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79-613: Columbia Square was built for KNX and as the Columbia Broadcasting System's West Coast operations headquarters on the site of the Nestor Film Company, Hollywood's first movie studio. The Christie Film Company eventually took over operation of Nestor Studios and filmed comedies on the site, originally the location of an early Hollywood roadhouse. Prior to moving to Columbia Square, KNX had been situated at several Hollywood locations. Columbia Square

158-592: A CBS television facility. In 1948, the first West Coast-based variety program, The Ed Wynn Show , was produced on Stage A. Lucille Ball 's first national TV appearance took place on The Ed Wynn Show in December 1949 (aired on the East Coast just after New Year). Within the year Stage A would be the location of the shooting of the pilot episode of I Love Lucy . In the 2005 KNX broadcast, A Salute to Columbia Square , announcer George Walsh recalled crowds jamming

237-413: A Palace of Broadcasting" featuring Norman Corwin, George Burns, Jack Benny, Jim Hawthorne, Janet Waldo, Art Gilmore, Alan Young, Herb Ellis, Art Linkletter, Gil Stratton, Harry Shearer, Marie Wilson, Mel Baldwin and sound effects man Ray Erlenborn. The program was produced by Gerald Zelinger. Bob Crane was a top-rated KNX deejay at Columbia Square in the 1960s and James Dean worked as an usher. Some of

316-565: A blimp bathed in searchlights hovered overhead as the program was carried coast-to-coast on the Columbia Broadcasting System, beamed to Europe via short wave, and carried across Canada on the CBC . On that premiere broadcast, Hope joked that Columbia Square looked like "the Taj Mahal with a permanent wave." Jolson quipped, "It looks like Flash Gordon 's bathroom." The Square's original configuration included eight studios. Studios 1 through 4 were to

395-530: A branch of the Bank of America . Tours of the studios cost 40 cents and passed by a glass-windowed control room housing Columbia's West Coast master control. "Columbia Square was one of the glories of radio. It was somewhat sacred to those in the industry. There was nothing comparable to its splendor in New York" says writer-producer Norman Corwin whose most famous broadcast, On a Note of Triumph, originated from

474-486: A charge of murder. However, McNear's performances steadily became more warm-hearted and sympathetic. Doc wandered throughout the territories until he settled in Dodge City 17 years later under the name of Charles Adams. Conrad borrowed the surname from cartoonist Charles Addams as a testament to Doc's initially ghoulish comportment. Milburn Stone was given free rein to choose the character's first name, and chose that of

553-469: A few of the shows that broadcast from Studio C. When B and C were built, the Columbia Playhouse then took the letter designation of "Studio A". Studio A was home to The Silver Theatre , The Swan Show starring George Burns and Gracie Allen , The Lady Esther Screen Guild Players and countless others. The complex included Brittingham's Radio Center Restaurant, a men's clothing store, and

632-672: A final, wrap-up show. We finished the 20th year, we all expected to go on for another season, or two or three. The (network) never told anybody they were thinking of cancelling. The cast and crew read the news in the trade papers. Chester and Festus Haggen are Dillon's sidekicks , though others became acting deputies for 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 - to 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 -year stints: Quint Asper ( Burt Reynolds ) (1962–65), Thad Greenwood (Roger Ewing) (1965–67), and Newly O'Brien (Buck Taylor) (1967–75), who served as both back-up deputy and doctor-in-training, having some studies in medicine through his uncle, which then continued under Doc Adams. Initially on

711-417: A grown-up Hopalong Cassidy . Dunning writes that Meston was especially disgusted by the archetypal Western hero and set out "to destroy [that type of] character he loathed". In Meston's view, "Dillon was almost as scarred as the homicidal psychopaths who drifted into Dodge from all directions." Howard McNear starred as Dr. Charles Adams in the radio series, and Milburn Stone portrayed Dr. Galen Adams in

790-500: A half levels of underground parking. The development was under construction by 2014. In fall 2007, producer Viacom , owner of CBS until 2005, chose the site for MTV 's The Real World: Hollywood . The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Los Angeles Conservancy have been actively engaged in efforts to preserve the Hollywood landmark. In November 2014, Kilroy Realty Group announced that Viacom would be leasing most of

