Gunsmoke Collection, 1953-1975

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Summary

Title:
Gunsmoke collection
Dates:
1953-1975
Abstract:
A collection of radio and television scripts for the long-running western American program Gunsmoke.
Extent:
11.34 Linear Feet (27 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Gunsmoke collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of 317 radio scripts and 60 television scripts from 1953 to 1975, for the long-running series Gunsmoke. The material includes preliminary drafts, working notes, and finished scripts. Scriptwriters include, among others: Jim Byrnes, Marian Clark, John Dunkel, Les Crutchfield, Kathleen Hite, Norman Macdonnell, John Meston, Vic Perrin, and Paul Savage.

Biographical / historical:

Gunsmoke was an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. The radio series ran from 1952 to 1961; the television series ran for 20 seasons from 1955 to 1975, and lasted for 635 episodes.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Norman H. Macdonnell and John A. Dunkel, June 1974. Gift of Walter Newman, December 1975. Gift of Paul Savage, July 1978.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1975-1980. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series: 1. Radio scripts; 2. Television scripts; 3. Manila envelopes.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Gayle Richardson
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2021-07-06 09:21:25 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

No photocopying is allowed. No quotations are allowed apart from very brief phrases under "fair use." No publication or performances of these scripts are allowed. All inquiries regarding publication or quotation should be referred to the owner of copyright for the specific script(s). Copyright resides with either the production company or author for the scripts in this collection.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Gunsmoke collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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