Hollywood technical advisor Arvo Ojala
(February 21, 1920 – July 1, 2005)

In the opening credits of Gunsmoke!, Marshal Matt Dillon draws his
gun at the bad guy. Who is the gunslinger? A Finnish-American gun master named Arvo Ojala (above). The quick-draw specialist not only trained James Arness in gunfighting, he also trained Robert
Culp, James Garner,  and Paul Newman in the art.

As a joke on the producers, James Arness and Arvo actually did the opener once with Dillon falling to the ground.

Accordiing to Wikipedia, Ojala taught himself marksmanship and
how to quick-draw a handgun while living on his father’s ranch
near Yakima, Washington. He said he sharpened his skill by  
shooting the heads off rattlesnakes.

Behind the camera view.

Cased Third Generation Colt SAA Arvo Ojala/Gunsmoke Commemorative revolver, .45 cal., 7-1/2” barre.

GERONIMO (THIRD FROM LEFT) SURRENDERING TO
GENERAL NELSON MILES IN ARIZONA.

On September 4, 1886, Apache leader Geronimo surrendered to
U.S. government troops. For 30 years, the Native American warrior
had battled to protect his tribe’s homeland; however, by 1886 the Apaches were exhausted and outnumbered. General Nelson Miles accepted Geronimo’s surrender, making him the last Native
American warrior to formally give in to U.S. forces and signaling
the end of the Indian Wars in the Southwest.

Geronimo (on horseback center) with his warriors.

Geronimo (‘the one who yawns’)
(June 16, 1829 – February 17, 1909)

The American Revolution officially came to an end when
representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Spain
and France sign the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783.

The signing signified America’s status as a free nation, as
Britain formally recognized the independence of its 13
former American colonies, and the boundaries of the new
republic were agreed upon: Florida north to the Great
Lakes and the Atlantic coast west to the Mississippi
River.

( From HistoricTalk)

   

Retired photographer Rocco Morabito