Upon moving to California, Bartell became a favorite of producer/director Norman MacDonnell, performing frequently on "Escape" (notably as Ronald Dawson in "The Second Class Passenger" and Peyton Farquar in Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"), and was a leading member of the "Gunsmoke" repertory company. Bartell was with the latter series from the first broadcast on April 26, 1952 until the last show on June 18, 1961; his roles ranged from friendly townspeople to victims to heavies, from the occasional role of Dodge City printer Mr. Hightower to famed gunslinger Doc Holliday in a 1952 episode. With fellow actor Vic Perrin, he also co-wrote two episodes near the end of the radio run, and appeared many times on the TV version of "Gunsmoke," sometimes reprising his radio roles.