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| Image Alt: | Gunsmoke (title screen) |
| Starring: | |
| Num Episodes: | 39 |
| Network: | CBS |
| Episode List: | List of Gunsmoke (TV series) episodes |
Gunsmoke is an American Western television series developed by Charles Marquis Warren and based on the radio program of the same name. The series ran for 20 seasons, making it the longest-running Western in television history.
The first episode of season 3 aired in the United States on September 14, 1957, and the final episode aired on June 7, 1958. All episodes were broadcast in the U.S. by CBS.
Season 3 of Gunsmoke was a half-hour program filmed in black-and-white, as one-hour episodes were not introduced until season 7, and color episodes were not filmed until season 12.
Gunsmoke is set in and around Dodge City, Kansas, in the post-Civil War era and centers on United States Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) as he enforces law and order in the city. In its original format, the series also focuses on Dillon's friendship with three other citizens of Dodge City: Doctor Galen "Doc" Adams (Milburn Stone), the town's physician; Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), saloon girl and later owner of the Long Branch Saloon; and Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), Dillon's assistant.
See main article: List of Gunsmoke cast members.
Season 3 consisted of 39 half-hour black-and-white episodes produced by Norman Macdonnell.
The fight scene near the end of episode 18, "Buffalo Man", served as the basis for an educational film produced by the American Cinema Editors, called Film Editing: Interpretation & Values, used by film students all around the world.
See also: List of Gunsmoke (TV series) episodes.
Season three aired Saturdays at 10:00-10:30 pm (EST) on CBS.
The third season was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment in two volumes. The first 19 episodes were released on December 9, 2008 and the remaining 20 episodes were released on May 26, 2009.
Gunsmoke held the number one primetime spot in the Nielsen ratings four years straight, for the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons.
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) / Work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 1958 | Best Continuing Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic or Comedy Series | James Arness | ||
| Best Continuing Supporting Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic or Comedy Series | Dennis Weaver | ||||
| Best Dramatic Series with Continuing Characters | Gunsmoke | ||||
| Best Editing of a Film for Television | Mike Pozen for "How to Kill a Woman" | ||||
| Best Teleplay Writing (Half-Hour or Less) | John Meston for "Born to Hang" |