I just watched season 4 "The Coward" and Matt and Chester were But there comes a time when something must end.. When CBS decided to switch Gunsmoke from radio to television, it was clear from the start that William Conrad, the tough and mellifluous radio voice of Matt Dillon, was not the man for the screen role. Why, in the early shows, the audience even saw guys going up and down the stairs of the saloon with the girls.. He marries Kitty and becomes half-owner of the Long Branch Saloon. Big Jim bought Gunsmoke from CBS in the late 50s, then sold it back to the network a few years later for an undisclosed, but no doubt staggering, sum. A 1971 holiday episode, "Murry Christmas" included a young Jodie Foster and future "Happy Days" star Erin Moran. Dennis Weaver, who played Chester, started his program and had to leave Gunsmoke. Marshal (actually a deputy marshal, because only the senior officer in the district holds the title "marshal") would not be based in Dodge City and would not be involved in local law enforcement. Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. Bets were placed and if the cowboys beat the soldiers, the soldiers agreed to provide building materials to construct a saloon. A total of 635 episodes were aired over it's 20 year run. It is furnished with an 1881 bar and two Golden Eagles on top of the back bar that were once owned by Beeson. Awesome 80s cereal, including old brands & cool flavors you probably forgot! How many people did Matt dillon shoot on gunsmoke? The series followed the adventures of fictional U.S. The radio series ran from 1952 to 1961. A writer can get up to $4,500 for a Gunsmoke script. MORE:Native American sign language: Illustrated guides to 400 gestures, Big Bill was short, rather villainous-looking, and he sported a beer gut that just wouldnt quit a far cry from The Great American Hero.. Gunsmoke, produced and directed by Charles Marquis Warren, dramatizes the activities of Dillon, a man not without faults, who fights vigilantly for law and order in a frontier boomtown that was marked with a violence notorious even in that lawless era. I've seen on the episodes the long branch Their rooms were normally placed at the rear of the building. Who was Thad on Gunsmoke? Marshal Matt Dillon, who was portrayed on radio by William Conrad and then on television by James Arness, as he dealt with gunfighters, cattle rustlers, gamblers and other criminals while enforcing the law in the frontier town. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; And after the first few seasons, his Gunsmoke role got to be such a cinch, Jim could have phoned in his part every week. When Milburn Stone temporarily left for heart bypass surgery in 1971, Pat Hingle played Dr. John Chapman for several episodes. With a resonantly powerful and distinctive voice, Conrad was already one of radio's busiest actors. Boot Hill Museum celebrates the city's frontier past with a recreated Old West street, gunfight re-enactments and historic buildings, like the former Fort Dodge jail. Don't miss a story! Gunsmoke is often a somber program, particularly in its early years. ClickAmericana.com is made with and by Synchronista LLC 2011-2022. Did you know that the famed wild west saloon really existed? Mr. Warren asked Wayne if he knew James Arness, and Mr. Wayne said yes. What is sunshine DVD access code jenna jameson? To Dodge City come the renegades and ruthless gunmen of the times, determined to further their selfish interests at the expense of pioneering families. [11] The television show first portrayed Kitty as a saloon dance hall employee, then from season two, episode 36 ("Daddy-O"), as half-owner of the Long Branch Saloon. And so televisions first adult western (which had already been radios first adult western) was born. [64] Other products include Gunsmoke puzzles,[65]. It features actors portraying characters including Miss Kitty, the Queen of Dodge City and Chalkley Beeson, the saloon owner. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In an interview with SCVTV in 2006, James Arness revealed that early on, most of the outdoor work took place at Melody Ranch, the same spot where "The Lone Ranger" was filmed. Celebrating Gunsmokes 60th Anniversary: Mannon By David Cranmer June 24, 2015 Undoubtedly its a fools errand to single out a greatest lone installment from a television show that ran twenty years, racking up 635 episodes. Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic, particularly with regard to health and safety. Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice? I made it my mission to watch every episode of Gunsmoke and every episode of Marshal Dillon (the half hour version). The Long Branch Saloon was featured in the western drama and made television history for 19 years from September 1955 to its final season in 1974. Ken Curtis balked at the salary offer he received and said that he should be paid based on Festus's importance in the character hierarchy. When aired in the United Kingdom, the television series was initially titled Gun Law,[3] later reverting to Gunsmoke. Say what? The actor added that he visited the real Dodge City once, not to shoot "Gunsmoke," but for a celebration with other "Western guys.". Other films included Gunsmoke: To the Last Man (1992), Gunsmoke: The Long Ride (1993), and Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice (1994). amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; To find out more about one of televisions longest-running series, I spoke with John Mantley, executive producer of Gunsmoke since 1968, but who has been with the series since 1964. Want this question answered? The Gunsmoke radio theme song and later TV theme is titled "Old Trails", also known as "Boothill". WebGunsmoke (TV Series 19551975) - Filming & Production - IMDb Gunsmoke (19551975) Filming & Production Showing all 36 items Jump to: Filming Locations (36) Filming Locations Edit Old Tucson - 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA 18 of 18 found this interesting Hill City, South Dakota, USA (episodes16.6 and16.7) 12 of 12 found How many men did festus kill on There was the typical back-and-forth cutting between the gunman and the marshal, until the atypical shootout in which the bad guy won by shooting the marshal in the leg. In the radio series, "Doc" Adams was initially a self-interested and somewhat dark character with a predilection for constantly attempting to increase his revenue through the procurement of autopsy fees. Nearly three dozen people had once been buried in this graveyard. John Dunning wrote, "The listener heard extraneous dialogue in the background, just above the muted shouts of kids playing in an alley. Do Eric benet and Lisa bonet have a child together? James Arness portrays Dillon, respected Marshal of Dodge City, Kansas, during the turbulent era in the nations development when a six-shooter vied with a badge for supreme authority. "[17], According to Thomas "Duke" Miller, a TV and movie celebrity expert, this story was told to him by legendary actor James Stewart: "Jimmy said he was in the office with Charles Warren when Mr. Wayne came in. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 27,788. The program was funded by CBS in the first two years. Dunning writes that Meston was especially disgusted by the archetypal Western hero and set out "to destroy [that type of] character he loathed". Stone passed away in 1980 and the first Gunsmoke reunion movie wasnt made until 1987. As originally pitched to CBS executives, this was to be an adult Western, not a grown-up Hopalong Cassidy. Dodge City, Kansas was the setting of the long-running radio and television series Gunsmoke. Heck, even '70s teen idol Leif Garrett turned up in Dodge City. Then, because I had to lift the violent programs out of the series, I ran Milburns show a third time, just before the voting took place. Producer Mantley directly attributed Jims decreasing visibility to the CBS fear of too much violence. In one episode, Matt mentions a dangerious bar where the "Mexicans" drk. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The show stars William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon, Howard McNear as Doc Charles Adams, Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell, and Parley Baer as Dillon's assistant, Chester Wesley Proudfoot. Answer: Front Street The hotel, the Long Branch Saloon, Doc's office, and the jail were all on this street. False George M. Hoover's Saloon opened 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 series remained in the top 10 until the 197374 television season. Hes got a gun on his hip and we cant have him just walking around, snoozing in the sun and talking to the ladies. Pakistan ka ow konsa shehar ha jisy likhte howy pen ki nuk ni uthati. At the last-fade out, James Arness is strolling out of town to search for new land developments. Signed photographs from the show's actors and other memorabilia are on display including a vest worn by Sam the bartender and a dress worn by Miss Kitty. But in 2018, the Western ranch town was destroyed when 97,000 acres of the ranch were engulfed in the Woolsey wildfires, per CBS News. But did he really? 52 Episodes 1975. Best Continuing Supporting Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic or Comedy Series: Dennis Weaver nominated (winner: Best Dramatic Series with Continuing Characters won, Best Editing of a Film for Television: Mike Pozen for "How to Kill a Woman" won. The episode was based on "Matt's Love Story". 