I grew up watching Gunsmoke with my dad on Saturday nights. Now I watch the show whenever it is on. Festus was always a favorite of mine on the show. The first time I heard him sing, I was completely blown away with his beautiful voice. Sure wish he did more singing on the show. His statue is standing in Clovis. Next time I go to Fresno, I am driving out to see it. A great man, actor, & singer. RIP Ken Curtis.
This little show made me cry a little, as I am a Norwegian- American. So nice to see the young kids and the older folks smiling together. Thank you so much for this nice gift from the past, and God Bless Norway. Rest in Peace, Festus.
Wow. Watched this all the way through. What a great man. What professionalism and incredible poise. NEVER was I at this level, but for a time in my first career, I had celebritie status. I've done similar interviews where you really weren't sure what was being said due to language differences. It is incredibly hard to maintain character when you really aren't sure if you are being praised or laughed at. This is one incredible, old school, man's man. There were points during this interview that almost brought tears to my eyes.
I am always surprised at how popular Ken Curtis/Festus was in Europe. I've watched videos here on RUclips of Curtis performing in the UK and Germany and now Norway and he seems to have been loved there as much as in the States, maybe more. I grew up in the 60s and, as for many of you, Gunsmoke was more than a TV show, it was part of the family. In our home it was never referred to by the show's title, my mom and dad would say " Turn on Matt and Kitty." or " It's time for Doc and Festus." In 1966, we saw Doc and Festus perform at the Houston Fat Stock Show and Rodeo in the old Astrodome. Festus entered the arena riding his mule and Doc drove his black buggy as the band played the Gunsmoke theme. They met at a platform in the middle of the arena to thunderous applause and cheers. Spotlighted on the platform, Doc and Festus entertained us with some of their characteristic barbs and arguing with each other. They sang some trail songs together, Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Cool Water are two l recall. At the closing, they both mounted up and rode around the arena, again to thunderous applause, waving, stopping occasionally to speak and shake hands with the lucky ones in the front seats. Even my dad, a stoic man, whooped and cheered. It was a wonderful performance, a wonderful evening. This reply has gone longer than l'd planned but the memories of a warm, simpler time came flooding back and l atleast hope it's brought a few back to others here. To all Ken Curtis and Gunsmoke fans everywhere, Take care and Happy Trails from Texas.
LOVE this memory you shared, never feel you said too much about memories they help us keep going thru tough times !! remind us of happier simpler times , my kids were all babies in the 60"
I so enjoyed this. I especially loved being able to experience the different customs presented. I have been told Norway is one of the happiest places in the world to live. Mr. Curtis was a spectacular guest and gave every one the attention they deserved. He is deeply missed.
He was and always will be a treasure to those who knew of him,knew him and who will discover the memories of him in film and music if they look and listen!!
What an enjoyable video. I only wish at some point he had sung Tumbling Tumbleweeds. They treated him like royalty and were so desirous to share their culture with him. What nice, good, humble people on this video. And he responded with such respect, courtesy, and down to earth friendliness. Thank you for sharing.
Ken did a fine job as an actor in Conagher, a screenplay adaptation form a Louis L'Amour novel. Great film! Lots of respect for Ken - he was a good man.
My Mama and Dad named me Kathleen so I especially loved hearing this wonderful, gracious man, Mr. Ken Curtis sing, "I'll take You Home Again Kathleen". It is a treasure! I will be looking forward some day to seeing you Sir, up there in God's Country❤️🌹
Yeah but when he got to sing. I loved it. He had a half smile at times . I know cause on this show and seen on other things his voice and that smile. R.I. P. Bien I know they are having a great time in heaven.
his smile was gorgeous and he smiled with his eyes, too. my momma said never trust a person who uses only hi lips to smile. they are hiding something. a person who uses their whole face to smile is a beautiful person you can pretty much be sure they are on the level.
It appears he was just a good down to earth man, all the way around. Talented, gracious and kind to others. We could use a few more "good-guy" celebrities these days. I loved watching the show as a boy.
When I was a kid in high school, myself and 3 other guys I knew got to mow Ken Curtis' yard on a property he owned in the town I grew up in. I never got to meet Ken but we mowed his yard for 3 years and got $100 a week for each of us. It was a HUGE yard.
Festus and Doc came to Odessa, Texas and went to have coffee at a resident there that donated money to their Charity! Those were the good old days that are long gone!
I really wish we could go back to those good old days,,so many of are great people that were with us are now in heaven,and were waiting for are day to come! What is it gonna be like?is Festis up there singing like he used to sing here for us?and playing on Gunsmoke,we ain’t ever going to no until are day comes, I love ❤️ him!
