Ken Curtis and Slim Pickens from Gunsmoke 1964.mp4

Gunsmoke
Season 9, Episode 18: Once a Haggen
Original Air Date-1 February 1964
Bucko played by Slim Pickens, is accused of murder and has been sentenced to hang. His good friend Festus played by Ken Curtis, plans to help Bucko escape.

[@fougee1]

Just was watching this episode again for the 100th time maybe. Never get tired of True talent. The garbage of today is terrible!!

[@lauriedavis5946]

AMEN! 🕊️

[@charlottejamieson5623]

I never realized just how much Ken Curtis had done until I started watching Gunsmoke reruns. He was an amazing talent. His character, Festus, always showed a man with a good heart and I believe that it was a reflection of the man who played him.

[@lewisvanatta639]

Indeed. He played Festus as a bit of a "hayseed, country boy" as my Dad once said, BUT....you underestimated him at your peril.

[@MW-eb1qh]

Ken was very versatile. He played some bad guys too in his earlier guest appearances on Gunsmoke. Such as Brisco in S4.E32, Change of Heart. Jesse in S5.E30, The Ex-Urbanites. Kyle Kelly in S9.E2, Lover Boy. Frank Eaton in S17.E23 , Alias Festus Haggen. Ken was by all accounts, a very nice person in real life, but he sure could act too with the wide range of characters he played.

[@lauriedavis5946]

Agree wholeheartedly! Never heard a single bad thing about him. Only that he was kind, humble & incredibly talented!

[@charlieproctor6533]

don't you just miss them? great actors. can't be replaced

[@ElCid48]

and they could actually sing unlike today were they scream and swear up a storm and call it a song

[@lagailknight688]

Can Never be replaced! ❤❤Today's young "actors" - NOT HARDLY‼️

[@johnharris7751]

I got to see him when I was a kid at the Rutland fair in Vermont. He sang the old cowboy songs and told us stories about some of the Hagan's, I remember the one about how his uncle left the Long Branch with a little too much in him, got home, missed the house and ended up in the lot pen snuggle up to an old sow. While rubbing her up thinks it was his wife he made a comment on how he never noticed the double row of buttons on the front of her nightgown.

[@bobbmarly4355]

hahahaha

[@MeMyselfAndEyeTeeth]

😂Hilarious! Thanks for sharing that.

[@dtrix10kc]

What a scene. Lord that brought tears to my eyes. And the expression on Matt's face at the end. Marvelous.

[@STLEO1]

+dtrix10kc Yes indeed,he was tugging on Matt heart strings

[@lisakwaterski6707]

@dtrix10kc I think he was thinking that he needed to find out the truth.

[@Gerlad970]

Would have been off the charts if Slim and Ken had made an album. You guys are sorely missed.

[@catherinegabriel760]

DAMN, THIS MAN COULD SING!!! Rest In Peace, Ken Curtis, & Slim Pickens

[@00selzen]

Ken Curtis used to sing with Roy Roger's Sons of the Pioneers.

[@johnyoung468]

Nancy Selzer Back in the 1940's he was on the Wheeling Jamboree in Wheeling , WV . Radio call letters WWVA. Shug Fisher was on there at the same time.Shug also played on Gunsmoke from time to time. Shug played Shorty Kellum on the Beverly Hillbillies TV show.

[@buckjohnson1119]

And James Arness, RIP.

[@buckjohnson1119]

RUFUS T. FIREFLY Yes, I almost mentioned his WWII service, as I have Those that fought in that war, and knew of his debilitating, injury. He suffered, from it.

[@TheRolindamike]

And Kens Famous Tumblin Tumbleweeds that we have a lot of here in Fresno, & Clovis (Cole), Ca

[@adoerfler]

I miss Matt, and the whole cast. Still the finest western, finest drama ever produced for TV.

[@alfredabbey6162]

Amazing talent masked by a humble man. I lived in Clovis Ca where his statue as Festus stands.