869-508: A live-action, primetime television series, began its 21st season in February 2022. As of 2017 , it had the highest number of scripted episodes for any U.S. primetime, commercial, live-action television series. On April 29, 2018, The Simpsons surpassed the show for the most scripted episodes. Some foreign-made programs have been broadcast in the U.S. and contend for the position as the longest-running prime-time series. As of 2016 , Gunsmoke

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948-475: A lynching. He amputated a dying man's leg and lost the patient anyway. He saved a girl from brutal rapists, then found himself unable to offer her what she needed to stop her from moving into ... life as a prostitute." Some listeners, such as Dunning, argue the radio version was more realistic. Episodes were aimed at adults with some of the most explicit content of their time, including violent crimes, scalpings , massacres , and opium addicts. Many episodes end on

1027-756: A major role, serving on the first Board of Trustees. By 1922, the brothers were so successful that they set up Christie Realty Corporation (CRC) with $ 1 million in capital stock. In 1923 CRC bought 230 acres of land in the Westwood section of Los Angeles with plans to build a studio estimated to cost more than $ 1.75 million dollars (including the value of the land). The Christie brothers welcomed Canadian talent and stars such as Marie Dressler and Marie Prevost appeared in their films and became personal lifelong friends. In 1928, they hired Florence Ryerson to write several short films, including Hot Lemonade . Al Christie also hired African-American Spencer Williams as

1106-692: A radio Western for adults, in contrast to the prevailing juvenile fare such as The Lone Ranger and The Cisco Kid . Gunsmoke was set in Dodge City, Kansas, during the thriving cattle days of the 1870s. Dunning notes, "The show drew critical acclaim for unprecedented realism." 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. 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. Matt Dillon

1185-494: A reason to demolish the venue. Sungow Corp acquired Columbia Square in 2003 for $ 15 million. Las Vegas -based developer Molasky Pacific LLC, acquired the property in August 2006 for $ 66 million. It planned to redevelop the 125,000-square-foot (11,600 m) complex to continue to attract entertainment industry tenants and is considering options that would add some residential units to the office and broadcasting facility. The project

1264-647: A short time, the Christie brothers doubled their stage capacity and constructed a film laboratory equipped with the latest in technology. Unlike some of the "over the top comedies" being produced at the time, Christie Studios emphasized situational comedy that sometimes featured show girls in skimpy costumes. As comedy specialists, the Christie Film Company debuted comedy actors Harold Lloyd , Fatty Arbuckle , Anita Garvin and black actor Spencer Williams , later known for his portrayal of Andy Brown in

1343-407: A somber note, and villains often get away with their crimes. The program was set after the arrival of the railroad in Dodge City (1872), and Kansas had been a state since 1861. In reality, a U.S. 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. Apart from

1422-513: A sound technician but soon recognized Williams' many talents and involved him in script writing. In early 1929, the Christie Film Company began making the first series of talking pictures written and conceived exclusively for African-American performers. They produced a number of comedy-musical shorts that featured an all-black cast from the Lafayette Players Stock Company out of Harlem, New York . The films, based on

1501-620: A top-10 spot in the Nielsen ratings for several seasons. The United Kingdom series was initially titled Gun Law . In the late 1940s, CBS chairman William S. Paley , a fan of the Philip Marlowe radio series, asked his programming chief, Hubell Robinson, to develop a hardcore Western series, about a "Philip Marlowe of the Old West". Robinson delegated this to his West Coast CBS vice president, Harry Ackerman , who had developed

1580-522: A vengeful former rival returning to Dodge City to entrap him. In 1990, the second telefilm, Gunsmoke: The Last Apache , premiered. Because Amanda Blake had died the year before, the writers revisited a 1973 episode for the movie. The episode was based on "Matt's Love Story". 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 ). In

1659-504: Is "obviously not selling chocolate bars ". 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 . Dillon and Kitty clearly have a close personal relationship. Gunsmoke is often a somber program, particularly in its early years. Dunning writes that Dillon "played his hand and often lost. He arrived too late to prevent

