One of the most popular characters on Gunsmoke was the infamous Miss Kitty. Actually, I love the scenes where all we do is, as Jim says, eyeball it.. Its still a very good, wholesome show. My Uncle got me started watching gunsmoke , and I still think of him while watching the reruns! We let people let their imagination do what they want them to do. The radio show ended after about 400 episodes in 1961. Given she had reportedly fought cancer off several years earlier, some reports said Amanda passed away from cancer. ", The Real Reason Chester Was Written Off Gunsmoke. After Gunsmoke's season 20 finale "The Sharecroppers" aired, the cast and crew all expected to be renewed for at least another series, but CBS instead opted to cancel the show and replace it with sitcom spinoff Rhoda. The show lasted one more season on CBS, then was canceled. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Actress Amanda Blake, who as Miss Kitty reigned for 19 years as the queen of Dodge Citys Long Branch Saloon in the TV series Gunsmoke, died after a long battle with cancer. 'Gunsmoke' was one of the most popular shows, with Amanda Blake starring between 1955-1974. Now I am watching it in 2022. I really like gunsmoke. Blake subsequently quit the popular television show, which was then in its 19th season. I am blessed. Chester and Doc were my favorites. The movie was one of the very last times Amanda was on screen, but that doesn't explain why she left the role in the first place. I thought it was a good clean show for them as kids and it is a wonderful memory for us now. I think Festus and Doc was my favorite. AIDS is caused by a virus that attacks the bodys immune system. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. She loved animals. After Gunsmoke, she worked only sporadically, usually in guest appearances for TV game shows, movies of the week and such series as Edge of Night, Hart to Hart, and Love Boat.. The end was a usual episode entitled The Sharecroppers, mostly centered on Festus. According to the Chicago Tribune, Amanda had simply grown tired of having to travel to Hollywood. Bond also made an album with a new guitarist, Les Paul, in the 40s. There were times that I wanted to just smack him because of his silly remarks. Does anyone know why after season 10 Fetus was turned into somewhat of an idiot? Yes I like reading this. I wished one of the tv stations would start gunsmoke from the first show and show all of them in a row till the last one. He's super modern too, so his favorite movies include Jaws, Die Hard, The Thing, Ghostbusters and Batman. He was worse than and old busy body. All things considered, it seems that Weaver's desire to move beyond playing Chester was the real reason that the beloved character permanently rode off into the Besides her work for the American Cancer Society, Miss Blake was a longtime activist for animal protection. Amanda Blakes last episode on Gunsmoke was The Disciple, which originally aired on April 1, 1974. Chester was always whining about not having eaten or not getting enough sleep, or having to do something else before eating, sleeping or having a drink. Check your facts before you write something. He was a Haggen every time his last name was used. I LOVE THE THE SHOW HAVE WATCHED IT FOR OVER 55 YEARS. I was so sad when I learned that Milburn Stone had passed away. Characters came, stayed, and left. Gunsmoke is one of my most favorite shows! Every day he watches the Westerns and especially Gunsmoke. We often laugh at the shows costume budget, I think with the exception of Matt, Kitty, Chester and Doc they must have shopped at the skid row store, pretty dirty and ragged for most others. The Associated Press shared the news about the cancelation of Gunsmoke on April 30, 1975. b. Buck Taylor as Newly or, c. earlier, Roger Ewing as Thad. He fully joined the cast on its ninth season, on an episode called the Prairie Wolfer.. A statement issued through the hospital requested that memorials be sent to the Amanda Blake Memorial Fund at Farmers and Merchants Bank in Galt. Yes sir, Miss Kitty Russell, played by actress Amanda Blake on the long-running CBS western, actually fronted a house of prostitution, according to IMDB. "The Sharecroppers" was a more comedic outing that was in no way intended as a final episode, which is a point that led to bitterness among the cast and especially Arness. Festus finally became deputy marshal because Dillons deputy of nine seasons, Chester, left the show. