A: Yes, Morgan is a good friend of mine. Matt Dillon rode a number of horses during the twenty years of Gunsmoke. All of the cast members would also make guest appearances on James Arness' long-running series [Gunsmoke] except for Emile Meyer (Sheriff Morton) and Frank Fenton (Sheriff Leading Posse). They were a great addition to the show. After he was discharged, only then did Arness start work relatively close to entertainment. Asked: “Were you on the set when the assassination of President Kennedy happened and how did I react? Ben Cartwrigt (Lorne Greene) and James Arness (Gunsmoke) rode the same buckskin horse. The Gunsmoke actors actually drank beer, but the whiskey was tea or colored water. Buck Taylor and Burt Reynolds are still living and doing well. “ A: No, I was not on the set when I heard the news that president Kennedy had been shot. Q: Molina A. With James Arness, Pat Hingle, Amy Stoch, Matt Mulhern. “Buck”was foaled ,and trained at fat jones stables in north hollywood. Q: Gerry J. He got his acting start with RKO Pictures, and his first film role was in 1947’s The Farmer’s Daughter, in which he played the brother of Loretta Young’s character.18 мая 2016 г. James Arness rode the same Buckskin horse (Buck) in this movie as he rode in many episodes of Gunsmoke (1955). He was 84. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. When the occasion demands, I ride a horse in “Gunsmoke.” Usually it is a big buckskin gelding named Buck, chosen not because of his intellect, or his fidelity, but because he is very large and only a very large horse will fit me. As such, Marshall Dillon (James Arness) rode multiple horses. It was filmed by MGM Studios and was aired on ABC Network. There were so many actors who came on the show, many of them were unknowns at the time and later had great careers. Q: Ed A. Q: Tony S. Asked: “How many of the Gunsmoke cast members are still living?” A: Of the original cast members I’m sorry to say that I am the only cast member left. After his discharge from the Army, Arness worked as a radio announcer in Minneapolis for a spell before hitchhiking his way to Hollywood. He did, and stayed with Gunsmoke for 20 years and three Emmy nominations, until the show was cancelled in 1975, making it the longest running dramatic series ever produced. Retired Marshal Matt Dillon tracks Arizona rustlers and lands in the middle of the 1880s Pleasant Valley War. Q: Bob A Asked: Do you still keep in touch with Morgan Woodward? The only Gunsmoke introduction not showing Dillon in a showdown shows him riding on a running horse. BUCK: the aptly named buckskin, all tan with a dark mane and tail, … James Arness rode the same Buckskin horse (Buck) in this movie as he rode in many episodes of Gunsmoke (1955). Dennis Weaver past away in 2006. The show ran from 1955 to 1975, and was so popular that when CBS tried to cancel it in 1967, public outcry convinced the network to change its mind. This is the only time Dillon's horse is given a name in a Gunsmoke episode. But the couple gets divorced in 1963, and Arness … The front and back of the Gunsmoke trading card shown here identify Dillon’s horse as Marshal. After 'Gunsmoke,' Arness starred in 'How the West Was Won'. We also filmed in Simi Valley and then there were times when we would go out of state and to work on locations for example Kanab, Utah and Oregon, just to name a few. Matt Dillon rode a number of horses during the twenty years Gunsmoke was on the air. One died during the run of the show, in 1973, at the age of 74—Glenn Strange, a real New Mexico cowboy who played Sam the bartender. James Arness, right, who starred as Matt Dillon on “Gunsmoke,” had a daughter who would later get screen time in the 1990 made-for-TV movie “Gunsmoke II: The Last Apache.” Arness got married to Virginia Chapman in 1948. Q: Many fans Asked: Where can they get the movie “How The West Was Won”? Our reaction was shock and great sadness. … Another horse, pictured below, is named Marshal. James Arness rode Buck in Gunsmoke (his name revealed in the July, 1958 issue of The Western Horseman), was a Buckskin gelding owned by the Fat Jones Stables. Required fields are marked *. Arness was offered the part of Dodge City’s Marshall Matt Dillon in “Gunsmoke,” an adult TV western. For my last birthday two girls that are Gunsmoke fans gave me a handmade scrap book with photos I had never seen before and cute captions to go with them. Asked: “Do you receive gifts from your fans?” A: Yes on special occasions such as Christmas or my birthday people have been gracious in sending special cards or gifts. I also did all the riding and over the years I had a number of horses that I used on the show. He was 84. James Arness in Gunsmoke / Everett Collection. But he became the best-known tin … In "The Bullet: Part 1", Festus calls Matt's horse Buck. Dec 23, 2013 - Ever wonder why Festus rode a john mule and "he" was named "Ruth" in Gunsmoke? For 20 years on television's Gunsmoke, whenever rustling, gunfights or brawling ruffled the feathers of Dodge City, Marshal Matt Dillon was there to restore law and order to the frontier town.. And it was