Trivia / Gunsmoke

• Completely Different Title:
  • In Spanish-speaking countries, the series is known as La ley del revólver ("The Law of the Revolver").
  • In the UK, the series was initially known as Gun Law.
• Corpsing: James Arness could control his laughter better than most actors, but often during filming the crew had to stop shooting because Arness got an uncontrollable case of the giggles.
• The Danza: Howard McNear as Howard, general store clerk, in the TV version.
• Directed by Cast Member: Dennis Weaver directed four episodes.
  • William Conrad, who played Matt Dillon in the radio version, directed two episodes of the TV series.
• Dyeing for Your Art: James Arness was naturally blond, which it was felt didn't fit a western hero.
• Executive Meddling: The show was to be cancelled after the 1966-67 season due to declining ratings, but it was the favorite of Barbara "Babe" Mortimer, who just so happened to be married to William S. Paley, chairman of CBS; it was renewed at the last minute. To make place for it in the schedule, Gilligan's Island got the axe. Another attempt to cancel it was made after the 1970-71 season as part of The Rural Purge, but the decision was reversed due to Barbara's favoritism and the show's still-excellent Nielsen ratings (#5 in 1970-71; it went up to #4 in 1971-72); this time, Mayberry R.F.D. and Family Affair took the bullet instead.
• Hey, It's That Place!: The gunfight between Matt Dillon and an unknown gunman that opened every episode was shot on the same main street as that used in High Noon.
• The Other Darrin: Various secondary characters were played by whoever was handy at the time- bank manager Mr. Botkin has at least three actors, sometimes rotating. The desk clerk at the Dodge House also rotated (occasionally with one of the men who played Mr. Botkin).
• Pop-Culture Urban Legends: James Arness was recommended for the role by his good friend John Wayne. This quickly ballooned into a story that Wayne himself had been offered the role and turned it down. ^note  Charles Marquis Warren jokingly suggested Wayne take the part, knowing full well one of the top stars of the film industry would never take a huge pay cut in a new medium. Wayne responded by dumping alcohol over Warren’s head.
• Recycled Script: The vast majority of the episodes from the early half-hour seasons were remakes of radio episodes. Some were word for word adaptations, some changed aspects of the original script, such as Tobeel surviving his second episode when he dies in the radio version.
• Similarly Named Works: The title is used by a radio show, its TV adaptation, a Golden Age comic and a video game.
• Un-Canceled: Happened most famously after the 12th season when the show was cancelled due to low ratings. The network president's wife was a fan, so she convinced him to keep the show going. Gilligan's Island got the axe instead and Gunsmoke was moved to Monday nights, where it rose to the top of the ratings and ran for another eight years.
• What Could Have Been: Ken Curtis was offered a chance to be in the TV movie sequels, but declined to reprise his role as Festus, feeling that Miss Kitty should be in the spotlight with Matt instead. If he HAD taken the job, it'd would've been Festus serving as Dodge's marshal rather than Newly.
• You Look Familiar: So many actors are in multiple episodes, sometimes back to back episodes, that it would be difficult to list them all. Rarely does an episode go by without a familiar face turning up. Jack Elam may be the champ, appearing over a dozen times, never twice in the same role. Victor French, Morgan Woodward, Denver Pyle and John Dehner are other top contenders.

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