[@ellott1828]

Sure miss the old TV cowpokes of yesteryear

[@ms.sonshine8878]

He had such a fantastic voice. This show is one of my great escapes from this world.

[@LakeLady73]

Ken Curtis had a beautiful voice, and we were lucky to hear him with the Sons of the Pioneers. He sang, many times, as "Festus," in Gunsmoke, but this is possibly the only time he did not do it in character, and used his natural voice instead. i wonder if that was his choice, or the producer's or director's idea.

[@westie97]

That was his natural voice. He sang with the Tommy Dorsey Band, the Shep Fields Orchestra, and with Sons of the Pioneers. He replaced Frank Sinatra with the Dorsey band.

[@michaelhassen6623]

so beautiful

[@garyculver7846]

In Character, I once ask Festus If I could have His Hat and, In Character, He replied; "Ifin I wuzta giveya Mah Haut I'd be Outtuva Job!" Haut, Hat became a two syllable Word! 🤣😂

[@charliejamz.]

@@garyculver7846 lmao I can hear that in Festus’ voice perfectly.😂

[@dennisb-trains23]

@@westie97 replacing Sinatra back then was like hagar replacing Roth in 1985. Ken's voice was smooth as silk.

[@darcymallard4000]

I have probably watched over half the episodes amd never get sick of good talent man I wish we could go back in time! But all the good ones have gone to tjat special place

[@canoebelue]

One of the best Gunsmoke episodes!

[@catherinegabriel760]

I've NEVER seen this episode

[@louf7178]

Once a Haggen - This is a particularly striking episode, and surreally seems to cover the time of a whole movie probably because of the story setup, the (dark) humor, the seriousness of the sentencing, the solving of the framing, the near-wrong outcome of the sentencing (with the awkward acceptance of it by the character Bucko) and the resolving and correction of the fraud (I have this one recorded and scanned through it for this comment). The character name, "Bucko", is perfect, and it is played to perfection along with Festus, his girlfriend April (Elizabeth MacRae) and really everyone else. Some parts are so funny it seemed they could hardly keep from laughing, and other parts make one really think about the realities of crime and justice. Other scenes of outrage by Festus are hilarious to me because of the innocence, sense of right and plain unrestrained rebuttal. I find many of these shows excellent, but this one seemed particularly loaded and well executed. - I only recently started watching these in the past few years.

[@ricktempleton3415]

My favorite is the wishbone.

[@brendahunter9134]

@@ricktempleton3415 you mean wishy bone, don't you?

[@robertbish8592]

Yup, Chester & Festus both appeared!!

[@pfeifferpack]

I was young when this aired and never realized how well he sung! Great vid.

[@rayjr62]

Ken was going to become a doctor but chose to pursue a career in show business. I once read that he sang with Tommy Dorsey in his big band after Frank Sinatra left.

[@Dajuro]

This is beautiful. America used to be a decent place, didn't it?

[@TheShizue777]

+Dajuro Not only that, but it was a country that could appreciate real talent. Ken Curtis had a gorgeous voice. Check out Tumbling Tumbleweeds posted by coockiestv. I play that every morning just to get the day off to a beautiful, non-Auto Tuned start!

[@tc556guy]

Jorge is mis-remembering. It was when FDR and the Dems were running things that the nation started its downward spiral.

[@singingscotty2001]

Nice post. Next time try showing at lease a little shred of proof.

[@kensullivan8196]

@@jorgecallico9177: The Evilcrats tried to steal the 2000 election by their countless recounts counting every hanging dingleberry from Gore's ass as a vote for him. Kinda funny a Evilcrat poll worker just happen to find a ballot box in the trunk of her car with 2074 votes for Gore and just 2 votes for Bush. Libtards are just that what the name implies....Retards. To be more accurate the Evilcrats should change the name of their party to the Communist Socialist Party. Democrat is a code word for Communist

[@lilybellsimpson3534]

Dajuro, decent for who?

[@dcgilleland]

Two "Top Hands" that throwed leg over a saddle a many a time! RIP Slim and Ken!

