Fans of the television show Gunsmoke may have fond memories of the Long Branch, Dodge City, Kansass lively and popular saloon. Apart from the doleful tone, Gunsmoke is distinct from other radio Westerns, as the dialogue is often slow and halting, and the outstanding sound effects give a palpable sense of the prairie setting. She was a half owner of the "Long Branch Saloon" with Bill Pence, who she later bought out his half and was full owner. Gambling ranged from five cent chuck-a-luck to thousand dollar poker.[3]. However food is not very goodit is very basic. Loving was grazed on the hand by one bullet; Richardson was shot three times and died. For this deed, Short was kicked out of Dodge. "Gunsmoke: An American Institution, Celebrating 50 Years of Television's Best Western" Written by Ben Costello, Foreword by Jim Byrnes, and Introduction by Jon Voight and published by Five Star Publications, Inc.(now Story Monsters LLC) Published 1 edition (December 22, 2012), Bill Carter, "NBC Will Bring Back All Three, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 13:58. It is furnished with an 1881 bar and two Golden Eagles on top of the back bar that were once owned by Beeson. Violence and tragedy result when Matt and Chester persuade a reluctant Kitty to hire flirtatious Rena Decker as a Long Branch hostess. . Dunning writes that Meston was especially disgusted by the archetypal Western hero and set out "to destroy [that type of] character he loathed". Individual stations such as KFWD in Dallas also carry the series in their markets. . Kitty was played by actress Georgia Ellis on radio, and by Amanda Blake on TV. Blake starred on "Gunsmoke" as saloon owner Miss Kitty for 19 years. Brown or amber in color, no visible cracks or breaks, 12" high and considered a "Fifth" The winning bidder will receive a Certificate of Authenenticity from Hollywoodpropsupply. A complete series box set was released on May 5, 2020. There was no recurrence of cancer, her doctor, Dr. Lou Nishimura, told People. From 1955 to 1961, Gunsmoke is a half-hour show, retitled Marshal Dillon in syndication. Chalkley Beeson, one of the many owners of the Long Branch Saloon, may have been a successful rancher and entrepreneur, but his true passion was music. Book Appointment. Harris named it after his hometown of Long Branch, New Jersey. The sassy owner of Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City was played by actress Amanda Blake, a woman who would forever make her mark not only in. The Long Branch Saloon, often shortened to the Long Branch, is a saloon operated by Miss Kitty in the town of Dodge City, Kansas. Violence and tragedy result when Matt and Chester persuade a reluctant Kitty to hire flirtatious Rena Decker as a Long Branch hostess. He even called on Charlie Bassett, who was the ex-sheriff of Dodge City and a one-time owner of the Long Branch. Questions?? The Long Branch Saloon of Dodge City, Kansas is one of the most famous Old West saloons in the United States, dating back to when outlaws and gunslingers were still roaming the country in the. Gunsmoke star Amanda Blake made quite a chunk of money for her role in the western. A gentlemanly wager was placed on the outcome of the game. In 1885, fire roared through the downtown blocks, destroying many businesses, including the Long Branch Saloon. Montral, QC. I went to my GUNSMOKE book and found that the episode was the last one of the 55-56 season on radio. 514-874-8730. Loving accused Richardson of making disrespectful advances towards his wife, and the two got into an argument that turned into a gunfight across a table. John Dunning wrote, "The listener heard extraneous dialogue in the background, just above the muted shouts of kids playing in an alley. See production, box office & company info, (based on the radio series created by) (uncredited), (developed for television by) (uncredited), Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. [citation needed], James Arness and Milburn Stone portrayed their Gunsmoke characters for 20 consecutive years, a feat later matched by Kelsey Grammer as the character Frasier Crane, but over two half-hour sitcoms (Cheers and Frasier). I never thought for a moment of offering it to Wayne. Following its regular television series run, five made-for-tv movies were produced. The film, shot in Alberta, features a now-retired Marshal Dillon being attacked and a vengeful former rival returning to Dodge City to entrap him. They serve burgers by themselves, you have to buy your side dish apart from it, so at the end it comes to 25 $ for just a basic burger and fries! Miss Kitty was a fan-favorite on Gunsmoke, as the owner of the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City. The show continued in its new time slot at 8pm on Mondays. Dillon and Kitty clearly have a close personal relationship. Even folks who didnt drink or gamble frequented the Long Branch for the great music, dancing, and the non-alcoholic lemonades and sarsaparillas. During the winter months, the owners of the Long Branch Saloon used ice from the frozen river to keep the drinks chilled. Harris named it after his hometown of Long Branch, New