Gunsmoke: A Complete History and Analysis of the Legendary Broadcast Series with a Comprehensive Episode-by-Episode Guide to Both the Radio and Television Programs

by SuzAnne Barabas, Gabor Barabas

Overview

The series ran nine years on radio and twenty on television--the all-time longest running prime-time program with continuing characters. It introduced to the American people a cast of characters that quickly took on mythic proportions.

There are 74 ­in-depth interviews and reminiscences by principal performers (Arness, Blake, Weaver, et al.), guest stars (Hartley, O'Connor, Leachman, Reynolds, Conrad, et al.), and directors, writers and producers associated with the radio and television programs. A 128-page section contains 246 photographs of guest stars and leads.

A comprehensive episode-by-episode guide provides entries for more than 1,000 radio and television programs, spanning 23 years, and for each includes title, synopsis, air date, cast, director, writer, producer and anecdotal information. Eleven appendices: memorable quotes, the writers, TV schedules, radio and TV awards; principal performers' credits… Enormous index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786472215
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	05/31/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	848
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.20(h) x 5.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

SuzAnne Barabas lives in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Gabor Barabas lives in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Volume 1

Acknowledgments ix

Part I The History of Gunsmoke

Introduction 3

The Real Dodge City 7

The Western Genre 13

Radio - The Pioneers 23

Television - The New Frontier 73

Reflections by Guest Stars 157

Postscripts 201

Which Way'd They Go? 225

Part II Photographs 229

Volume 2

Part III The Programs, Episode-by-Epiode

The Radio Programs 357

The Television Programs 443

Part IV Appendices

Appendix A Quotes from Gunsmoke 729

Appendix B The Television Directors 742

Appendix C The Radio and Television Writers 745

Appendix D The Television Producers 747

Appendix E The Radio and Television Awards 748

Appendix F The Television Time Schedule 752

Appendix G The Television Actors 753

Appendix H The Radio Performers 767

Appendix I The Television Production Staff 769

Appendix J The Principal Performers' Credits 774

Appendix K Gunsmoke 2 781

References 783

Bibliography 787

Index 793

Editorial Reviews

I cannot imagine a Gunsmoke fan being disappointed by this substantial and important volume. Essential reading...definitive...fabulous...one of the best of all time, it’s that comprehensive”—Classic Images; “the ultimate treatise”—Western Clippings; “valuable...excellent”—Choice; “outdoes anything I’ve ever seen”—Big Reel; “definitive”—Philadelphia Inquirer; “immensely informative”—Mayland Public Radio; “most complete and thorough...truly worthwhile and entertaining...well-written...highly recommended”—Golden Radio Buffs of Maryland; “outstanding”—Radio Spirits, Inc.; “tells the full story”—Communication Booknotes; “invaluable…unique”—American Cinematographer; “great reading”—Cowboy Magazine; “incredible...absolutely fabulous”—The TV Collector; “most impressive...a must”—Movie Collector’s World; “most accurate…highest rating”—Box-Top Buddies; “ultimate reference...highly recommended”—Westerns & Serials; “leaves nothing out...recommended”—Hello Again; “a magnum opus”—SPERDVAC Radiogram.

From the Publisher

valuable...excellent

Choice

the ultimate treatise

Western Clippings

I cannot imagine a Gunsmoke fan being disappointed by this substantial and important volume. Essential reading...definitive...fabulous...one of the best of all time, it's that comprehensive

Classic Images

The series ran for nine years on radio and 20 years on television, and it's all here: 74 interviews and reminiscences by the principals, guest stars, directors, writers, and producers; an episode-by-episode guide to about 1,000 radio and television programs; a 128 page glossy section with some 260 photographs; appendices including memorable quotes from the program, TV schedules, and awards. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews