Wow we are so fortunate to have this on film. 🎥 thank you Rob Bruce & Janet. Truly appreciate this opportunity to share her stories with the legend James Arness. Truly a great episode Rob.
Very interesting to say the least. I remember when I was a little boy, around six, I had a heavy metal black revolver with the white plastic grips that looked just like Matt Dillon’s. My best friend, David had one too. We saved up our allowance and bought them at the dime store in Ness City, Kansas. Ah, the memories. When I was a kid I never missed an episode of Gunsmoke. Thanks Rob for this fascinating episode. Give my thanks to Jim’s wife, and Bruce too.
Thank you Rob, I only watched all of Gunsmoke about five years ago, and loved every episode, and finally discovered why when watching McCloud my Father would mimic an American accent and say "Mr Dillon", he was a huge Cowboy fan, as it seems am I, great show.
I’m showing my age, but in 1959, I had a Gunsmoke lunch box. I carried it until the handle broke. I used to strap it to luggage rack on the back of my bike. R.I.P. Jim Arness! He’s one of the main reasons why I love western movies.
Arvo Ojala was the badman in the very first version of the gunfight opening, filmed at Gene Autry's Melody Ranch. The picture that you showed during the video was from the second version of the opening gunfight, with Fred MacDougall playing the opponent. Bill Strathman took over the role in the color version; he was never compensated for his one-off appearance.
Joe Messerli was the artist that did the watercolor paintings used for the opening transition/end titles to Bonanza for most of its 14-year run, like the one with the overseer in the mines (used for creator-producer David Dortort) that you showed.
Very enjoyable Rob..I start every day now, watching "Gunsmoke!" Great way to start the day. I really enjoyed your previous interview with wife, Janet..bet she has more stories in her vault, let's have more! Jim Arness, was an awesome representative, of an awesome era. Thanks for curating memories and anecdotes for us, Rob! Best to you! Cheers!
Boy I would given anything to have something from gun smoke. Of Jim Arness . Guess I’ve watched that show from day it started. And now watching all his reruns , about 65 or 70 years. What a show.
Thank you Rob for a wonderful video of that special night. I was so happy to be there. Thank you to Janet Arness for sharing James Arness' memorabilia with all his fans!
Spotted that watercolor(?) painting (10:28) from the Bonanza opening. I always read that those no longer existed! THAT brings back SO many memories. Would love to see those in person.
I think that I have said it before, but I will say it again. Rob, I have never come away from watching your shows without being thoroughly entertained and informed. All things Cowboy. Thanks, Rob.
What a treat this morning to see all the wonderful James Arness treasure! So good to see his wife doing so well & pretty as ever and being escorted by the handsome Mr. Boxlitener. Loved your hat, Rob, looks very nice on you too!! Thank you for another great video!! 👍👍
I loved Gunsmoke as a kid and adult! I would never miss an episode! I still love it today in reruns! I also loved Rawhide, Bonanza, Have Gun Will Travel, The Rebel, Rifleman, Wagon Train, Death Valley Days...ALL the westerns!
Countless thanks for sharing this Auction of one of my 'childhoods' favorite Role Models, and Heroes Items... With my other Heroes, Janet, and Bruce. Rob, this series of your interviews, ads you to my list too. 👍👍 5k💖and 🌟With countless Hat-tips to all of you. 🤠
It's a shame I didn't see anything of Ken Curtis in that auction there should have been at least one thing but they may have kept that to themselves, along with Ken Curtis having his own collection. This was awesome thank you for sharing this
Picasso was the only living artist whose reputation was so great during his lifetime that he was able to cover a restaurant check, a bar tab, or pay for his dry cleaning merely by doing a quick ten second sketch on the back of the receipt, which he often did. Judging from the prices gotten on items from this auction, seems anything with Jim's signature on it had a similarly valuable effect.
This auction looks nuts, Rob (that’s a good thing), and a great interview too. I sometimes work for the propstore (do a Google) and they auction off movie memorabilia on a regular basis. Sure they had props from a John Wayne film
Tell Bruce I've got one of Arvo Ojala's metal-shank holsters (very much like like the one shown at 5:13), and like Bruce, I'm also a southpaw. Arvo made it for me around 1986. On a sadder not, RIP, Earl Holliman.
The worse thing that ever happened to westerns was the drop loop fast draw holster. They were nothing like the real rigs that were actually used in the old west and it took decades to finally get the western movies to use the proper gear including period correct saddles and tack. Probably one of the first was Lonesome Dove with Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. It is also ironic that an Australian Director Simon Wincer was the one who insisted that the guns be worn properly in that film as depicted in real pictures of the old west.
