 A
group of people gather around the James Arness medallion Sunday
morning Sept. 11, 2005, at Eisenhower Park in Dodge City, Kan. Arness,
who played the role as Marshal Matt Dillon in the ÒGunsmokeÓ
television series was honored with the dedication of a medallion in
his name on the downtown Dodge City Trail of Fame. Amanda Blake, who
played Miss Kitty, Milburn Stone, who played Doc Adams, and Ken
Curtis, who played Deputy Festus, were also honored with medallions in
the ceremony. The dedications were part of the 50th Anniversary
celebration of the long running ÒGunsmokeÓ television show. (AP
Photo/Dodge City Daily Globe, Michael Schweitzer) |
 Dodge
City Marshal Allen Bailey waves his hat to the crowd after speaking at
the dedication ceremony for several new medallions on the Dodge City
Trail of Fame. |
It was like a reunion for many people who attended Sunday's celebration of the 50th anniversary of "Gunsmoke."
Visitors traveled from around the country to participate in the celebration and view the sidewalk medallions honoring "Gunsmoke" stars James Arness, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Milburn Stone, which will be placed on the sidewalks at various locations in downtown Dodge City.
Dodge City Trail of Fame President Jim Johnson thanked all of the people and businesses in the community who helped make the Trail of Fame and the "Gunsmoke" celebration a success. "What the Trail of Fame is all about is preserving history, saving the history before we lose it," he said.
Dodge City Marshal Allen Bailey said he was proud to be a part of this history. "This is genuine history," he said. "150 years from now, people in the future will look at us and call us part of the Old West. People 150 years from now will be able to look at these plaques and watch old 'Gunsmoke' shows who will still have a wave of fans. But you people here today are a part of the history."
Author Ben Costello, who wrote the new book "'Gunsmoke': An American Institution," said Curtis was one of his favorite actors on the show. Curtis played Deputy Festus Haggen on the series. "I met him in Hollywood, and he brought his own unique brand of entertainment to the show," Costello said.
Screenwriter Jim Byrnes said he met Milburn Stone, who played Dr. Galen "Doc" Adams on the series, on the set of "'Gunsmoke." "I was fresh to show biz, but he welcomed me with open arms and I became a part of his family," Byrnes said. "He was known as being rough and tough, but he was a professional."
Jody Singer, who served as the program chairwoman for the celebration, has always been fascinated with Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty Russell on the series. Singer even wearing a pair of earrings that Blake wore in the show. "She always knew that she wanted to be an actress," Singer said. "She knew she was right for the part as Miss Kitty. She was beautiful and savvy." Singer said Blake grew found of the animals used in the show and the animal trainers, so she helped create the Performing Animal Welfare Society, which protects performing animals. "She spent a lot of her life as Miss Kitty on 'Gunsmoke' and loved it dearly," Singer said.
Actor James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on the series, was unable to attend the event, but his wife, Janet, was on hand to receive the recognition on her husband's behalf. "Thank you for inducting him into the Trail of Fame," she said. "It is really an honor to be here to represent my husband. I am really honored to have the medallion placed in Dodge City, where it belongs."
Actor Morgan Woodward was also at the celebration. He had 19 guest appearances on the show, often playing a different role.
"It is hard to believe it has been 50 years since the show aired," Woodward said. "I had a lot of fun on the show of 'Gunsmoke.' I always played a different character, but it was a lot of fun to be challenged by new roles."
Reach Rebecca Aistrup Gerber at (620) 408-9931 or e-mail her at
rebecca.gerber@dodgeglobe.com