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.