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages, James Corden gets a star-studded send-off on his final Late Late Show, Kim Kardashian is catching shade from Patti LuPone and Sharon Stone for AHS casting, Jonathan Majors accuser gets full temporary protection order ahead of court date, Review: The Russo brothers spy thriller Citadel has plenty of action and little else, Former Springer bouncer Steve Wilkos pays tribute to TV mentor Jerry Springer. . Curtis died at 74 in his sleep, leaving behind his wife and two children. He loves to read, write and review all things western, whether historical or fiction. She lived in Phoenix, making her commute rather unbearably long. However, the network didnt inform them about ending the show. However, none of them lasted or thrived for as long as, Ken Curtis played Festus, Dillons sidekick, in. Chester was very good in the silly show he did with the 18 wheeler chasing him. Chesters character was often written as a silly bumpkin. Chesters main full-time job was to maintain Matts office and jail, feed prisoners, pick up the mail, and so on. Marshal Matt Dillon. His father was a sheriff, and he had spent time working on a jail farm as a child. Amanda was known to be a very heavy cigarette smoker and she unfortunately fell ill in 1977. This is no reflection on the actors, who played their parts as written. I cant figure out why the writers gave Chester the part they did. After Rogers 51 episodes over two seasons (11 and 12), Gunsmoke was briefly cancelled in 1967. Looking at the reruns, it is amazing to see the roster of actors that started out or had roles on Gunsmoke: Ernest Borgnine, Clint Eastwood, James Mason, John Saxon, I cant even name them all. After Blake died Aug. 16 at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, a statement composed by the hospital and the actress friends reported her death as the result of her long battle with cancer. Im sure there are many people who liked Chester. The show last one more season on CBS, then was canceled. In this case, the friends were the family, Ewen said. Amanda Blake plays the saloon employee in season two then she becomes the half-owner of Long Branch Saloon later on. I would love to play a western character in a movie. She was also on the cover of Down Beat music magazine. She was such an integral part of the show, with many episodes centered around her in the western series. After 19 years, though, why did Amanda leave? let advertisementDisclaimer = 'ADVERTISEMENT'; However, I have watched it in reruns and try not to miss any. He was also Dillons deputy. Blakes fifth husband, Mark Spaeth, an Austin, Texas, city councilman and developer, died of pneumonia in 1985 at age 45. One thing that really turned me off was Chester. Gunsmoke Bartenders Death Shook Up Blake, Costars Perhaps another thing that contributed to Blakes departure was the death of Glenn Strange. Strange died on Sept. 23, 1973, from lung cancer at 74 years old. He portrayed Sam Noonan, a mainstay bartender on Gunsmoke. He was beloved by many on the show. Newly knew right away she'd be his bride. The characters were endearing and rich, the plots were entertaining, and the acting was great. Mannon also has an old score to settle with Miss Kitty. We watch everyday,but like Chester better than Festus. His constant yelling Mr. We love the whole cast of actors including Festus. However, their marriage was short-lived. Gunsmoke certainly deserved a better end than it received. I record several episodes daily, and look for those with Festus in it. Nevertheless, she was mad. and was the best actor. ", According to People, her declining health was a secret to most. Always thought Doc Adams would return. Ive been enjoying the recent re-runs of the early 1955 episodes. Its our favorite Western due to the endearing characters and interesting plots. He would come back later in season nine as Dillons deputy Marshal and would later become his friend as well. It's not certain whether it's a coincidence or not that the CBS show was canceled the next year, in 1975 or if after 20 years on air, it was just time. CMV or cytomegalo virus hepatitis is AIDS-related, said Nishimura, who treated Blake during the year before her death and signed her death certificate. I like Chester better to. Hope they never stop the reruns. I watch it over and over. Blakes death certificate listed the immediate cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest due to liver failure and CMV hepatitis. He had also served in the US Army during the Second World war. When the last episode of Gunsmoke aired, the popular Western had been on television for 20 seasons. She was 60. They married in April 1984, and divorced a short time later. People described his character as polarizing because most fans either loved the character and wanted to keep seeing him or hated the character and