Gunsmoke Collection mssGunsmoke
Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
November 2020
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
reference@huntington.org
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.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
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.
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
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.
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)
Radio scripts
1953-1959
Physical Description: 8.4 Linear
Feet(20 boxes)
Scope and Contents
Radio scripts include various drafts and finished manuscripts by various authors.
Box 1, Folder 1-15
The Big Con-Gone Straight
1953 May 16-August 22
Box 2, Folder 1-15
Jessie-The Lamb
1953 August 29-December 5
Box 3, Folder 1-15
The Cast-Old Friend
1953 December 12-1954 March 20
Box 4, Folder 1-15
Bloody Money-Word of Honor
1954 March 20-July 3
Box 6, Folder 1-15
Kittycaught-Sins of the Fathers
1954 October 16-1955 January
22
Box 7, Folder 1-15
Young Love-Trust
1955 January 29-June 11
Box 8, Folder 1-16
Indian Scout-Pucket's New Year
1955 August 20-1956 January 1
Box 9, Folder 1-15
Doc's Revenge-Sunday Supplement
1956 January 8-June 24
Box 10, Folder 1-16
Gun for Chester-The Squaw
1956 July 1-1958 April 27
Box 11, Folder 1-15
How to Die for Nothing-A House Ain't a Home
1958 May 4-August 10
Box 12, Folder 1-15
The Piano-The Correspondent
1958 August 17-November 23
Box 13, Folder 1-15
The Burning Wagon-Scared Boy
1958 November 30-1959 May 17
Box 14, Folder 1-15
Wagon Show-Shooting Stopover
1959 May 24-August 30
Box 15, Folder 1-16
Matt's Decision-Beeker's Barn
1959 September 6-December 20
Box 16, Folder 1-15
Pucket's New Year-Wrong Man
1959 December 27-1960 May 8
Box 17, Folder 1-15
Tall Trapper-Dangerous Bath
1960 May 15-August 21
Box 18, Folder 1-20
The Tumbleweed-Old Faces
1960 August 28-1961 January 1
Box 19, Folder 1-15
Kittylove-The Sod-Buster
1961 February 19-May 28
Box 20, Folder 1-33
The Wake-Johnny Red
1961 January 15-1955 August 13
Television scripts
1956-1975
Physical Description: 2.52 Linear
Feet(6 boxes)
Scope and Contents
Television scripts include various drafts and finished manuscripts by various authors.
Box 26 also includes General Notes on program and character development; Release
Schedule October 21, 1961-December 23, 1961 (Revised).
Box 21, Folder 1-10
Doc's Revenge-Old Comrade
1956 March 26-1962 June 17
Box 22, Folder 1-13
The Far Places-The Wishbone
1962 December 5-1965 October
12
Box 23, Folder 1-13
The Moonstone-McCabe
1966 June 14-1970 March 16
Box 24, Folder 1-11
The Scavengers-The Widow and the Rogue
1970 May 29-1973 March 3
Box 25, Folder 1-15
Will Stambridge-How to Catch a Marshall
1973 March 28-1975 March 14
Box 26, Folder 1-13
Alarm at Pleasant Valley-The Widow; General Notes and Release
Schedule
undated
Box 27
Manila envelopes
undated
Physical Description: .42 Linear
Feet(1 box)
Scope and Contents
The manila envelopes are from Columbia Broadcasting System which originally contained
"Gunsmoke" radio series scripts; the television scripts did not come in these
envelopes.
