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 programs, i.e. produced outside the U.S., have been broadcast in the U.S. and contend for the position as the longest-running series. , "Gunsmoke" was rated fourth globally, after "Doctor Who" (1963–89, 2005–present), "Taggart" (1983–2010), and "The Bill" (1984–2010). James Arness and Milburn Stone portrayed their "Gunsmoke" characters for 20 consecutive years, a feat later matched by Kelsey Grammer as the character Frasier Crane, but over two half-hour sitcoms ("Cheers" and "Frasier"). George Walsh, the announcer for "Gunsmoke", began in 1952 on radio's "Gunsmoke" and continued until television's "Gunsmoke" was canceled in 1975. The first seven seasons were jointly sponsored by