didnt want him on the show. They tried out 26 different actors. I cant agree with the people who said that Chester was dumb and a bumbler. He was one of my favorite characters. The shows success prompted other production companies to try making something similar. I was so happy! The show was well written and the cast was outstanding. I am 65 and love this show. Arness also appeared in every single episode of Gunsmoke, which also saw countless future movie stars pass through it, including Kurt Russell, Jodie Foster - who actually appeared three times - and Burt Reynolds. Wish those days of relatively innocent TV were back. To make matters worse, the final episode of Gunsmoke did not wrap up the series in any way. The show was even canceled the year after she left, which some fans dont think is a coincidence. As shabby as he was, his character was loveable, and many found him endearing. Otherwise, he was a loyal and hard-working assistant. It had numerous loyal fans who were undoubtedly upset about its cancelation. According to Greenlands book, the report said: CBS has done something Indians, bad guys, bad whisky and not even CBS could do earlier: Kill off U.S. Gunsmoke: Why the Original Actress Offered the Part of Miss Kitty Turned Down Role, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWDFcUW_SCo, Favorite Kitty/Matt Clips Part 1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWDFcUW_SCo). I love Festus but dont care for his Hagen relatives. Do you want to know more about Gunsmoke and Festus? We prefer the early and black and white shows. I was tired and it was time to go, she told The Times in a 1984 interview. The last episode they worked on together was Hard labor.. She was a board member of the Humane Society of the United States. Gunsmokewas formerly a radio show entitled called Gun law. I know it was risky doing that because a lot of actors did the same thing and really disappeared. Instead, she was abducted a lot. So far I have seen Festus in 2 different episodes with Chester. An article published in People in 1989 reported, "There was no recurrence of cancer, her physician, Dr. Lou Nishimura, said at the time. There was a scene where they all shared a hugto make the fans accept Festus easily. Went to dodge city and visited the gunsmoke I watch about 12 episodes a day. In 1966, after season eleven, CBS tried to push And I really admire and respect the acting capabilities at a time when there were few bells and whistles and the focus was real storytelling of human beings in believable life circumstances. Dr. Jerry Leonard Youre right that Chester was never a Deputy US Marshall. Funeral plans were pending. Only a handful of television shows can boast of lasting for 20 seasons, and shockingly,Gunsmokecan! The show took place in Dodge City, Kansas, so Dillon would send criminals out of the town saying, get out of Dodge. The phrase became popularly used among fans and soon for non-fans as well. As an adult, the first time I saw a rerun of Gunsmoke, I called my brother long distance and excitedly told him to turn on the tv because Gunsmoke was on! Finally, James Arness, who John Wayne recommended for the show, bagged the role. The Emmy award-winning show focused on Matt Dillon, a United States Marshal, saddled with maintaining law and order in a town close to the United States border. Shortly after departing "Gunsmoke," the actor was cast in the single-season NBC comedy-drama "Kentucky Jones." The American Western series had 20 seasons, with 635 episodes aired in 20 years. Nowadays fans get time to do what fans today do. Why Did Doc Leave 'Gunsmoke'? He made his first appearance I really, really enjoy watching Gunsmoke reruns. Chester was too much of a bumbler for me. Sometime later, the younger actor slot was filled by Buck Taylor as Newly OBrien. Festus continued to assist Matt and Thad, but he did not become a Deputy US Marshall himself until a while after Thad left the show. As one of those plucky cowpokes, "Gunsmoke" regular Dennis Weaver's Chester became one the period's most popular characters, with his familiar drawl and home-spun nature playing off against Arness' Dillon and his unflappable, earnest lawman persona. I wish they would do it all again, but they would have to have all new characters and it wouldnt be the same Im sure. As a child, I listened to it on the radio with William Conrad as Matt Dillon. Why did Amanda Blake leave Gunsmoke? Some of them had to find out about the cancellation from the Hollywood Reporter. Anyone that doesnt like my commentcan Get out of Dodge!. I love Festus singing too; Tumbleweed nearly makes me cry. Im a lover of early TV westerns and Gunsmoke is the BEST imho. I agree with the whining too much. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty in the long-running Gunsmoke television series, died of AIDS-related complications, not cancer as previously reported, her doctor said Monday. He was a great singer and sang with the Sons of The Pioneers. was formerly a radio show entitled called Gun law. Blake endeared herself to a generation of television viewers as Kitty Russell, a worldly wise woman with a compassionate heart beneath a crusty exterior. Little did she know, the Airing during what's regarded as the Golden Age of TV Westerns, "Gunsmoke" was just one of 30 different shoot-em-ups, or "horse operas," on TV in 1959 (viaPBS). Why did Festus quit Gunsmoke? For whatever reason, she believed that this financial difference would cause problems for their brand new marriage. I have the pleasure of watching it 7+ times a day. I always liked Chester. The article describes the episode as lighthearted. It followed the character of Festus, who was played by Ken Curtis. Yes, Jill from "The Young and The Restless" played Patricia in the episode of the same name. Upon learning that "Gunsmoke" was on the chopping block, the wife of CBS chief William Paley intervened in protest. I also liked how he acted like his leg was bum when in real life it wasnt. She had left the show after its 19th season and was not involved with the final season. The subject of righteousness got handled with ambiguity, and viewers seemed to find it refreshing. Blake had a pet lion called Kemo that she would sometimes bring to set. I still frequently watch it. He probably would have continued on the program if it hadnt ended. How did Miss Kitty die in Gunsmoke? Never really saw how Chester left. She was a mainstay on the show, however, she decided to leave her role after 19 years. WebJames Arness explained on the DVD commentary that after the first couple of seasons, they decided to drop those references to make the show more family friendly, and so Miss Kitty became just a lady saloon owner. They were so funny together. Thankfully, Return To Dodge helped right that wrong. {PPInfiniteScroll.addLazyLoadingAds()}; Noteabley is a food site. My husband and I laugh so much watching Doc. Actress Amanda Blake, the earthy Miss Kitty who ran the Longbranch Saloon on the long-running television series Gunsmoke, died of oral and throat cancer in Sacramentos Mercy Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said late Wednesday. However, some characters made more impressions than others. d. The reason why the three never shared more screen time together is that Chester was leaving Gunsmoke for greener pastures. Actor Dennis Weaver, who played Chester, wanted to pursue other opportunities. Production brought in actor Ken Curtis as Festus to replace the character. Why did Festus leave Gunsmoke? Here are a few things you should know about the last episode of the greatGunsmoke: Milburn Stone, who played Doc Adams and was in 629 episodes, died five years after the show ended without featuring in the Gunsmoke TV movie or any other movie for that matter. Thad Greenwood was the first. However, some characters made more impressions than others. I do not like Festus. BesidesGunsmoke, he was in other movies and TV series like Rawhide, Cheyenne Autumn, How the West Won, Perry Mason, Wagon Master, etc. Chesters whining was the only thing I disliked about him. Amanda started with the show, airing on its first episode which ran in 1955. If you are looking for other great western books, check out these authors. Festus was a shot of fresh air. I live in Dodge City KS and my husband and I watch gunsmoke daily Devotional fan of festus and doc, live next door to I dont care bar and grill LoL. Blake did have throat cancer, but that wasnt the reason that she died, said Dr. Lou Nishimura, a Sacramento internist. I watch Gunsmoke every day, Im a widower living along on my small farm and enjoy westerns. The Brady Bunch (Cindy, Peter, and Jan) and some Star Trek stars (Spock, Scotty, Bones, and Kirk) made guest appearances in Gunsmoke. Polly Bond was first offered the star spot in the show. Because although it is a Western, it is a Clean Family Show that people still love to watch. . Saw this show every week with my parents when I was a kid. And, the characters storylines were left opened ended. I just wished that Matt and Kitty were a little more frisky with one another. However, he was not the first Deputy Marshal Matt Dillion had officially appointed to help him. It was almost unbelievable that a show with such a long and successful run didnt end in a grand style. Amanda Blake made the character into everything that made her popular. Before he became Dillons deputy, he was a Hillman with a ragged appearance who wanted to avenge his brothers death. Blake played Kitty from the series debut in 1955 until 1974. WebMiss Kitty was replaced by Fran Ryans Miss Hannah for season 20. Miss Kitty was a fan-favorite on Gunsmoke, as the owner of the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City. Actress Amanda Blake, the earthy Miss Kitty who ran the Longbranch Saloon on the long-running television series Gunsmoke, died of oral and throat cancer Beginning with season ten, Fetus has his right ear folded to give the impression he is not too bright and as seasons 11-20, he becomes dumber and more of a comic relief. Blake helped create the Arizona Animal Welfare League, which is the oldest no-kill shelter in Arizona. In fact, it looked like in some cases Dillion wanted to smack him, too. It is impossible to say if Ken Curtis would have continued playing Festus onGunsmokeif the network hadnt chosen to end the show. Just like in the real world, not everyone has the same personality otherwise we would be all like mindless zombies. The one constant for Gunsmoke was James Arness and Milburn Stone. Arrange the following names into the order that they were presented: a. Amanda Blake as Kitty. Curtis pursued music for a long time and, after a while, added acting to his pursuits. It is spread most often through sexual contact, needles or syringes shared by drug abusers, infected blood or blood products, and from pregnant women to their offspring. Dumb as the theme was, it worked and I think Chesters portrayal was responsible for that. I prefer Chester, but Gunsmoke is so good even the worst episode is better than what we have today.The acting and the writing are superb.I watch it every day and reruns are OK by me. Here's why classic Western series Gunsmoke was canceled after 20 years and didn't receive a finale episode. Each character was the perfect fit for their time. I still watch gunsmoke every night. Characters came, stayed, and left. After 19 years of doing that commute, she decided enough was enough. THANKS FOR THE MEMORY, I was watching gunsmoke in the 70s when I was growing up. She played the character of Miss Kitty for 19 years before leaving the show in 1974. In the show, Dillon would tell criminals to "Get outta Dodge." Kudos to Gunsmoke! Festus never complained about things like that. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Blake left Gunsmoke in 1974. Surprised Matt didnt want to change Chesters role to make him a little more in line with the others. Those five women didnt remarry because they couldnt keep their panties on. There are a lot of people for whom Gunsmoke had a special meaning, and they will be sharing the memories today.. Weaver went on to acknowledge that any actor's decision to leave a certified network hit at the time was a fairly dicey proposition, as far as finding acting gigs on another show or in films. var device = 'desktop'; A part-time hobby soon blossomed into a career when he discovered he really loved writing about movies, TV and video games; he even (arguably) had a little bit of talent for it. My most favorite shows ever. The switch happened in season nine, in the episode The Prairie Wolfer. The production made sure that all three characters (Dillon, Chester, and Festus) appeared in an episode together. Nothing like the series FOR SURE , Im with you Twila, Id watch every single episode, I watch it mant times every night as it is now but to watch it from start to finish would be great. Blake, 58, underwent surgery for oral cancer in 1977 and afterward made appearances throughout the country on behalf of the American Cancer Society. I love Festus better than Chester; I didnt like the bum leg thing. They were perfect for their roles. Upon his cancellation from Gunsmoke, Roger pursued his love of photography. The Lone Writer is an American frontier and Old West journalist and historian. According to Wide Open Country, acting and westerns werent the only things Blake was passionate about. My husband and I watch Gunsmoke every day and it was great reading all about the characters. Blakes character was Miss Kathleen Kitty Russell, the proprietor of a saloon in Dodge City, the setting for Gunsmoke. After Blake left the show, the writers decided that Kitty had left Dodge City for New Orleans. I love Gunsmoke. Do you want to know more about Gunsmoke and Festus? He played the role from 1963 to 1975, sealing himself as an actor. Patricia had a blood disease and she died in the episode. It is one of the most popular Western television shows from the mid-1950s to the 1970s.
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