Gunsmoke was a popular, long-running American radio and television Western drama series. The weekly TV show, which aired on the CBS network from 1955 to 1975, ranks as one of the longest-running series in television history. The series followed the lives of the citizens of Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West in the late 1800’s. “Gunsmoke” was notable for its character development, colorful dialogue, psychological drama, and gentle humor.
The television series focused on the character of Matt Dillon (played by James Arness), an honest and dedicated United States marshal who worked to preserve law in Dodge City. Other main characters on the series included the grumpy physician Dr. Galen “Doc” Adams (Milburn Stone); the saloonkeeper Miss Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake); the good-natured but easily deceived deputy Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver); and a later deputy, the scruffy, uneducated Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis).
The television series was based on an acclaimed radio serial that aired from 1952 to 1961. The radio series starred William Conrad as Marshal Dillon, Howard McNear as “Doc,” Georgia Ellis as Miss Kitty, and Parley Baer as Chester.
“Gunsmoke” was created by the producer and director Norman MacDonnell and the writer John Meston. A number of made-for-television movies that reunited the original TV cast were presented on television beginning in 1987.
See also CBS ; Television (History of U.S. television broadcasting) ; Westerns .
