Miss Kitty and Matt Dillon have been part of cultural history for over sixty years this September. Their names have been in songs, books and stories since they first graced the small screen in the legendary Gunsmoke series. From 1955 to 1975 families gathered around their television sets to see the latest drama unfold in the Wild West. The series still stands as the longest-running prime time, live action show. Sixty years later, audiences still cheer on Marshal Dillon as he brings justice to the streets of historic Dodge City.
To commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of Gunsmoke, the Wild West Heritage Foundation with Boot Hill Casino and Resort are bringing several legendary Gunsmoke actors to Dodge City, the shows iconic home. Celebrities scheduled to appear include: Burt Reynolds, who portrayed Quint Asper on the series from 1962-1965; Buck Taylor, who portrayed Deputy Newly OBrien on the series from 1967-1975; Jess Walton, who portrayed Patricia on the series in 1973; Lane Bradbury, who portrayed Merry Florene (among others) on the series 1965-1969; Bruce Boxleitner, who portrayed Toby Hogue on the series in 1975; Jim Byrnes, who served as a writer on the series from 1969-1975.
These six legendary Gunsmoke actors and writers get the heck into Dodge to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary during this years Wild West Fest celebration on Sept. 25-27. The anniversary celebration will kick off with Gunsmoke Under the Stars, a showing of a variety of episodes along with video messages from the cast on Sept. 25 at the South Drive-In Theater in Dodge City. Meet and Greet sessions including photos and autographs with celebrity guests will be held at10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26. Sunday, Sept. 27, will play host to the Gunsmoke Anniversary Banquet at the Boot Hill Museum on Front Street, where the stars will be recognized for their ongoing dedication to the series and the heritage of the Wild West.
“Having these Gunsmoke celebrities reunite and interact with the fans is a once in a lifetime experience,” said Sharon Stroburg, General Manager of Boot Hill Casino and Resort. “Gunsmoke transcends the generations and continues to resonate with todays television viewers. Dodge City is proud to have been the home of the show. It’s only natural that we host the celebration here and celebrate this milestone!”
Wild West Fest is a joint partnership between Boot Hill Casino and Resort, the Wild West Heritage Foundation and the Roundup Rodeo that showcases the legendary history of Dodge Citys past and still celebrates the present day cowboys through the Kansas Pro Rodeo Finals. Wild West Fest will be fun for both residents and visitors of all ages, and will feature multiple events, including Taste of the Wild West, Wild West Beer Fest, and GunsmokeUnder the Stars.
For more information visit DodgeCityWildWestFest.com. For media inquiries, contact Jessi Rabe at 620-255-4022 or jrabe@boothillcasino.com.