the 6' 7" frame of the hardy James Arness that gave the Gunsmoke lawman a towering presence. In fact, it was Marshall (with two l’s). A: Yes, I did most of my own stunts and fight scenes unless it was really dangerous then I had great stunt men who would stand in for me. According to Trimble, Dodge City’s federal marshal was shot no less than 56 times, knocked unconscious 29 times, stabbed on three occasions, and poisoned once. They also adopted her son Craig (1946 – December 14, 2004). Directed by Jerry Jameson. When I was a kid I had all these toy horses and each had a name. I was actually on an airplane heading for Hawaii. Shot in nine days. March 2007 Q: Don G. asked “What was Docs First name?” A: Galan Q: Stephen M asked: What ever happened to Roger Ewing?” A: “Good question!” I have not been in contact with Roger for many years, and I don’t know if he is still acting or what he is doing these days Q: Many fans Asked: “How can they get a copy of my interview on the Bill O’Reiley Show? A: Matt Dillon (James Arness) and Kitty (Amanda Blake) never married during the series 1955-75 run, although close watchers of the show were convinced they had connected at some time. James Arness is best known for his role as Marshal Matt Dillon in the Western drama series ‘Gunsmoke’ (1955 – 1975). Likely, they were also blessed with and a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness who was born on May 23, 1950. A pack horse for the Oregon Trail cost $25 in the US in 1850, but a riding horse would run you $75. (Photo: Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) Arness might be known for Gunsmoke, but that was hardly the only thing he did.Arness' career began in 1947 when he played one of Loretta Young's brothers in The Farmer's Daughter.He also played the title character in … A: My father worked for Becton-Dickenson in sales of medical instruments. The horse James Arness rode in Gunsmoke was this his personal horse and what was the name of the horse? James Arness rode numerous horses over the 20 years of Gunsmoke, but he had a horse, Old Faithful Buck, nicknamed "Buck" a big buckskin that Arness liked so much he took him to his own … I also did all the riding and over the years I had a number of horses that I used on the show. Stewart had an incredible rapport with Pie, … They shared the same straight-forward manner, the same honesty, and the same May 26th birthday. … (Arness would later say that Matt’s only onscreen kiss was in that episode, “Matt’s Love Story,” but Kitty did in fact kiss him once.). This was the first western film of many directed by Andrew V. What kind of horse did Ben Cartwright ride on Bonanza? My mother was a homemaker until my brother and I were in our 20s, then she wrote a column for a newspaper in Minnesota. Q: Ken B. Two are pictured on Gunsmoke trading cards. A: You can contact Fox News in New York. The most memorable and longest, in the later years, was a big handsome buckskin “Buck”. In the west US it was possible to buy a horse for as little as $10, but a decent riding equine cost around $150, with a range of $120 (1861) to $185 (1865). His other television appearances include his roles as 'Deputy Bud Titus' in the Western drama series ‘The Lone Ranger’ (1950), 'Zeb Macahan' in the Western ‘The Macahans’ (1976), and 'Jim McClain' in the crime drama ‘McClain’s Law’ (1981 – 1982). When aired in the United … Dillon is shown here on another Gunsmoke trading card on another horse. Unfortunately, the veterinarian could not save Cochise. His rider is the “head of the team” – and of the family! Gunsmoke ran for 20 years. The actor tried to alter his sagebrush image in a 1981 modern-day cop series, McClain's Law -- which being set in the southwest permitted Arness to ride a horse or two. Q: Mike B. Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston.The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West.The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television. A: As far as I know it is not available on DVD. I hung around after the show and asked the man who owned him if I could ride the horse. Here Ken Curtis tells the story in Festus' own words. Fat Jones Stables closed their business in 1975. A: That was the actor William Conrad. Where was the location of the filming when it was not on the studio?” A: Yes, I watch the reruns on TV Land. Remarkably, by the time he had hung up … Arness wrote a 1958 article where he said the name of his horse was Faithful Old Buck. It seemed like James Arness simply couldn’t let go of the character who he had played for so long – Matt Dillon. Even after the original series of Gunsmoke came to an end in 1975, Arness was constantly asked to come back to reprise the role. To this day, I can’t stand it if some idiot movie director decides it’s necessary to “hurt” an animal to achieve some dramatic effect. He had a great voice, and years later I asked him to do some voice over’s for How The West Was Won. If there was any doubt that James Stewart was a kindhearted man, just look at his love for a horse named Pie. He attended college and became a radio announcer. He rode the horse in 17 films