[] (Doc), William Conrad (Matt), Georgia Ellis (Kitty) and Parley Baer]] (Chester)

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West.

The radio version ran from 1952 to 1961, and John DunningSee Dunning, 1998 writes that among radio drama enthusiasts "Gunsmoke is routinely placed among the best shows of any kind and any time." The television version ran for 20 seasons from 1955 to 1975, and it is currently tied with Law & Order as the longest running primetime drama in U.S. television history. Until 2009, it was the longest running US primetime series of any kind, but The Simpsons passed that mark with its 21st season premiere.