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1738-516: Is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston . It centered on Dodge City, Kansas , in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon , played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television. The radio series ran from 1952 to 1961. John Dunning wrote that, among radio drama enthusiasts, " Gunsmoke

1817-473: Is because we believe these new Hollywood headquarters, reflecting many innovations of design and acoustics and control, will improve the art of broadcasting that we have built them and are dedicating them here tonight." Columbia Square opened April 30, 1938, with a full day of special broadcasts culminating in the star-studded evening special, "A Salute to Columbia Square" featuring Bob Hope , Al Jolson and Cecil B. DeMille . Crowds thronged Sunset Boulevard and

1896-470: Is gone. Both deputies are shown to be loyal, but often inept or indecisive at handling problems when Dillon is not around. Although Dillon and Miss Kitty are never portrayed in a romantic relationship, it is apparent they care deeply for each other. Doc Adams is portrayed as a very competent and caring physician, but his conservative treatment methods often frustrate his patients who expect a quick recovery. Doc and both deputies are often used as comic relief over

1975-461: Is routinely placed among the best shows of any kind and any time." It ran unsponsored for its first few years, with CBS funding its production. In 1955, the series was adapted for television and ran for 20 seasons. It ran for half-hour episodes from 1955 to 1961, and one-hour episodes from 1961 to 1975. A total of 635 episodes were aired over its 20 year run. At the end of its run in 1975, Los Angeles Times columnist Cecil Smith wrote: " Gunsmoke

2054-409: Is the second Western television series written for adults, premiering on September 10, 1955, four days after The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp . The first 12 seasons aired Saturdays at 10 pm, seasons 13 through 16 aired Mondays at 7:30 pm, and the last four seasons aired Mondays at 8 pm. During its second season in 1956, the program joined the list of the top-10 television programs broadcast in

2133-579: Is valued at $ 850-million and is the largest development project in Hollywood, California. The redevelopment of the historic CBS Studios on Sunset was approved in 2009 with a controversial 28-story tower. Developer Kilroy Realty Group acquired the project in 2012 and changed plans — when completed the new Columbia Square will feature a 20-story residential tower with 200 apartments, 33,000 sq ft (3,100 m) of retail, three renovated historic structures, two new office buildings with an additional 330,000 sq ft (31,000 m) of space, and four and

2212-553: The Amos & Andy " CBS Television series. The innovative Christie company began issuing Film Follies , a magazine advertising the latest films and events at the studio. In 1921, Canadian Mary Pickford was a driving force behind the creation of the Motion Picture Relief Fund , an organization designed to help actors who had fallen on hard times. Christie Film Company supported this and Charles Christie played

2291-690: The Gunsmoke: Volume I box set, and another twelve episodes, from 1964 to 1975, were selected for the Gunsmoke: Volume II box set. Both sets are also available as a combined single "Gift Box Set". A third unique DVD box set, known as Gunsmoke: The Directors Collection , was also released with 10 selected episodes from certain seasons throughout the series' 20-year history. All of these box sets are available on Region 1 DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment and CBS DVD . Additionally, Paramount Home Entertainment and CBS DVD have released

2370-616: The Philip Marlowe series. Ackerman and his scriptwriters, Mort Fine and David Friedkin , created an audition script called "Mark Dillon Goes to Gouge Eye" based on one of their Michael Shayne radio scripts, "The Case of the Crooked Wheel", from mid-1948. Two versions were recorded. The first, recorded in June 1949, was very much like a hardcore detective series and starred Michael Rye (credited as Rye Billsbury) as Dillon;

2449-638: The Columbia network broadcast big band music from nearby ballrooms including the Hollywood Palladium and the Earl Caroll Theater. When The Bing Crosby Show moved to CBS in 1949 it took over space on the second floor of the east side of Columbia Square. A tape recording and editing facility also was built there to support the show. It was the first facility of its kind to support a national radio show. The recording sessions and

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2528-659: The Square just after 11:00 p.m. August 12, 2005, following a farewell broadcast from its Columbia Square studios. On April 21, 2007, KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV left the building and moved their operations to the CBS Studio Center in Studio City , thus ending Columbia Square's status as a broadcast facility, one of a very few remaining in Hollywood. The Square fell into disrepair during the years in which Laurence Tisch chaired CBS, and asbestos problems were cited as