[@Arbeedubya]

I got a kick when Slim's character "throwed a leg" over the H-bomb and rode it down like a bronco in a rodeo.

[@tedpittsinger9688]

:O I thought I'd seen every episode of 'Gunsmoke' twice, on ME TV. I guess not. What an actor. What a voice. God Rest your soul Festus. You'll live forever in our hearts.

[@hughrussell4824]

Damn! That Slim Pickens sure can play one hell of a harmonica!

[@josephcushman454]

Ken Curtis was an American treasure , excellent actor with a beautiful voice .

[@pete49327]

Ken Curtis, before Gunsmoke he was a member of the Sons of the Pioneers western singing group.

[@rayjr62]

He also replaced Frank Sinatra as vocalist in Tommy Dorsey's big band.

[@jacobfranz1204]

He also was a big singer with Shep Fields. You can hear him sing lead with the Sons of the Pioneers in the John Ford/John Wayne classic "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon."

[@genez429]

Watching videos from the 60's lately. I am amazed to see so many Biblical references being used in the 60's movies and TV shows. Especially westerns. It was simply a part of our culture. Many were happy and the jokes were clean... a bit naughty at times, but always with a twinkle in the eye... never vulgar. Today, the malcontents are verbally twerking what used to be stable and secure... Because? They were miserable while others around them were deeply and truly happy. Its the divide we face today. The miserable vs those who know what happiness requires. They fear the return of stability and security in our thinking. That is why they are looking for ways to through everyone off balance by demanding acceptance of what is bizarre and absurd.

[@normanacree1635]

There isn't enough space in the universe to list all the ways what you just said is wrong, so I won't even try to begin. You just want an excuse to demonize those who criticize some of the improper belief systems you have by applying all of their criticisms to what you believe is good and right. Example: some of the 'clean' jokes you refer to make fun of or belittle people. If that is what it takes to be 'stable and secure', you can have it, even if they aren't vulgar. One more thing. What proof do you have that they are miserable and unhappy? I know lots of people who criticize some of these things and they are not unhappy at all, except when they think about people like you.

[@genez429]

@@normanacree1635 People who know God are not insecure and needing laws to make them to feel to be equals... The humor and love exchanged mocks the spirits of evil who wish to divide and take life miserably seriously... You have no idea what it was like. The reason the blacks in America ascended as they had was because of the churches they attended. Bible teachings that the Spirit of God used to transform their souls. When they were finally ready, God moved them to reveal to the nation their capacities for others to see. It was not just the blacks. If you read about the Jews of the Exodus that had come out of a slave mentality, you will see a very raunchy and petty people in the wilderness becoming transformed into the nation of Israel in the future. Chew on that one, please.... Lot's of good roughage there.

[@mH8675309]

Misery loves company

[@bobbmarly4355]

Very well said bud.

[@jaturungkabart5554]

I remember vividly when this show was on and I said "There's no way that's Festus"! Wasn't til a few years ago that I learned different. Damn good.

[@gotwoodinhead6814]

I thought the same thing... just now discovered it was him!! Wow!

[@mH8675309]

Ken Curtiss (Festus) played alongside John Wayne in the Quiet man. He was in the bar playing a concertina and singing “ wild colonial boy”. You’d never know it was him but it was

[@lauriedavis5946]

Thank you! I’ll watch that movie next!

[@matt7iron]

When my dad brought a house in the bay area in 1974 the previous owners left a beautiful red poster billboard inside on the garage wall about 3 by 5 ft of ken curtis having an appearance at the Alameda county fair, it said come and meet Festus, and it had Festus drawing his gun, I knew I should of kept it but I didn't know any better.

[@davidsmiley6552]

That hurt im a collector

[@rodeobum1561]

He does sound like that, he is lead singer in the sons of the pioneers. thats his REAL voice!

