The absolute Highlight of my career was working with Dennis Weaver, 6 nights a week, in a Theater Show in Ouray, Colorado, just 10 miles from Ridgway. He did a 10 minute bit as Chester teaching the audience how to play the guitar. He had done that bit in Gunsmoke, teaching Miss Kitty how to play it. I never grew tired of it. Our first day of rehearsal, he did a line and turned to me and said, "Did I do that alright?" I was stunned! Why would this veteran Actor ask me? That's how real he was. No ego whatsoever. I still miss him. His son, Rusty and I played in the Band "Free Range Cats" for about 3 years. Rusty is a consummate Musician/Songwriter/Producer, and a great guy as well. Some of my favorite memories.

Thank you. Very interesting and sad how Amanda Blake died. She was such a great actress. My love for James Arness will be forever as every female fell for this gentle giant. Thanks to All the Gunmoke actors who gave us so much entertainment for 20 great years!

Hard to believe its been 44 years since the last episode of Gunsmoke was made. Time flies. At the time I don't think folks who watched Gunsmoke realized it would be part of television history. Hard to imagine that there would'nt have been a Gunsmoke.

Makes you realize how brief and fragile our time is on this side. Great job Jerry! God Bless.

I will always remember the cast of “ Gun Smoke “ as one of the very best TV western series ever as my favorite. God bless everyone on the show 🙏🏻

Sir, I tip my hat to you! The amount of time and research that must have taken you to put together this video is commendable. Thanks for the memories.

I still watch all those old shows everyday thank God for MEtv , I love them all . Gun smoke , the waltons , the rifleman , bonanza , wagon train , Carole burnett ect.. the list goes on . They’re very different then what we have now, parents could easily watch television with their children rated PG free. Life before Botox, social media and filters loll the simplicity was priceless.

Thank you for this wonderful documentary Mr. Skinner. My partner and best friend loved to watch Gunsmoke. He once told me it was the only night of the week his Grandpa stayed up late to watch his favorite show. On April 2, 2020 my friend had supper and sat down in his easy chair in front of his T.V. and watched his favorite show, Gunsmoke! Bless his heart, I do believe he had every episode memorized. We found him the next morning still in his easy chair but gone, died instantly of a heart attack. . I miss him so much and your documentary warmed my heart and brought me closer to him. Thank you again. Keep up your good work!

Will never be any one as GREAT as James Arness. The Best Of the Best 🌵💥🌵💥 R I P Matt, We Miss You 🌵💥🌵💥

I thank you James Dennis and Ken for your service. Gunsmoke is one of my favorite westerns. I watch it everyday. I love the show.

Thank you for your work researching the history of these people. Your channel is an amazing gift more people need to learn about.

I truly loved this...what an honor to those that played on Gunsmoke. I have watched Gunsmoke all of my life and continue to watch it everyday as it never gets old. Thank you for taking the time to make this.

I don't think we ever missed an episode. Loved this show!! I suddenly feel old for some reason.... we had the best programming in the 60's and 70's! It was another world compared to today, families actually sat down and ate at the same table, and then at the tv for their favorite show's, with actual mom's and dad's there too!!

A large part of my growing up was watching Gunsmoke. This TV show was the part of my growing up more than any other TV show or movie. James Arness and the other actors are a part of Americana and will always be a part.

Jerry Skinner, I could listen to him all day long. His info. intensifies my love for these old shows in wich I still enjoy today.

May all the great actors in "Gunsmoke" rest in peace. What a show!

Loved watching these shows. It’s so interesting to learn what they did in their personal lives.

Still watch Gunsmoke today, every day at noon. Nothing better !

We still see it once a week, never get tired of it. WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING IT FOR YEARS.

Mr. Jerry Skinner, you did a wonderful job here telling the story of the people that starred in the cast of Gun Smoke! You always do a outstanding job documenting your stories. Thank you for your work!