2607-574: The Square on VE Day, 1945. In early 2009, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission and the City Council designated CBS Columbia Square Studios as a historic-cultural monument . Columbia Square became home to some of the best-known comedies of radio's golden age. Jack Benny , Burns and Allen , Edgar Bergen , Red Skelton , Eve Arden ( Our Miss Brooks ), Jack Oakie and Steve Allen sparked to

2686-567: The Square's forecourt for tickets to live broadcasts. (Ushers would sometimes walk down Sunset Boulevard to NBC 's studios at Vine Street to urge audience members to watch a Columbia Square broadcast instead.) After their on-air appearances, actors would dash to the Radio Actors Telephone Exchange in the Square's lobby to check with their agents about their next bookings. In 2007, KCRW and other public radio stations broadcast "Remembering Columbia Square: A Salute to

2765-501: The Square's once-luxurious radio theaters were converted to recording studios for Columbia Records where Bob Dylan , Barbra Streisand and many other top stars recorded albums. KNX moved into new studios in the Miracle Mile neighborhood on L.A.'s Wilshire Boulevard which it shares with Entercom Radio stations KFWB , KTWV , and KRTH . KNX, the last radio station to operate in Hollywood, moved after 67 years of operation at

2844-638: The TV show a sham and its players impostors should surprise no one. That the TV show was not a sham is due in no small part to the continued strength of Meston's scripts." Macdonnell and Meston continued the radio version of Gunsmoke until 1961, making it one of the most enduring vintage radio dramas. 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. The television series ran from September 10, 1955, to March 31, 1975, on CBS, with 635 total episodes. It

2923-809: The United States. It quickly moved to number one and stayed there until 1961. It remained among the top-20 programs until 1964. Set in Dodge City, Kansas during the years following the American Civil War , the series follows the lives of U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon and the citizens he is sworn to protect. Among them are his deputies, Chester Goode, and later Festus Hagen, town physician Galen “Doc” Adams, and saloon owner, Miss Kitty Russell. Most episodes involve disruptions caused by those arriving from outside Dodge City. Since Dillon’s authority extends beyond town, some episodes focus on his travels, while other plots revolve around mishaps occurring while Dillon

3002-490: The airways from the Square. Dramas included Suspense ; Gunsmoke ; and Man Behind the Gun , written, directed and produced by William N. Robson ; Dr. Christian , " The Whistler ", Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar , The CBS Radio Workshop , where author Aldous Huxley introduced a production of Brave New World and Columbia Presents Corwin — dramas produced by Norman Corwin . In May 1945 Corwin's "On A Note Of Triumph"

3081-481: The ancient Greek physician and medical researcher Galen . Kitty was played by actress Georgia Ellis on radio, and by Amanda Blake on television. Ellis first appeared in the radio episode "Billy the Kid" (April 26, 1952) as "Francie Richards" – a former girlfriend of Matt Dillon's and the widow of a criminal, but the character of "Miss Kitty" did not appear until the May 10, 1952, episode "Jaliscoe". Sometime in 1959, Ellis

3160-527: The audience shows were usually held in the CBS theater at 1615 Vine Street just south of Hollywood Boulevard. With the new three recorder facility, the radio show evolved from a cut and splice operation into one that was created from many different recording sessions with audience reactions incorporated. It was new territory explored by the Crosby team. In the late 1940s and early 1950s Columbia Square also served as

3239-604: The characters Olivia Benson and Fin Tutuola on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for over 25 and 24 consecutive years to date, respectively. George Walsh, the announcer for Gunsmoke , began in 1952 on the radio series and continued until the television series was canceled in 1975. James Arness, Milburn Stone, Ken Curtis, Dennis Weaver, and Amanda Blake are all inductees of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum . Dodge City 's Boot Hill Museum has

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3318-401: The course of the series. When Gunsmoke was adapted for television in 1955, contrary to a campaign to persuade the network, the network was not interested in bringing either Conrad or his radio costars to the television medium. Conrad's weight was rumored to be a deciding factor. Denver Pyle was also considered for the role, as was Raymond Burr , who was ultimately also seen as too heavy for

