James Arness was the love of my life! Marriage memories with Janet Arness! + John Wayne friendship

Рет қаралды 9,510

2 ай бұрын

James Arness’ role as Marshal Matt Dillon on GUNSMOKE made him an iconic hero to millions all over the world. During the 20th and final season of GUNSMOKE (1955-1975), Jim met and married his perfect soul mate, Janet Surtees. He was everything a film hero should be and just as wonderful and exciting off screen as on.
Join Rob Word and Janet Arness as they discuss some of the many adventures she and Big Jim had together. Arness was a surfer, sailor and flyer. Janet recalls that he was a real adventurer and had several very close calls. She returned to A WORD ON WESTERNS for another visit with Rob, May 2023, to share her memories and celebrate her husband and his mentor, John Wayne.
John Wayne was James Arness’ mentor and former boss. They were born May 26, on different years, of course. Duke as born in 1912 and Jim in 1923. Both were above average in height…way above! Duke was 6’ 4” and Jim was 6’ ¾”. Both became Hollywood legends. They shared more than a birthday, too. With young actor Arness under personal contract to Wayne, they also shared screen time in some of Duke’s productions including BIG JIM McLAIN, ISLAND IN THE SKY, HONDO and THE SEA CHASE.
Born on May 26:
James Arness (May 26, 1923 - June 3, 2011) aged 88
Jay Silverheels (May 26, 1912 - March 5, 1980) aged 67
John Wayne (May 26, 1907 - June 11, 1979) aged 72
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/ awow
#actor #western #interview #gunsmoke #jamesarness #johnwayne #hero #hollywood #romance #romantic #marriage #marriedlife #sailing #flying #filmhistory #tv #Robword
#wordonwesterns #redriver #thealamo #surfing #remake #tvclassics #moviemaking

Пікірлер: 72

@crowhaven200 2 ай бұрын

Thank you AWOW.... Thank you Janet. What a sweetheart..

@HELLYEAH1313 2 ай бұрын

James Arness and John Wayne are two great American men who I greatly admire. R.I.P.

@PAPITO_49 2 ай бұрын

Wayne disappointed me when he got taken in by J. Carter and help him give away the Panama Canal.

@asphaltcowboy7567 2 ай бұрын

L@@PAPITO_49😢

@gregdavis19 2 ай бұрын

Janet is a joy to listen to. Thanks Rob.

@ForgetMeNot2022 2 ай бұрын

What a beautiful sentiment to be able to see and hear the voice of someone you love every day

@csrothlisberger852 2 ай бұрын

Good interview. who doesn't like James Arness & John Wayne?

@lescook9021 2 ай бұрын

Thank you. I'm a HUGE Gunsmoke fan and by extension, Jim Arness fan. One of a small group of actors that I've never read a bad word about. That only is an accomplishment.

@robertwess4556 2 ай бұрын

Been watching Gunsmoke for the last 60 years and I love it I never get tired of it

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Same here, robert. They only seem to get better and better with age. We are lucky they made so many of them! Thanks

@hiramnoone 2 ай бұрын

Dobe Carey who did an even dozen Gunsmokes said it was always a fun experience because of the family atmosphere on that show, there being no big egos among cast members, everyone enjoying each other's company, with Jim's un-Dillon-like sense of humor always on display, cracking everyone up. Nice to know how good a guy Jim actually was, which was always our sense of him as it came through in his performances. Great hearing those stories and having it all confirmed by Janet who comes across as a most lovely lady.

@joansmith1195 2 ай бұрын

Janet looks wonderful. Still so pretty. Great interview.

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@annaloveless4107 2 ай бұрын

I liked both actors , and have some of John Wayne's movies. I have Gunsmoke 1 throu 4 seasons. If my mother was still living, she would had been 104 today. She died at 93 yrs. old.

@wesmcgee1648 2 ай бұрын

Great stories , or I should say, great history here.

@tonithomas393 2 ай бұрын

Janet Arness, mighty classy lady.

@paulkitt-er9dr 2 ай бұрын

Terrific interview Rob. Janet gives some great insights into James as a person.