Thank you for this wonderful posting. The music themes, opening and closing, and the custom written and performed music for each episode, are indicative of the care and attention of Mr. James Arness. There is no other comparable western. Cast. Crew. Sets. Music (of course). Costumes. Livestock. What's not to love. I'd be honored to sign on as chicken wrangler just to associate with this fantastic team! Unending love. RIP.

Dear Sir, your video is one of the nicest and loveliest spoken videos ever. How much time you must have spent in all of this... It´s so sweet to know something more about my childhood-heroes.... Not forgetting to mention Star Trek, Shilo Ranch, The Waltons, Detective Rockfort, In the Streets of San Francisco and more... This was all entertainment!!!

What a great documentary, I grew up watching Gunsmoke and wish we could go back to those great times.

Absolutely love Gunsmoke. one of my favorite westerns.

Ilove Gunsmoke I never get tired of watching . Love Miss Kitty , Doc & Festus

Love Gunsmoke, watch it every day!, may the wonderful cast rest in peace. They were awesome! 🐎🐎🐎😊🌹💖

One of my go to shows

Appreciate the video, I’ve watched Gunsmoke when I was little kid and I’ve been watching the reruns recently.

Just A Classic Always Be Remembered Great Show. '' GUNSMOKE '' !!

What a Beautiful Presentation of the cast of Gunsmoke. Those were the Days....I miss them.

Thank you for being an awesome soldier n honoring our country!!!

That was beautiful. I fancied myself a true Gunsmoke aficionado, past tense. I thank you Mr. Skinner as I stand humbled by your work and the gracious tribute you gathered on these fine people.

I love Gunsmoke I never missed an episode

Loved this show. The background history is amazing.

I loved Gunsmoke. I still do. I watch it everyday. Re-run after re-run You can never get tired of this program. I was very little when it first came on the scene. I remember going to gramma's house on the weekends and making a pellet on the floor watching Gunsmoke. I loved those days and will never forget them.

I was raised on Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman, thanks to being raised by my Grandparent's western's were a huge part of my life; I watch what they call television now and it makes me sick they cannot see the damage they have done to today's youth with that trash it's just sad. Kid's sometimes need heroes but today's heroes are nobody to look up to.

I grew up watching Gunsmoke. Thank you for this enjoyable, informative walk down memory lane.

What a Wonderful Show! A Great Cast, Awesome story lines love to watch it still today! So Glad it is on in syndication!

My favorite all time western show. Interesting facts about the stars and sad stories also. May they rest in peace.

Really enjoyed it. Met Doc Adams at one of his houses in the San Fernando Valley while delivering mail for the US Post office for one summer as I was just out of the military and making some money to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo CA. He was as grouchy as he was on Gun Smoke.

I love gunsmoke I still watch it. Never get tired of it.

We watch Gunsmoke everyday! We don't miss a show!

Amazing documentary. My entire family watched Gun Smoke the entire duration of the show. Great family show even today. God Bless the creator and all people involved making the Gunsmoke legion. God Bless

One of the best shows on, then and now... I loved the cast.♥️

I am 60 and still watch. When I was a little girl, "Gunsmoke" came on every Saturday night. My mama would bake a homemade pecan pie and brew coffee while my dad would paste wax our floors and buff them out...then it was time to sit down to eat pie and watch Gunsmoke together. Good memories.

"GUNSMOKE", Timeless and Simply the Best! A Great cast, with Arness, Blake, Stone, Weaver, Reynolds, Curtis, Strange, etc... I still watch All the reruns, but my Favorite episodes are still the Black and White episodes! "RIP", GUNSMOKE Cast, a lifetime fan 08-06-21! 😘

I loved and still am watching all the reruns.Everyday.🙏❣️😢🌹

I get several hours of Gunsmoke on two channels everyday. It is the best television ever. I watched it as a kid, but now I enjoy it even more.

