Gunsmoke’ Premiered 70 Years Ago Today — Which Major Cast Member Almost Wasn’t On It?
On September 10, 1955, television audiences were introduced to a new kind of Western hero when Gunsmoke premiered on CBS. Though it wasn’t the first Western show on TV, the network took pains to ensure that people understood from the beginning that the show was special: before the episode began, viewers got a surprise greeting from John Wayne, who stepped on screen to introduce the show and its new star, James Arness. Wayne told audiences that Arness was a friend and a fine actor, essentially passing the torch to him — but Arness almost skipped out on his star-making role.
In the first episode, titled “Matt Gets It,” a notorious gunfighter named Dan Grat arrived in town. Sheriff Jim Hill from Amarillo rode in with warnings, but his pride got the best of him. Refusing Matt’s offer of help, he tried to take on Grat alone and paid with his life. It fell to Marshal Dillon to face the outlaw, and in a shocking twist for 1955 television, Matt lost the first showdown. Grat’s bullet caught him in the abdomen, and the fearless marshal collapsed in the dirt while the gunman mocked him. This moment was unlike anything viewers expected in a premiere episode.
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As Matt struggled to recover, his closest allies were there, setting up the stage for the cast of characters in Dodge City. Doc Adams, played by Milburn Stone, patched him up with his gruff bedside manner, while Chester Goode, portrayed by Dennis Weaver, stood watch. Kitty Russell, Amanda Blake‘s saloon owner, showed quiet concern as well. Meanwhile, Dodge City fell under the thumb of Grat, who terrorized locals with his arrogance. The town felt powerless with its marshal laid low, creating an atmosphere of fear that was rare on television at the time.
But Matt Dillon was not the kind of man to stay down. Limping and still hurting, he faced Grat once more. This second showdown showed why Matt was different from other TV gunslingers. He was not the fastest draw, but he was patient, observant and clever. He had studied Grat, recognized a weakness, and used it to outthink him. When the smoke cleared, Grat lay dead and the marshal was wounded again but alive.
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The premiere reflected the spirit of the radio version that had run since 1952. Created by John Meston and Norman Macdonnell, the radio show was already praised as one of the finest dramas of its time. However, CBS executives wanted fresh faces for television, and it was Wayne who recommended Arness — who originally tried to turn down the role. According to a Television Academy Foundation interview with Arness, after he passed on the part of Dillon, the producers of Gunsmoke called Wayne, who then set up a meeting with Arness. Wayne told Arness “you’d be crazy not to take this thing … you will really learn your craft if you get in there,” the actor recalled. Wayne told Arness that starring in Gunsmoke would help him with his acting training, the same way starring in film serials had helped Wayne at the beginning of his career.
Despite his connection to Wayne, Arness actually played no role in getting the Duke to introduce the first episode — in fact, Arness was “very surprised [by the introduction] … we didn’t know about it at all.”
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TV Westerns of the 50's & 60's
September 2021
’50s and ’60s TV Westerns roundup, celebrating the shows and stars of their golden age.
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