| Bg Colour: |
|
| 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 5 aired in the United States on September 5, 1959, and the final episode aired on June 11, 1960. All episodes were broadcast in the U.S. by CBS.
Season 5 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 4 consisted of 39 half-hour black-and-white episodes produced by Norman Macdonnell. Episode 1 of the season is the first on-screen credit of James Arness as an associate producer.
Episode 15, "Tag, You're It", was the last episode to feature the beginning Boot Hill introduction.
See also: List of Gunsmoke (TV series) episodes.
Season five aired Saturdays at 10:00-10:30 pm (EST) on CBS.
The fifth season was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment in two volumes. The first 20 episodes were released on October 11, 2011 and the remaining 19 episodes were released on December 13, 2011.
Gunsmoke held the number one primetime spot in the Nielsen ratings four years straight, for the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons.