Fans of the TV show "Gunsmoke" will get a chance to immerse themselves in the show this weekend.
The Dodge City Trail of Fame is hosting a celebration of the show's 55th anniversary at the Dodge House Hotel and Convention Center, 2408 W. Wyatt Earp Blvd. The two-day event will feature keynote speakers associated with the show, a Western-dress banquet and — of course — big-screen showings of special "Gunsmoke" episodes.
Trail of Fame President Jim Johnson said he was looking forward to hobnobbing with some of the writers and actors linked to the show.
"It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun when it happens," he said.
Claims to fame
Set in old Dodge City, "Gunsmoke" began life as a radio program in 1952. William Conrad played Marshal Matt Dillon in the radio show, which also featured Howard McNear as Doc Adams, Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell and Parley Bear as Chester.
The radio show ran for 413 episodes before it ended in June 1961.
But "Gunsmoke" is probably best known for the TV version, which first aired on CBS in 1955.
"Gunsmoke" entered the ranks of top 10 TV shows in its second season and quickly moved to the No. 1 spot, according to the Museum of Broadcast Communications' Web site. It remained in the top spot for the next five years and was a top-20 show until 1964.
Following a switch in programming times, "Gunsmoke" returned to the top-20 list and stayed there for the next seven years. The program finally dropped out of the top 20 in 1975, its final season.
"Gunsmoke" is often described as television's first "adult Western," which focused on character relationships and psychological drama instead of cattle herds and Indian raids. But its main claim to fame may be its 20-year run, have registered for this year's celebration, which begins with check-in Thursday at the hotel.
Passionate fans
The upcoming celebration includes a two-day symposium at the Dodge House, featuring speakers associated with the show. Other highlights include a Western-dress banquet and a dedication ceremony for three new medallions on the Trail of Fame.
Reservations for the symposium and the dress banquet will not be accepted after today; however, the public is invited to the medallion dedication ceremony honoring "Gunsmoke" actors James Nusser, Burt Reynolds and Glenn Strange.
The dedication will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday on Gunsmoke Street, and there is no charge to attend.
Johnson said the celebration will draw "Gunsmoke's" — and Dodge City's — biggest fans.
"All of these people — they're kind of the quintessential tourists for Dodge City," he said. "They're Dodge City fans, they are "Gunsmoke" fans. And most of them are just absolutely passionate about it
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Fans of the TV show "Gunsmoke" will get a chance to immerse themselves in the show this weekend.
The Dodge City Trail of Fame is hosting a celebration of the show's 55th anniversary at the Dodge House Hotel and Convention Center, 2408 W. Wyatt Earp Blvd. The two-day event will feature keynote speakers associated with the show, a Western-dress banquet and — of course — big-screen showings of special "Gunsmoke" episodes.
Trail of Fame President Jim Johnson said he was looking forward to hobnobbing with some of the writers and actors linked to the show.
"It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun when it happens," he said.
Claims to fame
Set in old Dodge City, "Gunsmoke" began life as a radio program in 1952. William Conrad played Marshal Matt Dillon in the radio show, which also featured Howard McNear as Doc Adams, Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell and Parley Bear as Chester.
The radio show ran for 413 episodes before it ended in June 1961.
But "Gunsmoke" is probably best known for the TV version, which first aired on CBS in 1955.
"Gunsmoke" entered the ranks of top 10 TV shows in its second season and quickly moved to the No. 1 spot, according to the Museum of Broadcast Communications' Web site. It remained in the top spot for the next five years and was a top-20 show until 1964.
Following a switch in programming times, "Gunsmoke" returned to the top-20 list and stayed there for the next seven years. The program finally dropped out of the top 20 in 1975, its final season.
"Gunsmoke" is often described as television's first "adult Western," which focused on character relationships and psychological drama instead of cattle herds and Indian raids. But its main claim to fame may be its 20-year run, have registered for this year's celebration, which begins with check-in Thursday at the hotel.
Passionate fans
The upcoming celebration includes a two-day symposium at the Dodge House, featuring speakers associated with the show. Other highlights include a Western-dress banquet and a dedication ceremony for three new medallions on the Trail of Fame.
Reservations for the symposium and the dress banquet will not be accepted after today; however, the public is invited to the medallion dedication ceremony honoring "Gunsmoke" actors James Nusser, Burt Reynolds and Glenn Strange.
The dedication will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday on Gunsmoke Street, and there is no charge to attend.
Johnson said the celebration will draw "Gunsmoke's" — and Dodge City's — biggest fans.
"All of these people — they're kind of the quintessential tourists for Dodge City," he said. "They're Dodge City fans, they are "Gunsmoke" fans. And most of them are just absolutely passionate about it
