Number 1 Programs: GUNSMOKE

GUNSMOKE is one of only three scripted series two run for twenty or more seasons ( The Simpsons and Law & Order) and has produced more episodes than any other as scripted, prime time program with 635. It was the first western series to be ranked #1 for a season and the first to be #1 for four straight seasons (1957 - 1961). Of its twenty seasons, GUMSMOKE was in the top thirty for 18 years, and in the top ten for 12 years.

No matter what age you are, when you think TV westerns, GUNSMOKE usually comes to mind first. During its 20 year run, 30 different westerns appeared on network TV. By the end of its run in 1975, it was the only western still on TV.

THE RATINGS:

GUNSMOKE hit the airwaves on September 10, 1955. That first season, the series failed to rank in the top thirty chart. In its second year, it surged to be the #8 program of the season. In year #3, it became the most popular TV series. A title it would hold over four seasons.

After that run, GUNSMOKE slowly saw its popularity to deminish, going from ranking #3 in 1961-62 to falling out of the top 30 for the 1966-67 season. GUNSMOKE was almost cancelled after that season, but the wife of CBS' president didn't want the series cancelled, so GUNSMOKE was spared and GILLIGAN'S ISLAND was axed.

The decision to keep GUNSMOKE paid off as it surged back up to #4 for the 1967-68 season and then #2 for the 1968-69 season. For six years after almost being cancelled, GUNSMOKE maintained in the to 10.

In year 19, GUNSMOKE dropped to #15, and its 20th and final season it ranked just 28th. The series enjoyed a long and fruitful life.

SERIES FORMATS:

Because GUNSMOKE began in the early days of television, and ran for such a long time, it ran with different production formats.

From September 1955 to the summer of 1961, the series was just a 30 minute program. In the fall of 1961, the western expanded to a full hour, in black & white. After five seasons, GUNSMOKE became a color program. Then, in the fall of 1966 and until the end of its run in '75, the program was filmed and broadcast in color.

These three distinct sections of the series allowed GUNSMOKE to work different syndication deals for each section.

SCHEDULING HISTORY:

September 10, 1955—June 17, 1961 (Saturday at 10:00-10:30 PM)
September 30, 1961—April 15, 1967 (Saturday at 10:00-11:00 PM)
September 11, 1967—March 8, 1971 (Monday at 7:30—8:30 PM)
September 13, 1971—March 31, 1975 (Monday at 8:00—9:00 PM)

About  GUNSMOKE:

GUNSMOKE is a 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.

GUNSMOKE was often a somber program. Marshall Dillion didn't always save the day or get his man. Sometimes the bad guys would win the battle or bad things would happen to good people.

The series actually started as a radio series, which ran from 1952 to 1961. William Conrad (Cannon, Jake and the Fatman) was the voice of Marshall Dillion. But when it came time to cast the series for TV, he was considered two heavy for the part. CBS pushed and tried to get another legend to lead the series, John Wayne. Of course, Wayne turned them down. TV was seen as a step down from doing movies. However, the producers had their man in James Arness. Plus they did get John Wayne to introduce the series, just before the first episode.

THE CAST:

After twenty years, the cast of characters became a very long list. Below are the regular cast/major characters through out the series.

• James Arness ......... U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon (1955–1975)
• Milburn Stone......... Galen "Doc" Adams, M.D. (1955–1975) 
• Amanda Blake........ Kathleen "Kitty" Russell (1955–1974) 
• Dennis Weaver....... Chester B. Goode (1955–1964)
• Ken Curtis.............. Festus Haggen (1964–1975)