Tuesday
Radio's Gunsmoke
"Around Dodge City and in the territory on west, there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, that's with a U.S. Marshal and the smell of Gunsmoke". This, along with sound effects of approaching hoof beats and a single gunshot ricochet started what many believe to be the greatest radio drama of all time. Gunsmoke has been called the first 'Adult' Western. As on early television, radio's Gunsmoke was centered on four main characters: Matt, Doc, Chester and Kitty. L&M and Chesterfield cigarettes began sponsoring radio's Gunsmoke in 1954. The cigarette ad-men were so paranoid of the competition that, for a time, no Gunsmoke character was allowed to be called Lucky. Dillon's first name was Mark in the audition show ''Mark Dillon Goes to Gouge Eye” starring Howard Culver as Dillon. Since Howard Culver was playing the lead in "Straight Arrow" on the Mutual Network, his contract would not allow him play the lead in Gunsmoke. The lead was given to veteran radio actor William Conrad. The role became Conrad's greatest achievement, and is often considered the best portrayal of a character ever heard on radio. The creative geniuses who made the show what it was, always took care that everything sounded just right. The sound effects and music makes Dodge as real as any place ever created on radio. For example, saloon scenes featured a real honky-tonk piano being played live in a crowd of extras as the show was transcribed. Gunshots were authentic weapons recorded and carefully mixed. To authenticate the historical accuracy of scripts, history reference books were known to be brought to the Gunsmoke studio. The staff was the best in the business. When canceled in 1961, Gunsmoke was the last network radio drama to originate from Hollywood.
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It was Georgia Ellis who played Miss Kitty on the radio version of Gunsmoke. As you know, Ellen Corby played Grandma on the Waltons. Two of my very favorite characters from the Waltons were the Grandparents, Zeb and Esther Walton.
You are correct, that is indeed the late great Howard McNear who played Doc. It is very interesting listening to the old recordings and hearing Floyd Lawson’s voice. Doc’s character often does have comic undertones, but was never the oddball Floyd was.
Another interesting Andy Griffith Show connection is Parley Baer. He played Chester on the radio version of Gunsmoke and played Mayor Stoner on the Andy Griffith Show.
Ellen Corby played the role of Mrs. Lesh on the Andy Griffith Show episode “Barney's First Car”. She was the little old lady who sold Barney a lemon.
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You are correct, that is indeed the late great Howard McNear who played Doc. It is very interesting listening to the old recordings and hearing Floyd Lawson’s voice. Doc’s character often does have comic undertones, but was never the oddball Floyd was.
Another interesting Andy Griffith Show connection is Parley Baer. He played Chester on the radio version of Gunsmoke and played Mayor Stoner on the Andy Griffith Show.
Ellen Corby played the role of Mrs. Lesh on the Andy Griffith Show episode “Barney's First Car”. She was the little old lady who sold Barney a lemon.
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