Norman Scarth Macdonnell (November 8, 1916 – November 28, 1979) was an American producer for radio, television, and feature films. He is best known for co-creating with writer John Meston the Western series Gunsmoke , which was broadcast on CBS Radio from 1952 to 1961, and on television from 1955 to 1975.
88-527: Gunsmoke 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
176-413: A lien or other security interest) can be registered against personal or movable property. In common law it is possible to place a mortgage upon real property. Such a mortgage requires payment, or the owner of the mortgage can seek foreclosure . Personal property can often be secured with a similar kind of device, variously called a chattel mortgage , a trust receipt , or a security interest . In
264-399: 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 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
352-475: A daughter; and they remained married until Norman's death in 1979. On November 28 that year, less than three weeks after his 63rd birthday, he died of kidney failure at a hospital in Burbank, California . Personal property Personal property is property that is movable. In common law systems, personal property may also be called chattels or personalty . In civil law systems, personal property
440-671: 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
528-521: 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 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
616-504: 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
704-406: 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 the next block, too, where the inevitable dog was barking." Gunsmoke is unique from other Westerns in that it was unsponsored in
792-527: A program heading that Ackerman himself was credited with conceiving. Once given permission to proceed with Gunsmoke , Macdonnell began developing a detailed production schedule for the new series' 30-minute episodes and arranging auditions to cast its recurring characters. His and Meston's "Jeff Spain" soon became United States Marshal Matt Dillon , and veteran voice actor William Conrad was chosen by Macdonnell, Meston, and two other CBS screeners to portray that lead character. Other seasoned actors soon filled
880-488: 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 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
968-691: 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
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#17327801764141056-399: 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 the doleful tone, Gunsmoke is distinct from other radio Westerns, as the dialogue is often slow and halting, and the outstanding sound effects give
1144-408: A time when radio dramas, adventure series, and comedies were increasingly being abandoned by sponsors and audiences in favor of televised programming, the "duplicate" of Have Gun—Will Travel proved successful, continuing for over two years with 106 episodes being broadcast. In 1955, Macdonnell and John Meston's radio version of Gunsmoke was adapted to television; and that year, on September 10, it
1232-619: 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
1320-677: A tribute to Gunsmoke , including set furniture from the 1960s and an old television tuned to the show. 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. 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. Norman Macdonnell Other radio series that Macdonnell either produced, directed, or at various times wrote scripts for include Suspense , Escape , The Adventures of Philip Marlowe , Fort Laramie , Rogers of
1408-522: 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
1496-589: Is a cavalry officer, Captain Lee Quince, performed by Raymond Burr , who a year later would move to television and star on Perry Mason . Collaborating with Macdonnell on Fort Laramie was his Gunsmoke colleague John Meston, who wrote many episodes for the new series, including the one for its initial broadcast from Hollywood on Sunday afternoon, January 22, 1956. In its review of that premiere episode for Fort Laramie , Variety once again focused special attention on Macdonnell's directorial "touches": Although
1584-470: 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
1672-439: Is not attached to real property or land), touched or felt. These generally include items such as furniture, clothing, jewelry, art, writings, or household goods. In some cases, there can be formal title documents that show the ownership and transfer rights of that property after a person's death (for example, motor vehicles, boats, etcetera) In many cases, however, tangible personal property will not be "titled" in an owner's name and
1760-426: Is often called movable property or movables —any property that can be moved from one location to another. Personal property can be understood in comparison to real estate , immovable property or real property (such as land and buildings). Movable property on land (larger livestock , for example) was not automatically sold with the land, it was "personal" to the owner and moved with the owner. The word cattle
1848-467: Is presumed to be whatever property he or she was in possession of at the time of his or her death. Accountants distinguish personal property from real property because personal property can be depreciated faster than improvements (while land is not depreciable at all). It is an owner's right to get tax benefits for chattel, and there are businesses that specialize in appraising personal property, or chattel. The distinction between these types of property
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#17327801764141936-460: 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