@bobwallace1880 2 ай бұрын

I loved THEM! What a great movie. A classic. Thanks for this Rob, you are a class act. I am 77 years old and still watch Gunsmoke every day. Janet is so wonderful. You also let the guests speak, you don't interrupt them. Your channel is great. Best wishes from deep in the heart of Texas!

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Bob. That's the "trick." I like to listen!

@mjemigh3304 2 ай бұрын

Hey, that was fun! Thank you yet again, Rob.

@kenhurley4441 2 ай бұрын

Rob, another great interview. You know how to put people at ease and then bring the best out of them! You're creating memories that'll last for centuries!

@troynov1965 2 ай бұрын

Such a charming lady , I can see why Jim was smitten with her.

@michaelterrell 2 ай бұрын

I was stationed t Ft, Greely, Alaska un '73/'74. I made many trips on the Alcan Highway to Fairbanks. It was a scary trip, since parts of that gravel road was cut from the side of a mountain The Army shuttle bus went ff the side of the Alcan two weeks after I left for home. The family of a soldier I worked with was on the bus that day. It dropped several hundred feet down the mountain, and was stopped by a tree. A lot of injuries, but no deaths. He was wise to get to where he could see that mountain.

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for your service and sharing your story, Michael.

@michaelterrell 2 ай бұрын

@@AWordonWesterns You're welcome. I was the Broadcast Engineer at the AFRTS TV station, on base. I ran a lot of old westerns on 16mm film, in glorious black and white.We had no video tape color equipment.

@galencox4278 2 ай бұрын

A true class interview. Janet a very classy lady.

@welles2002 Ай бұрын

Arness was truly bigger than life .

@JesseOaks-ef9xn 2 ай бұрын

I remember watching some outtakes from Gunsmoke, they were funny and sometimes surprising. It would be fun to watch them again. I would bet you wouldn't be able to stop laughing.

@ellymeerleveldt614 2 ай бұрын

Great interview Rob, what a sweet lady is Janet❤️. Thank you so much for sharing🤠.

@normamcmanus1139 2 ай бұрын

Janet Arness is such a lovely and eloquent woman. Thank you for having her as a guest. Her love and affection for James Arness is evident in her expression and in her voice. He was “The Thing From Another World” too!

@atreb56 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for this. Awesome interview with Ms. Arness.

@texasjetman 2 ай бұрын

What a true treasure to have her on the set giving her close life memories with James Arness, Thanks Rob for putting together another great documentary that will be viewed for many years long after we are gone, I am sure "Gunsmoke" will be played as long as a television has a signal.

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Tex. I sure hope you're right!

@frankdodgee 2 ай бұрын

Janet is a doll ❤

@sfbfriend 2 ай бұрын

Having watched many of your videos, all of which I have thoroughly enjoyed, I want to say thank you for these, thank you for keep these icons alive. I grew up watching them while they were with us, I still enjoy them today. My wife's great Uncle was a veteran stunt man in the westerns, he was in somewhere around 300 movies, many not credited. His name was Dale Vansickel he was a personal friend of the Duke.

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, friend. Dale is/was a legend!

@asphaltcowboy7567 2 ай бұрын

What a pair, Duke and Matt Dillon!! Thanks for the video.

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, cowboy. Thanks.

@1boortzfan 2 ай бұрын

Great interview Rob, thank you very much.

@prycerobertson4695 2 ай бұрын

James Arness would have turned 100 last year (and 101 in 2024).

@AndyTempleman-ot6lu 2 ай бұрын

Such a nice interview! Thank you both!

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Thank you too, Andy.

@alvilla9659 2 ай бұрын

Thank you Rob wonderful interview. Janet is a doll.

@nicolekenna7822 2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for this interview. Janet is a very sweet lady ❤. Jim Arness is my role model and hero. JA and JW were wonderful actors. I watch Gunsmoke all the time and watch How The West Was Won. Love the kind person Jim was❤Miss him so much.I wished there were more people that were humble and talented like him today

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, nicole. I totally agree with you and also watch lots and lots of GUNSMOKE! Wait til you see what I've got planned for this coming Sunday!

