That's a nice tribute to him. Gunsmoke, like many of the old western TV shows, was not just entertainment. These were morality tales, where the good guy usually won, but it wasn't a given. Society was more often portrayed with warts and all, not necessarily as evil people but more lacking in understanding; and it was the strong guidance of 'our hero' that pointed up society's shortcomings and sometimes, but not always, carried the day. Little House was another great series like this.
Recently we obtained the first season's episodes of another iconic hero, Steve McQueen's Wanted: Dead or Alive. It amazes us now to watch these old shows, which have more story-line, characterization and depth in a 25-minute free-to-view TV episode than the vast majority of 2-hour, bajillion dollar movie productions we are asked to shell out hard-earned money to watch now.
One of my favorite parts for Arness was maybe little known: he played the title role in the 1952 movie version of John Campbell's The Thing. Being 6 ft 7 tall probably cinched the part - no lines that I can recall (maybe owww as he ran off into the snow on fire!)
RIP Marshal Dillon
and thanks!
