NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. Gun. ... Image File history File links Wikitext. ... Image File history File links Gunsmokeradio. ... Image File history File links Gunsmokeradio. ... Howard McNear (January 27, 1905 â€“ January 3, 1969) was an American film, television and radio character actor. ... Conrad in Cannon William Conrad (September 27, 1920 â€“ February 11, 1994), born William Cann, was an American actor and narrator in radio, film and television noted for his gifted use of a marvelous baritone voice, as well as for his sizable girth. ... Georgia Ellis (1917-1988) played the recurring role of Kitty in the popular Western radio drama Gunsmoke. ... Parley Baer (August 5, 1915 - November 22, 2002) was an American character actor in film, television, and radio. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Norman MacDonnell (born November 8, 1916 in Pasadena, California; died November 28, 1979 in Burbank, California) was an American television producer best known for co-creating and producing the Western radio and television series, Gunsmoke. ... John Meston (born July 30, 1914 in Pueblo, Colorado; died March 24, 1979) was an American radio and television writer best known for creating, along with Norman MacDonnell, the long-running radio and TV series, Gunsmoke. ... For Michael Curtizs 1939 western movie, see Dodge City (1939 movie). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... The Western United States, also referred to as the American West or simply The West, traditionally refers to the region constituting the westernmost states of the United States (see geographical terminology section for further discussion of these terms). ...

The radio version ran from 1952 to 1961 and is commonly regarded as one of the finest radio dramas of all time. The television version ran from 1955 to 1975 and is the longest running prime time drama and the second-longest running prime time fictional program in U.S. television history, its record surpassed only by the Disney anthology television series (which, though essentially the same in every incarnation, has appeared on TV under several titles). Radio drama is a form of audio storytelling broadcast on radio. ... The first incarnation of the Disney anthology television series, commonly called The Wonderful World of Disney, premiered on ABC on October 27, 1954 under the name Disneyland. ...

Radio version

In the late 1940s, CBS chairman William S. Paley, a big fan of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe radio serial, asked his programming chief, Hubell Robinson, to develop a hardboiled Western series. Robinson contacted his West Coast CBS Vice-President, Harry Ackerman, who had created the Philip Marlowe series, to take on the task. This article is about the broadcast network. ... William S. Paley (1901-1990) This article is about the broadcast executive. ... Ed Bishop had the title role in BBC Radios The Adventures of Philip Marlowe. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Audio theatre. ... Harry Ackerman (November 17, 1912 in Albany, New York - February 3, 1991 in Burbank, California) was a famed TV executive producer at Screen Gems, the television division of Columbia Pictures. ...

Ackerman and his scriptwriters, Mort Fine and David Friedkin, created an audition script called "Mark Dillon Goes to Gouge Eye." Two auditions were created in 1949. The first was very much like a hardboiled detective series and starred Rye Billsbury as Dillon; the second 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 given the green light to proceed.

But there was a complication. Culver's contract as the star of Straight Arrow would not allow him to do another Western series. So the project was shelved until three years later, when Norman MacDonnell and John Meston would find out about this previous version while looking to create an adult Western series of their own.

MacDonnell and Meston wanted to create 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^[clarify] notes, "The show drew critical acclaim for unprecedented realism." He also writes that, among old-time radio fans, "Gunsmoke is routinely placed among the best shows of any kind and any time." (Dunning, 304) The show's cast, writing and sound effects have received much praise.^{[citation needed]} The Lone Ranger. ... The Cisco Kid was a popular radio, television and film series based on the fictional Western character created by author O. Henry in his short story The Caballeros Way, published in 1907 in the short story collection Heart of the West. ... For the 1939 western movie, see Dodge City (1939 film). ... Before television, radio was the dominant home entertainment medium. ...

Radio cast

The radio series, which first aired April 26, 1952, and ran until June 18, 1961, on CBS, starred William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon; Howard McNear as the ghoulish, brittle and then, as the series progressed, kind-hearted Doc Charles Adams; Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell; and Parley Baer as Dillon's assistant (but not his deputy), Chester Proudfoot. (On the television series, Doc's first name was changed to Galen, and Chester's last name was changed to Goode.) Chester's character had no surname until "Proudfoot" was ad libbed by Baer during an early rehearsal, while Doc Adams was named after cartoonist Charles Addams. In a 1953 interview with Time, MacDonnell declared: "Kitty is just someone Matt has to visit every once in a while. We never say it, but Kitty is a prostitute, plain and simple." (Dunning, 304) is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 169th day of the year (170th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Conrad in Cannon William Conrad (September 27, 1920 â€“ February 11, 1994), born William Cann, was an American actor and narrator in radio, film and television noted for his gifted use of a marvelous baritone voice, as well as for his sizable girth. ... Marshal Matt Dillon is a fictional character featured on both the radio and television versions of Gunsmoke. ... Howard McNear (January 27, 1905 â€“ January 3, 1969) was an American film, television and radio character actor. ... Georgia Ellis (1917-1988) played the recurring role of Kitty in the popular Western radio drama Gunsmoke. ... Parley Baer (August 5, 1915 - November 22, 2002) was an American character actor in film, television, and radio. ... A family name, or surname, is that part of a persons name that indicates to what family he or she belongs. ... See AdLib for the computer sound card manufacturer. ... Charles Samuel Addams (January 7, 1912â€“September 29, 1988) was an American cartoonist known for his particularly black humor and macabre characters. ... â€œTIMEâ€ redirects here. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ...

William Conrad was actually one of the last actors who auditioned for the role of Marshal Dillon. He was already one of radio's busiest actors and had a powerful and distinctive baritone voice. Though Meston championed him, MacDonnell thought that Conrad might be overexposed. During his audition, however, Conrad won over MacDonnell after reading just a few lines.