until Pie’s retirement at the age of 29 after Stewart finished shooting Bandolero. James led a quiet life until his death in 2011 at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles California USA. Q: Duane C. Asked: How did you come up with the name Gunsmoke?” A: That was the name that was used for the original radio show, and they decided to put it on television and they used the same name. Q: Mary R. Asked: “Did you do your own stunts and riding?” Did you have a favorite horse to ride?” A: Yes, I did most of my own stunts and fight scenes unless it was really dangerous then I had great stunt men who would stand in for me. We’ve done so many Gunsmoke’s together and have great memories of the show and the cast members. Following his retirement in 1994, James left the public eye, but in 2001 he published an autobiography entitled “James Arness: An Autobiography”. This was the first western film of many directed by Andrew V. BUCK: the aptly named buckskin, all tan with a dark mane and tail, with black socks near his hooves. James Arness rode the same Buckskin horse (Buck) in this movie as he rode in many episodes of Gunsmoke (1955). James Arness, Marshal on ‘Gunsmoke,’ Dies at 88 ... A wartime leg wound made it painful for him to mount a horse. Reportedly, James Arness kept the horse as a pet, housing him in his own private stable, and only using Buck when filming the series. Did James Arness own the horse he rode in Gunsmoke? Some of the locations when we were not on the set were in Thousand Oaks (The Getty Ranch), also at Sherwood Lake in West Lake. Top image: The Everett Collection. Q: Hallie C. Asked: What did your parents do for a living? One night an intruder broke into Fat Jones Stable, wielding a knife and injured several of the horses. He passed away of natural causes at 88 years old. Did James Arness own the horse he rode in Gunsmoke? He rode a number of different horses - Marshal , Faithful Old Buck . Shot in nine days. Asked: “Who was your favorite guest star and why?” A: After making over 600 episodes it would really be hard to pick a favorite guest star. It made the show that much better. Though the show was set in Kansas, much of it was actually filmed right here in Utah, and the abandoned film set is still standing. This was the first western film of many directed by Andrew V. Stewart tried desperately to buy Pie from his owner, but she flat out refused him every time he asked. Buck was either an American Quarter Horse, or a mixed-breed that was mostly Quarter Horse. I was always partial to the horses. James Arness signed a contract with Wayne’s company, BATJAC, in the early 50s and played in four films with him. That has been gratifying to watch over the years. In addition to the series he made four Gunsmoke movies for TV the last of which was produced in 1992 "Gunsmoke IV: The Long Ride " The company is still in business today. It was truly a labor of love and much appreciated. And they also had a son, Rolf who was born February 18, 1952. Ben Bates, who served as the stunt double for James Arness, the star of Gunsmoke, for more than 25 years, died Oct. 4 in Sun City, Calif., his family announced. The regulars who are still with us are: Roger Ewing (Thad Greenwood), who is 73; Buck Taylor (Newly O’Brien), who is 77; and Burt Reynolds (Quint Asper), who is 79. This horse is never identified by Marshall Trimble is Arizona’s official historian and vice president of the Wild West History Association. Asked: Who was the voice of the radio version of Gunsmoke? Either way, he sure looks like a very good Q.H. Your email address will not be published. Q: Jerry S. Asked: Did you ever make a movie or TV show in which Peter Graves was also an actor?” A: No. Your email address will not be published. Shot in nine days. James Stewart – Pie. For more information about the name of Matt Dillon’s horse, click on the picture. That weekend was so eerie because everything was closed and there were no people or cars on the street it was as if time stood still. Arness and John Wayne in 1972. Q: Shiley I. asked: “Do you think Janet could answer the question, How much of James Arness is in the Matt Dillon character? Fenton is understandable because he died of a pulmonary embolism the next year (1957). Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987), Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (1990), Gunsmoke: To the Last Man (1992), Gunsmoke: The Long Ride (1993), and Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice (1994). All their names were Buck, which is a question many fans have asked. One month after the Season 13 finale aired in 1972, Dan — who had been with the series since day one — died at the age of 43 from a post-operative pulmonary embolism following gall bladder surgery. Asked: Do you still watch reruns of Gunsmoke? My brother and I have never acted in a movie or show together. A: Yes, it will all be in the upcoming book. James Arness is best known for his role as Marshal Matt Dillon in 'Gunsmoke,' one of the longest-running prime-time series in network TV history. What did the actors drink when they were drinking “beer” on Gunsmoke?