First, I want to agree to every positive word said about Gunsmoke and ALL of the actors throughout the series. I grew up watching every episode of Gunsmoke that I could. More than entertaining TV, you actually learned 'Life Lessons' from the stories. They were all top of the line. But, more than that.....
In 1955, I was only SEVEN YEARS OLD when Gunsmoke started. By the time I turned 18 years old, I was still glued to the TV every time it came on. In 1967, just as the new Fall series was getting started, I had the rug pulled out from under my feet when I was drafted into the U. S. Army. No more TV and no more Gunsmoke for me. Then I was sent to Vietnam, where I spent 13 months of my two year tour of duty.
When I returned to my civilian life back in Oklahoma in 1969, I had no interest in watching ANY TV . I had no idea, and would never have expected that Gunsmoke was still on the air. Time went by ever so slowly as I had to deal with a devastating condition, unknown to me at the time, as PTSD. Eventually there came a time when I ran out of booze, money and none of my friends were available to run around with to get my mind off of all of the things I didn't want to think about.
So I turned on the TV and started flipping through the channels. Good God Almighty!!! There before my eyes was an episode of Gunsmoke. I couldn't believe it! I settled back in my chair and started watching, getting drawn into the story, loving the characters, and escaping from the life I wanted to get away from. From then on I could barely stand it until the next week when it would come on again.
Now this story may sound a little fantastic to some of you. But I honestly believe that all of those characters and stories on Gunsmoke helped to save my life. They gave me something to look forward to, something to really enjoy once again. And as time went by, other things developed in my life, for the better, and better and better. Thank you Matt and Kitty, Chester and Festus, Doc, Sam, Newley and all the others. Thank you Gunsmoke for all of those wonderful shows!!!
AND, Yes, of course, I am watching all of the reruns on the various cable channels I can find. Yeeeeehaaaaa!
In 1955, I was only SEVEN YEARS OLD when Gunsmoke started. By the time I turned 18 years old, I was still glued to the TV every time it came on. In 1967, just as the new Fall series was getting started, I had the rug pulled out from under my feet when I was drafted into the U. S. Army. No more TV and no more Gunsmoke for me. Then I was sent to Vietnam, where I spent 13 months of my two year tour of duty.
When I returned to my civilian life back in Oklahoma in 1969, I had no interest in watching ANY TV . I had no idea, and would never have expected that Gunsmoke was still on the air. Time went by ever so slowly as I had to deal with a devastating condition, unknown to me at the time, as PTSD. Eventually there came a time when I ran out of booze, money and none of my friends were available to run around with to get my mind off of all of the things I didn't want to think about.
So I turned on the TV and started flipping through the channels. Good God Almighty!!! There before my eyes was an episode of Gunsmoke. I couldn't believe it! I settled back in my chair and started watching, getting drawn into the story, loving the characters, and escaping from the life I wanted to get away from. From then on I could barely stand it until the next week when it would come on again.
Now this story may sound a little fantastic to some of you. But I honestly believe that all of those characters and stories on Gunsmoke helped to save my life. They gave me something to look forward to, something to really enjoy once again. And as time went by, other things developed in my life, for the better, and better and better. Thank you Matt and Kitty, Chester and Festus, Doc, Sam, Newley and all the others. Thank you Gunsmoke for all of those wonderful shows!!!
AND, Yes, of course, I am watching all of the reruns on the various cable channels I can find. Yeeeeehaaaaa!