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Sep 29, 2009 at 02:25 PM |
Encore Westerns gives a “six gun salute” to old friends Marshal Dillon, Miss Kitty, Chester, Doc and Festus as the channel announces the return of “Gunsmoke” in January 2010. Also acquired from CBS Television Distribution are the channel premieres of “Have Gun Will Travel” also in 2010 and “Rawhide” in 2012.
“Gunsmoke” was on the CBS network from 1955 to 1975. Until 2005, it had the longest run of any scripted primetime American television series with recurring characters. Led by 6’7” James Arness as lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, Dennis Weaver (Chester Goode), Milburn Stone (Dr. Galen “Doc” Adams), Amanda Blake (Miss Kitty Russell), Ken Curtis (Festus Haggen) and Burt Reynolds (Quint Asper) aptly rounded out the cast. Notable guest stars throughout the series run included Ralph Bellamy, Dan Blocker, Charles Bronson, Chuck Connors, Bette Davis, Bruce Dern, Richard Dreyfuss, Buddy Ebsen, Harrison Ford, Jodie Foster, Dennis Hopper, George Kennedy, Jon Voight, William Shatner, Slim Pickens, Ricardo Montalban and Warren Oates. Directors of the series have included Sam Peckinpah, Andrew V. McLaglen, Arthur Hiller, Leo Penn and Mark Rydell. From 1955-1961, the show was a half-hour black & white series (re-titled “Marshal Dillon” in syndication). In 1961, the show went to an hour format. Encore Westerns has acquired the black & white half-hour and hour episodes.
“Have Gun Will Travel,” which ran on CBS from 1957 to 1963, followed the adventures of Paladin, a gentleman gun-for-hire (played by Richard Boone), who always dressed in black and preferred to settle his wild west problems without the use of violence (although that was rarely the case). Paladin’s calling card “Have Gun Will Travel” was emblazoned with a knight chess piece in the center of the card - a reference to “a knight without armor.” The show’s opening theme was composed by Bernard Herrmann (Psycho, Citizen Kane).
Most people remember “Rawhide” (1959-1966 on CBS) for Rowdy Yates, a young hot-headed cattle herder played by Clint Eastwood. The series also starred Eric Fleming as trail boss Gil Favor, who, along with Yates and the herders would often venture into nearby towns to encounter trouble. The popular theme song was sung by pop singer Frankie Laine.
“Our Westerns viewers are made up of true and diehard fans of the genre,” says Nancy Silverstone, vice president, program acquisitions for Starz Entertainment. “They were devastated when ’Gunsmoke’ went off the channel four long years ago. It’s been sorely missed, but now it’s back uncut and commercial free. The series is still relevant today as it was over 50 years ago. We have no doubt that our fans will also be excited by the addition of the classic series ‘Have Gun Will Travel’ and ‘Rawhide.’”
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