‘Gunsmoke’ to return?

Press, 21 July 1986, Page 19

‘Gunsmoke’ to return?

AP Los Angeles If you are wondering if Miss Kitty is still running the Long Branch Saloon and if Marshal Matt Dillon’s still sweet on her, you may have a chance to look in again at those Dodge City folks in "Gunsmoke.” The C.B.S. network is making a film that will bring back much of the cast, including James Ar-, ness as Dillon and Amanda Blake as Kitty, says Bob Silberling, the C.B.S. vice-president for movies for television.

John Mantley, who produced the series for many years, will be the executive producer and Jim Burns, a long-time writer for the series, is writing the script. Silberllng says the return of Amess and Miss Blake is dependent upon their approval of the script. “Gunsmoke, ’’ which ran from 1955 to 1975, was the longest-running primetime dramatic series in television history. Only the various versions of the “Walt Disney Show” (29 years) and the “Ed Sullivan Show” (24 years) ran longer. “Gunsmoke” originated as a radio show in 1952. Arness and Milburn Stone, who played Doc Adams, were the only starring members of the cast to remain with the show all 20 seasons.

Stone died in 1980. Miss Blake left in 1974. Dennis Weaver, who was Chester Goode, remained with the show until 1964, when he was replaced by Ken Curtis as Festus Haggen.