1987 - Gunsmoke : Return to Dodge1990 - Gunsmoke : The Last Apache1992 - Gunsmoke : To the Last Man1993 - Gunsmoke : The Long Ride1994 - Gunsmoke : One Man's Justice. The Marshal Dillon syndicated reruns of half-hour episodes lasted from 1961 until 1964 on CBS, originally on Tuesday nights within its time in reruns. West with forewords by. The radio series first aired on CBS on April 26, 1952, with the episode "Billy the Kid", written by Walter Newman, and ended on June 18, 1961. Many episodes were based on man's cruelty to man and woman, inasmuch as the prairie woman's life and the painful treatment of women as chattels were touched on well ahead of the time of most media. WebMany actors appeared regularly on Gunsmoke, in the majority of episodes, but in a variety of one-shot roles; others were only heard once or twice Edgar Barrier Jeanne Bates Dick The effects are subtle but multilayered, giving the show a spacious feel. Chalkley Beeson Be notified when an answer is posted. The series followed the adventures of fictional U.S. Add an answer. At the end of its run in 1975, Los Angeles Times columnist Cecil Smith wrote: "Gunsmoke was the dramatization of the American epic legend of the west. In the final scene of that first episode, the gunman again called the marshal out for a deadly duel. [2], Chalkley Beeson, a wealthy farmer and rancher, and William Harris bought the saloon in 1878. CBS begged Wayne to play Matt Dillon. Cookies help us deliver our Services. long branch , the lady gay, bulls head and also a billard parlor Though Meston championed him, Macdonnell thought Conrad might be overexposed. Study guides. Blake reigned as Miss Kitty, queen of Dodge Citys Long Branch Saloon, for 19 years in the TV series Gunsmoke. Set in the lawless cattle town of Dodge City, Kan., in the late 1800s, Gunsmoke was one of televisions original adult westerns in the mid-1950s. The marshal stepped out of the door of his office and, without waiting, drew his gun and killed the bad guy. According to Arness, "We didn't do a final, wrap-up show. The name "Long Branch Saloon" was popularized when it was used in the incredibly popular western TV series, Gunsmoke. Except on rare occasions, their characters always agree. But the audience got to love her, and they didnt want her to dispense her favors to everyone. 65 Episodes 1966. The project was suspended for three years, when producer Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston discovered it while creating an adult Western series of their own. Now that you know, have fun looking around! [60] In 2015, several of the surviving staff reunited at Wild West Fest in Dodge City, including stars Burt Reynolds, Buck Taylor, Jess Walton, Bruce Boxleitner, and writer Jim Byrnes. Material on this site is provided for education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. Arness starred in all of them. among recordings deemed classics by Library of Congress", "ClassicTVguide.com: TV Ratings > 1970's", "Law & Order: SVU Renewed for Season 21 at NBC, Will Become Longest-Running Live-Action Series in History", "What do Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), Matt Dillon (James Arness) and Doc Adams (Milburn Stone) have in common? Four good reasons to indulge in cryptocurrency! How many bartenders were there on Gunsmoke? You had all kinds of different locations there including, even, there was a train there." We have a lawman with the power of life and death by the gun, a doctor with the power of life and death with his science; Kitty, who is the earth mother to all men, and a vagabond (Festus) who lives with his wit and humor. (My own cross-section would include a few other types of people, but then my cross-section hasnt been a successful TV series for 16 years.). Festus brings the man to the town, and the televiewers thus see a program on the problem of what to do about the aged. When Gunsmoke began in 1955, Miss Kitty was just a working girl. (It wasnt until Gunsmoke had been on TV for more than a decade that I realized that Arness was already famous as the man who played the title role in the 1952 horror film, The Thing.). I even listened to a few seasons of the radio show. Associated Press, July 2, 2002, Bob Thomas. [1][2] The city is famous in American culture for its history as a wild frontier town of the Old West.[3][4][5]. Stroll Through the Real Mayberry From 'The Andy Griffith Show'. In recent years, however, she was merely a close friend of Matt who sat around and drank a lot of coffee with Matt and Doc. I never thought for a moment of offering it to Wayne. In 1970, Popular Library published the following paperback book written by Chris Stratton: In 1974, Award Books published the following paperback books written by Jackson Flynn based on the TV series: In 1998, Boulevard Books published the following paperbacks written by Gary McCarthy based on the TV series: A series of novels based upon the television series written by Joseph A. James Arness played Matt Dillon. Mantley, 50, is Mary Pickfords cousin, author of two Book-of-the-Month novels, writer of 23 Untouchables episodes, and winner of several awards for his work with Gunsmoke. What were the names of the two saloons in Dodge City on the series Gunsmoke? However, Meston was kept as the main writer. But the show keeps rolling on. You can even see simulated gunfights and grab sarsaparilla in the saloon. Apart from the doleful tone, Gunsmoke is distinct from other radio Westerns, as the dialogue is often slow and halting, and the outstanding sound effects give a