3397-425: 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. The effects are subtle but multilayered, giving the show a spacious feel. John Dunning wrote, "The listener heard extraneous dialogue in the background, just above the muted shouts of kids playing in an alley. He heard noises from

3476-424: The end, the primary roles were all recast, with Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon (on the recommendation of Wayne, who also introduced the pilot), Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode, Milburn Stone as Dr. G. "Doc" Adams (the G. later specified as standing for Galen), and Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty Russell. Macdonnell became the associate producer of the television show and later the producer. Meston was head writer. The series

3555-463: The film, Learned returns as Mike, who reveals to Marshal Dillon that he is the father of their daughter, Beth (played by Amy Stock-Poynton ) and asks him for help in saving her from a band on Apaches. Other films included Gunsmoke: To the Last Man (1992), Gunsmoke: The Long Ride (1993), and Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice (1994). Arness stars in all five made-for-television movies. Gunsmoke

3634-467: The film. Milburn Stone had died seven years earlier in 1980 and the role of Doc was not recast. 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. The screenwriters responded to Curtis's absence by making Newly the new Dodge City marshal. The film, shot in Alberta , features a now-retired Marshal Dillon being attacked and

3713-534: The first ever motion picture studio in Hollywood . The firm closed in 1933. In June 1912, Nestor Studios became part of the newly formed Universal Film Company and Al Christie was put in charge of the comedy companies. He remained with Universal Film until January 1916 at which time he and his brother, Charles Christie , formed their own movie studio named the Christie Film Company. The two rented facilities from Universal at Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street,

3792-412: The fringes of Dodge society, Festus Haggen was slowly phased in as a reliable sidekick and part-time deputy to Matt Dillon when Reynolds left in 1965. When Milburn Stone temporarily left for heart bypass surgery in 1971, Pat Hingle played Dr. John Chapman for several episodes. The Gunsmoke radio theme song and later television theme is titled "Old Trails", also known as "Boothill". The Gunsmoke theme

3871-535: The left of the main entrance. Upstairs were Studios 5 through 7 and at the rear of the forecourt was the large auditorium referred to as the "Columbia Playhouse" that seated 1050. In 1940, two new audience theatres were added to the east of the auditorium called "Studio B" and "Studio C" each seating approximately 350 people. Shows such as Jack Benny 's Lucky Strike Program and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet originated from Studio B. Lucille Ball 's My Favorite Husband , Blondie , and Dr. Christian are

3950-440: The network cut Gilligan's Island , instead. The show continued in its new time slot at 8 pm on Mondays. This scheduling move led to a spike in ratings that had it once again rally to the top 10 in the Nielsen ratings , which again saved the series when CBS purged most of its rural content in 1971. The series remained in the top 10 until the 1973–74 television season. After its last original airing on March 31, 1975, Gunsmoke

4029-430: The next block, too, where the inevitable dog was barking." Gunsmoke is unique from other Westerns in that it was unsponsored in the first few years of production. The program was funded by CBS in the first two years. Series producers said that if the show were sponsored, they would have to "clean the show up". The producers wanted to find a sponsor that would allow them to keep the show the way it was. Not long after

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4108-454: The part. Charles Warren , television Gunsmoke ' s first director, said, "His voice was fine, but he was too big. When he stood up, his chair stood with him." 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

4187-408: The place where Al Christie had first started in Hollywood. For the first six months of operations, the new Christie Film Company made comedies under a contract with Universal Film. In July of that year, the company began producing other comedies to sell to the independent distributors and their immediate success was such that they were soon able to finance the acquisition of their studio property. Within

4266-587: The popular Saturday Evening Post 's Darktown Birmingham stories by Octavus Roy Cohen (1891-1959), were distributed by Paramount Studios . However, the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression devastated many businesses and in January 1933, the Christie brothers companies went into receivership and their studio assets were acquired by another large film making company. The liquidation process began on May 26, 1932, as an attorney

4345-408: The radio show began, talk began of adapting it to television. 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. ... In the end, CBS simply took it away from Macdonnell and began preparing for