Not to mention the ubiquitous model '92 Winchester, "the gun that won the Western" in just about every film and TV series set pre 1892, which we're to believe was in time machine production going back in some instances (The Comancheroes) thirty plus years before it made its first appearance.
@@hiramnoone Yes that's another huge pet peeve of mine as well. That didn't start to get any attention until around the Lonesome Dove period too. Since then most westerns are much better at the right guns for the right year. Isn't it funny how no matter when a "gangster" film was made, say back in the 30's and 40's they always had the right guns. You never saw Al Capone using an Uzi!!!
good stuff, I watched most of Gunsmoke, Have gun will travel and all the other western shows except Bonanza, you could most of the scenes were shot in a Studio and After Dan Blocker died lost interest in it
My brothers were surfers in the 60s and they would see James Arness surfing down at San Onofre which was on Camp Pendleton , our father was a Major in the Marines . We were dependents so we could go down there. The MPs didn’t like surfers and tried to confiscate their surfboards , but the surfers would see them coming and paddle out away from them.
Was that a Jim Arness hat, or an Arness *model* hat? Looked pretty good. I wish Costner had sported one similar to that instead of the poor choice he made for "Horizons", which might have looked better (sported for laughs) on Pat Buttram when he was side-kicking Gene Autry. Fact the one Pat *did* wear woulda been a much better choice.
To each his own, hiram. I liked Costner's authentic looking hat in HORIZONS. Very distinctive. Few could have worn it so well. Loved the flat brim, which reminded me of the many similar hats worn by John Dehner through the years.
@@AWordonWesterns That look was fine on Dehner. Not so much on Costner. Great on Hugh O'Brien, less so on Kurt Russell who ironically was out-hatted by Costner who chose a less traditional, but more cinematic lid as Wyatt Earp in their competing Earp films. Which he shoulda dragged out of wardrobe or his closet and reprised for "Horizon". Betcha it woulda made a difference at the box office. But juss my opinion of course.
Whenever I see one of these I get a little torn. I know you can’t bury these things with the star and it’s better to have them appreciated by others however it’s like they die all over again somehow.
Historical artifacts need to be preserved, good homes; people who know there value are priceless. Thank you, Rob. Another great presentation!
Thanks, Elizabeth.
Wow we are so fortunate to have this on film. 🎥 thank you Rob Bruce & Janet. Truly appreciate this opportunity to share her stories with the legend James Arness. Truly a great episode Rob.
Another AWESOME show Rob. Thanks a million for doing this. I look forward to every show you produce.
Interesting video. Glad I didn't know about this auction. Temptation is hard to resist.
Agreed bigtime needed to stay away from it and my credit card
Wonderful collection. Loved Gunsmoke. Thanks Rob.
Very interesting to say the least. I remember when I was a little boy, around six, I had a heavy metal black revolver with the white plastic grips that looked just like Matt Dillon’s. My best friend, David had one too. We saved up our allowance and bought them at the dime store in Ness City, Kansas. Ah, the memories. When I was a kid I never missed an episode of Gunsmoke. Thanks Rob for this fascinating episode. Give my thanks to Jim’s wife, and Bruce too.
Thanks, greg. I'll bet you didn't know your toy GUNSMOKE pistol would become a collectible.
Thank you Rob, I only watched all of Gunsmoke about five years ago, and loved every episode, and finally discovered why when watching McCloud my Father would mimic an American accent and say "Mr Dillon", he was a huge Cowboy fan, as it seems am I, great show.
Nice memories. Thanks, storky.
I’m showing my age, but in 1959, I had a Gunsmoke lunch box. I carried it until the handle broke. I used to strap it to luggage rack on the back of my bike. R.I.P. Jim Arness! He’s one of the main reasons why I love western movies.
Totally fascinating, and I'm so glad yo know Mr. Arness preserved this history.
Thaank you Mr. Word!
I would pay a kings ransom for the wood carving that was hanging on the wall of the Long Branch Saloon the first 5 seasons.
Gunsmoke was the best show in the entire history of television.
Arvo Ojala was the badman in the very first version of the gunfight opening, filmed at Gene Autry's Melody Ranch. The picture that you showed during the video was from the second version of the opening gunfight, with Fred MacDougall playing the opponent. Bill Strathman took over the role in the color version; he was never compensated for his one-off appearance.
Thanks, pryce. Great to know that!
