The seventh season of the American Western television series Gunsmoke aired in the United States beginning on September 30, 1961, and the final episode aired on May 26, 1962. The season consisted of 34 black-and-white, 60-minute episodes, all of which were broadcast in the US by CBS, originally airing Saturdays at 10:00-11:00 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 Glenn Strange as Sam Noonan
Production
Season 7 consisted of 34 one-hour, black-and-white episodes produced by Norman Macdonnell with Frank Paris as associate producer.
Episode 13, "Marry Me", was the last of four episodes directed by Dennis Weaver.
Episodes
Release Broadcast Season seven aired Saturdays at 10:00-11:00 pm (EST) on CBS.
Home media The seventh season was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment in two volumes. The first 17 episodes were released on December 11, 2012, and the remaining 17 episodes were released on February 5, 2013.
Reception After four straight seasons in the number-one primetime spot in the Nielsen ratings, Gunsmoke dropped to number three, being unseated by two other Westerns, Wagon Train and Bonanza.
Footnotes
References
External links
Gunsmoke season 7 at TV Guide