4424-650: The second, recorded in July 1949, starred Straight Arrow actor Howard Culver in a more Western, lighter version of the same script. CBS liked the Culver version better, and Ackerman was told to proceed. A complication arose when Culver's contract as the star of Straight Arrow would not allow him to do another Western series. 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. Macdonnell and Meston wanted to create

4503-741: 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). A complete series box set was released on May 5, 2020. All DVDs have been released with English audio and close captioning from season 1 to 5 and starting season 6 English SDH. In 1987, CBS commissioned a reunion movie titled Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge . James Arness and Amanda Blake returned in their iconic roles of Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty, with Fran Ryan returning as Kitty's friend and saloon-owner Hannah and Buck Taylor as Newly O'Brian. Doc Adams and Festus Haggen were not featured in

4582-679: The show since its inception in 1996, Encore Westerns , INSP , and Weigel Broadcasting 's MeTV digital subchannel network. Individual stations such as KFWD in Dallas also carry the series in their markets. It has also been shown on satellite channel CBS Action in the UK, Ireland, and Poland. The series also appears intermittently on MeTV's themed sister network Decades . In 2006, as part of Gunsmoke ' s 50th anniversary on television, selected episodes were released on DVD in three different box sets. Twelve episodes, from 1955 to 1964, were selected for

4661-753: The space in one of the new office buildings on the site, for the West Coast offices of its cable television networks, including MTV , Comedy Central , BET , TV Land and Spike TV ; these offices had been in Santa Monica and other parts of the Los Angeles area. (Spike TV rebranded as Paramount Network in 2018; Viacom and CBS re-merged in 2019 to form ViacomCBS, later Paramount Global .) Christie Film Company 34°05′54″N 118°19′21″W  /  34.098280°N 118.322558°W  / 34.098280; -118.322558 Christie Film Company

4740-452: The television version. 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. He was acerbic, somewhat mercenary, and borderline alcoholic, in the program's early years. His real name was Dr. Calvin Moore. He came west and changed his name to escape

4819-455: The television version." Conrad and the others were given auditions, but they were little more than token efforts – especially in Conrad's case, due to his obesity. However, Meston was kept as the main writer. In the early years, most of the television episodes were adapted from the radio scripts, often using identical scenes and dialogue. Dunning wrote, "That radio fans considered

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4898-414: The upending of cherished Western fiction clichés and said that few Westerns gave any inkling of how brutal the Old West was in reality. 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. As originally pitched to CBS executives, this was to be an adult Western, not

4977-500: Was a half-hour show, retitled Marshal Dillon in syndication. It then went to an hour-long format. The series was retitled Gun Law in the UK. 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. In syndication, the entire 20-year run of Gunsmoke is separated into three packages by CBS Television Distribution : The program currently airs on four major venues: TV Land , which has carried

5056-447: Was a top movie leading man. The belief that Wayne was asked to star is disputed by Warren. Although he agrees Wayne encouraged Arness to take the role, Warren says, "I hired Jim Arness on the strength of a picture he's done for me ... I never thought for a moment of offering it to Wayne." According to Thomas "Duke" Miller, a television and movie celebrity expert, this story was told to him by legendary actor James Stewart : "Jimmy said he

5135-399: Was already one of radio's busiest actors. Though Meston championed him, Macdonnell thought Conrad might be overexposed. During his audition, however, Conrad won over Macdonnell after reading only a few lines. Dillon, as portrayed by Conrad, was a lonely, isolated man, toughened by a hard life. Macdonnell later claimed, "Much of Matt Dillon's character grew out of Bill Conrad." Meston relished

5214-504: Was an American pioneer motion picture company founded in Hollywood, California by Al Christie and Charles Christie , two brothers from London, Ontario , Canada. It made comedies. While Charles served almost exclusively in administration, it was Al Christie who made the films. Al had worked with David Horsley at his Centaur Film Company in Bayonne , New Jersey and moved to California on October 27, 1911, to run Nestor Studios ,

5293-475: Was billed as Georgia Hawkins instead of Georgia Ellis. Amanda Blake appeared in over 500 episodes of the television series, with her last being the April 1, 1974, episode titled, "The Disciple". 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". The magazine observed that she