Distinction from other radio westerns

The show was distinct from other radio westerns, as the dialogue was often slow and halting, and due to the outstanding sound effects, listeners had a nearly palpable sense of the prairie terrain where the show was set. The effects were subtle but multilayered, giving the show a spacious feel. John Dunning writes: "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." (Dunning, 305) Dillon as portrayed by Conrad was a lonely, isolated man, toughened by a hard life. Meston relished in the upending of cherished Western fiction clichés and thought that few Westerns gave any inkling of how brutal the Old West was. 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." (Dunning, 304) This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Dialogue (disambiguation). ... Sound effects or audio effects are artificially created or enhanced sounds, or sound processes used to emphasize artistic or other content of movies, video games, music, or other media. ... For other uses, see Prairie (disambiguation). ... John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton (1731 - 1783) was an English jurist and politician. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Homicide (Latin homicidium, homo human being + caedere to cut, kill) refers to the act of killing another human being. ... See Also: Antisocial Personality Disorder Theoretically, psychopathy is a three-faceted disorder involving interpersonal, affective and behavioral characteristics. ...

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 a prostitute." (Dunning, 304) Some listeners, such as vintage radio authority Dunning, have argued that the radio version of Gunsmoke was far more realistic than the TV series. Episodes were aimed at adults and featured some of the most explicit content of their time, including violent crimes, scalpings, massacres, and opium addicts. Many episodes ended on a somber note, and villains often got away with their crimes. Nonetheless, thanks to the subtle scripts and the outstanding ensemble cast, over the years the program evolved into a warm, often humorous celebration of human nature. Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Gay bashing Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial... Partial hand amputation Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery. ... It has been suggested that Rapists be merged into this article or section. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ... A violent crime or crime of violence is a crime in which the offender uses or threatens violent force upon the victim. ... Native American Big Mouth Spring with decorated scalp lock on right shoulder. ... Photographs of the My Lai massacre provoked world outrage and made it an international scandal. ... This article is about the drug. ...

Talk of adapting Gunsmoke to television

Not long after the show began, there was talk of adapting it to television. Privately, MacDonnell had a guarded interest in taking the show to television, but publicly, he declared that "our show is perfect for radio," and he feared that, as Dunning writes, "Gunsmoke confined by a picture couldn't possibly be as authentic or attentive to detail." (Dunning, 305) "In the end," writes Dunning, "CBS simply took it away from" MacDonnell and began preparing for the television version of Gunsmoke. (Dunning, 305)

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 on as the main writer. In the early years, a majority of the TV episodes were adapted from the radio scripts, often using identical scenes and dialogue. Dunning writes: "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." (Dunning, 304)

MacDonnell and Meston continued the radio version of Gunsmoke until 1961, making it one of the most enduring vintage radio dramas. The Gunsmoke radio theme song and later TV Theme was titled "The Old Trail" also known as "Boothill." The theme was written by Rex Koury & Glenn Spencer. The original radio version was conducted by Rex Koury. The TV version was thought to have been first conducted by CBS West Coast Music Director, Lud Gluskin.

Television version

The television series ran from September 10, 1955 to September 1, 1975 on CBS for 635 episodes. To this day, it is the longest run of any scripted series with continuing characters in American primetime television. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... John Meston (born July 30, 1914 in Pueblo, Colorado; died March 24, 1979) was an American radio and television writer best known for creating, along with Norman MacDonnell, the long-running radio and TV series, Gunsmoke. ... This biographical article needs additional references for verification. ... Milburn Stone (July 5, 1904 - June 12, 1980) was an American television actor, best known for his role as Doc (Doctor Galen Adams) on the western television series Gunsmoke. ... Amanda Blake (February 20, 1929 - August 16, 1989), was an American actress best known for the role of the red-haired Miss Kitty on the longest-running television drama, CBSs Gunsmoke series (1955-1975). ... William Dennis Weaver (June 4, 1924 â€” February 24, 2006) was an Emmy Award-winning actor and was an American television actor, best known for his roles as sidekick Chester Goode from 1955 to 1964 on TVs first adult Western Gunsmoke, as Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama... Ken Curtis (born July 2, 1916; died April 29, 1991), Singer-Actor, best known as Festus of Gunsmoke fame. ... Burt Reynolds (born Burton Reynolds Jr. ... Herman Stein (born August 9, 1915, in Philadelphia, PA - died March 15, 2007, in Los Angeles, CA) was an American composer who wrote music for many of Universal Studios 1950s science-fiction and horror films,. Herman Stein at the Internet Movie Database Categories: | | ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... Black-and-white is a broad adjectival term used to describe a number of monochrome forms of visual arts. ... is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 1954 in television, other events of 1955, 1956 in television and the list of years in television. // Events April 1 - The DuMont Television network drastically cuts back its programming. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1975 in television involved some significant events. ... is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 1954 in television, other events of 1955, 1956 in television and the list of years in television. // Events April 1 - The DuMont Television network drastically cuts back its programming. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1975 in television involved some significant events. ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... This is a list of the longest running United States television series, ordered by number of broadcast seasons. ...

Conrad was the first choice to play Marshal Dillon on TV, having established the role, but his increasing obesity led to more photogenic actors being considered. Losing the role embittered Conrad for years, though he later starred in another CBS television series, Cannon (1971-1975). Denver Pyle was also considered for the role, as was Raymond Burr who was ultimately seen as too heavy-set for the part. Rumors that the role was offered to John Wayne have been largely debunked. Marshal Matt Dillon is a fictional character featured on both the radio and television versions of Gunsmoke. ... Cannon was a detective series which ran on CBS from 1971 to 1976. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Raymond William Stacey Burr (May 21, 1917 â€“ September 12, 1993) was an Emmy-nominated actor and vintner, perhaps best known for his roles in the television dramas Perry Mason and Ironside. ... For other persons named John Wayne, see John Wayne (disambiguation). ...

