JAMES ARNESS FROM GUNSMOKE. The Johnny Carson Show from 1955.

This short segment from a 1955 episode of The Johnny Carson Show introduces Arness before the airing of the first television episode. In this piece Matt Dillon proves he's so fast he can outdraw himself. This piece became public domain in 1980 from lack of copyright renewal.

[@OdeeOz]

Carson's wit, and humor is legendary. Far above the crap we have on today's T.V. shows. He is heartily missed.

[@jimhardy7673]

I love seeing Jim so young again. I still remember seeing that first Gunsmoke in 55. I watched it sitting in my grandmothers house in Chicago. I was 10 years old those many years ago. RIP - Jim and Johnny

[@TheTerryGene]

There will never be another Johnny Carson or James Arness. This was Johnny’s first crack at network TV after subbing for Red Skelton when Red injured himself.

[@persjodin3407]

In the States he may be most famous for playing matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, but in Sweden James Arness is a legend for playing Zeb Macahan on the TV series "How the Wet was Won". The show was immensly popular in Sweden when it aired in the late 70's and early 80's and I think one of the reasons was James Arness portrayal of Zeb Macahan. Great actor and great character. He was pefect for the role.

[@GeorgeVreelandHill]

A rare piece of TV history. Thank you for sharing it.

[@catholicpriest1]

Great special effects for 1955.

[@lovedooneyhandbags1105]

Rest in Peace (Marshall Matthew Dillion)💝💝 true gunsmoke fan

[@theflossi56]

Loved the show still watch it

[@photo161]

Two of the all time greats together on TV. Now that's a beautiful thing. Thanks.

[@judylaform6969]

I love watching Gunsmoke

[@estellagreen8018]

l love Gunsmoke I still watch it today

[@avagd6293]

My Grandmother watched Gunsmoke during it's initial runs. After watching many series and movies set in the old west; 1870s, Gunsmoke I believe reigns above all of them. The actors, writers, producers, and guest stars were outstanding compared to the other western fares that were televised during the fifties through the seventies. I thoroughly enjoy they way Gunsmoke conveyed the subject matters of each show.

[@jamesd2128]

Big James was a rifleman during the Anzio landings, got wounded pretty badly, so he knew a thing or two about weapons and violence.

[@geoffdearth8575]

He was like Bob Dole, a guy who was wounded in the service and paid for it the rest of his life. May he Rest in Peace.

[@jknuttel]

I met James Arness once. He was a really nice guy. Big man, too. He seemed taller than everyone even when he was sitting down.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

We misss them both.

[@Buddygold9509]

Back in the good old days when talk show hosts entertained and left politics out.

[@peggyann11]

THE GREATEST WESTERN EVER PRODUCED!

[@rselby3797]

WOW...what a classic!!

[@teresamartin4175]

Mom nearly 93 & I (70) watch every day Gunsmoke is on (2 channels). We love it even more now. Thank u for this video. (we don't hve a computer) We don't watch & haven't for years much network or cable TV as it is mostly trash. Miss TV when it had family values, prayer, GODLY values & taught good morals as well in it's shows.Have a Blessed day 😀🙋📺

[@gabrielmartinez-wi8bu]

Great actor...

[@oliviaandrade1483]

Never knew how tall he was till I looked it up. Boy, was he tall!

[@robertszvetics210]

taller than duke wayne

[@railwaymaster1163]

He was 6'7".

[@robertszvetics210]

the same height as clint walker

[@josephpaige3614]

robert szvetics Love Clint too. Not that it matters but he was 6' 6".

[@balerick48]

My boyhood hero, Matt Dillon.

[@gladeebuyan7388]

Love Marshal Dillan & Johnny Carson!

[@61MARCOP]

Me and my brothers all did the "walk" with him leading up to the gunfight. I sometimes do it for the reruns now. (when nobody is looking).

[@joaquinR1stargate]

the Man , lov Gunsmoke , kick back with a big cup of coffee ;))

[@fromthesidelines]

Originally telecast on September 8, 1955- two days before the premiere of "GUNSMOKE".

[@avagd6293]

I enjoyed listening to the radio episodes of Gunsmoke on AFRTS in Germany during my tours there.

[@2luvjmj]

One of the funniest videos I've ever seen! Oh, how I love Gunsmoke. It's been my favorite show for years. Thanks so much for the great video.

[@robertszvetics210]

NEVER KNEW THAT JOHNNY HAD A SHOW BACK IN THE 1950S

[@patalexander1965]

Hero!

[@joshron99]

You can see the influence that Jack Benny had on Carson.

[@kenzeier2943]

I didn’t realize how small Johnny Carson was or maybe it’s how big James Arness. was-- what a contrast. Man v boy size.

[@catfan5439]

26 dummies...i mean ..whats there to dislike?....oh yeah...we live in the "American idol era" ...you just "judge everything"

[@brushcreek42]

Johnny Carson is doing some Jack Benny posturing here.

[@railwaymaster1163]

I remember the first night this was on.

[@calgacusofcaledonia]

Damn, 10:pm eastern......and it was still a huge success.

[@kimking7974]

Love 'em both!

[@Jabby100]

Johnny is doing a terrific Jack Benny!

[@fromthesidelines]

....AND he did it again on Jack's program, on November 13, 1955.

[@starey1]

Barry I. Grauman that's because Jack was Carsons idol.

