That Gunsmoke was the longest-running dramatic series in TV history was common knowledge by the time the program entered its nineteenth season in the fall of 1973. What few could have predicted that year was Gunsmoke's unassailable popularity despite its age, as proven by the fact that it would rank as the season's 15th highest-rated program, outranking such favorites as Good Times, Barnaby Jones, The Streets of San Francisco and The Carol Burnett Show. Fewer still could possibly imagine that this would be the final season ...
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That Gunsmoke was the longest-running dramatic series in TV history was common knowledge by the time the program entered its nineteenth season in the fall of 1973. What few could have predicted that year was Gunsmoke's unassailable popularity despite its age, as proven by the fact that it would rank as the season's 15th highest-rated program, outranking such favorites as Good Times, Barnaby Jones, The Streets of San Francisco and The Carol Burnett Show. Fewer still could possibly imagine that this would be the final season for one of the series' three original stars. No, James Arness hadn't hung up his guns in the role of Marshal Matt Dillon, despite his yearly song-and-dance about retiring, which was generally staged in order to secure a better financial deal from CBS. Nor was Milburn Stone preparing to take down his shingle as Doc Adams, even though he had not entirely recovered from the heart attack that had briefly sidelined him in 1971. It was Amanda Blake,who since the show's inception in 1955 had brought her unique combination of ethereal beauty and earthy practicality to the role of golden-hearted saloon owner Kitty Russell, who was preparing to make her exit. Nothing was said about Kitty's imminent departure in Blake's final regular Gunsmoke episode "Disciple"; in fact, it would not be until the made-for-TV movie sequel Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge in 1987 that we found out Kitty had left Dodge to start life anew in New Orleans. (Ironically, "Disciple" was written in such a manner to suggest that it was actually James Arness' swan song--which of course proved not to be the case!) Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Milburn Stone, Ken Curtis, Amanda Blake, James Arness. New. 2020 Buy with confidence-Satisfaction Guaranteed! Delivery Confirmation included for all orders in the US.