In the end, the primary roles were all recast, with James Arness taking on the lead role of Marshal Matt Dillon upon the recommendation of John Wayne, who also introduced the first episode of the series, Dennis Weaver playing Chester Goode, Milburn Stone being cast as Dr. Galen "Doc" Adams and Amanda Blake taking on the role of Miss Kitty Russell, owner of the Long Branch Saloon. MacDonnell became the associate producer of the TV show and later the producer. Meston was named head writer. Arness, in his role on Gunsmoke, achieved what no other actor at the time had ever matched: he played the same character on the same scripted series for 20 years, at the time, the longest uninterrupted period a primetime actor had played the same role in the same show. This biographical article needs additional references for verification. ... William Dennis Weaver (June 4, 1924 â€” February 24, 2006) was an Emmy Award-winning actor and was an American television actor, best known for his roles as sidekick Chester Goode from 1955 to 1964 on TVs first adult Western Gunsmoke, as Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama... Milburn Stone (July 5, 1904 - June 12, 1980) was an American television actor, best known for his role as Doc (Doctor Galen Adams) on the western television series Gunsmoke. ... Amanda Blake (February 20, 1929 - August 16, 1989), was an American actress best known for the role of the red-haired Miss Kitty on the longest-running television drama, CBSs Gunsmoke series (1955-1975). ...

In 1963, singer/ charactor actor Ken Curtis did a guest role as a shady ladies' man. After Weaver left the series to venture out as the lead in his own TV series, Kentucky Jones, Curtis was added to the show's lineup. He played the stubbornly illiterate Festus Haggen, a character who came to town (in an episode titled "Us Haggens") to avenge the death of his twin brother, Fergus Haggen, and another brother, Jeff Haggen, and who decided to stay in Dodge when the deed was done. Initially existing on the fringes of Dodge society, Festus Haggen was slowly phased in as a reliable sidekick to Matt Dillon and was eventually made a deputy. Interestingly, his twin was never again mentioned on the show. In the episode "Alias Festus Haggen," he is mistaken for a robber and killer whom he has to expose to free himself (both parts played by Curtis). In a comic relief episode ("Mad Dog"), another case of mistaken identity forces Festus to fight three sons of a man killed by his cousin. Other actors who played Dillon's deputees for two and a half to three-year stints included Roger Ewing (1966-1968) as Thad Greenwood and Burt Reynolds (1962-1965) as Indian/white Quint Asper. Buck Taylor, who played gunsmith Newly O'Brien from 1967-1975, also served as one of Dillon's deputies. Ken Curtis (born July 2, 1916; died April 29, 1991), Singer-Actor, best known as Festus of Gunsmoke fame. ... William Dennis Weaver (June 4, 1924 â€” February 24, 2006) was an Emmy Award-winning actor and was an American television actor, best known for his roles as sidekick Chester Goode from 1955 to 1964 on TVs first adult Western Gunsmoke, as Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension. ... Burt Reynolds (born Burton Reynolds Jr. ...

While Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty clearly had a close personal relationship, the two never married. In a July 2, 2002 Associated Press interview with Bob Thomas, Arness explained, "If they were man and wife, it would make a lot of difference. The people upstairs decided it was better to leave the show as it was, which I totally agreed with." The nearest that Matt and Kitty had to a romantic encounter was in a comic episode, where Matt, tired from a long day of settling disputes, was about to have dinner with Miss Kitty. However, she was distracted and found poor Matt sound asleep. Kitty ended up storming out of the room, furious. In another episode ("Hostage!", Season 18, Episode 13, December 11, 1972) Kitty was gravely injured. Matt spent hours at Kitty's side in Doc's office, holding her hand before she stirred and he knew he would not lose her. The Marshal took off his badge to pursue the bad guy as a personal vendetta. When Kitty awoke and Doc told her of Matt's mission she feared for his safety. As Doc reassured her that "the sun hasn't come up on the day that Matt can't take care of himself" Kitty answered, "I couldn't live without him." The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ...

In an episode featuring Johnny Whitaker as a boy with a prostitute mother, her madam questions Dillon as to why the law overlooks Miss Kitty's enterprise. It appears that bordellos could exist "at the law's discretion" (meaning the Marshal). John O. Whitaker, Jr. ...

Differences between the characters on the radio and television versions

There were differences between the characters on the radio and TV versions of Gunsmoke. The radio series Doc was acerbic, somewhat mercenary and borderline alcoholic -- at least in the program's early years. The television Doc, though still crusty, was in many ways softer and warmer. Miss Kitty, who in the radio series likely engaged in prostitution, was viewed more as "the proprietor of a saloon" on the television series, and except for a few early scripts taken from the radio series, viewers only saw Miss Kitty as a kindhearted businesswoman.

Format

From 1955 to 1961, Gunsmoke was a half-hour show. It then went to an hour-long format. For some reason the series was entitled "GUN LAW" in the UK. Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Popularity

Gunsmoke was TV's No. 1 ranked show from 1957 to 1961 before slipping into a decline after expanding to an hour. In 1967, the show's 12th season, CBS planned to cancel the series, but widespread viewer reaction (including a mention in Congress and pressure from the wife of the head of programming at CBS) prevented its demise. The show continued on in a different time slot: early evening on Mondays instead of Saturday nights, cancelling the popular Gilligan's Island in the process. This seemingly minor change led to a spike in ratings that saw the series once again reach the top 10 in the Nielsen ratings until the 1973-1974 television season ^[1]. In 1975, the show was finally cancelled after a long twenty-year run. Gunsmoke was the show that ushered in the age of the adult Western, and although over 30 Westerns came and went during its 20-year tenure, Gunsmoke outlasted all of its imitators and was the only Western still airing when it was cancelled. The year 1967 in television involved some significant events. ... For the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) video game, see The Adventures of Gilligans Island. ... When TV viewers or entertainment professionals in the United States mention ratings they are often referring to Nielsen Ratings, a system developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the audience size and composition of television programming. ...

Arness and Stone had remained with the show for its entire run (although Stone missed seven episodes in 1971 due to illness and was temporarily replaced by Pat Hingle, who played "Doctor Chapman" while Doc Adams ostensibly left Dodge to further his medical studies on the East Coast). The year 1971 in television involved some significant events. ... Pat Hingle (born July 19, 1924) is an American actor. ...

The entire cast was stunned by the cancellation, as they were unaware CBS had been considering it. According to Arness, "We didn't do 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 heard the news in typical Hollywood fashion: they read it in the trade papers. (Associated Press, July 2, 2002, Bob Thomas) ...