2024-496: Is significant for a variety of reasons. Usually, one's rights on movables are more attenuated than one's rights on immovables (or real property). The statutes of limitations or prescriptive periods are usually shorter when dealing with personal or movable property. Real property rights are usually enforceable for a much longer period of time and in most jurisdictions real estate and immovables are registered in government-sanctioned land registers. In some jurisdictions, rights (such as
2112-685: Is the Old Norman variant of Old French chatel , chattel (derived from Latin capitalis , "of the head"), which was once synonymous with general movable personal property. Personal property may be classified in a variety of ways. Intangible personal property or "intangibles" refers to personal property that cannot actually be moved, touched or felt, but instead represents something of value such as negotiable instruments , securities , service (economics) , and intangible assets including chose in action . Tangible personal property refers to any type of property that can generally be moved (i.e., it
2200-690: 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
2288-615: 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;
2376-979: The "Columbia Radio Players", a career-training workshop for CBS employees. It was there where Macdonnell gained instruction in voice acting and his early knowledge about organizing and directing radio broadcasts. In 1946, after returning to California from his service in World War II, he resumed his employment in Los Angeles with CBS Radio and was soon involved with directing several of the network's most popular dramatic programs, anthology series, instructional shows, and comedies. Some of those were Suspense , Doorway to Life , Escape , The Adventures of Philip Marlowe , Romance , and The Harold Peary Show . While working on Escape , which premiered in July 1947, Macdonnell started working with writer John Meston with whom he would collaborate on future projects, including
2464-436: The 1870s, stories were situated in southwestern Kansas, centered principally in the rowdy, "hard-drinking" cattle town of Dodge City . Originally, Macdonnell and Meston planned to name their new Western Jeff Spain , after a character they created and used earlier in several episodes of an anthology series they had done. Their boss at CBS, Harry Ackerman , and other network executives dismissed that title, preferring Gunsmoke ,
2552-430: The 1950s. He continued to direct episodes of Suspense and Escape ; and prior to the premiere of Gunsmoke he directed the short-lived comedy series The Harold Peary Show , which aired between 1950 and 1951 and was presented in an unusual format, as "a radio show within a radio show". Then, in 1956, Macdonnell produced and directed another 30-minute radio " Old West " drama, Fort Laramie That series' lead character
2640-638: The Gazette , and Have Gun – Will Travel . He was also a long-time executive producer for the NBC television series The Virginian . Norman Scarth Macdonnell was born in California in 1916. Named in honor of his paternal grandfather, he was the youngest of four children of Alice L. ( née Talcott) and James S. Macdonnell. James had immigrated to the United States from Canada in 1902 and by 1920
2728-419: The Kid", was well received by both critics and the general public; and in the weeks that followed the ratings for Gunsmoke steadily grew. The critic for the influential trade paper Variety praised the first episode's story and acting, and he commended Macdonnell's direction in particular, describing the new series as "a blazing radioater ...with top thesping and scripting values that pull it way ahead of
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2816-512: 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 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
2904-489: The United States, Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code governs the creation and enforcement of security interests in most (but not all) types of personal property. There is no similar institution to the mortgage in the civil law, however a hypothec is a device to secure real rights against property. These real rights follow the property along with the ownership. In common law a lien also remains on
2992-555: The army, Macdonnell's radio career had begun in Los Angeles at station KNX, which served as the center for West Coast or "Hollywood" programming for the Columbia Broadcasting System 's nationwide network. He initially worked as a studio tour guide at KNX and as a low-level assistant or " page " for staff affiliated with CBS. He then began working as a general technician on radio productions, and he founded
3080-601: 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
3168-406: 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
3256-401: 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
3344-424: 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
3432-462: 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
3520-467: 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
3608-412: 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 the radio show began, talk began of adapting it to television. Privately, Macdonnell had a guarded interest in taking
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3696-412: 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
3784-423: The household. The distinction between tangible and intangible personal property is also significant in some of the jurisdictions which impose sales taxes. In Canada, for example, provincial and federal sales taxes were imposed primarily on sales of tangible personal property whereas sales of intangibles tended to be exempt. The move to value added taxes, under which almost all transactions are taxable, has diminished
