'Go Get Matt' - Gunsmoke

CBS’ plan in 1955 was to take a successful — but not very profitable — radio drama about a lonely but no-nonsense lawman in the old west and convert it into a television show. “Gunsmoke” debuted Sept. 10, 1955 — 70 years ago next Wednesday.

The result was a TV series that spent 13 years in the top 10 of the Nielsen ratings and four years as the nation’s No. 1-rated show. “Gunsmoke” would run on CBS for 635 episodes over 20 seasons — a record that’s been topped only by “The Simpsons” prime-time animated series.

First, Radio - And Then Television

CBS chief William S. Paley was a huge fan of the Philip Marlowe detective radio series and longed for a Western version — not like “The Lone Ranger,” but something for adult listeners. His programmers came up with “Gunsmoke” — about a U.S. marshal dealing with lawbreakers in Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s. Never mind the fact that Kansas had become a state before the Civil War and local law enforcement was no longer provided by the federal government.

The deep-voiced William Conrad played the role of Marshal Matt Dillon on the radio. In the 1960s, Conrad would become the narrator of the “Rocky and Bullwinkle” cartoons from the early 1960s and would go on to star in the TV series “Cannon” from 1971 to 1976 and “Jake and the Fatman” from 1987 to 1992.

William Conrad

The radio show had no sponsor, so CBS had to foot the bill for producing it. The network landed a sponsor in 1954 and the next year decided to adapt the show for television.

Conrad was deemed too large to play Dillon on TV. CBS considered Raymond Burr and Denver Pile before offering the role to James Arness. Arness took the job only after consulting with his friend, John Wayne, who told him: “This is something you should really do.” Wayne would then agree to film a brief introduction to the first episode, which aired on Sept. 10, 1955.

The Denizens of Dodge City

The 33-year-old, 6-foot, 7-inch Arness had been hit in the knee by machine gunfire while storming the beaches of Anzio, Italy, in World War II. He underwent painful reconstruction surgeries and lost part of a foot. “Gunsmoke” directors would film scenes in which Dillon walked a long way early in the mornings, when Arness’ leg felt better.

The part of Dillon’s loyal – but not terribly sharp-witted – sidekick Chester Goode went to Dennis Weaver, who’d win a Best Supporting Actor Emmy for the role. After nine seasons on “Gunsmoke,” Weaver left to star in other TV series: “Gentle Ben” and later as a deputy marshal from New Mexico on loan to the New York City Police Department in “McCloud.”

Weaver was replaced by Ken Curtis, left, who played Dillon’s deputy, Festus. Curtis was a talented singer who had replaced Frank Sinatra when Sinatra left Tommy Dorsey’s band in 1942. Burt Reynolds, right, played the half-native American blacksmith Quint Asper from 1962 to 1965. He would go on to much greater fame as a movie star.

In the radio series, Miss Kitty Russell was a madam for a group of prostitutes. The TV series hinted at that a few times before it dropped it at the start of Season 3. After that, Kitty — played by Amanda Blake — became the owner of the Long Branch Saloon. While Russell and Dillon clearly cared for each other, they were never shown to be lovers.

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