@@trooperbias737 And he succeeded Frank Sinatra as lead singer in the Tommy Dorsey Band for a short time. But if you really want to hear Festus sing well with the Sons of the Pioneers watch the John Wayne movie "Rio Grande" as he sings.
Love this go to prove he was the star of the show also he really was a lot of other countries love America for the cowboy thing he was a true blue actor so proud to have grown up and watch that hanging out my mom and dad was way cool late 60s in the 70s best times do not care what anybody says for the kids still innocence but not as innocent as everybody thinks
A good friend of mine used to live in Palmdale CA. From his account Ken Curtis lived just down the street. He said Ken was the nicest guy. Just as friendly as you can imagine.
I would have thought just the opposite. If Ken Curtis was alive today, I would like to ask him about show business compared to when he broke in it and now. Now we hear about awful stuff going on with the women and men and children. What a sick bunch of people. Hopefully righteous men and women will replace those wicked people and start making wholesome TV and movies. That would be nice,I mean really.
I love that his boots are all scuffed up, and real trail boots not fancy dude ones. He had a very intense physicality about his presence on stage. No wonder people adored him.
Just remembered that Ken Curtis was Frank Sinatra’s back-up during the Tommy Dorsey contract dispute that was back in the 1940’s that must have been his break in show biz. I do remember him as a member of The Son’s of the Pioneers.Go Festus.
Ken Curtis loved me when I was an infant, he loved my grandmother. I have autographed pictures to me from him, He has a very special place in my heart, always has. I love Gunsmoke. I will learn more, we are connected
The young,Iroqouis Lady sure could sing! Wish I knew her name! Her song,the way she sung it gave you good shivers...Awesome! All the performers gave their best!😍💖🕊☘🎼🎵🎵🎼
Shizue Hicks the kids in my day during the show time. Good love the cowboys stuff the kids are just awesome used to go horseback riding and people would have been make fastest and Matt Dillon very cool though very cool indeed
You can have all the big lead movie stars, I'll take real genuine men like Ken Curtis and Walter Brennan. Icons who were so talented creating a persona that you thought they were simple bumpkins in real life too. Class personalities.
Saw Festus at a TV station promotion in 1960. It was in Manchester, S.Dak., and yes he did, "man-up" on Chester , as the Gunsmoke series progressed on thru the sixties. Although Chester was a true character, also....Dennis Weaver...
Me too,darlin. I've got 15 Years of of it on DVD. They won't release the rest. Don't know why. But if and when they do, I'll download it to you ok? Seminole Wind.
EDITH GILBERTT imagine this... one night I fell asleep with the inspiration channel and gunsmoke came on.. i was asleep and Festus says??? Mr Ayers! Ya Gotta Let Marshal Dillion take care of this?! I grew up in Cheyenne Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 watching most every Gunsmoke TV show... so please do understand? Asleep and hearing Festus again Mr Ayers... a Gunsmoke episode from the early 60’s I had missed this one... But here today I live in Clovis California USA 🇺🇸 close to a Statue of Ken Curtis as Festus... My grandpa grew up in Abilene Kansas and went to school with Dwight D. Eisenhower in Abilene Kansas.. And Cheyenne Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 for me the 60’s and 70’s Cheyenne Frontier Daze!! yeeeeeeeeHaaa saddle Up! Out under a Wyoming Sky! I am truly blessed indeed and thankful for such a wonderful life! Happy Rails and Happy Trails!! Sons of The Pioneers yeeeeaaah? Myself from a USA 🇺🇸 1776 Family! On the Trail again Willy Nelson? Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn.. heard them in Cheyenne Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days The WORLDS Largest Outdoor Rodeo “ The DADDY of Em ALL
The world needs more men like Ken Curtis. Great actor and a great singer too.
I grew up watching Gunsmoke with my dad on Saturday nights. Now I watch the show whenever it is on. Festus was always a favorite of mine on the show. The first time I
heard him sing, I was completely blown away with his beautiful voice. Sure wish he did
more singing on the show. His statue is standing in Clovis. Next time I go to Fresno, I am
driving out to see it. A great man, actor, & singer. RIP Ken Curtis.
That was a great man, I wish I could have met him in person.
I have been in love with Ken Curtis and his beautiful voice ever since I was little, now I am a grandma and my love for him is greater.🥰🥰🥰
What a smile! And that twinkle in his eye. He was special!
When Ken Curtis smiled, he smiled from his heart.
