Gunsmoke

By Persona Non Grata

First of the so called "adult Westerns" premiered in 1955 and ran for 20 years, making it the longest running show in prime-time. Gunsmoke was set in Dodge City, Kansas in the 1870s and starred handsome, 6'7" James Arness as the heroic Marshal Matt Dillon. Amanda Blake played Kitty Russell. "Miss Kitty," proprietor of the Long Branch Saloon, was a level-headed business woman with a heart of gold and a tender spot for the marshal. Doc Adams (Milburn Stone), the town's irascible doctor, spent his spare time in the Long Branch along with Matt's gimpy-legged, well-meaning deputy, Chester Goode, (Dennis Weaver) known for his coffee and calling for "Mister Dillon!" with a nasal twang. 

Despite being on the air for 20 seasons, the cast was remarkably stable. Replacing Chester (Dennis Weaver) in 1964 as deputy was Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis), an illiterate hillbilly.

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I think that CBS should start showing Gunsmoke again in primetime. They should start with a 30 minute pre-show telling who everyone is, about Dodge City, the year and so on. I think the public would eat it up!! CBS would save millions. They could even use the old commercials that were used in the sixties and seventies. I think they should start with the first color episode. People are into nostalgia now. Cash in on it. Be the first network to do it because you know that one of them eventually will. --Neil Johns

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