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| Image Alt: | Gunsmoke (title screen) |
| Starring: | |
| Num Episodes: | 38 |
| 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 6 aired in the United States on September 3, 1960, and the final episode aired on June 17, 1961. All episodes were broadcast in the U.S. by CBS.
Season 6 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 6 consisted of 38 half-hour black-and-white episodes produced by Norman Macdonnell.
Occasionally, titles were re-used. Season six had three such episodes: episode 7, "The Squaw" was also the title of season 20, episode 14; episode 23, "Reprisal" was also the title of season 14, episode 20, and episode 33, "The Prisoner" was also the title of season 14, episode 25.
See also: List of Gunsmoke (TV series) episodes.
Season six aired Saturdays at 10:00-10:30 pm (EST) on CBS.
The sixth season was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment in two volumes. 19 episodes were released on August 7, 2012 and 19 episodes were released on October 16, 2012.
Gunsmoke held the number one primetime spot in the Nielsen ratings four years straight, for the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons.