Q 01/05

Which lawman's rival TV Western premiered four days before Gunsmoke?

A) Bat Masterson

B) Bill Tilghman

C) Wyatt Earp

D) Charlie Bassett

Answer · why

C) Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp: ABC's The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp beat Gunsmoke to air by four days as television's first Western written for adults, yet Gunsmoke o...

Q 02/05

Whose deep voice played Marshal Matt Dillon on the Gunsmoke radio series?

A) Orson Welles

B) William Conrad

C) Jack Webb

D) Raymond Burr

Answer · why

B) William Conrad

William Conrad voiced the Marshal for nine years, but CBS would not put him on screen: the heavyset actor said he lost the TV part because he didn't l...

Q 03/05

Who played Marshal Matt Dillon for Gunsmoke's entire television run?

A) James Arness

B) Chuck Connors

C) Clint Walker

D) Hugh O'Brian

Answer · why

A) James Arness

James Arness at first refused the part, afraid a television series would typecast him, until a friend talked him round; he then played Dillon in all 6...

Q 04/05

Which movie star introduced the first Gunsmoke television episode on camera in 1955?

A) Gary Cooper

B) James Stewart

C) John Wayne

D) Randolph Scott

Answer · why

C) John Wayne

John Wayne came on in full cowboy gear to vouch for the little-known lead, a protégé he had recommended for the part after using him in four of his ow...

Q 05/05

Gunsmoke took over as television's top show in 1957 from which series?

A) Dragnet

B) I Love Lucy

C) The Honeymooners

D) Lassie

Answer · why

B) I Love Lucy

I Love Lucy ended its weekly run in May 1957 while still number one; Gunsmoke then held the top spot for four straight seasons, until Wagon Train pass...