All Good!
Nice hat, Rob! Great video! 🤠👍
Joe Messerli was the artist that did the watercolor paintings used for the opening transition/end titles to Bonanza for most of its 14-year run, like the one with the overseer in the mines (used for creator-producer David Dortort) that you showed.
Thanks, Pryce.
Another awesome show Rob
Very enjoyable Rob..I start every day now, watching "Gunsmoke!" Great way to start the day. I really enjoyed your previous interview with wife, Janet..bet she has more stories in her vault, let's have more! Jim Arness, was an awesome representative, of an awesome era. Thanks for curating memories and anecdotes for us, Rob! Best to you! Cheers!
Thanks, Carol. Yes, Janet has lots of stories and, I think, more goodies in her "vault."
@@AWordonWesterns What a pleasant way, to relive our wonder of Jim Arness and Gunsmoke..Janet must have been, quite a comfort to Jim.
Another great video, thanks Rob. I loved Gunsmoke, especially the early ones.
Thank you Rob for sharing this beautiful video. Gunsmoke was awesome. I have the complete box of Gunsmoke.
Boy I would given anything to have something from gun smoke. Of Jim Arness . Guess I’ve watched that show from day it started. And now watching all his reruns , about 65 or 70 years. What a show.
Thank you Rob for a wonderful video of that special night. I was so happy to be there. Thank you to Janet Arness for sharing James Arness' memorabilia with all his fans!
Thanks, Marilyn. You made the cut! I see you at the top of our video with Janet.
Thanks, Rob that was great! I wonder if they did or will do an auction for The Wild Wild West?
Great history on a great man and actor. Gunsmoke should go on forever. I can watch the shows over and over.
Rob thank You for another wonderful presentation! Greatly appreciate Your work/mission. 😊
Love the history and the artifacts.
Thanks Rob 👍
I really enjoyed this !! I'm 75 years old and grew up with gunsmoke. I watch it everyday and always will. 😂 ❤❤❤
Sunday morning. AWOW, bacon, eggs, and biscuits and gravy. My life is good. I hope yours is too.
You too, frank. Thanks!!
Spotted that watercolor(?) painting (10:28) from the Bonanza opening. I always read that those no longer existed! THAT brings back SO many memories. Would love to see those in person.
I think that I have said it before, but I will say it again. Rob, I have never come away from watching your shows without being thoroughly entertained and informed. All things Cowboy. Thanks, Rob.
Thanks, Terry. Glad you enjoy them.
What a treat this morning to see all the wonderful James Arness treasure! So good to see his wife doing so well & pretty as ever and being escorted by the handsome Mr. Boxlitener.
Loved your hat, Rob, looks very nice on you too!!
Thank you for another great video!! 👍👍
Thanks, Karen. It was a fun evening for us.
Wow, this was interesting and informative. I never would have seen this collection if it was not for you and your team! Thanks Rob and all!
Thanks, Andy. It was nice to see everything displayed.
Glad I didn't know about it, I'd mortgage my house to own Matt Dillions six shooter..
I loved Gunsmoke as a kid and adult! I would never miss an episode! I still love it today in reruns! I also loved Rawhide, Bonanza, Have Gun Will Travel, The Rebel, Rifleman, Wagon Train, Death Valley Days...ALL the westerns!
Very cool
Thank you
Incredible! Rob, I love your hat.
Thanks, Barry
Countless thanks for sharing this Auction of one of my 'childhoods' favorite Role Models, and Heroes Items... With my other Heroes, Janet, and Bruce. Rob, this series of your interviews, ads you to my list too. 👍👍 5k💖and 🌟With countless Hat-tips to all of you. 🤠
Thanks, OD. Good role models. You turned out swell!
Thanks Rob
Andy Anderson also played a big part in the fast draw craze of the 50's with the Walk and Draw holster design.
It's a shame I didn't see anything of Ken Curtis in that auction there should have been at least one thing but they may have kept that to themselves, along with Ken Curtis having his own collection. This was awesome thank you for sharing this
Picasso was the only living artist whose reputation was so great during his lifetime that he was able to cover a restaurant check, a bar tab, or pay for his dry cleaning merely by doing a quick ten second sketch on the back of the receipt, which he often did.
Judging from the prices gotten on items from this auction, seems anything with Jim's signature on it had a similarly valuable effect.
I wish all of those items were in a museum for the public to view.
@@mrshortyblackwell1092 I thought that, too, but Matt fans are checking in to Ma Smalley's every day.
