The CONTROVERSIAL Scene That Took Gunsmoke Off The Air

The CONTROVERSIAL Scene That Took Gunsmoke Off The Air
Gunsmoke is considered one of the greatest TV shows in history. It was a very popular Western drama loved by Americans and even foreigners across the globe. People watched Marshal Matt Dillon's adventures every week for 20 years, from 1955 to 1975. There was also a radio show from 1952 to 1961. Many thought it was the best Western series on TV at the time. With how the show gained worldwide recognition, it was shocking to find out that a particular scene made viewers collectively cancel it before CBS, the channel sponsoring it, suddenly brought it to an end. What was the controversial scene? Keep watching to find out.

[@claytonsimplot9554]

We watched Gunsmoke every week,from the fifty's to the seventies. It was a great show for the whole family. So was Bonanza..

[@madmax6827]

So the TV boss' wife had more say than the viewers, just like today's politicians.

[@tubularguynine]

I have the mortar and pestle that sat on Doc’s prep table for most of the show’s run. My dad and stepmom loved the show so much, they named their third son James Arness, and everyone calls him Matt to this day! 😄

[@johnarnold893]

The scene that took Gunsmoke off the air was held inside CBS's offices when they decided not to have a 21st season and the cast and crew only found out in the newspapers.

[@ronevans852]

Should have never canceled gunsmoke . It was good in the 50 and still good today. And watching it everyday now.

[@gutbucket279]

I loved Gunsmoke and was heartbroken when it was killed. John.

[@ORIGINALDaveB]

My wife loved the show. I used to tease her and say, "C'mon honey let's go watch Goon Schmuck." She is no longer with us, but every now and then I remember this tid bit and what a great time we had together. R.I.P. Katie XOXO

[@MrTrevorHoltzworth]

When Bill Paley and his wife Barbara returned from vacation, they found out Gunsmoke was canceled and replaced with Gilligans Island. Barbara loved Gunsmoke and demanded Gunsmoke to be brought back. She got her wish. Bill Paley was the founder and owner of the entire CBS empire. That’s the facts. My father was very good friends with Bill Paley.

[@cb145]

How far we have come; not always to the better.

[@misterder8094]

Thank God for INSP, Grit TV, and MeTV for continuing to play these old Westerns.

[@jeffkelly5972]

I have DVD's and watch it on Pluto on my Roku almost every day. Gunsmoke is the best western that was ever on TV. It should have ended with Matt retiring from being a Marshal and getting married to Miss Kitty.

[@JoanKieffer]

I'm still watching reruns.

[@franciemerrill4687]

Gunsmoke had it all and has entertained me all my life.

[@TomAgler]

Gunsmoke was a part of my whole life while growing up it helped me distinguished the good people from the bad

[@elainevankat5353]

I loved Gunsmoke… I still do! Thanks for this wonderful post!👏

[@Lisahough4738]

This is why CBS is not watched by many today , we all want western TV, but CBS screwed them selfsame. 😢

[@jenniferkleczka279]

I had watched Gunsmoke reruns for EVER. I remember when I was little ( I'm 71 years old now) Gunsmoke was my dad's favorite TV show.. One of the episodes had James Arness daughter, Jenny, in it. I never got to see that one.

[@Oldgoaled]

Gunsmoke was a great show from a time when kids learned moral lessons while being entertained. Please watch "I'm Glad We Met - A Short Drama Film" next. It is only 17 minutes and has an important message. Thank you.

[@gerrypetty1272]

I should've been a cowboy, Should've learned to rope and ride, wearing my six-shooter, riding my pony on a cattle drive. Still watching Gunsmoke today and Marshall Dillon still hasn't asked Miss Kitty to run away. You know if he had asked and she had said yes, Toby Keith would have never written that song.

[@jhbbunch]

True WWII story about Arness : "On January 22, 1944, Arness was deployed to Anzio Beachhead in Italy, and because of his 6'7” stature, he was ordered first off the landing craft-to determine the depth of the water."

[@wesleyalee]

Everyone I knew watched Gunsmoke, to include my mother who could not tolerate people "Shooting" each other as my grandfather, her father suffered what we now know as "PTSD", from World War One.

[@SammyNeedsAnAlibi]

Gunsmoke was a big part of my childhood. As soon as the episode was over, me and my 2 brothers would race outside with our cap guns and re-enact what we just saw for our parents. Good times!

[@dt1064]

I never really watched Gunsmoke when I was a kid. My parents may have, but they were more into Bonanza. I was too busy playing outside.

[@laserbeam002]

My father and I ALWAYS watched Gunsmoke together. There was no 'one scene' that caused Gunsmoke to be canceled. CBS had tried to cancel it before but there was an out cry from the views. But, toward the end the ratings were way down so it was canceled almost secretly.

[@yotoober1]

Gunsmoke best Western ever. The realistic acting made the difference and in not talking about the gun fight scenes, but all the other scenes.