Revivals

In 1987, many of the original cast reunited for the TV movie, Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge^[2], filmed in Alberta, Canada. Ken Curtis declined returning citing a contract dispute saying, "As Dillon's right hand man, I felt the offer should approximate Miss Blake's." Instead, Buck Taylor became Dodge's new marshal, though the retired Matt Dillon was the hero. A huge ratings success, it led to four more TV films being made in the U.S. After Amanda Blake's death, the writers built on the 1973 two-part episodic romance of "Matt's Love Story," (which was noted for the marshal's first overnight visit to a female's lodgings). In the episode, Matt loses his memory and his heart during a brief liaison with "Mike" Michael Learned of The Waltons. In preserving the ethics of the era and the heretofore flawless hero's character, the healed Dillon returns to Dodge City. Movie number two Gunsmoke: The Last Apache^[3] (1990), had Learned reprising the role of "Mike Yardley," to divulge that Matt and "Mike" conceived a daughter who is now a young woman named Beth. Other films (which all featured daughter Beth included Gunsmoke: To the Last Man^[4] (1992), Gunsmoke: The Long Ride^[5] (1993), and Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice^[6] (1994). This is a list of television-related events in 1987. ... For other uses, see Alberta (disambiguation). ... See also: 1972 in television, other events of 1973, 1974 in television and the list of years in television. For the American network television schedule, please see 1973-74 American network television schedule. ... This article should be translated from material at fr:Liaison. ... Michael Learned (born on April 9, 1938 in Washington, D.C., but lived on a farm with her 5 sisters for the first 10 years of her life) is an American actress, best known for her role as Olivia Walton on The Waltons, which she played from 1972 to 1979. ... For other uses, see The Waltons (disambiguation). ... The year 1990 in television involved some significant events. ... The year 1992 in television involved some significant events. ... The year 1993 in television involved some significant events. ... The year 1994 in television involved some significant events. ...

Longevity

As of May 2007, two American series that have been poised to beat Gunsmoke's 20-year record are the animated sitcom The Simpsons, now in its 19th season, and the police procedural/courtroom drama Law & Order, now in its 18th year. The half hour Simpsons has been renewed for 2008-2009 and will in fact tie Gunsmoke for 20 seasons in September 2008. Gunsmoke, which ran a full hour through most of its run, still beats the comedy's total air time; Law & Order is also expected to be a possible 20-year survivor. Internationally, a number of British primetime dramas and comedies have beaten Gunsmoke, Law & Order and WWE, including Last of the Summer Wine (26 years), Taggart (23 years), Casualty and the longest running primetime scripted show, Doctor Who (36 years). May 2007 is the fifth month of that year. ... Animation refers to the process in which each frame of a film or movie is produced individually, whether generated as a computer graphic, or by photographing a drawn image, or by repeatedly making small changes to a model (see claymation and stop motion), and then photographing the result. ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... The police procedural is a sub-genre of the mystery story which attempts to accurately depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. ... A legal drama is a work of dramatic fiction about law, crime, punishment or the legal profession. ... This article is about the original television series. ... Last of the Summer Wine (Originally The Last of the Summer Wine in the pilot episode), is a BBC sitcom written by Roy Clarke. ... Taggart is a long-running Scottish detective television programme, created by Glenn Chandler (who has written many of the episodes), and made by SMG Productions (STV) for the ITV network. ... Casualty is the longest running emergency medical drama series in the world[1], first broadcast in 1986 and transmitted in the UK on BBC One (with repeats on UKTV Gold). ... This article is about the television series. ...

Ratings

Syndication

In syndication, the entire 20-year run of Gunsmoke is separated into three packages by CBS Paramount Television:

This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... ABC Family is an American cable television network currently owned by Disney-ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company. ... Encore is a US pay TV network which exclusively features mainly first-run as well as past motion pictures. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ...

DVD releases

Certain episodes are available on DVD in two volumes. Twelve episodes from 1955 to 1964 were selected for the Gunsmoke: Volume I box set, and another twelve episodes from 1964 to 1975 were selected for the Gunsmoke: Volume II box set. Both are available on Region 1 DVD. DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ...

Paramount Home Entertainment released Season 1 on DVD in Region 1 on July 17, 2007. [1] Paramount Home Entertainment (formerly Paramount Home Video) is a home video company founded in 1981. ...

is the 198th day of the year (199th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Comic strips and books

Comic books based on the series were also published. Dell Comics put out five issues of their Four Color Comics series on Gunsmoke (issues #679, 720, 769, 797, 844). This was followed by Gunsmoke #6-27 (1958-62). Gold Key Comics continued it with #1-6 in 1969-70. A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publications, which got its start in pulp magazines. ... One of the earlier issues of Four Color, featuring Walt Disneys Donald Duck. ... Gold Key Comics was an imprint of Western Publishing cteated for comic books distributed to newstands. ...

A comic strip version of the series ran in British newspapers for several years under the show's UK title, Gun Law.

Games

Lowell Toy Manufacturing Corporation ( "It's a Lowell Game" ) issued Gunsmoke as their game No. 822. Along with many other Lowell games of this era, Gunsmoke is a highly coveted collectible. The TV series also inspired a Gunsmoke video game produced for the NES by Capcom. Computer and video games redirects here. ... â€œNESâ€ redirects here. ... For the original NASA meaning, see capsule communicator. ...

Regular cast; major characters

This biographical article needs additional references for verification. ... Milburn Stone (July 5, 1904 - June 12, 1980) was an American television actor, best known for his role as Doc (Doctor Galen Adams) on the western television series Gunsmoke. ... Amanda Blake (February 20, 1929 - August 16, 1989), was an American actress best known for the role of the red-haired Miss Kitty on the longest-running television drama, CBSs Gunsmoke series (1955-1975). ... William Dennis Weaver (June 4, 1924 â€” February 24, 2006) was an Emmy Award-winning actor and was an American television actor, best known for his roles as sidekick Chester Goode from 1955 to 1964 on TVs first adult Western Gunsmoke, as Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama... Ken Curtis (born July 2, 1916; died April 29, 1991), Singer-Actor, best known as Festus of Gunsmoke fame. ...

