The longest running western of all time ran twenty years from 1955-1975 on CBS started originally as a radio show featuring William Conrad as Matt Dillon.  It starred James Arness as Matt Dillon. Originally it was half-hour black and white episodes going to an hour long in 1961. The last nine seasons were filmed in color. A total of 633 episodes of Gunsmoke were made. 

John Wayne did the introduction for the first Gunsmoke.
He was asked to play Matt Dillon but didn't want to get tied down to television.

Denver Pyle was also asked to play Matt, can you imagine Uncle Jesse as Matt Dillon.

Purchase Gunsmoke - Return to Dodge Check out this movie done a couple of years back.

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Purchase Gunsmoke : A Complete History and Analysis of the Legendary Broadcast Series With a Comprehensive Episode-By-Episode Guide to Both the Radio and Television Show

Purchase Marshal Festus : A Novel (Gunsmoke, 3)

 Purchase Gunsmoke Paperback
by Gary McCarthy

First Draw Classic TV Westerns Goldsette catch the first episodes

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