Jim Arness
- Thread starter LazyKB
- Start date
doublesharp
Member
Jack Reacher wears Matt Dillon pajamas. 
THE PILGRIM
Member
A few ago I was out at SASS in Edgewood, NM. I see this guy roping a practice dummy. So I say to my friend 'there's Buck Taylor.' She says who?
Another time I saw another Gun Smoke alumni down at Whole Foods. He and his wife were both vegans. They were busy reading labels. Dennis Weaver of course.
Marshal Dillon
'Gunsmoke' and Arness and the rest of the cast was one of the best shows on TV. I liked the old B&W reruns, 'Marshal Dillon' before Dodge got to be a Metropolis. It was much grittier. More 'Old West'.
'Gunsmoke' and Arness and the rest of the cast was one of the best shows on TV. I liked the old B&W reruns, 'Marshal Dillon' before Dodge got to be a Metropolis. It was much grittier. More 'Old West'.
I always watched Gunsmoke when it was a regular series on tv and still watch it on the western channel sometimes. My favorite sidekick of Matt's was ole Festus Hagan.
ohiojerry
Member
Jack Reacher wears Matt Dillon pajamas.
So, does Chuck Norris tell James Arness jokes?
wraco
Member
"So you might as well get used to him, like you had to get used to me"
John Wayne's promo for James Arness and the opening episode of Gunsmoke.
John Wayne Gunsmoke PROMO - YouTube
I grew up with Gunsmoke and still watch it. . My cat's name is Chester.
Rod
gdnagle
US Veteran
FYI if interested here's his Obituary "James Arness, tall, quiet Marshal Dillon of TV’s ‘Gunsmoke,’ dies at 88" it has some good info about him.
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/..._1_festus-haggen-marshal-dillon-kitty-russell
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/..._1_festus-haggen-marshal-dillon-kitty-russell
labworm
US Veteran
I love the episodes when there is a pretty woman around.
Chester really cracks me up when he is around the ladies.
Festus is a favorite.
They did have a great cast in that series and James was the right man for the role.
Chester really cracks me up when he is around the ladies.
Festus is a favorite.
They did have a great cast in that series and James was the right man for the role.
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From his obit, linked above: "His relationship with Miss Kitty developed to the point that they shared a kiss during one episode in 1973. They never married, though, and the social order of Dodge City remained intact."
Man, considering that the TV show started in 1955 and ran until 1975, I bet ol' Matt was one frustrated son of a gun beneath that stoic exterior!
Man, considering that the TV show started in 1955 and ran until 1975, I bet ol' Matt was one frustrated son of a gun beneath that stoic exterior!
Straightshooter2
US Veteran
I don't know if it's true or not but the story as I've heard it goes Wayne was offered the role and turned it down. But he was in a little hiatus from making movies and he had people under contract he still had to pay. So Wayne told the people who wanted him for the Marshall Dillon role that he would let Arness out of his contract with BatJac if they signed Arness to play Matt Dillon. Wayne's ulterior motive was to actually get a paycheck off the books but in doing so, he did James Arness a huge favor. I don't know if that's true or not since I've also heard that Wayne was never offered the role. Another Hollywierd mystery.
CW
Old TexMex
Member
O.k., here's my brush with fame. As a early teen ager I surfed with James Arness more than a few times at Rincon, while I was living in Carpinteria, California. His son Rolf I also knew and he went on to be U.S.national surfing champion. Long ago, I swan.
hberttmank
Member
I was a kid in the 60s, so I grew up with Gunsmoke. My Dad pretty much let me watch what I wanted on TV, but it was understood that on Gunsmoke night that's what we would be watching. I don't think I really knew what a great show it was until later on in life when I watched the reruns.
Gyrene6891
US Veteran
Thanks for the memories!!!
Texas Star
US Veteran
I've read that he was of Swedish descent and that the family name is really spelled as Aurness. He changed it slghtly for his acting career.
Anyone know why Peter Graves didn't use the Aurness nme, as they were brothers? Maybe they didn't want audiences confusing them in TV listings? I think they got along okay, no family feuds.
Back when I was a kid, Isaw a photo of James Arness getting a holster for his prsonal K-38. I think he was n jala's shop.
Paladin, thanks for the right way to pronounce,"Ojala." I'd wondered for years. I read the topic posted by Hand Ejector, so know now that he was born in Washington (state) of Finnish parents. I'd read somewhere that he was a Swede.
Anyone know why Peter Graves didn't use the Aurness nme, as they were brothers? Maybe they didn't want audiences confusing them in TV listings? I think they got along okay, no family feuds.
Back when I was a kid, Isaw a photo of James Arness getting a holster for his prsonal K-38. I think he was n jala's shop.
Paladin, thanks for the right way to pronounce,"Ojala." I'd wondered for years. I read the topic posted by Hand Ejector, so know now that he was born in Washington (state) of Finnish parents. I'd read somewhere that he was a Swede.
kwselke
Member
According to IMDB Peter Graves' birth name was Peter Duesler Aurness.
+1
and same went for Bonanza.
Both shows I remember my dad watching every Sunday night.
Before that it was Wonderful World of Disney for me.
cougar14
US Veteran
I watched it way back when and still watch it today. It's like a time line of now well known actors that rotated through the shows. It's fun to see them in the early stages of their careers. I enjoy the Marshall Dillon episodes a bit more that the later Gunsmoke shows. James Arness was a class act and the shows were great. Like Matt says in about every show "I had no choice." Same with me about watching the series.