Like the Sun peepin' out and shining through a cloudy day,burning off the dark clouds!😍💖☘🕊
His wink oh boy
This little show made me cry a little, as I am a Norwegian- American. So nice to see the young kids and the older folks smiling together. Thank you so much for this nice gift from the past, and God Bless Norway. Rest in Peace, Festus.
That thing with is eye.... He really was a character....
Do you know when this was filmed by any chance?😊
@@cjcj6945 must have been about 1970😎
Thanks for sharing I was growing up watching these movies Ken Curtis is a great actor and his smile 😊he’s a great person
Wow, this is so cool. Nice to be introduced to Ken's wife. I DO miss the class of the olden days.
Wow. Watched this all the way through. What a great man. What professionalism and incredible poise. NEVER was I at this level, but for a time in my first career, I had celebritie status. I've done similar interviews where you really weren't sure what was being said due to language differences. It is incredibly hard to maintain character when you really aren't sure if you are being praised or laughed at. This is one incredible, old school, man's man. There were points during this interview that almost brought tears to my eyes.
More people should be like Ken,the world would be a better place
when the character Festus came along the mold was broken. He was one in a million!! Highly adored!
I am always surprised at how popular Ken Curtis/Festus was in Europe. I've watched videos here on RUclips of Curtis performing in the UK and Germany and now Norway and he seems to have been loved there as much as in the States, maybe more.
I grew up in the 60s and, as for many of you, Gunsmoke was more than a TV show, it was part of the family.
In our home it was never referred to by the show's title, my mom and dad would say " Turn on Matt and Kitty." or " It's time for Doc and Festus."
In 1966, we saw Doc and Festus perform at the Houston Fat Stock Show and Rodeo in the old Astrodome.
Festus entered the arena riding his mule and Doc drove his black buggy as the band played the Gunsmoke theme. They met at a platform in the middle of the arena to thunderous applause and cheers.
Spotlighted on the platform, Doc and Festus entertained us with some of their characteristic barbs and arguing with each other.
They sang some trail songs together, Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Cool Water are two l recall.
At the closing, they both mounted up and rode around the arena, again to thunderous applause, waving, stopping occasionally to speak and shake hands with the lucky ones in the front seats.
Even my dad, a stoic man, whooped and cheered. It was a wonderful performance, a wonderful evening.
This reply has gone longer than l'd planned but the memories of a warm, simpler time came flooding back and l atleast hope it's brought a few back to others here.
To all Ken Curtis and Gunsmoke fans everywhere, Take care and Happy Trails from Texas.
LOVE this memory you shared, never feel you said too much about memories they help us keep going thru tough times !! remind us of happier simpler times , my kids were all babies in the 60"
Thank you for sharing a wonderful memory!!😄💖
Is someone cutting onions in here? My eyes are watering!😭
Totally Awesome, thank you so so so much for posting, what an awesome man Ken was!!!! 🤗❤️
Love watching you all the time ! A great actor and person ! Will be missed so much !
I miss Ken Curtis. What a talented entertainer and nice person he was! Thanks for sharing.
Lamar, Colorado's favorite son.
Me too ! It so sad that we don't have them around 💔 anymore 😢 and not able to tell them how great we think they are.
He 2as handsome man for sure😉
Miss him
KEN WILL BE MISSED ALWAYS AND FOWVER ,,, SHEILA PETERS
@@leahakel6383 HE IS HANDSOME AND I LOVE KEN CURTIS ,,,,, !!!!!!!!
I never heard his real voice this is very cool to witness thank God for RUclips.
I so enjoyed this. I especially loved being able to experience the different customs presented. I have been told Norway is one of the happiest places in the world to live. Mr. Curtis was a spectacular guest and gave every one the attention they deserved. He is deeply missed.
He was and always will be a treasure to those who knew of him,knew him and who will discover the memories of him in film and music if they look and listen!!
Respect for the lady who sang, and played, I can tell Ken enjoyed it.
Ken Curtis is my all time favorite actor .
What an enjoyable video. I only wish at some point he had sung Tumbling Tumbleweeds. They treated him like royalty and were so desirous to share their culture with him. What nice, good, humble people on this video. And he responded with such respect, courtesy, and down to earth friendliness. Thank you for sharing.
Ken did a fine job as an actor in Conagher, a screenplay adaptation form a Louis L'Amour novel. Great film! Lots of respect for Ken - he was a good man.
I adore ken curtis, he was one in a million. When he sang it was like heave.😇😇
All yess... 👍👍👍
You took the trouble to add emojis, but not proofread what you typed. I want to "heave", because you said, "When he sang it was like heave."