Cast

Glenn Strange (August 16, 1899 - September 20, 1973) was an American actor who appeared mostly in Western movies. ... Burt Reynolds (born Burton Reynolds Jr. ... Robert William Dabbs Greer (April 2, 1917 â€” April 28, 2007) [1]) was an American character actor who performed many diverse supporting roles in film and television for about 50 years. ... Hank Patterson, originally Elmer Calvin Patterson, was born on October 9, 1888, in Springville, Alabama. ... For other Roy Roberts with the same name, see Roy Roberts (disambiguation). ... Herbet Herb Vigran (June 5, 1910 - November 29, 1986) was a well known character actor. ... Pat Hingle (born July 19, 1924) is an American actor. ... Fran Ryan (November 29, 1916 â€“ January 15, 2000) is an American character actress who had starred in television and in films. ...

Sources

The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ...

Trivia

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... For the 1939 western movie, see Dodge City (1939 film). ... Studio City is a district in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California. ... Simi Valley is an incorporated city located in the extreme southeast corner of Ventura County, California, bordering the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Milburn Stone (July 5, 1904 - June 12, 1980) was an American television actor, best known for his role as Doc (Doctor Galen Adams) on the western television series Gunsmoke. ... Big Sky Ranch Big sky ranch is a Movie Ranch located in Simi Valley, California. ... Simi Valley is an incorporated city located in the extreme southeast corner of Ventura County, California, bordering the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Little House On The Prairie was an American one-hour dramatic television program that aired on the NBC network from September 11, 1974 to March 21, 1983. ... Theme park redirects here. ... A view of Black Mountain above Henderson, Nevada. ... Subdivision is the act of dividing up land into smaller pieces that are easier to sell, usually via a plat. ... Pink Floyd are an English rock band that initially earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music. ... For other Pink Floyd works based around this album, see The Wall (Pink Floyd). ... For other persons named John Wayne, see John Wayne (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ... Hepatitis (plural hepatitides) implies injury to liver characterised by presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissue. ... For other persons named John Ford, see John Ford (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area Ranked 8th - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (451 km) - Length 380 miles (612 km) - % water 0. ... Tommy Dorsey, in a publicity shot for The Big Apple Tommy Dorsey (November 19, 1905 â€“ November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist and bandleader in the Big Band era. ... A statue of the singing cowboy, Gene Autry, outside the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles, California A singing cowboy was a subtype of the archetypal cowboy hero of early Western films, popularized by many of the B-movies of the 1930s and the 1940s. ... The Searchers may refer to: The Searchers – a 1956 epic Western movie The Searchers – a 1960s British rock band This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... George Harris Kennedy, Jr. ... United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), sometimes known as United Cerebral Palsy Associations, is a network of affiliated groups in the United States which works to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities (from UCPs mission statement), including people with cerebral palsy. ... Frankensteins monster (or Frankenstein or Frankensteins creature) is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelleys novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. ... Boris Karloff (born William Henry Pratt) (London, November 23, 1887 â€“ February 2, 1969) was an English actor, who immigrated to Canada in the 1910s, best known for his roles in horror films and the creation of Frankensteins monster in 1931s Frankenstein. ... This article is about the American media conglomerate. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The American Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 until 1865 between the northern states, popularly referred to as the U.S., the Union, the North, or the Yankees; and the seceding southern states, commonly referred to as the Confederate States of America, the CSA, the Confederacy... Toby Keith Covel (born July 8, 1961) is an American country singer and song writer. ...

Quotes

"If I had known it would last this long, I would never have created the darn thing." — John Meston

"Our attempt to create as realistic and entertaining a program as possible is not, of course, the only one of its kind. But we did proceed and were on the air, trying, before the release of such pictures as High Noon and Shane." — John Meston High Noon is a 1952 western film which tells the story of a town marshal who is forced to face a gang of killers by himself. ... Shane is a 1953 western film made by Paramount Pictures. ...

"We had a great childhood and boyhood. It was a wonderful time through those years. A lot of it was through the Depression years, when things were tough, but my dad always had a job. But I had a great time. I was kind of restless, and I had a hard time staying in school all day, so me and a few pals would duck out and go out on these various adventures." — James Arness, on growing up with brother, Peter Graves, of Mission: Impossible fame. Peter Graves (born March 18, 1926[1][2]) is an American film and television actor. ... Mission: Impossible is the name of an American television series which aired on the CBS network from September 1966 to September 1973. ...

"I wouldn't care if they tattoo 'Festus' all over. He's been good to me." — Ken Curtis

"I'm really proud of Gunsmoke, We put on a good show every week—one that families could all watch together without offending anyone." — Ken Curtis