I remember watching the 1st Gunsmoke in Sept of '55 when I was 5 years old. I watched it every week and didn't miss an episode until I went into the service in 1968. I always tried to be like James Arness, even to this day. Trivia: I retired as a Commercial helicopter pilot and during one of my classes at Bell Helicopters on the early ' 70's met Blackie Dalton who was a Test Pilot there. At the beginning of Gunsmoke Matt Dillon beats a gunfighter to the draw. That was Blackie Dalton. Turns out being a " Quickdraw " artist was his hobby! Great Test Pilot, great gunfighter. Ain't that a hoot?

Gunsmoke today is a show that I watch everyday to help me to deal with the Madness of today. This show and Client Eastwood western shows are the best western shows that was written. John Arness is the best western character that EVER LIVED.

Love Peter Graves, i had NO idea that James Arness and Peter Graves were brothers!! Both were incredible and two of my favorite actors.

I'm still watching them no cursing. I love them all of them.

When I thought James Arness was just an actor: He played a real bad-ass. When I found out James Arness stormed a beach in Italy: He WAS a real bad-ass.

All time favorite. I regularly check the cast and crew notes.

I was watching this when I was 8 years old and still watch it today

Excellent. Brought back good memories of my childhood. My grandmother and I use to watch Gunsmoke together.

great stuff, nice and informative. I'm surprised you didn't add Burt Reynolds to the documentary

Takes me back to the days when movie stars were the salt of the earth. Loved Wayne and Arness. Never knew Arness worked in Wayne's Movie Production company..

Good film, with interesting narration. "Minn-a-napolis" and "Made for movie TV" made it even more enjoyable.

As I recall ... Gunsmoke was considered the first adult western series on TV. Up until then the TV Westerns were squeaky clean. Miss Kitty and Matt's relationship was unique at the time.

I grew up watching this show. I loved it and still watch it to this day. I love Chester.....

Wow PURPLE HEART& Bronze STAR..DIDNT KNOW THIS...NO WONDER SUCH A FINE PERSON & MAN

I believe that Burt Reynold's also got his "big start" on Gunsmoke after Weaver left and they were looking for a "fourth" character development!

What a show! Started 1yr before my birthday and ran 2yr after high school, my best friend from 6yrs old to just before his passing few years ago told me that I reminded him of Matt Dillon best compliment I've ever got, who said TV rots your brain!!

My brother and I strapped on our holsters every Saturday night but we always fell to the floor because Matt Dillon was the Sherrif He alsways out drew us.

Fantastic job u did on this. Gunsmoke is one of my favorite shows that I like to watch over & over. Love all the characters & enjoy recognizing actors that are well known today. Thank you for this video, sadly as it is I hate to hear of the passing of all of them. I know there will be people who will enjoy this show for years & years & appreciate it as much as we do today.

I am so impressed by the amount of work put into this presentation and amount of detail. Thank you so much.

Was my dad's favorite T.V. show. Whenever that T.V. show was on while he was trying to rest it always had his undivided attention. The information on the actors lives here is so interesting. Like for example the lives of sons to Mr. James Arnez. Since Mr. James Arnez was soon very rich; Rich enough to sue for custody of those sons of his when they were young and so were their biological mothers, - After watching this video I am still not sure which mother each of his sons were to -- Miss Chapman, Thordis Brandt or Janet Surtees. Is that one of the westerns on T.V. with scenes depicting a surgery done for someone after getting shot while no modern anesthesia was available yet? Probably not since the show was rated for family I guess.

Sad to see these days and times long gone, i wish i could bring them back. Thank you for this piece and answering many questions.

Still watch Gun Smoke every night. Best show ever. God Bless the cast

I recently started watchimg westerns and Gunsmoke is my favorite. Im retired and get up every morning watching Gunsmoke to the point of watching reruns . I just love all of the characters. Iv even seen the movies that were a spinoff of Gunsmoke. May they all rest in peace knowing that they brought so much joy to everyone that watched.