[@dennisb-trains23]

This was one of the coolest scenes in Gunsmoke lore in my opinion. Ken could really dust of the pipes! 😃

[@karenworley241]

His character was my very favorite, so talented and such a beautiful voice!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@BabyandLittleGuy]

I just saw this episode. Pickens and Curtis were a GREAT team, they should have filmed more episodes featuring them 😀. I rediscovered "Gunsmoke," and I am VERY happy I did!

[@goldpet66]

I love Festus. Ken Curtis was such a remarkable character actor who gave Festus depth, wit, and personality. But to hear his singing voice is a real treat. How lovely. Thank You!

[@selfloader]

My god what happened to the good old days.

[@Roscoe_B]

Ain't it a shame...we didn't know how good we had it

[@bosse641]

+pat McCormick ..........Liberalism & Leftism has nearly destroyed it all now. .....it's all crumbling. .............sad to watch it happen. .....can't recognize the good ol' US of A of the past. .........heart-wrenching. ......so very very sad. ..............God have mercy on the blood-bought Republic.

[@actsismmljcorrectlyobeyed6190]

Satan took over the country

[@selfloader]

yuper

[@1BlubeTube]

We can bring them back.

[@tdrnkr]

Festus, Ken Curtis, was one of the Sons of the Pioneers back in the day.

[@rhondaboncutter5812]

Ken Curtis had a wonderful voice, (Festus) on Gunsmoke!

[@shawndowdy7697]

real talent! Wish we had a series like Gunsmoke !!!

[@larrybaker9924]

They should have had ken sing more often on the show. He had an outstanding voice.

[@robertl.fallin7062]

"Many year has come and went since the mud creek incident..". It's on KZbin along with one more Festus singing A amusing song.

[@joeearley3351]

Absolutely just a talent opportunity lost for the show and viewers especially at Christmas

[@kathleencollins4110]

I didn't realize Slim Pickens was ever on Gunsmoke! Always loved Ken, especially when he was part of the Sons of the Pioneers.

[@davidjhitztaler-mrrocklight]

Love it...still watching....forever..

[@troynov1965]

Yes Ken Curtis sang with the Sons of The Pioneers

[@rtatriaddevelopment4743]

Prior to which he was the crooner with several of the major big bands.

[@christhompson9486]

He replaced Sinatra. Sinatra went solo and Ken replaced him in Tommy Dorsey's band.

[@patzke]

Not only sang with but was the lead singer.

[@robertl.fallin7062]

@@rtatriaddevelopment4743 Absolutly. On if my favorite gunsmokes on the tube is Festus singing about his grand dads advice befor he died! I located two with him singing!

[@HomeDepot20TS]

One of my favorite episodes of Gunsmoke, love this part. James Arness was a great actor often with only his expressions and body language. The last line of the song Festus sings, you can see the uncertainty in Marshal Dillon's face that Bucko is truly guilty. As we all know, he wasn't and it all ended up fine, but at this part, poor Bucko was headed for a hanging. Ken Curtis' singing voice was wonderful, wish they'd utilized it more like this rather than with the Festus voice.

[@stevewalker1700]

You don't have tv programs liked that anymore. How u have trash......

[@lauriedavis5946]

My favorite “team up” with Festus will always be Quint BUT Slim Pickens definitely deserves HONORABLE MENTION! Not only the episode that this clip is from but he is also BRILLIANT in Sweet Billy, Singer of Songs. Completely different character showing how versatile he really was! Anyway. Watching Festus & Bucko together is a GOOD TIME! 🤣💕

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

Ken Curtis, Festus, had a beautiful voice. He was actually a singer, and a darn good one.

[@cindybeshara7422]

I agree that Festus makes Gunsmoke better! Always good for a smile or laughter.Just started watching Gunsmoke last 2 months of 2017.Love how his character makes up songs-hilarious !

[@agatematt]

Before acting, Ken Curtis was lead singer (as Roy Rogers once was) of the Sons of the Pioneers, the most popular country music group of its era. His acting career began by being cast in several pictures by his father-in-law director John Ford. For a great example of Curtis's singing ability watch Ford's "Rio Grande." It was in Ford's "The Searcher" that Curtis began developing the character that would eventually evolve into Festus on "Gunsmoke."

[@robertwayne808]

Ken Curtis (Festus), Michael Landon (Little Joe), David Canary (Candy) and Doug McClure (Trampas) used to come to the rodeos in Lake Charles, LA back in the '60s and early '70s and I remember being surprise at how well they could all sing.

[@dorothymcvicker2083]

Wonderful music love every minute it

[@waltonsellers6941]

Hi, Robert! I loved those rodeos, too. I had the good fortune to speak to Ken Curtis. He had a fine bass voice and a degree in mathematics, too!!!!

[@tigerinasuit2]

wow... i never seen that one before... wish there was more.... Just got to love it...

[@hey.hombre]

Just do a search for Ken Curtis. There's a few videos of him singing.

[@carlosherring7577]

Look for Ken Curtis on KZbin there are quite a few of his songs,or Sons of the Pioneers.He was in several John Wayne movies also. A singing part in almost all of them

[@louf7178]

This was a good episode. Slim Pickens did these parts to perfection. Pre-deputy Festus is also exceptional.

[@amoruzz]

Ken also sang at other cowboy actors funerals. Beautiful video, thank you kindly.

[@Nightwriter9331]

I have never seen this episode, and I thought I'd seen all of them. What a beautiful song; sad--yet hauntingly beautiful...!!

[@normamcmanus1139]

My goodness, that man was blessed with a God gifted talent!

[@altmarkmaik]

The song is so beautiful, Festus (Ken Curtis) you are immortal I was born in East Germany in 1971 and we watched Gunsmoke (smoking colts) every Friday.

[@TWTexasA1]

I just love watching videos with Ken Curtis singing, it’s just so amazing that he could come up with that voice to play Festis Hagen in Gunsmoke then finding out what a beautiful singing voice he has …so amazing 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@sandergoldberg4508]

Ken Curtis was a fantastic singer. He rarely sung in Gunsmoke, not sure why, but he sang extremely well in Have Gun Will Travel.

[@tonyhemingway7980]

Sander Goldberg He also sang in the John Wayne movie, The Searchers.

[@asfanize]

I love that clip. Ken Curtis had a wonderful tenor voice.

[@richpontone1]

Besides bring a great Singer, Ken Curtis played some many different roles on Gunsmoke. He used his whole body in acting, changed his voice, and his mannerisms and even conjured his face into different roles from being evil villains, heros and even as clowns. It is from the onscreen credits, that you knew it was him. He was that good as an Actor. Too bad, he never got a main role in a Movie nor that he was British. If he were, he would have been knighted by the Queen.

[@cje7293]

Wasn't he something..loved his voice, so calm and pleasant..thanks!

[@rosilandmcneal263]

I love Gunsmoke

[@petemcalister332]

Beautiful voice

[@donnacouch7430]

life was a little easier back than !! ken curtis had a wonderful voice and he enjoyed singing !!

[@kathrynmolesa1641]

Two great old cowboys. Gosh they were fun to watch.

[@asfanize]

That was quite a man. Never forget ya Festus!

[@mikedunn3427]

Ken Curtis can sing because he is one of the ORIGINAL SONS OF THE PIONEERS SINGERS

[@JayDogTitan-he6wo]

My all time favorite show, Gunsmoke is the best.

[@larry3064]

Ken Curtis was an amazing guy

[@SophieMia806]

I just saw this episode a couple of weeks ago. It was the first time I heard Festus in Ken's voice, and not Festus'. He sang so beautifully. I love listening to him, in either voice.

[@allysondoerfler2435]

I miss them all.

[@purpulnerpul]

just loved him in the 'Searchers' HAWHAWHAW

[@johnr8309]

This was Festus before he started talking like Festus.

[@Tim_the_Enchanter]

There's a reason this show ran for 20 years.

[@1980step1]

Very thankful his 'Festus Voice' didn't ruin his great natural voice. Too bad the variety shows were pretty well gone by the end of Gunsmoke. Maybe more would have heard his singing.