@nicolekenna7822 2 ай бұрын

Awesome ❤️

@jenniferwilson5358 2 ай бұрын

Your interviews make my day.

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Jenn

@lynngregory393 2 ай бұрын

I love your site. You are preserving Americana and I encourage young people to watch.

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Lynn. Keep talking about it. You keep it up and so will I.

@tonyjones9715 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for another great video

@ronevans3663 2 ай бұрын

Great, to see her I’m sure her life was wonderful with Matt. Nice video.

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching, Ron.

@markmortensen4341 2 ай бұрын

Watching the Duke on tv and you on my phone! Great interview so thank you as always! The Man From Utah is one of JW’s early movies as you know but a great watch!!!!

@CHRISTOPHER-u6b 19 күн бұрын

Starring James Arness as The Thing from another world directed by Howard Hawks... Amazing from a sci-fi movie monster to a beloved tv western Marshall. 2:14

@OdeeOz 2 ай бұрын

What a fantastic interview... Filled with tons of Biographical history, and more! 👍👍 5🤠Hat-Tips Rob, will she be at the Film Fest this October? I got a Special Gift for her and Jim's family.

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

To my knowledge, she is not attending.

@robertdurocher4764 2 ай бұрын

Nicely done, I enjoyed her stories.

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Me too, Robert. Thanks!

@angelitaweis-wl6iv 2 ай бұрын

26 May 2024. Who gets all the monies when Gun smoke reruns.? I watch them daily.

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

The owner is Paramount. I watch it too!

@ScotWalt858 2 ай бұрын

We are having fun!!

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Me, too, Scot. Thanks.

@leslieross6192 17 күн бұрын

Great stuff I am a great gunsmoke fAn for ever.

@AWordonWesterns 12 күн бұрын

Me, too, Leslie.

@jond5925 Ай бұрын

When did Gunsmoke debue on T.V. I lost track of Time, i know it was in the 1950,S🥓🥓🥓🥓💜💜💜

@AWordonWesterns Ай бұрын

September 1955

@gordonbradfield81 2 ай бұрын

Question,,, what was the significance of the word ,, Jaspers,,, describing the baddies in some westerns??

@thehmspinaforeclub4960 2 ай бұрын

Too bad Duke and Jim later became disappointed and estranged with each other.

@BigWheelHawaii 12 күн бұрын

"Jimmy Arness" By a Mile,,,, One of,,, If Not The Best "Natural Born Horsemen" In All Of Hollywood... He Was a Great Dad,,, a Great Husband,,, Great Actor,,, Great Gunman,,, Great Athlete,,, Great 'Horseman",,, and Great Pilot.... Jimmy Was Just a Natural,,, All-Around American Hero... Everything He Put His Mind Too,,, He Accomplished At The Top of His Class... We Very Seldom Talked About Gunsmoke,,, But One Time We Did Talk About His,,, "Buckskin",,,, The Original "Old Buck One"... That Was The Horse Ben Johnson Brought Out From Texas For "Howard Hughes"... That Conversation With Jimmy Was Really All About My Dad,,, a Pioneer Aviator/Cattle Rancher Who Never Paid Over $ 40.00 Dollars For a Ranch Horse... Ever !!! It Made No Difference If The Horse Was The "Son of Secretariat",,, or Some Plow Horse, Ready For The "Canner's and Cutters"... Forty Bucks Was It... That Is Except The "Buckskin Gelding" He Bought At a "Buckskin Only Sale"... (He Paid $340.00) I Told Jimmy About That Horse and How It, Damn Near Killed My Dad... Bucked Him Off, Than Drug Him a Quater Mile Before The Stirrup Broke.... I Read Where John Wayne Once Said That He Wished He Could Ride and Handle a Gun,,,, Half As Good As "James Arness"... He Was a Master Horseman, Like My Dad Was,,, Just Don't Play House,,, With a "Man Killer"...

@TimothyJonSarris 2 ай бұрын

Great interview Mr Word. Never knew that they were born on the same day! As for the other actor who you mentioned during this interview? I thought to send you this article. Enjoy! it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Silverheels

@AWordonWesterns 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Tim. Wouldn't it have been terrific to have been able to talk with Jay?