palpable sense of the prairie setting. Marshall Trimble is Arizonas official historian and vice president of the Wild West History Association. But in 1947, the area was reconstructed to mimic its former Wild West glory. there was more than 2 saloons. the Long Branch Saloon Two versions were recorded. Just who made up this schedule? demanded Paley. In the end, CBS simply took it away from Macdonnell and began preparing for the television version. A complication arose when Culver's contract as the star of Straight Arrow would not allow him to do another Western series. I've seen on the episodes the amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; "[16] It has long been rumored that John Wayne was offered the role of Matt Dillon; according to Dennis Weaver's comments on the 50th Anniversary DVD, disc one, episode "Hack Prine", John Wayne was never even considered for the role; to have done so would have been preposterous, since Wayne was a top movie leading man. A comic strip version of the series ran in British newspapers for several years under the show's UK title. This Is Where Gunsmoke Was Actually Filmed. [57] This feat would be surpassed by Mariska Hargitay, who has portrayed the character Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for over 23 consecutive years to date. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. [13], Not long after the radio show began, talk began of adapting it to television. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. You can even use my sure-to-be-rejected final Gunsmoke plot: Kitty gets tired of the straight life and decides that what Dodge City really needs is a good brothel. That is 6 different In 1987, CBS commissioned a reunion movie titled Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge. In the early years, most of the TV episodes were adapted from the radio scripts, often using identical scenes and dialogue. Conrad directed two television episodes, in 1963 and 1971, and McNear appeared on six, playing characters other than Doc, including three times as storekeeper Howard Rudd. Is kanodia comes under schedule caste if no then which caste it is? Spanning 20 years and 635 total episodes, Gunsmoke remained the undisputed king of television drama for four decades, until The Simpsons beat their What is the cast of surname sable in maharashtra? "[1] Some listeners, such as Dunning, argue the radio version was more realistic. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "clickamericana-20"; [6] Because of her continuing role on television, Blake rarely had time for films. Additionally, Paramount Home Entertainment and CBS DVD have released the series in its entirety on DVD for 13 years between 2007 and 2020 in Region 1 (all of the seasons except for season one and seasons sixteen through twenty were split into two volumes). The belief that Wayne was asked to star is disputed by Warren. Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice? And the Long Branch Saloon was built in 1874. Did Billy Graham speak to Marilyn Monroe about Jesus? Gunsmokes success prompted many imitations, but none enjoyed its longevity or rose to its heights. Gunsmoke was TV's number-one-ranked show from 1957 to 1961, then expanded to one hour, and slipped into a decline. Hes got a gun on his hip and we cant have him just walking around, snoozing in the sun, and tipping his hat to the ladies. he reasoned. , Your email address will not be published. Matt, faced with the choice of marrying her or watching her become a dishonest woman, gets angry and shoots 15 wandering bums who have strayed into town. The railroad arrived in September to find a town ready and waiting for business. "Longbranch", "El Dorado", and "Buffalo Lager". The Real Reason Chester Was Written Off Gunsmoke. Robinson delegated this to his West Coast CBS vice president, Harry Ackerman, who had developed the Philip Marlowe series.[4]. He would never miss a Saturday night TV program called Gunsmoke, a western about Marshall Matt Dillon in Dodge City, Kansas, and his many exploits. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Also, a 1968 cutback on TV violence spelled the end of Gunsmokes fabled opening, with Arness gunning down an adversary on Dodge Citys main street. (T/F) The Long Branch Saloon was Dodge's first saloon. Spanning 20 years and 635 total episodes. The museum complex also houses the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Conrad's weight was rumored to be a deciding factor. In the episode, Matt loses his memory and his heart during a brief liaison with "Mike" Yardner (played by Michael Learned, better known for playing Olivia in The Waltons). Gunsmoke got Emmys the first two years it was on the air. Required fields are marked *. We saturated the country with that episode. See Article History. Gunsmoke, American television western that aired on the Columbia Broadcasting System (now CBS Corporation) for 20 seasons (195575), becoming the longest-running prime-time television western in history. The series was the top-rated show from 1957 to 1961 and maintained excellent ratings throughout its run. Dodge City is famous for its rich history as a frontier cow town. Privately, Macdonnell had a guarded interest in taking the show to television, but publicly, he declared, "our show is perfect for radio", and he feared, as Dunning writes, "Gunsmoke confined by a picture could not possibly be as authentic or attentive to detail. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin. Learn how your comment data is processed. Following its regular television series run, five made-for-tv movies were produced. During its second season in 1956, the program joined the list of the top-10 television programs broadcast in the United States. In the early shows, the audience even saw guys going up and down the stairs of the saloon with the girls.. The people upstairs decided it was better to leave the show as it was, which I totally agreed with. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The series was retitled Gun Law in the UK. they showed were called, "Texas Trail", "Trivoli", "Lady Gay", By Norman Mark The Herald-News (Passaic, New Jersey) June 4, 1971. [1], The saloon was built as the result of a wager between cowboys and soldiers playing ball. What were the saloons mentioned in gunsmoke otr? Strauss once said that the situation in the Old West was an excellent representation, unintentional or not, of what Hobbes meant by the state of nature."[62]. 2015-02-20 20:42:41. [58] George Walsh, the announcer for Gunsmoke, began in 1952 on the radio series and continued until the television series was canceled in 1975. WebFrom Quiz: "Gunsmoke" Soap Stars 13 What was the name of the main street in Dodge? Dennis Weaver, who played Chester, the stiff-legged deputy, has long since gone, and so has Burt Reynolds, who used to play a strong, silent blacksmith. The early settlers in Dodge City traded in buffalo bones and hides and provided a civilian community for Fort Dodge. How many saloons are in Gunsmoke? It remained among the top-20 programs until 1964. The Hartland toy company included an 8" (1/9th scale) plastic Matt Dillion figure and his horse Old Faithful Buck in their line of famous TV cowboys and horses during the 1950s. The Long Branch Saloon of Dodge City, Kansas is one of the most famous Old West saloons in the United States, dating back to when outlaws and gunslingers were still roaming the country in the 1800s. MORE:Death of an outlaw: First account of Jesse James murder (1882), They have been together so long that they cleave together, and they agree on so much.. Most conflicts emanated from an outsiders entering the small, tight-knit community and causing some form of tumult. What were the names of the two saloons in Dodge City on the series Gunsmoke? Gunsmoke, the widely-acclaimed CBS radio series dramatizing the Western frontier adventures of stern Marshal Matt Dillon, will make its debut as a television series on the CBS Television Network and KSLA, Channel 12 next Saturday night at 8:00 oclock. In 1955, Armess was basically an unknown actor whose chief claim to fame was his title role in the science-fiction thriller, The Thing. He was a mediocre performer, but a pal of John Wayne. Around 12, he taught himself the fiddle and guitar and began performing in his teenage years. There are endless scenes filmed in the saloon between Miss Kitty and onscreen love interest, Marshal Matt Dillon. In the last three or four years, Gunsmoke hasnt received a nomination in any category., MORE:The amazing Annie Oakley: Meet the legendary American sharpshooter from the old West. [3] It was a plain storefront bar with little ornamentation, typical for frontier saloons of the time. (AP Photo) Originally a popular radio show (called "Gun Law"), Gunsmoke is one of the most popular TV westerns in television history. Long before its characters were name-dropped in a Toby Keith classic, viewers tuned in to the 20-season series to watch Marshal Dillon defeat villains in the wild west of Dodge City, Kansas. Gunsmoke, American television western that aired on CBS for 20 seasons (195575), becoming the longest-running prime-time television western in history. He was acerbic, somewhat mercenary, and borderline alcoholic, in the program's early years. COPYRIGHT 2023, WOMG. Two versions of the same pilot episode titled "Mark Dillon Goes to Gouge Eye" were produced with Rye Billsbury and Howard Culver playing Marshal Mark Dillon as the lead, not yet played by Conrad. Who knows how many more there were WebBlake became best known for her 19-year stint as the saloon-keeper Miss Kitty on the television series Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1974. By Christian Schoon / March 19, 2022 1:50 pm EST. The establishment provided gambling and live entertainment, including Beeson's five-person orchestra. In the radio series, Kitty's profession was hinted at, but never explicit; in a 1953 interview with Time, Macdonnell declared, "Kitty is just someone Matt has to visit every once in a while". [17], James Arness, Milburn Stone, Ken Curtis, Dennis Weaver, and Amanda Blake are all inductees of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The western-themed drama series starred James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, and more, and produced 635 episodes in 20 seasons, "Gunsmoke: An American Institution, Celebrating 50 Years of Television's Best Western" Written by Ben Costello, Foreword by Jim Byrnes, and Introduction by Jon Voight and published by Five Star Publications, Inc.