As per Quora, Marshall Matt Dillon packed a colt single action model 1873 7 1/2 inch barrel in 45 caliber. (.45 Long Colt). It was an actual antique manufactured in 1895, not a modern day copy (I wonder where the gun is now?). The first generation single action Colts were made between 1873 - 1941. Gunsmoke was on TV between 1955 to 1975. Marshall Dillon during the the 20 year TV run was shot 56 times, knocked unconscious 29 times, stabbed 3 times and poisoned once. He survived all of them. I read someplace that U.S. Marshall’s back then were not assigned to a town like Dillon was to Dodge City in the TV series. A town was the Sheriff’s responsibility.

I watch Gunsmoke at 1:00pm on Me TV a few times a week, usually while I eat lunch.

Keith

I have the original episodes on dvd out at the offgrid cabin. The pilot show, the Duke, John Wayne himself introduced a "Young James Arness" as Matt Dillion. Festus wasn't in those early shows. On another note, I never knew Ol Festus could sing the way he could! Grew up watching these shows with my pops. Bonanza was another good one.

What kids watched when many of us grew up....



What kids watch now....


Blessings,
Mark

Lol,,true M!

Good morning Mark! 3 days of well needed rest for the boys and myself at the fence post mill!

Good morning Feedinggrounds!
Rest is good.
I'm trying some myself starting today for a couple days.
Enjoy your respite and I'm sure I'll see you soon.

Say, what retailer in our area sells your mulch?

Blessings,
Mark

Rest? Whats that?

The gun is on display at the Cody museum.

Got me thinking of the toby keith song shoulda been a cowboy!

Gets me thinking what my kid's kid's kids will be watching.
LORD. HAVE. MERCY.

Food for thought that I shy away from as my living will etc!!!

Natures Mate is our brand name. But we bag for Home Depot, Lowes and Menards. That said a huge savings can be had buying right at the grinding yard buy the scoop. I have a trailer that holds about a cubic yard or so. What color are you thinking?

We haven't exactly figured out the landscape scheme (color and if we've gonna mulch or rock) quite yet, but we are a work in motion. The neighbors told us we've done more in one month than 4 previous owners did in 20 years.

I have a cool source for awsome Michigan field stone! You pick and load. In long head high piles you can back up to. I did stone around my cabin, ease of maintinance, a leaf blower is all you need, never rot or blow away, rain downpours won't move it. And my main reason at the cabin in the thick forest is rocks won't burn in a wild fire. Cabin is surrounded by a band of mixed size Michigan field stone, including my puddingstone collection. added fireproof metal roof also. Remember, before my present gig, I was maint. director at a large multi course golf resort, landscaping was considered a art form....Lol Low maintinance landscaping has many benefits. Need to get over that way soon.

Hold that thought! We'll get with you as we landscape around the place.
Come to think of it...
no wonder we don't watch much TV.

Matt Dillon role was originally offered to John Wayne. Wayne is the one who said Arness would be great for the role.
Arness studied quick draw from Jay Silverheels if recall right(or maybe Thell Reed?)

If you've never watched an episode, SpongeBob is pretty funny. Incredibly stupid show, but still funny.

Lucky for us! Makes the show watchable. Dillons character is 10 times better than any John Wayne character.

Only Wayne movie I can remember with Arness in it was Hondo Lane........and as I recall.......Arness was portrayed as a wimpy weasel. But apparently, they were pretty good friends.

A few other things I can remember about Gunsmoke. Miss Kitty was hot........Doc was a drunk........Matt's horse Buck was a BIG buckskin........what was also Ben Cartwright's horse in Bonanza.......and Festus rode a mule. Might have also been the first time Burt Reynolds and Dennis Weaver saw the light of day on TV or film.

And Ken Curtis.......what played Festus.......could sing far better than anyone ever knew. Even better than Gomer Pyle. The overall talents of some of those old actors was unreal.