[@jamesraymond1158]

Early Gunsmoke was great because it was tough and violent. Later Gunsmoke got insufferably boring because the plots had only psychological themes and no bad guys that needed to die. Which CBS exec was responsible for that?

[@roomatoid440]

As a small English boy, I loved Gunsmoke. My favourite scene, every week, was the opening shots of the close up of a hand loading and firing a revolver!

[@HogMan2022]

Gunsmoke was the best show ever!!

[@user-rh3ik3xt8y]

I still watch Gunsmoke on cable when available (Comcast).

[@frankbruno9499]

If my memory is still working, the series was filmed in Studio City, CA. at the old Republic Pictures lot.

[@jhonellsworth932]

I was a young boy and my father and 2 older brothers and me watch gun smoke every week i loved the show

[@TomBTerrific]

Our country’s morals have changed. Today people wouldn’t get it!

[@frankrice5364]

Gun smoke was the best and will always be radio and tv

[@woodydavis8287]

RIP Burt Reynolds. I'm only¼native and i can't drink in town...

[@everettplummer9725]

My dad was at Anzio, the 191st Tank Battalion, had previously been in Africa.

[@ziggy5466]

The main reason why I watched Gunsmoke was Miss Kitty. As an adolescent filled with testosterone growing up I couldn’t get enough of Miss Kitty, Della Street from Perry Mason, and Lois Lane from Superman.

[@neildewitt2869]

As CBS canceled Gillians Island and then Gunsmoke CBS went belly up. They stunk after that. Today, they still dont have anything decent. Most TV broadcasters have noting! It's so sad!

[@joelcombs3570]

Love it then still love it now and the characters

[@thomasmaughan4798]

We still watch "Gunsmoke" re-runs regularly. Another we frequently watch is "Rawhide".

[@VictorKPanda]

The CBS unannounced ending of Gunsmoke reminds me of Pinterest canceling my account without any reason.🙄

[@user-ik4fd9ny4b]

Does anyone remember Arness in the movie Hondo, with John Wayne? Wayne (Hondo Lane) gave Arness (Lennie) his famous Winchester (at the end of the movie) for saving his life..

[@rodneyblair515]

Thank you for your service sir my daddy was right there with you in Africa

[@user-pg8om6zn7w]

I still watch Gunsmoke i love that show, with doc ,kitty, quint, festis, chester, and the star of the show matt dillion, I've been watching gunsmoke for the last 40 yrs and watched every episode's, GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US FROM GUNSMOKE, MAY THEY ALL R.I.P. AMEN.

[@philhugill8458]

You can tell when you're no longer wanted when your parking spot is occupied Monday morning when you show up for work !!!

[@Jack-ms3so]

I still watch Gunsmoke. It remains one of the best dramas and passes the test of time!

[@rcthomas6925]

Ms Kitty

[@angelorollo3350]

I still watch it everyday!

[@richardcummins5465]

Yep, we all loved Gunsmoke in the UK 🇬🇧

[@loringbush1455]

Yes I still watch this amazing 📺 show every day on Grit 📺 and it's one of my absolute favorite western 📺 series ever made and is and always will be better than today's garbage shows on 📺

[@leibrown9346]

Still watch it today

[@woodydavis8287]

Gotta love the redhead...rip miss kitty

[@GGE47]

I saw James Arness in a science fiction movie THEM in 1954 which was about giant ants mutating from lingering radiation from the first atomic bomb test in New Mexico in 1945 before we dropped them on Japan. I watched Gunsmoke for a number of years after that. I was only 7 when I saw the movie.

[@kevinmcconnell3641]

I don’t pay for tv, I cut the cable in January 2013. I use a homemade broadcast antenna. I get 40 watchable channels. I program out the shopping stations, and court tv stations. Then I have cable internet access, which offers up many free stations. I do however pay for prime, but that’s mostly for free Amazon delivery. Prime has many free tv series, and first run movies, and a few older movies that are out of theatres.

[@frankrice5364]

Yep remember it on radio

[@LM-bu1yl]

I still watch Gunsmoke every day!!

[@terrellprice8013]

Gun Smoke is a treasure that taught weekly righteousness to the American audience. Clearly goodness was exposed weekly to the world.

[@user-bo9sh7uy4p]

That was a great picture and ACTOR and I love that show and I wish it was stay on T.V for good 👍 😢 😀 ❤❤ and may God BLESSED all the people 🙏 ❤️ people 🙏 💙

[@MAGAMAN]

I watch this show all the time while eating dinner. It was great right up until it went color, then it became nearly unwatchable.

[@johnwalters1055]

My brother and I never missed and episode .great memories .

[@davidbrisbois9875]

They actually filmed Gunsmoke in Utah.

[@stepanbandera5206]

Even better today.

[@leekasten3921]

I loved the old gunsmoke, pre 1970 and The Rebel...

[@JimBlanchard-oq1fv]

One of the best shows on TV! Still watch the reruns though have seen them all that are available.

[@billylongley9580]

Long live gun smoke re runs

[@michaelwyckoff7593]

I watch GS now everyday.😊

[@KINGYAH-SEER5777...]

