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Gunsmoke’s Significance in Television History

By John McGran 

Key Takeaways

  • It was the second Western TV series written for adults
  • Gunsmoke was a top 10 most-watched program for 13 seasons
  • Storylines often went beyond the simple good vs. evil narratives

After a run of several years as a radio drama series, Gunsmoke got its shot at prime-time TV in September of 1955. Few could have imagined the far-reaching impact this fledgling Western would have not only on the television landscape but also on American history.

Over the next 20 years—and 635 episodes—millions of Americans excitedly planned their weekly TV-viewing schedules around this adult-themed Western centered on Dodge City, Kansas in the 1870s.

While no new episodes have run since the show’s sudden and somewhat shocking demise in 1975, Gunsmoke remains a top draw here on INSP and elsewhere.

But, what is the significance of Gunsmoke in television history?

For starters, it was the second Western television series written for adults, premiering four days after The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.

In a 1993 TV Guide article, Gunsmoke—then the longest-running Western drama, as well as the longest-running prime-time show with continuing characters—was named one of the All-Time-Best TV Programs.

The bible of all things television proclaimed: “No contest, this was THE TV Western.”

Los Angeles Times columnist Cecil Smith mused, “Gunsmoke was the dramatization of the American epic legend of the West. Our own Iliad and Odyssey, created from standard elements of the dime novel and the pulp Western as romanticized by Buntline, Harte, and Twain. It was ever the stuff of legend.”

Lofty and much-deserved praise indeed.

Gunsmoke was a top 10 most-watched program for 13 seasons and was named in first or second place as the Best Western Series by the Motion Picture Daily annual television poll throughout its run.

The show won five Emmy Awards. But in a shameful spurn, none went to lead actor James Arness.

Gunsmoke centers on the character of Matt Dillon (played by Arness), a U.S. marshal charged with maintaining law and order in an American frontier town. The stellar supporting cast included Miss Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), owner of the Long Branch Saloon; Doc Adams (Milburn Stone), the town’s adept physician; and Deputy Marshal Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), Dillon’s loyal sidekick. When Weaver left the show during Season 9 in 1964, his character was replaced by Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis).

While the core group of stars stayed intact, the list of weekly guest stars became a veritable who’s who of Hollywood and included Bette Davis, Bruce Dern, Suzanne Pleshette, Bruce Boxleitner, Charles Bronson, Angie Dickinson, Lee Van Cleef, Melissa Gilbert, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, James Doohan, Harrison Ford, June Lockhart, Ron Howard, Sam Elliott and Burt Reynolds.

Gunsmoke will forever be deemed highly significant in television history. The raw numbers are eye-popping, but Gunsmoke bears the distinction of being a landmark show that heavily influenced the Western genre and tackled complex moral issues. Storylines often went way beyond the simple good vs. evil narratives of other popular shows.

Many conflicts arose from an outsider entering the small, tight-knit community of Dodge City. While Gunsmoke did feature plenty of shoot-outs, its enduring success “resulted largely from the psychological drama and tense situations that were resolved with moral ambiguity rather than with a showdown at high noon,” notes Britannica.com.

Gunsmoke is no longer the longest-running live-action primetime series in history—or the show with the highest number of scripted episodes. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit entered its 21st season in September of 2019 (Season 26 was greenlit for NBC’s 2024-25 season). Meanwhile, the animated sitcom The Simpsons surpassed Gunsmoke in total scripted episodes in April of 2018 and continues to pad that lofty achievement with 768 episodes as of May 2024.

However, Gunsmoke’s legacy and significance are secure. The show will forever be remembered as a trailblazer that pushed the boundaries of television and captured the hearts of millions—including this writer.

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