Go West!
James Arness, Amanda Blake, and John Wayne Hollywood American heroes as star celebs in Westerns?
[Jun. 5]
Gunsmoke was a popular television series based on life in the Wild, Wild West that aired from 1955 to 1975. Recently deceased actor James Arness played the lead role Marshal Matt Dillon, while his love interest Miss Kitty was played by the lovely red headed actress Amanda Blake. The Marshal’s assistant was named Chester, a character played by actor Dennis Weaver. He won an Emmy for playing that role; however, when he left the show, the beloved and quirky character of Festus Haggen took over as a TV show favorite, a part that was played by a well-respected theater actor named Ken Curtis. Actor Milburn Stone played the character called Doc. TV shows back in the day featured complex plots with simple story line development, so viewers were engaged with the show on both an individual episode and long-term series level. Gunsmoke originally aired on CBS television, but is now a television show most would look to find as re-runs on cable network television stations or that folks would seek to buy on DVD to watch with their kids and grandkids. Why? Because during the time Gunsmoke aired the show sought to promote good morals. People lived off the land in a more sustainable way with respect for the environment. Relationships were less complex and the focus in daily life was placed on community harmony. There was a clearer sense of right and wrong the TV show portrayed back in the day — something noticeably from many modern television series. For that reason, many of the star celebs who became household names thanks to cast members earning 4 Golden Globes nominations and 3 Emmy Awards are looked upon as American pop culture heroes.