Before coming to television, Gunsmoke was a radio series which aired from 1952 to 1961. This adult western was in contrast to the then existing western radio shows for children, The Cisco Kid and The Lone Ranger.

When it came to television, Gunsmoke turned out to be the longest running prime time drama of any genre of the 20th century. The series began on September 10, 1955 and ran through March 31, 1975.

Gunsmoke was aired on CBS and had 635 episodes. Its running time was 30 minutes from 1955 to 1961 and one hour from 1961 through 1975.

Only two of its stars lasted the twenty year run - James Arness (1923 - 2011) and Millburn Stone (1904 - 1980). Arness played Marshall Matt Dillon and Stone played Dr. Galen Adams. Amanda Blake (1929 - 1989) portrayed the owner of a saloon Miss Kitty Russell.