3872-492: 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 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
3960-474: The needed regular supporting roles, including Parley Baer as Marshal Dillon's trusty assistant Chester Proudfoot, Howard McNear as Dr. Charles "Doc" Adams, and Georgia Ellis , whose initial role in the series would quickly evolve into the saloon "hostess" Kitty Russell. Gunsmoke was broadcast for the first time from radio station KNX in Hollywood on Saturday, April 26, 1952. The premiere episode, "Billy
4048-439: 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
4136-453: The new episodes of the radio series and with adapting episodes already broadcast on CBS Radio for replay in a visual format. The radio version of the series continued to be popular for several years after the debut of its televised counterpart with James Arness , Dennis Weaver , Milburn Stone , and Amanda Blake in their respective roles as Marshal Dillon, Chester (his surname changed from Proudfoot to Goode), Doc, and Kitty. By 1958, in fact,
4224-461: The pack of AM westerns." The growing number of fan letters received by CBS appeared to confirm Variety' s assessment and to reflect the type of audience that Macdonnell and Meston intended to attract, for much of the complimentary mail arriving at the network "came from a highly educated section of the population". Following the successful premiere of Gunsmoke , Macdonnell's work as producer and director and Meston's scripts would dominate for years
4312-453: 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
4400-431: The popularity of Have Gun—Will Travel , CBS decided to duplicate the series on radio with veteran character actor John Dehner performing in the same role as Boone. Macdonnell, who reportedly had promoted the radio-adaptation idea inside the network, was assigned to organize and direct the episodes. The first episode, "Strange Vendetta ", aired on November 23, 1958, a year and a half after its televised counterpart. At
4488-493: 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 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
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#17327801764144576-410: The property, and it is not extinguished by alienation of the property; liens may be real or equitable . Many jurisdictions levy a personal property tax , an annual tax on the privilege of owning or possessing personal property within the boundaries of the jurisdiction. Automobile and boat registration fees are a subset of this tax. Most household goods are exempt as long as they are kept or used within
4664-478: The proposed CBS series was shelved. Two years later Macdonnell and Meston discovered the proposal while developing their own concept for a Western, although one they envisioned—unlike Straight Arrow —to be targeted at a much more mature audience, a series that Macdonnell referred to as an "'adult Western'". Adapting elements from the 1949 proposal, the two men expanded on the background narratives relating to their series' general chronology and specific location. Set in
4752-433: The radio and television versions of Gunsmoke and the 1956 radio series Fort Laramie . In 1949 executives and programmers at CBS Radio began planning a new weekly Western for the network, one inspired by Straight Arrow , which was then being broadcast nationally by another company, Mutual Broadcasting System . That series had proven to be very popular among juvenile listeners; however, due to contractual complications
4840-543: The radio industry and within CBS itself, but he was not assigned by the network to serve as the initial producer and director for the series' early televised presentations. CBS chose others with more experience in films and television for those responsibilities, including, most notably, someone with far more "impressive credentials in directing films, especially Westerns": Charles Marquis Warren . After Gunsmoke' s premiere on television, both Macdonnell and Meston remained busy with
4928-425: The radio series' weekly episodes, which were often complimented in reviews in trade publications for their voice acting, dialogue, pacing, music, and sound effects. Macdonnell's contributions to the now-classic Western were numerous and profound. He not only produced and directed many radio episodes of Gunsmoke , he also wrote and co-wrote some broadcasts during the series' nine-year run on radio. Yet, in interviews he
5016-637: 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 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
5104-596: 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
5192-415: The series "achieved its greatest popularity" under Macdonnell's control. Between 1957 and 1961, the television series earned the ranking as America's top show in the Nielsen ratings for four consecutive seasons. Macdonnell would remain with the series until the fall of 1964, when he was "suddenly" dismissed due to creative differences with the head of CBS Television and due to continuing production problems
5280-741: 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
5368-410: The series' recent adaptation to television. Since the late 1940s, the adaptation of a series popular radio show to the rapidly expanding medium of television was fairly common occurrence in the broadcast industry. However, such adaptations in reverse—the creation a radio version of an already successful television series—was rarely done. Macdonnell was presented with that challenge in 1958. On television,
