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, in the 1870s and 1880s. The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television.
Gunsmoke premiered on CBS on September 10, 1952, and ran for 20 seasons. The radio series continued for 6 seasons after the TV show ended. Gunsmoke is one of the longest-running drama programs in history, and the second-longest-running western TV series, after Bonanza.
The show has been adapted to other media, including a comic strip, a video game, and a feature film.
The radio series was created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. Macdonnell had been a scriptwriter on the popular radio series Adventures of Philip Marlowe and wanted to create a show that would be a “Philip Marlowe in the Old West.”
Meston, who had also been a writer on Philip Marlowe, was inspired by the real-life Dodge City lawman Wyatt Earp. He wanted to create a show that would depict the reality of life in the American West.
The show’s central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television.
Conrad was a veteran radio actor who had previously starred in the CBS radio series Dick Tracy. Arness was a young actor who had just made his debut in the movie The Thing from Another World.
The show’s other regular characters include Dillon’s deputy, Chester Goode (Howard McNear), the town doctor, Doc Adams (Milburn Stone), and the saloonkeeper, Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake).
Gunsmoke premiered on CBS on September 10, 1952. It was originally aired on Monday nights at 9:00 pm, before being moved to Sunday nights at 10:00 pm.
The show was an immediate hit, and CBS renewed it for a second season. The ratings continued to grow, and by the end of its third season, Gunsmoke had become the top-rated show on television.
The show’s popularity led to a spin-off TV series, Marshal Dillon, which aired for one season in 1955-56.
Gunsmoke continued to be a hit in the 1960s, and was eventually renewed for a 20th season, which aired in 1975-76.
The radio series continued for six seasons after the TV show ended. The final episode of the radio series aired on December 26, 1975.
Gunsmoke has been adapted to other media, including a comic strip, a video game, and a feature film.
The comic strip, which was written and drawn by Ed Dodd, ran from 1954 to 1975.
The video game, which was developed by Take-Two Interactive, was released in 2005.
The feature film, which was directed by James Mangold and stars Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, was released in 1995.
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How many episodes of Gunsmoke are on the radio?
Gunsmoke was a popular radio show that aired from 1952 to 1961. There were a total of 635 episodes produced.
Who was the radio cast of Gunsmoke?
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. The radio series ran from 1952 to 1961. The television series ran from 1955 to 1975.
The radio cast of Gunsmoke included William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon, Howard McNear as Doc Adams, Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell, and Parley Baer as Chester Goode.
Where can I listen to old radio dramas?
Where can I listen to old radio dramas?
Radio drama (or “audio drama”) is a form of theater in which radio plays are performed. It emerged in the 1930s and reached its peak of popularity during World War II.
There are several places where you can listen to old radio dramas. One excellent resource is the Internet Archive, which has a large collection of old radio dramas, as well as other types of audio recordings.
Another great resource is the Old Time Radio Researchers Group, which has a huge collection of old radio shows, including many radio dramas.
Finally, there are a number of websites that host old radio dramas, including Radio Drama Revival and The Classic Radio Show.
How many years was Gunsmoke on the radio?
Gunsmoke was on the radio for 20 years, making it one of the longest-running radio dramas in history. The show was originally created as a summer replacement for the radio series Amos ‘n’ Andy, and it was so successful that it was eventually made into a regular series. The show was set in the American West, and it followed the adventures of Marshal Matt Dillon, his deputies, and the townsfolk of Dodge City. The show was very popular with listeners, and it spawned a number of spin-off series, including Gunsmoke: The Long Ride, Gunsmoke: The Battle of Adobe Walls, and Gunsmoke: The Last Apache.
What guest star appeared on Gunsmoke the most?
What guest star appeared on Gunsmoke the most?
Gunsmoke was a popular Western TV series that aired from 1955-1975. Over the course of its long run, the show had a number of guest stars. Some of the most famous guest stars who appeared on Gunsmoke include John Wayne, James Stewart, and Clint Eastwood.
How did Kitty leave Gunsmoke?
How did Kitty leave Gunsmoke?
Kitty left Gunsmoke because she was pregnant with Doc Adams’ baby. She didn’t want to raise the baby in Dodge, so she left for San Francisco.
What actor guest starred the most on Gunsmoke?
Gunsmoke was an American radio and television series set in Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s. It starred James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon. The show was on the air for 20 seasons, making it the longest-running adult western in television history.
Over the years, a number of well-known actors guest-starred on the show. But who was the most frequent guest star?
That would be George Kennedy, who appeared in 39 episodes of Gunsmoke. He played various characters, including a gunslinger, a doctor, and a railroad executive.
Second place goes to Harry Carey, Jr., who appeared in 34 episodes. He played a wide variety of characters, including a bar owner, a sheriff, and a U.S. Marshal.
Third place goes to Dennis Weaver, who appeared in 28 episodes. He played the title role of Marshal Sam McCloud, a lawman from New Mexico who occasionally assisted Matt Dillon in Dodge City.
Fourth place goes to Burt Reynolds, who appeared in 26 episodes. He played Quint Asper, a young man who moves to Dodge City and becomes a deputy marshal.
Finally, in fifth place, is William Conrad, who appeared in 25 episodes. He played Marshal Dillon’s friend and mentor, Judge Roy Bean.