(now Story Monsters LLC) Published 1 edition (December 22, 2012), Bill Carter, "NBC Will Bring Back All Three, This page was last edited on 20 April 2023, at 19:37. Located in southwest Kansas, the town of Dodge City can trace its origins to 1871, when rancher Henry J. Sitler built a sod house west of Fort Dodge to oversee his cattle operations in the region, conveniently located near the Santa Fe Trail and Arkansas River, and Sitler's house quickly became a stopping point for travelers. A post shared by Boot Hill Museum (@boothillmuseum). That the TV show was not a sham is due in no small part to the continued strength of Meston's scripts."[1]. Meanwhile, Kitty, the saloon girl, was busy running a brothel. Many Gunsmoke viewers know Miss Kitty as the owner of the town saloon in Dodge City. What were the names of the two saloons in Dodge City on the series Gunsmoke? [1] The magazine observed that she is "obviously not selling chocolate bars". He heard noises from the next block, too, where the inevitable dog was barking. Paley returned from a vacation in the Bahamas, as the CBS story goes, and met with his programming boss, Mike Dann. The two men were alone in a conference room with a giant CBS new-season program board directly in front of them. looking for a man in the different saloons in Dodge and the ones Find out more here. Kitty was played by actress Georgia Ellis on radio, and by Amanda Blake on TV. By Gary Deeb The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana) May 11, 1975, We spent a lot of time agonizing over the decision, said CBS-TV President Bob Wood. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. "Gunsmoke" featured many outdoor scenes over its long run, but they weren't shot in Dodge City, Kansas. I have no reason to doubt the story, because Jimmy absolutely knew everybody.". Best Teleplay Writing (Half-Hour or Less): Best Actor in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series: James Arness nominated (winner: Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series: Dennis Weaver won. It is also very difficult for Amanda to oppose Jim, or for Milburn to oppose Amanda. Norman Macdonnell, producer of the successful Gunsmoke series on KWKH and CBS radio at 11:30 a.m. Saturday mornings, will script the Gunsmoke telecasts. Located at the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame, the Gunfighters Wax Museum features life-size sculptures of legendary figures Wyatt Earp and Sitting Bull. [citation needed], James Arness and Milburn Stone portrayed their Gunsmoke characters for 20 consecutive years, a feat later matched by Kelsey Grammer as the character Frasier Crane, but over two half-hour sitcoms (Cheers and Frasier). [55] Some foreign-made programs have been broadcast in the U.S. and contend for the position as the longest-running prime-time series. How many minutes does it take to drive 23 miles? Its graveyard was the original Boot Hill and was the final resting place for men who either died in a gunfight or were hanged. Harris named it after his hometown of The saloon soon became the most popular and Like the radio version, the television series centred on the character of Matt Dillon (played by James Arness), a U.S. marshal charged with maintaining law and order in an American frontier town. Heres a look at 10 Much of the series featured Dillon and his allies battling bandits, robbers, or other threats that blew in from the prairie. In 2006, as part of Gunsmoke's 50th anniversary on TV, selected episodes were released on DVD in three different box sets. 822. Gunsmoke was set in Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1890s and began as a radio program that CBS aired from 1952 to 1961. The establishment burned down in 1885 and was never rebuilt. (In the last few years, in fact, hundreds of strange characters have come to Dodge City. That seemed logical. CBS/YouTube. 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. Unfortunately, just a few years later, a fire ripped apart the Front Street buildings, and the saloon was destroyed. If you liked this article, please share it! Three other popular shows, Gilligan's Island, Lost in Space, and The Incredible Hulk, met the same abrupt fate. The name "Long Branch Saloon" was popularized when it was used in the incredibly popular western TV series. Wiki User 2012-03-24 22:38:29 Study now See answer (1) Best Answer Copy there was more than 2 saloons. MORE:Here Come the Brides theme song, lyrics & what the actors thought of the show (1968-1970).