I have all 20 seasons of Gunsmoke on DVD and have watched them over and over again and again. Just can't help it.

I remember watching gun smoke as kid with my dad, I still watch the reruns , it was a good show!

I watch Gunsmoke everyday. Love James Arness❤️

Thank you for your work on these excellent actors who have meant so much to our lives on, "Gunsmoke." I enjoyed it immensely since I grew up watching each week and now watching the reruns with my husband. They are the highlights of our evenings. We dearly love Marshall Dillon and the other characters as if they are part of our extended family. Thank you, Mr. Skinner for a great video.

Thank you for all the information. Excellent documentation. I am deeply saddened by these wonderful people’s death. I still watch all these films which I think were all awesome!❤Thank you again!!

My Aunt Neil was in UAB at the same time and had the pleasure to meet Doc Adams.

What a great description of the lives of these beautiful people!

Here I am watching it still today. Gunsmoke lives on.

I watch Gunsmoke every day, I enjoy seeing Matt bust some bad guys head.

Thank you so much for posting this always wondered what happened to all the cast of guns smoke👍👍

I have enjoyed watching Gunsmoke for over 30 years. Now I'm watching the reruns.

The days when actors were actors and t.v. cost nothing now we are forced to pay for garbage reality shows along with No talent shows I watch oldies instead on my KZfaq....Imagine the oldies had been paid rightfully not like these spoiled actors today who can't act for the most of them pathetic!

Great research. I was blown away by some of your facts. Thank you.

Thank you, grew up watching this show with my dad!

Great chemistry the Cast had!

Thank you so much for this opportunity to see the history of my favorite actors and TV program ❤️ The characters 💙 ❤️ in Gunsmoke were from the start 1955 part of my heartfelt family.. My dad and I watched the program together every week.. To this day Marshal Dillon is my HERO as a man, cowboy and companion.. I am 80 years old. Thanks again, Phyllis Gibson..❤

Great video. A lot of trivia about our beloved actors that I never knew. May they all R.I.P.

I used to watch Gunsmoke with my grandpa. Now I watch it with my sons. I feel Blessed to have such cherished memories.

Gunsmoke was a once in a lifetime show with a wonderful cast. God Bless all the great stars.

I love this show ! I was 5 years old when it started and 25 when it went off the air . They just don’t make them like that any more ! I still watch the re-runs !

Festus was always my favorite on Gunsmoke, and my wife still watches it every day. Mr. Skinner, Your videos are always relaxing, informative and very enjoyable. God bless.

I do watch Gunsmoke everyday, to me , Gunsmoke and Perry Mason will always be the best on TV. I cannot get enough of them. May they rest in piece and thanks for the memories.

Thank you, I found it very interesting. It's nice to know that friendships were made within the cast members. Just added a little more dimension and personality to the series.

I am watching all the reruns of this show. The acting, actors, and writers are all top-notch! What an excellent series!

Aug 6 2019 Im 60 years old now ive been watching Gunsmoke as a kid and still enjoy watching , they grew up with me like family thru the years of watching

I grew watching gunsmoke , love all the actors

I loved them all! I was born the same year gunsmoke did its last episode. So i grew up watching theses wonderful people acting out there even wonderful characters. They will forever be a part of me an i am honored to have been able to watch this show growing up. Today i still watch the show every morning an evening. Will probably watch it till i die. Bringing good memories an good feelings to the heart every episode.

What a genuine in-depth biography of the cast of Gunsmoke. Excellent work. Gunsmoke is genuine Americana ingrained into the memories and lives of those who grew up in the Baby Boomer generation. The directors had an excellent discernment of picking the cast of Gunsmoke. Each of the actors/actresses "owned their characters" standing on their own in the series. They weren't "extras" or "side-kick" characters. Great human beings as well.

Gunsmoke ... the best Western TV show ever. 20 years of legendary episodes.