COURAGEOUS CREATIVE COLLECTIVE COLLABORATIONZ CLASSIC 💯🔥✔️

[@earth2006]

You couldn't get Gunsmoke on the air today.

[@efoxxok7478]

My next door neighbor growing up was the brother of the doctor and a writer for the SD union for years. The cast often came to their house for gatherings. Seemed there was a Ways some tension among certain cast members. Growing up I didn’t get it, but I remember it.

[@johnalfano6483]

I rarely missed an episode of Gun Smok

[@tomoday4450]

Still the best show ever Watch many episodes a day on DVDS 👍🏻

[@adolfodelgado9361]

Right now I seeing Gun Smoke on ME TV at 1 pm on Pennsylvania 5-2-2024. Every day

[@bradjunes1610]

Dad loved the show, which was better than any and all on tv.

[@brendacrum2388]

Gun smoke best show on tv we still watch it with outside antenna

[@whitetailhunter4181]

Leonard Nimoy made several appearances as a bad guy, also before Ken Curtis was Festus he also played a clean-cut ladies man named Kelly in one episode.

[@gynack]

Gunsmoke was great show which I watched in the UK. However, I have to admit a sneaky preference for Maverick. You canna really compare them as Maverick was a more light-hearted show that was more comedy - which I enjoyed even more,

[@charlievogler8520]

Still best western ever and still going strong great show 👍

[@glorybound11]

I loved Gunsmoke and the do Gooders that they curtailed violence because of taking a show like that. They are so damn ridiculous.

[@TheGuitarReb]

Amanda Blake was Hot!

[@tammypowell7466]

Loved james arness he was my favorite actor one of them always loved his acting ♥️♥️

[@mikeduffy9655]

I still love Gunsmoke!

[@funkyunclenardi]

I enjoyed the radio show far more, bcs I used to hear it with my mom who loved old radio shows. The TV show undid my mental casting, but of course I was tiny and had no say. 😮😅😂 I still listen to Gunsmoke episodes on streaming radio platforms and old time broadcasts. Bill Connor was considered too “portly” for the role at the time of the TV show, but his voice is iconic in radio drama history. 🎭 So were the voices of Dennis Weaver (later McCloud on TV) and good old Howard McNear (Floyd the barber from TV’s Andy Griffith Show). They all were radio programming mainstays! Still, he always found work as a tough guy on television. If you don’t know the face, look up Cannon, the 70’s private detective show.

[@calvinsingletary8462]

As is evident the good old days are gone, few live in what used to be really of what was down home truth

[@steve2713]

When Dennis Weaver left the series, I really lost interest in Gunsmoke. “Festus” took over the sidekick role and I just couldn’t buy in on him at all! Only now, that I look at the whole situation, I realize that a lot of it was because of my tender age. We’re only young once and events during those formative years carve and leave permanent imprints on our soft, pliable unguarded, accepting hearts……. I’m way past retirement age but I still work alongside young whippersnappers who have no idea what I’m saying when we all leave work at the end of our shift and I’m lagging behind the group, I’ll walk with one stiff leg and say, “….I’m coming Mr. Dillion!”

[@AlinFlorida]

Matthew was a popular name for the sons of Baby Boomers. (My wife and I- both Boomers- named our second child Matthew.) My working theory is that because the Baby Boomers grew up watching Gunsmoke, they had a fondness for the name.

[@Jack-pm1ve]

It wasn't one of the best it was the best, also I think you mean Pierce Bronson not Charles

[@godfreydebouillon8807]

Sheesh, i always thought she just owned the place.

[@lostinmyspace4910]

I couold never figure out why they called in Gunsmoke

[@philliplapkovitch311]

Are whole family would sit in front of the council TV remember those a piece of furniture in your living room. An watch gun smoke 💪

[@kennethbyrne3198]

im stilll watching it every day at 1pm

[@johnliggitt3002]

I Always recommend Gunsmoke to my grandchildren so they can see how important the VALUES that were held are so important to this day! Oh yeah also the second amendment right to defend yourself

[@sharonbranstetter9756]

This is very interesting. Loved Gunsmoke.

[@jamesgould7583]

James Arness and Peter Graves are half brothers.

[@MyPromixdirt]

Gregg Allman dated Jim's daughter and was good friends with him

[@tigerfan8585]

I cannot imagine Raymond Burr as Matt Dillion. I mean who could be afraid of those puppy dog eyes!

[@user-jy6gz6gx3j]

Miss Kitty was a madam

[@cinemar]

Now that Yellowstone is over it might be time to bring back Gunsmoke.

[@bobsaturday4273]

Gunsmoke was by far the best series in tv history , funny to hear they were going to cancel it but due to pressure from cbs execs wife they cancelled gilligans island instead

[@nealsausen4651]

James Arness was “THE THING” in 1951!

[@DebbNokia1]

James Garner was another very esteemed actor plagued by physical problems...they were so tough back then-they had to be. 13:25

[@halwilliams1682]

Should have canceled CBS and kept Gunsmoke.