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Gunsmoke Collection
mssGunsmoke
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Gunsmoke collection
Identifier/Call Number: mssGunsmoke
Physical Description:
11.34 Linear Feet
(27 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1953-1975
Abstract: A collection of radio and television
scripts for the long-running western American program Gunsmoke.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
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.
[Identification of item]. Gunsmoke collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Norman H. Macdonnell and John A. Dunkel, June 1974. Gift of Walter Newman, December
1975. Gift of Paul Savage, July 1978.
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.
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.
Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1975-1980. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created
the finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.
Arranged in the following series: 1. Radio scripts; 2. Television scripts; 3. Manila
envelopes.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Radio scripts -- United States -- 20th century
Television scripts -- United States -- 20th century
Byrnes, Jim,
1934-
Clark, Marian, 1912-1963
Dunkel, John, 1915-2001
Crutchfield, Les
Hite, Kathleen,
1917-1989
Macdonnell,
Norman
Meston, John, 1914-1979
Perrin, Vic,
1919-1989
Savage, Paul, 1925-2014
Gunsmoke (Television
program)
Gunsmoke (Radio
program)