, "You look like the dogs had you under the house."

Chester Mocking a scruffy released prisoner

I'll sleep better for it when I do sleep, though, knowing I didn't miss nothin' when I wasn't sleepin', you know."

Chester Musing about sleep and missing nothing

You couldn't burst a bird's egg with a ball-peen hammer.

Festus Describing someone as delicate or weak

Crookeder than a dog's hind leg.

Festus Describing someone as dishonest or crooked

Tighter than the feathers on a prairie chicken's rump.

Festus Describing something very tight

Rougher than a wagon full of cobs.

Festus Describing something rough

Quicker than a rat can run over the roof with a piece of raw liver in his mouth.

Festus Describing extreme speed

[He] draws trouble like a summer melon draws flies.

Festus Describing a troublemaker

No more chance than a grass hopper in a hen house.

Festus Describing bad odds

He ain't got the gumption to pound sand down a rat hole.

Festus Insulting someone's lack of nerve

He can't see past the brim of his hat.

Festus Insulting someone's narrow-mindedness

I'll get onto you like ugly on an ape.

Festus Threatening to stick close to someone

I'll get after you like thunder after lightnin'.

Festus Vowing to pursue someone relentlessly

I thumped him 'till his ears rang like the liberty bell.

Festus Describing a fight he won

Bleedin' like a stuck hog.

Festus Describing a bloody wound

Naked as a plucked prairie chicken.

Festus Describing someone stripped bare

Sincere as a $5 funeral.

Festus Mocking insincerity

Themes

marshal kansas, usa wild west 19th century gun fights

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Trivia & behind the scenes

Memorable quotes

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