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Clockwise from top: Ken Curtis (Festus), Arness (Matt), Amanda Blake (Kitty) and Milburn Stone (Doc) in 1968. Gunsmoke is an American Western television series developed by Charles Marquis Warren and based on the radio program of the same name. [1] The series ran for 20 seasons, making it the longest-running Western in television history.
Ken Curtis as Festus Haggen and James Arness as Matt Dillon, 1968. Curtis was a singer before moving into acting, and combined both careers once he entered films. [6] Curtis was with the Tommy Dorsey band in 1941, and succeeded Frank Sinatra as vocalist until Dick Haymes contractually replaced Sinatra in 1942.
This list contains notable cast members of the Gunsmoke radio and TV series, and TV movies. [1] The listing includes regular cast members, guest stars, and recurring cast members. Radio cast
The tenth season of the American Western television Gunsmoke originally aired in the United States on the CBS on September 26, 1964, and the final episode aired on June 29, 1965. [1] Season 10 of Gunsmoke was the fourth season of one hour episodes filmed in black-and-white. Seasons 1–6 were half-hour episodes, and color episodes were not ...
The first episode of season 20 aired in the United States on September 9, 1974, and the final episode aired on March 31, 1975. All episodes were broadcast in the U.S. by CBS. [4] Season 20 of Gunsmoke was the ninth season of color episodes, and the final season of the series. Previous seasons were filmed in black-and-white.
In a 1998 TV Guide poll of 50,000, Gunsmoke was ranked as CBS's best Western and James Arness was ranked as CBS's best "Gunslinger". [48] In 1997, the episode "The Jailer" was ranked No. 28 on TV Guide ' s 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time. [49] In 2002, TV Guide ranked Gunsmoke as No. 40 in the 50 greatest television shows of all time. [50]
Episode 13, "Reed Survives" was the first television screenplay written by Les Crutchfield, who wrote 138 radio and television Gunsmoke stories and scripts, second only to the number written by the series co-creator, John Meston. Crutchfield created the character Festus Haggen. Three episodes written by him were aired after his death in 1966.
Ken Curtis appears in this season prior to his casting as Festus Haggen. He was cast in episode 21, "Jayhawkers" and episode 32, "Change of Heart". Eddie Little Sky, who played the warrior in episode 39, "Cheyennes", was a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe. He was one of the first Native American actors to play Native American roles.