Cast members from left: Howard McNear (Dr. Charles
Adams) Parley Baer as Chester, William Conrad
(U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon) and Georgia Ellis as Kitty
Russell.
Gunsmoke is a western radio series, which was developed for radio
by John Meston and Norman Macdonnell. The series ran for nine seasons and was broadcast by CBS. The first episode of the series originally aired on April 26, 1952, and the final first-run episode aired
on June 11, 1961..During the series, a total of 480 original episodes
were broadcast, including shows with re-used or adapted scripts. A television version of the series debuted in 1955.
"Gunsmoke" sound effect artists Ray Kemper &Tom Hanley
with Director Norm McDonnel.
William Conrad
(September 27, 1920 – February 11, 1994)
Conrad continued as Dillon after the TV show had
already started, and played the role until 1961. He
was considered for the role of Dillon on the TV show,
but the creators and producers decided, in the end,
to go for Arness in his place. It’s rumored that his
weight was a factor behind his not being cast.
