Gunsmoke "The Cisco Kid." "Gunsmoke" was set in Dodge City, Kansas, during the thriving cattle days of the 1870s. Dunning notes, "The show drew critical acclaim for unprecedented realism." The radio series first aired on CBS on April 26, 1952 with the episode "Billy the Kid", written by Walter Newman, and ended on June 18, 1961. The show stars William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon, Howard McNear as Doc Charles Adams, Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell, and Parley Baer as Dillon's assistant, Chester Wesley Proudfoot. Matt Dillon was played on radio by William Conrad and on TV by James Arness. Two
Gunsmoke was backed on that Capitol record by Rex Koury and the radio "Gunsmoke" orchestra. William Lava composed the original theme music for television, as noted in the program credits. Other notable composers included: The "Gunsmoke" brand was used to endorse numerous products, from cottage cheese to cigarettes. Lowell Toy Manufacturing Corporation ("It's a Lowell Game") issued "Gunsmoke" as their game No. 822. Other products include "Gunsmoke" puzzles, In 1985, Capcom released a video game for the arcade (and its corresponding game for the NES in 1988) with a Western theme, called "Gun.Smoke". Other than the Western theme, the show and