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#17327801764145456-702: The series' was having with its expansion to a one-hour format. Macdonnell produced other television programs outside his work for Gunsmoke . In 1958 he found time to produce "The Dungeon", an installment for the CBS anthology series Playhouse 90 , and "Mountain Man", an episode for yet another CBS series, the post-Civil War Western The Texan with Rory Calhoun . Then, after leaving Gunsmoke , he began working for CBS competitor NBC , serving as executive producer on over 110 episodes of another long-running Western series, The Virginian (1962-1971), starring James Drury , starting with its fourth season. In 1965, Macdonnell
5544-679: 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
5632-541: 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 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
5720-440: 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 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" –
5808-479: The title role. Two years later he produced for Universal's television division the made-for-television movie This Savage Land ; and then in 1974, five years before his death, he completed production of another television Western movie, McMasters of Sweetwater. On January 6, 1946, in Pasadena , Macdonnell married Judith E. (née Bennett) Murray, a native of Butte, Montana . The couple subsequently had one child,
5896-446: The two formats of the series were together drawing a weekly audience of 55 million listeners and viewers. Macdonnell by then was already serving too as producer of Gunsmoke on television, having been assigned to replace Warren, who left the series at the end of its second season due to "fatigue" and to pursue other projects. While Warren's guidance had firmly established Gunsmoke as a popular and critical success on television as well,
5984-459: The weekly series Have Gun—Will Travel had premiered in September 1957 and quickly established itself as a critical and financial hit for CBS. The star of that television Western was Richard Boone in the role of "Paladin", a well-educated, cultured resident of 1870s San Francisco who advertised his services as a gunfighter or well-armed "negotiator" for hire. Wanting to capitalize further on
6072-551: The yarn was reminiscent of a typical Roy Rogers or Gene Autry oater , it was well written and producer-director Norman Macdonnell gave it an added lift via some fancy production trappings. His sound effects, for example, were so effective that they might well have rated a separate billing. Despite receiving additional positive reviews from media critics, CBS cancelled Fort Laramie by October 28, 1956, after broadcasting only 41 episodes. Macdonnell, though, remained busy working on Gunsmoke' s weekly radio installments, as well as on
6160-576: Was a bank president in Pasadena . With regard to Norman's education, after high school he completed three years of college before joining the military just prior to the United States' formal involvement in World War II. On December 2, 1941—only five days before Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor —he enlisted in the United States Army. Later in the war, in 1944, he was among the first divisions of American soldiers that invaded Nazi -occupied France on D-Day . Three years before his enlistment in
6248-500: 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
6336-446: 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
6424-405: 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 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
6512-506: 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 the upending of cherished Western fiction clichés and said that few Westerns gave any inkling of how brutal
6600-431: Was also a producer of "The Easter Breach", an episode for NBC's series Kraft Suspense Theatre . He then produced an additional televised Western, The Road West , which aired briefly during the 1966-1967 broadcast season. Not all of Macdonnell's production work was limited to radio and television series. For Universal Pictures in 1967 he produced the comedy feature film The Ballad of Josie starring Doris Day in
6688-520: Was broadcast on the " small screen " for the first time. The series would remain a staple in CBS Television's weekly lineup of programming for 20 years, becoming over that time "the longest-running prime-time drama series in TV history". Yet, unlike the radio series, Macdonnell and John Meston would not be the chief developers of Gunsmoke' s adaptation to television. Macdonnell was widely respected in
6776-584: 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
6864-469: 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
6952-510: 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
7040-493: 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 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
7128-405: 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
7216-410: 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 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
7304-403: 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
7392-471: Was quick to express his admiration for the stories produced on "Meston's 'grubby little typewriter'" and to credit Meston for establishing very high, consistent standards for the content of Gunsmoke's episodes throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s. Along with his ongoing responsibilities with the radio broadcasts of Gunsmoke from 1952 through the rest of that decade, Macdonnell managed to direct for CBS several other well-established and new series during
7480-424: 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
7568-537: 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
7656-479: 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
7744-518: 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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