BEFORE HE WAS FESTUS HAGGEN

growr · Mar 29, 2020

And yet, while in the role of Festus he rarely sang anything, while Dennis Weaver did so far more often.....wonder why that was? Anyone know?

There were a handful of episodes where both Chester and Festus appeared together.

Whether he over-played his part or not, "I" for one greatly enjoyed him and miss he and Festus as well as the rest of the Gunsmoke crew.

Ever notice how many later on BIG stars seemed to have a starting role on Gunsmoke....ie. Burt Reynolds....Charles Bronson to name a few..

Randy

handejector · Mar 29, 2020

rockquarry said:
Dennis Weaver's Chester was a far better character, but we didn't realize that until Chester left and Festus came along.

You're kidding, aren't you? Chester could have played an old lady better than Frances Bavier.
Festus could have kicked his butt from here to Dodge City.

spricks · Mar 29, 2020

I've watched every episode of Gunsmoke many times. The best part was Festus and the main reason to watch it. No crush here on Kitty.

Old Arkansawyer · Mar 29, 2020

Ex and I were in a OKC steak house back in the 70's when Ken Curtis
came in. He was in OKC for the national finals rodeo, very pleasant
guy, spoke to us that was about all the contact.
Buck Taylor has been to the Ole Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith several
times, talked to him a couple times. He is a pretty good artist and he
and his wife had a booth with his paintings for sale. He also was
riding a beautiful paint horse. He now resides in North Texas.

rockquarry · Mar 29, 2020

handejector said:
You're kidding, aren't you? Chester could have played an old lady better than Frances Bavier.
Festus could have kicked his butt from here to Dodge City.

Opinions vary and I didn't expect many to agree with me, but Festus was just too much full-strength "Festus" too often. It extended to the point of goofiness when his half-wit relatives made their occasional appearance and completely ruined an episode. Gunsmoke didn't fare well as a comedy.

Regardless of what others may think of the Chester character (persistent whiner, not too bright in many instances, and often incompetent as a deputy), he was in the very best Gunsmoke episodes, the early thirty-minute B&W ones that were more violent than the toned-down episodes when they went to one-hour format ('61 or so) and the Chester character eventually faded away.

Xfuzz · Mar 29, 2020

Classic Doc and Festus...

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iti80nkDtPo&list=RDTAdZ1SFCu9k&index=3[/ame]

pennzy · Mar 29, 2020

All of the TV Land episodes only have Festus in them. I don't recall ever seeing Chester though I am sure I did first time around. Where can the earlier years be found?

ParadiseRoad · Mar 29, 2020

...Ken Curtis played "Kyle Kelly" in the Gunsmoke episode "Lover Boy"...

...when he tried to give Avis Fisher (Sheree North) one last squeeze before he dumped her...she pulled his Peacemaker from his holster and leveled his karma permanently with it...

gunsmoke-ken-curtis-sheree-north-burt-reynoldslover-boy-season-9-aired-HD4XRH.jpg

dave1918a2 · Mar 29, 2020

Met Him in the Hungry Logger in Southfork, CO while having breakfast with My old friend James Kehr. They were friends.

smitholdtimer · Mar 29, 2020

Festus Used A Different Dictionary

As a youngster I thought he was a hick from the mountains but learned just how clever he was using his version of pronunciation for different words was pure genius, how anyone with good sense could carry on a conversation such as he was able to do. I'm sure you all know he could really sing. More talent than so many people who get the headlines, in my opinion!

ron 57 · Mar 29, 2020

Don’t forget the early 60’s tv show “Ripcord”.

gunzo · Mar 29, 2020

YouTube

brick · Mar 29, 2020

He was also on at least one episode of Perry Mason.

monsai52 · Mar 29, 2020

And of course, "Killer Shrews".

Best regards,

Neal · Mar 29, 2020

brick said:
He was also on at least one episode of Perry Mason.

Was he a circus clown in that episode? He also portrayed a retired cop living in a nursing home in one episode of "In The Heat Of The Night".

Neal · Mar 29, 2020

growr said:
And yet, while in the role of Festus he rarely sang anything, while Dennis Weaver did so far more often.....wonder why that was? Anyone know?

Randy

Watched a YouTube video of Curtis singing "Tumbleweeds" IIRC. He was pretty good. Saw Dennis Weaver sing on Hee Haw a couple times and cannot come up with a logical reason he was on there. Horrible voice and poor intonation. Same effect as listening to someone scraping their fingernails on a blackboard.

rockquarry · Mar 29, 2020

monsai52 said:
And of course, "Killer Shrews".

Best regards,

I'm sure there will be no argument from those who have seen it that it was among the worst of the worst movies ever. Low budget doesn't begin to describe it. I had forgotten about Ken Curtis being in it; two or three years before "Festus".

Ogandydancer · Mar 29, 2020

Rustyt1953 said:
He replaced Sinatra in Dorsey's band in 1941.

This I did not know.

Ogandydancer · Mar 29, 2020

I have to disagree with rock and agree with Lee on this. Festus was the much better character the Chester could ever hope to be. I never liked Dennis Weaver in any thing he ever played in.

joeb1 · Mar 29, 2020

Xfuzz said:
Classic Doc and Festus...

YouTube

Old West version of "Who's On First". [emoji846][emoji854][emoji846][emoji854][emoji846][emoji854][emoji846][emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]

BEFORE HE WAS FESTUS HAGGEN

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