George Fenneman series, and then with John Stephenson when Dragnet returned to TV in 1967. It was Fenneman's voice which announced, "The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent." while Stephenson would be heard at the end of the episode describing the court trials and verdicts. He was the principal commercial announcer for the radio version of "Gunsmoke", and frequently introduced "Matt Dillon" (William Conrad) after the episode to extoll the virtues of L&M or Chesterfield cigarettes. He appeared on screen in the 1951 film "The Thing from Another World" and the
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