The fifth season of the American Western television series Gunsmoke aired in the United States between September 5, 1959, and June 11, 1960. The season consisted of 39 black-and-white 30 minute episodes. All episodes were broadcast in the US by CBS, originally airing Saturdays at 10:00-10:30 pm (EST).
Gunsmoke was developed by Charles Marquis Warren and based on the radio program of the same name. The series ran for 20 seasons, making it the longest-running Western in television history.
Synopsis Gunsmoke is set in and around Dodge City, Kansas, in the post-Civil War era and centers on United States Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) as he enforces law and order in the city. In its original format, the series also focuses on Dillon's friendship with three other citizens of Dodge City: Doctor Galen "Doc" Adams (Milburn Stone), the town's physician; Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), saloon girl and later owner of the Long Branch Saloon; and Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), Dillon's assistant.
Cast and characters
Main
James Arness as Matt Dillon Dennis Weaver as Chester Milburn Stone as Doc Amanda Blake as Kitty
Production
Season 5 consisted of 39 half-hour black-and-white episodes produced by Norman Macdonnell. Episode 1 of the season is the first on-screen credit of James Arness as an associate producer.
Episode 15, "Tag, You're It", was the last episode to feature the beginning Boot Hill introduction.
Episodes
Release Broadcast Season five aired Saturdays at 10:00-10:30 pm (EST) on CBS.
Home media The fifth season was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment in two volumes. The first 20 episodes were released on October 11, 2011 and the remaining 19 episodes were released on December 13, 2011.
Reception Gunsmoke held the number one primetime spot in the Nielsen ratings four years straight, for the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons.
Footnotes
References
External links
Gunsmoke season 5 at TV Guide