5372-584: Was canceled after a 20-year run (with reruns continuing to air until September), even though it still ranked among the top 30 programs in the ratings; the Mary Tyler Moore spin-offs Rhoda (which was going into its second year in the Fall-1975 season) and Phyllis (a fall-1975 freshman) would be scheduled for the 8 pm hour previously occupied by Gunsmoke that fall. Thirty television Westerns came and went during its 20-year tenure, and Gunsmoke

5451-471: Was composed by Rex Koury. The original radio version was conducted by Koury. The television version was thought to have been first conducted by CBS west coast music director Lud Gluskin . The lyrics of the theme, never aired on the radio or television show, were recorded and released by Tex Ritter in 1955. Ritter was backed on that Capitol record by Rex Koury and the radio Gunsmoke orchestra. Other notable composers included: From 1955 to 1961, Gunsmoke

5530-443: Was designed by Swiss-born architect William Lescaze in the style of International Modernism and built over a year at a cost of two million dollars — more money than had ever been spent on a broadcasting facility. Lescaze's sweeping streamline motifs, porthole windows and glass brick were true to Modernist design, though CBS President William Paley insisted the Square's form follow function. In his dedicatory speech, he remarked, "It

5609-513: Was filmed at the present site of California Lutheran University (CLU) and nearby Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks, California . In 1975, CBS made the decision not to renew Gunsmoke for a 21st season, without making any public announcement or informing the producers or cast members ahead of time. The entire cast was stunned by the cancellation, as they were unaware that CBS was considering it. According to Arness: We didn't do

5688-405: Was in the office with Charles Warren when Mr. Wayne came in. Mr. Warren asked Wayne if he knew James Arness, and Mr. Wayne said yes. Mr. Warren told Mr. Wayne about the transition of the show from radio to television, and Mr. Wayne readily agreed that James Arness would be a terrific choice for the part of Matt Dillon. I have no reason to doubt the story, because Jimmy absolutely knew everybody." In

5767-466: Was instructed to begin the process of turning assets of the film company and the realty company to an assignee, which essentially put the firms into a receivership. Combined assets of the companies were estimated to be $ 2.5 million - $ 3 million, and total indebtedness was approximately $ 2.5 million. In 1950 Sam Hayes gained television rights for 426 Christie comedies as part of a larger deal with Hollywood Film Enterprises. Gunsmoke Gunsmoke

5846-403: Was played on radio by William Conrad and on television by James Arness. 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. Conrad was one of the last actors to audition for the role of Marshal Dillon. With a resonantly powerful and distinctive voice, Conrad

5925-509: Was produced in studio A marking the end of the war in Europe and to mark the end of the second world war Corwin produced "14 August" in Studio A. Musical acts that performed at Columbia Square included Eddie Cantor , Rosemary Clooney , Bing Crosby , Doris Day and Gene Autry . Composer Bernard Hermann frequently scored and conducted Columbia Square broadcasts. Through the facilities of KNX,

6004-426: Was rated fourth globally, after Doctor Who (1963–present), Taggart (1983–2010), and The Bill (1984–2010). 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 ). This was surpassed by Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T , who have portrayed

6083-537: Was television's number one ranked show from 1957 to 1961, then it expanded to one hour and slipped into a decline. CBS planned to cancel the series in 1967 after the twelfth season, but widespread viewer reaction prevented its demise, including a mention in Congress and pressure from Babe Paley , the wife of CBS's longtime president William S. Paley. Gilligan's Island producer Sherwood Schwartz states that Babe pressured her husband not to cancel Gunsmoke in 1967, so

6162-480: Was the dramatization of the American epic legend of the west. Our own Iliad and Odyssey , created from standard elements of the dime novel and the pulp Western as romanticized by Buntline , Harte , and Twain . It was ever the stuff of legend." Five made-for-TV movies were produced after its 20-year run. The show won 15 Primetime Emmy Awards as well as other accolades. It was frequently well received, holding

6241-464: Was the sole survivor, with Alias Smith and Jones and Bonanza both leaving the airwaves 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 years earlier in January 1973. The television series was the longest-running, primetime, live-action television series at 20 seasons, until September 2019 with the 21st-season premiere of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit . The original Law & Order , which was canceled in 2010 after tying Gunsmoke ' s longevity record for

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