Jersey. It remained among the top-20 programs until 1964. As originally pitched to CBS executives, this was to be an adult Western, not a grown-up Hopalong Cassidy. The series was retitled Gun Law in the UK. Back in 1961, the actor took home a massive payday in exchange for selling her residual rights to the show. Audio; US Funds; Deposit; About this branch. Amanda was born February 20, 1929 in Buffalo, New York. According to legend, a group of soldiers and a group of cowboys decided to play a friendly game of ball. This scheduling move led to a spike in ratings that had it once again rally to the top 10 in the Nielsen ratings, which again saved the series when CBS purged most of its rural content in 1971. After multiple years of traveling, Blake grew tired of leaving her home. A total of 635 episodes were aired over it's 20 year run. The Long Branch Saloon brought in a lot of money, particularly from the cattle drives. The program was funded by CBS in the first two years. If you are a collector of TV/Western memorabilia, this would make a great add to your collection! We ordered three different burgers and three different side dishes. Miss Kitty was written out of the script in 1974. A wannabe world traveler, Karen spends her days writing and her nights researching cheap flights to far-off places. For other uses, see, Television series (19551975) and TV movies. Three other popular shows, Gilligan's Island, Lost in Space, and The Incredible Hulk, met the same abrupt fate. Matt Dillon: We? But before getting to Dodge, the Indians capture Matt and release Serpa. A role rarely depicted when the show debuted in 1955, the role of Miss Kittya rough . [15] The first 12 seasons aired Saturdays at 10 pm, seasons 13 through 16 aired Mondays at 7:30pm, and the last four seasons aired Mondays at 8 pm. Right after Kitty purchases half interest in the Long Branch she receives a telegraph that her long lost father is coming for a visit. Claude replaced Sam in the last season of Gunsmoke. Fans of the show, and of the history of the Old West, still flock to Dodge City today to experience what it must have been like to toss back a drink at the Long Branch Saloon. Neither was prostitution. Kitty's dad comes to Dodge. Website. The lawmen of Dodge City found themselves thrust back into the lawless days of the past. According to Arness, "We didn't do a final, wrap-up show. Director John Brahm Writers Kathleen Hite Norman MacDonnell (based on the radio series created by) John Meston (based on the radio series created by) Stars James Arness Milburn Stone She did pretty much the same thing on Bonanza in The Ape. In syndication, the entire 20-year run of Gunsmoke is separated into three packages by CBS Television Distribution: The program currently airs on four major venues: TV Land, which has carried the show since its inception in 1996, Encore Westerns, INSP, and Weigel Broadcasting's MeTV digital subchannel network. Night Deposit; Safe Deposit Boxes; Languages Spoken. Blake starred on Gunsmoke as saloon owner Miss Kitty for 19 years. Instead of fighting the charges they were clearly guilty of, the owners of the Long Branch just paid the fines. Map updates are paused. [8], Macdonnell and Meston wanted to create a radio Western for adults, in contrast to the prevailing juvenile fare such as The Lone Ranger and The Cisco Kid. The Gunsmoke brand was used to endorse numerous products, including cottage cheese[64] and cigarettes. Sharkey proposed that the Award dinner take place in December. Robinson delegated this to his West Coast CBS vice president, Harry Ackerman, who had developed the Philip Marlowe series.[4]. In the episode, Matt loses his memory and his heart during a brief liaison with "Mike" Yardner (played by Michael Learned, better known for playing Olivia in The Waltons). The people upstairs decided it was better to leave the show as it was, which I totally agreed with. Check out our Store: Hollywoodpropsupply. Production paid Blake a lump sum of $100,000 for the rights. Associated Press, July 2, 2002, Bob Thomas. His real name was Dr. Calvin Moore. The television series was the longest-running, primetime, live-action television series at 20 seasons, until September 2019 with the 21st-season premiere of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Transit #: 4461. In 1970, Popular Library published the following paperback book written by Chris Stratton: In 1974, Award Books published the following paperback books written by Jackson Flynn based on the TV series: In 1998, Boulevard Books published the following paperbacks written by Gary McCarthy based on the TV series: A series of novels based upon the television series written by Joseph A. With James Arness, Dennis Weaver, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake. [19][20][21], In 1975, CBS made the decision not to renew Gunsmoke for a 21st season, without making any public announcement or informing the producers or cast members ahead of time. With a resonantly powerful and distinctive voice, Conrad was already one of radio's busiest actors. Sometime in 1959, Ellis was billed as Georgia Hawkins instead of Georgia Ellis. The Long