[@normanacree1635]

I am surprised he didn't appear on any of them while Gunsmoke was still on. With his exposure from Gunsmoke, I have to believe many would have tuned in to watch. He was incredible.

[@jonnyrox116]

Ken Curtis was a founding member of the "Sons of the Pioneers" ! Google that! Man was a legend. RIP my friend.

[@rockinredneck57]

Not a founding member, he replaced Roy Rogers when Roy went on his solo career. He'd previously replaced Frank Sinatra in the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He was a great talent.

[@jphill11111]

One of the best shows ever, Bonanza was also amazing

[@mindyambrose-qg5il]

Love this!!!

[@jimmycamilleri3746]

good old song

[@greggjordan9460]

It almost looks like he's really playing that Harmonica. He knows how to cup his hands, and uses his right hand for the wah wah effects.

[@jamesvickers9476]

How do you know he's not really playing it??

[@patgriffin3004]

I just love that old Festus he makes the show

[@STLEO1]

+Pat Griffin Yes he does,and with Doc Adams he just get better

[@anniemaull5605]

Awesome voice

[@CadillacL]

Wow! What a voice!

[@billsomrak]

Two Classic Western stars: Ken Curtis & Slim Pickens ... Wish they'd included this poignant moment in the episode.

[@nancyglem]

I did see it once but that's it. I'm actually watching this episode right now & this great scene isn't included on INSP Channel

[@MW-eb1qh]

It is included in the episode Once a Haggen.

[@snugbug5067]

He was like Jim Nabors. Talked real comically and squeaky, but sang beautifully.

[@rockinredneck57]

Sometimes being a goofy character pays really, really well! There are lots of singers but only a few great actors. Even fewer who can do both well.

[@snugbug5067]

@@rockinredneck57 so true. That made me think of a lot of the goofy or cute characters/actors on old shows, which I watch a lot of, and they do have prolific successful careers. How flat tv shows would be without them ! Sort of like not having any music in movies.

[@alissagonzales735]

I am old and born early 40's. I grew up when we didn't lock house doors or cars we open our house windows at night to let the cool air in. We didn't even lock the doors at night. Now you lock all your doors and have house alarms.

[@sarahpirkle9476]

That's beautiful,

[@jorgemariorubiowhite8365]

Beautiful!

[@bessiewelborn8838]

Ken Curtis had a really nice singing voice. Have heard him sing other songs.

[@karenmurphy6749]

I saw this episode just last night!!

[@selfloader]

two great actors.

[@columbusjan]

Bravo!!

[@jimh4167]

Only lately have I learned he was also a singer

[@johnking6252]

This " Gunsmoke" might catch on , if you like westerns ? 👍 still watch it today and find something new all the time. 👍

[@kitpenguin8]

Great actors - I miss them

[@daviddoherty5249]

Great man, and humble

[@buckyflywoodie3905]

We all love Ken Curtis, he had a long and distinguished career. check out the origin of Festus as "Monk" , on the have gun will travel series, episodes number 92 and number 119 .

[@nancyglem]

He sang so beautiful on that. I just watched the shows last week.

[@ericdrews5050]

I miss those guys

[@cottonballable]

Festis was the best. A true friend and a good lawman!

[@douglaslucas7612]

Good God, life was good in the innocence of the 50s and 60s. No diversity, just unity.

[@pesobueno]

When Frank Sinatra left the Tommy Dorsey Band in the late 30's they replaced him with Ken Curtis. Fact. He was married to the daughter of director John Ford.

[@jamesbowen8960]

Way to go Festus!! I miss those days

[@patriciadooley5833]

Never knew Ken Curtis aka Festus could sing. #Gunsmoke

[@thomasinfo2776]

Now that's country music

[@sigmontkasperzack124]

Slim, Festus and Matt, all WWII vets

[@purpulnerpul]

he is an innovator, and great guitar player, wish I could be half as successeful as Ken was!