Nice to see a video Rob- hoping to see me, thanks. Spent about 2 hours looking at that catalog when the auction started.
Great video Rob ! Must have been a great time at the auction. I think that you have one of the best jobs in world.
Thanks, david. It's not a job. I feel lucky that I've got a 40 hour week hobby.
@AWordonWesterns 👍
Marvelous auction. ❤
Holy credit card debt. If I went to that auction I would be in eternal bankruptcy
LOL
Thanks for this, Rob!
This auction looks nuts, Rob (that’s a good thing), and a great interview too. I sometimes work for the propstore (do a Google) and they auction off movie memorabilia on a regular basis. Sure they had props from a John Wayne film
Thanks, cb. I'll watch for propstore.
Dam shame hardly anyone knew about this auction.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ROB 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲 dj discoworm San Fransisco
Thanks, DJ. And Happy New Year to you.
I freaking love Gun smoke.
Tell Bruce I've got one of Arvo Ojala's metal-shank holsters (very much like like the one shown at 5:13), and like Bruce, I'm also a southpaw. Arvo made it for me around 1986. On a sadder not, RIP, Earl Holliman.
The worse thing that ever happened to westerns was the drop loop fast draw holster. They were nothing like the real rigs that were actually used in the old west and it took decades to finally get the western movies to use the proper gear including period correct saddles and tack. Probably one of the first was Lonesome Dove with Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. It is also ironic that an Australian Director Simon Wincer was the one who insisted that the guns be worn properly in that film as depicted in real pictures of the old west.
Not to mention the ubiquitous model '92 Winchester, "the gun that won the Western" in just about every film and TV series set pre 1892, which we're to believe was in time machine production going back in some instances (The Comancheroes) thirty plus years before it made its first appearance.
@@hiramnoone Yes that's another huge pet peeve of mine as well. That didn't start to get any attention until around the Lonesome Dove period too. Since then most westerns are much better at the right guns for the right year. Isn't it funny how no matter when a
"gangster" film was made, say back in the 30's and 40's they always had the right guns. You never saw Al Capone using an Uzi!!!
good stuff, I watched most of Gunsmoke, Have gun will travel and all the other western shows except Bonanza, you could most of the scenes were shot in a Studio and After Dan Blocker died lost interest in it
Rob, were you surprised at how low the prices were in the Gunsmoke auction? I, as a 'regular' person could have had my own piece of the show. lol
From the way prices are going for this type of memorabilia, terry, I think they are good investments.
@@AWordonWesterns Thanks for responding, Rob, and I absolutely agree. I love your shows. Thank you for keeping the old west alive!!
My brothers were surfers in the 60s and they would see James Arness surfing down at San Onofre which was on Camp Pendleton , our father was a Major in the Marines . We were dependents so we could go down there. The MPs didn’t like surfers and tried to confiscate their surfboards , but the surfers would see them coming and paddle out away from them.
Funny. Nice memories. Thanks.
I noticed that Festus shoots his pistol right handed while he fired his rifle left handed. Unless the film was reversed.
Great to see! But no word or images on the Dennis Weaver, Burt Reynolds or Virginian items? Is this being saved for a seperate video?
There were very few items from them, Brian, only a couple and not enough to make another episode.
To bad I didn't keep my Mattel Fanner 50!
You're not alone, Mr. B.
👍
Always wondered what caliber that pistol was that James Arness used in the series was.
Was that a Jim Arness hat, or an Arness *model* hat?
Looked pretty good. I wish Costner had sported one similar to that instead of the poor choice he made for "Horizons", which might have looked better (sported for laughs) on Pat Buttram when he was side-kicking Gene Autry.
Fact the one Pat *did* wear woulda been a much better choice.
To each his own, hiram. I liked Costner's authentic looking hat in HORIZONS. Very distinctive. Few could have worn it so well. Loved the flat brim, which reminded me of the many similar hats worn by John Dehner through the years.
@@AWordonWesterns That look was fine on Dehner. Not so much on Costner. Great on Hugh O'Brien, less so on Kurt Russell who ironically was out-hatted by Costner who chose a less traditional, but more cinematic lid as Wyatt Earp in their competing Earp films.
Which he shoulda dragged out of wardrobe or his closet and reprised for "Horizon".
Betcha it woulda made a difference at the box office.
But juss my opinion of course.
Whenever I see one of these I get a little torn. I know you can’t bury these things with the star and it’s better to have them appreciated by others however it’s like they die all over again somehow.
Good western that lasted tooooooo long...they should have quit when Chester left