Branch Saloon was a well-known saloon in Dodge City, Kansas from about 1874 to 1885. The Gunsmoke theme was composed by Rex Koury. The program was set after the arrival of the railroad in Dodge City (1872) and Kansas had been a state since 1861. Gunsmoke is the last fictional primetime show that debuted in the 1950s to leave the air and only three shows from the 1960s that lasted past its final season in 197475. She appeared in the TV movie Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge, which picked up where the series left off and continued the adventures of Matt Dillon and the gang. [56] Some foreign-made programs have been broadcast in the U.S. and contend for the position as the longest-running prime-time series. The screenwriters responded to Curtis's absence by making Newly the new Dodge City marshal. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Actress Amanda Blake, who as Miss Kitty reigned for 19 years as the queen of Dodge City's Long Branch Saloon in the TV series ''Gunsmoke,'' died after a long battle with cancer. Loving was arrested and charged with murder. Later, Matt is about to have a shootout in the saloon, and the people standing behind him, don't move out of the way either. Will be back for sure and hope to take in the live music next time. Many of the well-known figures from the Old West visited Dodge City and frequented the Long Branch Saloon. Sam(Or maybe it was Clem) buy a saloon. [61] In 2015, several of the surviving staff reunited at Wild West Fest in Dodge City, including stars Burt Reynolds, Buck Taylor, Jess Walton, Bruce Boxleitner, and writer Jim Byrnes. When Milburn Stone temporarily left for heart bypass surgery in 1971, Pat Hingle played Dr. John Chapman for several episodes. Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members research needs. It then went to an hour-long format. For whatever reason this episode just was not interesting. [54] The original Law & Order, which was canceled in 2010 after tying Gunsmoke's longevity record for a live-action, primetime television series, began its 21st season in February 2022. The TV series ran from September 10, 1955, to March 31, 1975, on CBS, with 635 total episodes. Gunsmoke has one spin-off series, Dirty Sally, a semicomedy starring Jeanette Nolan as an old woman and Dack Rambo as a young gunfighter, leaving Dodge City for California to pan for gold. Conrad's weight was rumored to be a deciding factor. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. In the eighth season (1962-63) a . Miss Blake died Wednesday night at Mercy General Hospital, said hospital spokeswoman Jerri Ewen. Click below to begin your paid subscription. more. [1], The saloon soon became the most popular and refined saloon in Dodge City. Miss Kitty had a permanent room upstair where she also could entertain if she wanted too. We heard the live music coming from Jack"s Saloon and decided to dine there. However, a replica of the saloon was included in a collection of buildings erected in the mid- to late-1900s to serve as a tourist attraction. The series was filmed at the present site of California Lutheran University (CLU) and nearby Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks, California. Now I am well and happily schooled on the subject. The TV/Western "Gunsmoke" 1955-1975 Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon. The musicians put on a show every night for the enjoyment of the saloon patrons. Hiring multiple candidates. [10] He came west and changed his name to escape a charge of murder. Richardson was accused of making sexual innuendos toward Lovings wife. It had several owners, most notably Chalk Beesonand gunfighterLuke Short. Read more about the lawmen and outlaws of the Old West: Although Karen lives in the Midwest, she likes to put the emphasis on the "west." He arrived too late to prevent a lynching. A few years later, in 1878, the saloon was purchased by a prominent local rancher and farmer, Chalkley Beeson, and his partner, William Harris. She was 60. The second one, Ordinance No. The show won 15 Primetime Emmy awards as well as other accolades. [3], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}374504N 1000119W / 37.751N 100.022W / 37.751; -100.022, Interior of the Historic Long Branch Saloon, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Long_Branch_Saloon&oldid=1135296679, This page was last edited on 23 January 2023, at 20:24. Related read: Chuckwagon Chow: 8 Cattle-Drive Foods Cowboys Ate on the Trail. Howard McNear starred as Dr. Charles Adams in the radio series, and Milburn Stone portrayed Dr. Galen Adams in the television version. Gunsmoke is often a somber program, particularly in its early years. In that series, many of the scenes took place at the Long Branch Saloon. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. Gunsmoke | Long Branch Saloon Classic TV T-Shirt. Many episodes end on a somber note, and villains often get away with their crimes. As of 2016[update], Gunsmoke was rated fourth globally, after Doctor Who (1963present), Taggart (19832010),[57] and The Bill (19842010). Gunsmoke Collector Plate Matt Kitty Dodge Longbranch Doc Festus, Empty Wild Turkey Longbranch Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottle W/cork 750, Empty Wild Turkey Longbranch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottles W, "Gunsmoke" Longbranch Saloon's Whiskey Shot Glasses, 30 Ml Trinket Tin Round Red W/ Longbranch Token Good For Food, Whiskey A, John Wayne "THE SHOOTIST" Classic Whiskey Shot Glass, "Gunsmoke" Longbranch Saloon's Whiskey Bottle, 2023 - WorthPoint Corporation | 5 Concourse Parkway NE, Suite 2900. Shipping: We ship on Wednesdays by priority mail. The original beer that bartenders at the Long Branch Saloon served to patrons was Anheuser-Busch beer. Days later, three of the Long Branch prostitutes were arrested. Matt arrests him, but when the Pawnee find out, they capture Matt and free his prisoner. During his audition, however, Conrad won over Macdonnell after reading only a few lines. Red. The project was suspended for three years, when producer Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston discovered it while creating an adult Western series of their own. Chalk Beeson kept the crowds entertained performing with his five-piece orchestra. I have no reason to doubt the story, because Jimmy absolutely knew everybody.". Series producers said that if the show were sponsored, they would have to "clean the show up". It had several owners, most notably Chalk Beeson and gunfighter Luke Short. Pretty on the outside and VERY ugly on the inside. Gambling ranged from five cent chuck-a-luck to thousand dollar poker. Signed photographs from the show's actors and other memorabilia are on display including a vest worn by Sam the bartender and a dress worn by Miss Kitty. [1] The magazine observed that she is "obviously not selling chocolate bars". "[citation needed]. James Arness and Amanda Blake returned in their iconic roles of Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty, with Fran Ryan returning as Kitty's friend and saloon-owner Hannah and Buck Taylor as Newly O'Brian. "[1], Gunsmoke is unique from other Westerns in that it was unsponsored in the first few years of production. Onions rings, Mac and cheese and fries were all much better than expected in this high tourist area. The (network) never told anybody they were thinking of cancelling." The series also appears intermittently on MeTV's themed sister network Decades, which CBS holds a partial interest in; it appears on the schedule depending on the theme and year a particular day has. Over the past few decades, Gunsmoke has been incredibly popular in syndication, guaranteeing a steady payday for its actors and their estates. Gunsmoke is an American western television series based on the radio program of the same name. The Long Branch Saloon also had plenty of dancing girls to entertain the crowds every night, although it is not known if any of them were named Miss Kitty. Please email them, with any want lists. Violence and tragedy result when Matt and Chester persuade a reluctant Kitty to hire flirtatious Rena Decker as a Long Branch hostess.Violence and tragedy result when Matt and Chester persuade a reluctant Kitty to hire flirtatious Rena Decker as a Long Branch hostess.Violence and tragedy result when Matt and Chester persuade a reluctant Kitty to hire flirtatious Rena Decker as a Long Branch hostess. 1130 Sherbrooke St W Unit 100, MONTREAL, QC . Doc Adams and Festus Haggen were not featured in the film. Amanda Blake played Miss Kitty on 'Gunsmoke' for 19 years. Miss Kitty, who was a main character in the TV show, was portrayed as the owner of the Long Branch Saloon. Long Hours, Short Pay: Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. ''She was a beautiful and gracious lady who had a lot to do with the success of . This place is very nice for its ambiance and to go for a drink. [2], Chalkley Beeson, a wealthy farmer and rancher, and William Harris bought the saloon in 1878. "[18], According to Thomas "Duke" Miller, a TV and movie celebrity expert, this story was told to him by legendary actor James Stewart: "Jimmy said he was in the office with Charles Warren when Mr. Wayne came in. The establishment provided gambling and live entertainment, including Beeson's five-person orchestra. Clem. Did Miss Kitty own the saloon in Gunsmoke? SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Actress Amanda Blake, who as Miss Kitty reigned for 19 years as the queen of Dodge City's Long Branch Saloon in the TV series ''Gunsmoke,'' died after a long battle with cancer. According to legend, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday, Clay Allison, Charlie Bassett, and Dave Mather all bellied up to the bar at the Long Branch Saloon at one time or another. Denver Pyle was also considered for the role, as was Raymond Burr, who was ultimately also seen as too heavy for the part. Jack Saloon Old-Montreal. Lowell Toy Manufacturing Corporation ("It's a Lowell Game") issued Gunsmoke as game No. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. Branch Services; ATM; Additional Services. The town of Dodge City was rough and tough in the late Nineteenth Century. In an earlier 1956 episode, the owner of the Long Branch was named Bill Pence.