Notable guest stars

A list of actors who appeared on the Gunsmoke radio program, TV series and the TV movies. ... Willie Aames (born Albert William Upton July 15, 1960 in Orange County, California, USA) is an actor best known for the roles of Buddy Lembeck on Charles in Charge, Tommy Bradford on Eight is Enough and the voice of Hank on Dungeons & Dragons, the cartoon. ... Jonathan George Jack Albertson (June 16, 1907 â€“ November 25, 1981) was an Academy Award, Emmy Award and Tony Award-winning American actor (dating back to Vaudeville), comedian, dancer, singer, and musician, and he performed on stage, radio, movies, and television. ... Older sister of actor Jack Albertson (qv); best known as Darrin Stephens interfering mother on the TV show Bewitched; she died of Alzheimers disease. ... Claude Marion Akins was an American actor (born May 25, 1926, in Nelson, Georgia - died January 27, 1994, in Altadena, California). ... Richard Anderson as Oscar Goldman in The Six Million Dollar Man Richard Anderson, born Richard Norman Anderson (born August 8, 1926 in Long Branch, New Jersey, USA) is an actor in film and television. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... John Allen Astin (born March 30, 1930) is an Oscar nominated American actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, but is best known for the role of Gomez Addams on The Addams Family television series and similarly eccentric comedic characters. ... Edward Asner (born November 15, 1929) is an American actor known for his Emmy-winning role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and later continued in a spinoff series, Lou Grant. ... Lew Ayres (December 28, 1908 â€“ December 30, 1996) was an American actor. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Edward James Begley (March 25, 1901 – April 28, 1970) was an American film actor. ... Ralph Rexford Bellamy (June 17, 1904 â€“ November 29, 1991) was a Tony Award-winning American actor with a career spanning sixty-two years. ... James Best James Best (born July 26, 1926, in Powderly, Kentucky) is an American character actor best known for his role as bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard. ... Dan Blocker aka Dan Davis Blocker (real name - B. Dan D. Blocker) (December 10, 1928 â€“ May 13, 1972) was an American actor best remembered for his role as Eric Hoss Cartwright in the TV western blockbuster Bonanza. ... Bruce Boxleitner (born May 12, 1950 in Elgin, Illinois) is an American actor. ... Eric Braeden (born Hans JÃ¶rg Gudegast on April 3, 1939) is an Emmy Award-winning German film and television actor, best known for his role as Victor Newman on the soap opera The Young and the Restless. ... Peter Breck (born March 13, 1929 in Haverhill, Massachusetts, United States) is an actor that has played roles on television and in movies. ... Beau Bridges, (born Lloyd Vernet Bridges III on December 9, 1941 in Los Angeles, California), is an American actor. ... Morgan Brittany (born December 5, 1951 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actress. ... For other persons named Charles Bronson, see Charles Bronson (disambiguation). ... Bulifant in a Match Game appearance. ... William Gary Busey (born 29 June 1944) is an Academy Award- and Golden Globe Award-nominated American film and stage actor. ... Sebastian Cabot (July 6, 1918 â€“ August 22, 1977) was a film and television actor, best remembered as a gently composed gentlemans gentleman in the 1960s situation comedy Family Affair, but his sonorous voice and understated style belied his frequent typecasting as an Englishman trying to make sense of America. ... Frank Cady Frank Cady (born September 8, 1915 in Susanville, California), is an American actor best known for his role as storekeeper Sam Drucker in the Green Acres and Petticoat Junction television series, which both ran at the same time in the 1960s. ... Harry Carey, Jr. ... John Carradine (February 5, 1906 â€“ November 27, 1988) was a Daytime Emmy Award-winning American actor, perhaps best known for his roles in horror films and Westerns. ... Lee J. Cobb Lee J. Cobb (December 8, 1911 â€“ February 11, 1976) was an American actor. ... Chuck Connors Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors, better known by his professional name of Chuck Connors (April 10, 1921 â€“ November 10, 1992), was an American actor and professional basketball and baseball player. ... Mike Connors (born August 15, 1925) is an American actor of Armenian descent. ... Tim Considine (born December 31, 1940 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actor, who was popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. ... Diminutive character actor Elisha Cook Jr. ... Robert Martin Culp (born August 16, 1930 in Oakland, California), and a 1947 graduate of Berkeley High School, is an American actor, best known for his work on television. ... Royal Dano (born November 16, 1922; died May 15, 1994) was an American film and television character actor. ... Kim Darby (born Deborah Zerby on July 8, 1947 in Los Angeles, California although her father insisted on calling her Derby Zerby because he believed it was a great stagename) is an American actress, daughter of professional dancers John and Inga Zerby. ... For the singer, see Betty Davis, for the meteorologist, see Betty Davis (meteorologist). ... Marlin Jim Davis (August 26, 1909 â€“ April 26, 1981), was an American actor, best known for his role as Jock Ewing in the CBS prime-time soap Dallas, a role which he held up until his death in April 1981. ... Richard Deacon (May 14, 1921 - August 8, 1984), born in Philadelphia, was a television and motion picture actor. ... Gloria DeHaven Gloria DeHaven (born July 23, 1925, in Los Angeles, California) is an American actress. ... John Dehner (1915-1992) was an American actor in television, radio, and films, playing countless roles on TV series and in movies, usually as a mildly comical villain. ... â€¹ The template below is being considered for deletion. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Angie Dickinson (born September 30, 1931) is a Golden Globe-winning American television and film actress, perhaps best known for her role as the sultry Sergeant Leann (not Suzanne) Pepper Anderson in the 1970s crime drama Police Woman. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Buddy Ebsen (April 2, 1908 â€“ July 6, 2003) was an American actor and dancer, who is best-remembered for his role as Jed Clampett in the popular television series The Beverly Hillbillies. ... Barbara Eden (born August 23, 1934 in Tucson, Arizona) is an American film and television actress and singer who is best known for her starring role in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. ... Jack Elam (November 13, 1920 â€” October 20, 2003) was an American film actor. ... Samuel Pack Elliott (born August 9, 1944) is an American film and television actor. ... Paul Fix (b. ... Jay C. Flippen as Henry T-Dub Mansfield in They Live by Night Jay C. Flippen (March 6, 1899 - February 3, 1971) is best remembered as a gruff-faced actor usually playing a cop or weary criminal in many movies of the 1940s and 1950s. ... Constance Ford in 1941 photo by Philippe Halsman used by Elizabeth Arden to advertise Victory Red lipstick. ... For the silent film actor, see Harrison Ford (silent film actor). ... Alicia Christian Foster (born November 19, 1962), better known as Jodie Foster, is a two-time Academy Award-winning American actress, director, and producer. ... Anne Francis Anne Francis (born September 16, 1930, in Ossining, New York) is an American actress, famous for her role in the science fiction film classic Forbidden Planet (1956) and as private detective Honey West in the television series Honey West (1965-1966). ... Bert Freed (November 3, 1919--August 2, 1994) was an American character actor who appeared in dozens of television shows between 1947 and 1985. ... Victor French Victor French (December 4, 1934 - June 15, 1989) was an American actor. ... Beverly Garland (born Beverly Lucy Fessenden on October 17, 1926) is a veteran American film and television actress with a half-century of credits, from cult 1950s B movies to the hit WB series 7th Heaven. ... Leif Per Nervik (born November 8, 1961) better known by his stage name of Leif Garrett is an American singer and actor. ... James Gavin may refer to either of the following: James Gavin (Unification Church), leader of the Unification Church in Minnesota. ... Melissa Ellen Gilbert (born May 8, 1964) is an American actress, writer and producer, primarily in movies and television. ... Harold V. Goldstein (best known stage name Harold Gould) (born December 10, 1923) is a five-time Emmy Award-nominated American actor best known for playing Martin Morgenstern in the 1970s sitcom Rhoda, a role he reprised from his earlier recurring role in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. ... James Gregory (December 23, 1911 â€“ September 16, 2002) was an American character actor noted for playing brash roles such as McCarthy-like Senator Joseph Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate (1962), the audacious General Ursus in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, and loudmouthed Inspector Luger in Barney Miller (TV-Series... Kevin Hagen Kevin Hagen (April 3, 1928, Chicago, Illinois â€“ July 9, 2005) was an American actor. ... Alan Hale Jr. ... Marietta Hartley Marietta Hartley (born June 21, 1940 in Weston, Connecticut) is an American actress, best known for her work in television. ... Katherine Marie Helmond (July 5, 1928, Galveston, Texas) is an American film, theater and television actress. ... Earl Holliman Earl Holliman (born Anthony Earl Numkena on September 11, 1928 in Delhi, Louisiana) is an American film and television actor. ... Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954 in Duncan, Oklahoma) is an American actor, and an Academy Award winning film director, and producer, known for his roles on sitcoms, movies and television. ... For the African American singer and novelist, see Marsha Hunt (singer and novelist). ... Josephine Hutchinson [1] was an American born (November 10, 1903 - June 4, 1998) actress. ... Dennis Lee Hopper (born May 17, 1936) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor and film-maker. ... John Benjamin Ireland (January 30, 1914 - March 21, 1992) was an actor. ... Richard Jaeckel Richard Hanley Jaeckel (October 10, 1926 - June 14, 1997) was an American actor. ... Ben Johnson Jr. ... L.Q. Jones (born August 19, 1927 in Beaumont, Texas) is an American character actor and film director, best-known for his work in the films of Sam Peckinpah. ... DeForest redirects here. ... George Harris Kennedy, Jr. ... Richard Paul Kiley (March 31, 1922 â€“ March 5, 1999) was an American stage, television, and film actor, though he is best known for his voice work, as narrator of various documentary series. ... Jack Klugman (b. ... For other people with the same name, see Ted Knight (disambiguation). ... Diane Ladd (b. ... Martin Landau (born June 20, 1931) is an Academy Award-winning American film and television actor. ... Louise Latham (born 1922) American actress, perhaps best known for her role as Bernice Edgar on Marnie. ... Anna Lee MBE (January 2, 1913 â€“ May 14, 2004) was an English actress. ... June Lockhart (born 25 June 1925 in New York City, USA) is an American television and film actress best known for her roles as the mothers on Lassie and Lost in Space. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Barton MacLane (December 25, 1902â€”January 1, 1969) was an American actor. ... Rose Marie (born August 15, 1923) is an actress who had a career as a child star under the name Baby Rose Marie but is best known for her adult role as Sally Rogers in the The Dick Van Dyke Show. ... Ross Martin (March 22, 1920 - July 3, 1981) is an American actor most known for playing Artemus Gordon in the western TV series The Wild Wild West. ... Strother Martin, (March 26, 1919 â€“ August 1, 1980) was an American character actor in numerous films and television programs. ... William Lyle Richardson (May 7, 1922 â€“ February 25, 2006), who adopted the name Darren McGavin, was an American actor best known for playing the title role in the television horror series Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and also his portrayal in the movie A Christmas Story of the grumpy father given... Howard McNear (January 27, 1905 â€“ January 3, 1969) was an American film, television and radio character actor. ... Vera Miles (born August 23, 1929 or 1930[1]) is an American actress. ... Ricardo Montalban (born November 25, 1920 in Mexico City) is a television and film actor. ... For German porn star and director, see Harry S. Morgan. ... Richard Mulligan (November 13, 1932 - September 26, 2000) was an American television and film actor whose career spanned 34 years. ... Gene Nelson (March 24, 1920 - September 16, 1996), born Leander Eugene Berg, was a dancer, film actor and director. ... Leslie William Nielsen OC (born February 11, 1926) is a Canadian born American comedian and actor. ... Leonard Simon Nimoy (born March 26, 1931) is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. ... Nicholas King Nolte (born February 8, 1941) is a Oscar-nominated American actor, model, and producer. ... Simon Oakland (28 August 1915 - 29 August 1983) began his career as a violinist (a vocation he would enjoy his entire career as an actor), and began acting in the late 1940s. ... Warren Oates (July 5, 1928 â€“ April 3, 1982) was an American character actor best known for his performances in several films directed by Sam Peckinpah including The Wild Bunch (1969) and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974). ... Payne in Kansas City Confidental John Payne was an American movie actor who is mainly remembered as a singer in 20th Century Fox film musicals. ... Brock Peters (July 2, 1927 â€“ August 23, 2005), born George Fisher in New York City, was an African American actor probably best known for the role in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird of Tom Robinson, the black man unjustly convicted of raping a white girl. ... Slim Pickens riding the bomb in the movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb Louis Bert Lindley, Jr. ... Pleshette in 1991 Suzanne Pleshette (born January 31, 1937 in New York City) is an American actress, best known as Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show in the 70s. ... Andrew Prine (b. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Dack Rambo (born Norman Rambo, November 13, 1941 â€“ March 21, 1994) was an American actor, most notable for appearing as Jack Ewing in the TV Series Dallas from 1985 until his dismissal in 1987 and as Grant Harrison on the NBC soap opera Another World from 1990 to 1991. ... Pernell Roberts (born 18 May 1928 in Waycross, Georgia, USA) is an American actor. ... Wayne M. Rogers (born April 7, 1933, Birmingham, Alabama) is an American film and television actor, best known for playing the role of Trapper John McIntyre in the long-running U.S. television series, M*A*S*H. He succeeded Elliott Gould, who had played the character in the movie... Ruth Roman (born December 22, 1922 - died September 9, 1999) was an American actress. ... Katharine Juliet Ross (born January 29, 1940 in Los Angeles, California) is an Academy Award-nominated American movie and stage actress. ... Kurt Vogel Russell (born March 17, 1951) is an American actor. ... Albert Salmi (born March 11, 1928; died April 23, 1990) was an American actor. ... 4. ... Thomas Alderton Skerritt (born August 25, 1933) is an Emmy Award-Winning American actor who has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes (half Picket Fences). ... Aaron Spelling (April 22, 1923 â€“ June 23, 2006) was an American film and television producer. ... Loretta Swit was born on November 4, 1937, in Passaic, New Jersey to Polish immigrants. ... Harry Dean Stanton (born July 14, 1926 in West Irvine, Kentucky, USA) is an American actor. ... Actress Gloria Talbott in Crashout Movie actress Gloria Talbott (February 7, 1931 - September 19, 2000) grew up, along with her acting sister Lori, in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale. ... Russ Tamblyn (born Russell Irving Tamblyn on December 30, 1934) is an American actor and former dancer. ... Victor Vic Tayback (January 6, 1930 â€“ May 25, 1990) was a New York City-born American actor of Syrian descent. ... Dub Taylor (February 26, 1907 - October 3, 1994) was a prolific American character actor who worked extensively in Westerns. ... Forrest Tucker (right) in Cosmic Monsters. ... Cicely Tyson (born December 19, 1933) is an Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated American actress. ... Robert Urich (December 19, 1946 â€“ April 16, 2002) was an Emmy-winning actor, best known for playing private investigators on the television series Spenser: For Hire (1985-1988) and Vega$ (1978-1981). ... Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943 in New York, New York, sometime credited as Joan Van Arc) is an actress who is best known for playing Larry Hagmans troubling sister-in-law and Michele Lees neighbor and best friend, Valene (Val) Clements Ewing Gibson Waleska Ewing on... Lee Van Cleef (January 9, 1925 â€“ December 16, 1989) was an American film actor, who appeared mostly in Western and action pictures. ... Joyce Van Patten (born March 9, 1934 in New York City) is an American actress who has appeared on TV on both As The World Turns and on The Odd Couple, in movies The Bad News Bears, and on stage on Broadway. ... Robert Francis Vaughn (born November 22, 1932) is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. ... John Vincent Voight (born December 29, 1938) is an Academy Award-winning American actor. ... Lesley Ann Warren (born August 16, 1946), is an Oscar nominated American stage, film and television actress and singer. ... Dame Ruth Elizabeth Warrick, D.M., O.S.J., Regend of Cathedral of St. ... David Wayne (January 30, 1914 - February 9, 1995) was a Tony Award-winning American actor with a career spanning nearly half a century. ... Adam West (born William West Anderson on September 19, 1928) is an American actor who is best known for playing the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne on the TV series Batman (which also had a film adaptation). ... John O. Whitaker, Jr. ... Whitmore in The Asphalt Jungle James Allen Whitmore (born October 1, 1921) is an American film actor. ... William Windom (May 10, 1827–January 29, 1891) was an American politician. ... Dana Wynter (born June 8, 1931 in Berlin, Germany) was a popular actress in the 1950s. ... Chill Theodore Wills (July 18, 1903 in Seagoville, Texas â€“ December 15, 1978) was a movie actor and singer in the Avalon Boys Quartet. ... Ian Wolf is a American actor whose films date from 1934 to 1990. ...

References

Notable directors

Andrew V. McLaglen is an American film director. ... Arthur Hiller, O.C. (born November 22, 1923 in Edmonton, Alberta) is an Oscar-nominated Canadian film director. ... William Dennis Weaver (June 4, 1924 â€” February 24, 2006) was an Emmy Award-winning actor and was an American television actor, best known for his roles as sidekick Chester Goode from 1955 to 1964 on TVs first adult Western Gunsmoke, as Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama... Gene Nelson (March 24, 1920 - September 16, 1996), born Leander Eugene Berg, was a dancer, film actor and director. ... John Rich, theatre and opera manager and dancer, was born in 1691 or 1692 and died in London on 26th November 1761. ... Leo Z. Penn (August 27, 1921 â€“ September 5, 1998) was an American actor and director. ... Marc Daniels (January 27, 1912â€“April 23, 1989) was a television director from Pennsylvania. ... Mark Rydell (born March 23, 1934 in New York City) is an American actor, film director and producer. ... Peter Graves (born March 18, 1926[1][2]) is an American film and television actor. ... Unlike his brother, the documentary filmmaker Richard Leacock filmmaker Philip Leacock (*8 October 1917 in London - 1990) spent his childhood in the Canary Islands. ... David Samuel Sam Peckinpah (February 21, 1925 â€“ December 28, 1984) was an American film director who achieved iconic status following the release of his 1969 Western epic The Wild Bunch. ... Tay Garnett was a movie director who has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. ... Victor French Victor French (December 4, 1934 - June 15, 1989) was an American actor. ... Conrad in Cannon William Conrad (September 27, 1920 â€“ February 11, 1994), born William Cann, was an American actor and narrator in radio, film and television noted for his gifted use of a marvelous baritone voice, as well as for his sizable girth. ...

Notable composers

Elmer Bernstein (pronounced Bern-steen[1]) (April 4, 1922 â€“ August 18, 2004) was an Academy and two-time Golden Globe award winning American film score composer. ... Franz Waxman (December 24, 1906, KÃ¶nigshÃ¼tte, Upper Silesia (now ChorzÃ³w, Poland) - February 24, 1967, Los Angeles, California), born Franz Wachsmann, was a German-born Jewish-American composer, known for his bravura Carmen Fantasy for violin and orchestra and for his musical scores for films. ... Jerrald King Goldsmith (February 10, 1929 â€“ July 21, 2004) was a famous American film score composer from Los Angeles, California. ...

External links

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