[@claypottinger7372]

Lots of stars come on TV as a guest to promote their new programs. Some are laughable and justifiably last only a few episodes. Dillon and Gunsmoke,,,if only Carson and Arness knew what history was about to occur" “Gunsmoke” ran 20 years and had 635 episodes.

[@davidszakacs6888]

Anyone else notice how the audience applauded rather than screaming like today's audiences?

[@DavidLorellHoskins]

The early 30min episodes were the best

[@robvanderree620]

David Lorell you're absolutely right. The 30 minute episodes were the best. All in all I think the first decade of Gunsmoke was far better than the second

[@choclochonclo]

watching Gunsmoke right now

[@tnekkc]

1955?...We did not get a TV until 1957, but there was one house on our street in Seattle that had one in 1956.

[@uselessjoe]

Peter Graves brother

[@THXx1138]

I'm sorry but James Arness was quite the hunk-a-man!

[@festivelady826]

I know, right, Leslie? I wrote him a fan letter when I was 5 years old and he sent me an autographed photo. I kept it for over 50 years til I lost it in Hurricane Rita. He was, and still is, my ideal man! I cried for two days when he passed away. They don't make 'em like him anymore..............

[@watchman1178]

I wonder if those two guys had any luck with their entertainment careers?

[@conorolaf1762]

Now days they would probably have to do a different skit because of the suits paranoia about guns. Also couldn't help but notice Carson's little physical tribute to Jack Benny there toward the end.

[@westpoint64]

The attitude back then, and rightfully so, was, "Hey, this is just make believe. Guns can't hurt people unless they're misused." And as far as a paranoia about guns, yes, on a variety show. But there have been movies and TV shows in recent years with more gunplay than Gunsmoke ever had. By the way, just a small correction, that would have been a 1955 episode, not a 1952 one, as Gunsmoke premiered in 1955.

[@starey1]

clyde lafferty that physical tribute to Jack Benny that Carson did was because Jack Benny was Carsons idol.

[@Iowamutt]

So weird to see Johnny Carson in front of the CBS backdrop...

[@dukeman7595]

That was good.

[@LenHummelChannel]

*What a very different world it was in 1955.(!)* ... not as "sophisticated", ... but a lot more normal kind of "laid-back." Gunsmoke & Bonanza were great, silly old western TV.

[@MrSteve50us]

YEA GREAT STUFF EVEN THOUGH I DINT START WATCHING UNTIL IN MY TEENS? STEVE N.

[@larryteren5054]

boy, carson did really steal all his shtick from his hero jack benny.

[@LaptopLarry330]

Well, they did work at the same network (CBS) at that time.

[@18roger1986]

and Oliver Hardy

[@athenasword1]

Did anyone notice , Matt ,on the opening of Gunsmoke, is a lot faster on the draw then what he did here! I would bet I'd out draw him let alone the mirror lol the single action must have been a bit cumbersome : 1 draw 2 hammer back 3 aim 4 fire and hope you hit something!! Most of them according to a live interview , Mr Christopher lee , most of them couldn't hit a barn door from 2 feet.??

[@speedracer1945]

+athenasword1 also adrenalin plays a big factor . Many shootouts were right in front of each other and missed the first time they fired their pistol . I think there was 3 different gunfighters over time Matt had to draw on .

[@brianwells456comcast]

I bet that Gunsmoke show won`t last but one season.Ha!

[@PorkFrog]

10 o'clock?

[@tdw5933]

Carson was on CBS!?

[@goldenoldiesPete]

Was this 1955 version of "The Tonight" Show" aired in the afternoons? I'm pretty sure that the NBC Tonight Show lasted 30 years (from ~1962 to 1992).

[@LaptopLarry330]

"The Johnny Carson Show" was a "prime-time" comedy sketch series that aired on CBS during the 1955-56 season. The show got great reviews, but got poor ratings, and was cancelled. Carson later moved on to the ABC daytime game show, "Who Do You Trust?", and remained there until he was hired to replace Jack Paar on "The Tonight Show" on NBC in 1962. According to Wikipedia, Johnny Carson did a lot of stunts along with the contestants on "Who Do You Trust?", and had good daytime TV ratings. Being shown alongside "American Bandstand" did not hurt the show, either.

[@AwesomeRuss]

goldenoldiesPete I believe (and I don't have all the particulars) that this is Johnny's previous variety foray *before* landing the official *"The Tonight Show"* duties from Steve Allen and Jack Parr. I think Johnny's show was eventually canceled, and would come back to television for his long run not too soon after.

[@LaptopLarry330]

Awesomeruss50"The Johnny Carson Show" was on CBS from 1955 to 1956". He was on "Who Do You Trust?" on ABC from (I think) 1957, until 1962, when he replaced Jack Paar on "The Tonight Show" NBC, when he quit the show the previous year, due to a censored joke about a "White House Cabinet" room being mistaken for being a "Water Closet" (a closet with a toilet in it; a mild reference that President Kennedy and his cabinet, were "full of s**t).

[@goldenoldiesPete]

Thanks.

[@AwesomeRuss]

Larry Ressler I can tell that you've been giving account of Johnny's history at least more than a few times, and you're absolutely right with the accounts and time-frames. I thought someone would probably have helped with the previous inquiry. Just happy to know that there are truly others whom a viewing and helping online, as it should be. Thanks.