My Mama and Dad named me Kathleen so I especially loved hearing this wonderful, gracious man, Mr. Ken Curtis sing, "I'll take You Home Again Kathleen". It is a treasure! I will be looking forward some day to seeing you Sir, up there in God's Country❤️🌹
Festus was so awesome, a deputy, tracker, tough as nails, funny as heck. Loved him! And apparently a master class singer.
Best video about festus I've seen thanks alot
Ken was just naturally charisma. . . Festus wasn't a smiler; but Ken Curtis was.
.thats why they call it acting!
kelly franklin k
Yeah but when he got to sing. I loved it. He had a half smile at times . I know cause on this show and seen on other things his voice and that smile. R.I. P. Bien I know they are having a great time in heaven.
You can really tell that Ken Curtis was a true "people person." Sweetest eyes. Delightful clip. Thanks for sharing.
his smile was gorgeous and he smiled with his eyes, too. my momma said never trust a person who uses only hi lips to smile. they are hiding something. a person who uses their whole face to smile is a beautiful person you can pretty much be sure they are on the level.
TheShizue777 b
YOU JUST HAVE TO LOVE FESTUS HAGEN !!!!!
Ken is just too cute ❤️. He looks like he is enjoying the entire interview. I would have liked it if they gave subtitles when this lady sang ❤️..
I had a band back in the 80s, my bass player was a carbon copy of Ken Curtis, we used to call him Festus :) What a great clip thanks for posting!
festus for our children viewing, how cute !!! I love ken curtis,,,,,,,,
It appears he was just a good down to earth man, all the way around. Talented, gracious and kind to others. We could use a few more "good-guy" celebrities these days. I loved watching the show as a boy.
F
When I was a kid in high school, myself and 3 other guys I knew got to mow Ken Curtis' yard on a property he owned in the town I grew up in. I never got to meet Ken but we mowed his yard for 3 years and got $100 a week for each of us. It was a HUGE yard.
How cool! Thx for sharing that special memory!👍☺
@@cjcj6945 I am glad I could share it. Ken was a good actor outside of Gun smoke. Alamo, Wings of Eagles and so on.
Really awesome! That was generous back then! Bet you ever wondered if he'd show up!?🤠🐴🐎
@@lorenheard2561 yes we kept looking but he never did when we was there. He did show up for one of our gluegrass festivals in the fall time.
Ken was very handsome what a awesome voice he had
Love.. that man..,seen him many shows, heat of the nite.. & many more.. twlite , lover boy.. loved on all...
Many shows... I love him..
Thank You for sharing this
What an awesome man, that Festus! It's easy to see that the Norwegian children were absolutely thrilled to have an authentic cowboy in their midst!!
the children are so awestruck engaged and well behaved......James Arness was big in Norway he is of viking decent
Festus and Doc came to Odessa, Texas and went to have coffee at a resident there that donated money to their Charity!
Those were the good old days that are long gone!
That sure sounds like them!😍💖☘🕊
Ken Curtis was great and a legend.
I really wish we could go back to those good old days,,so many of are great people that were with us are now in heaven,and were waiting for are day to come! What is it gonna be like?is Festis up there singing like he used to sing here for us?and playing on Gunsmoke,we ain’t ever going to no until are day comes, I love ❤️ him!
Ken Curtis has such a beautiful and kind-hearted countenance.
Utterly charming. Thank you! Helt sjarmerende. Takk skal du ha!
I saw him at a Rodeo in Iowa (was with Doc)..in mid 60's DRESSED LIKE THIS..
Man every time I see this I love it even more
I'm not sure why, but it makes me very happy to think of Norwegians getting so much enjoyment out of watching "Gunsmoke."
i'm gonna see you in heaven one day, Ken. much love.
Hope you do and please tell him that he is very much miss and we still see him on television and love him.
@@leahakel6383 i will tell him, honey... or you could tell him yourself when you get there through the blood of the Lamb. love you.
That girl from the band ...has to be one of the prettiest country, indian singer that I have ever seen.
I didn't know Festus could sing so well ! I enjoyed this very much.
Tommy=Ken Curtis [Festus] sang with the famous Sons of the Pioneers before he became famous on GunSmoke.
@@trooperbias737 And he succeeded Frank Sinatra as lead singer in the Tommy Dorsey Band for a short time.
But if you really want to hear Festus sing well with the Sons of the Pioneers watch the John Wayne movie "Rio Grande" as he sings.
Love this go to prove he was the star of the show also he really was a lot of other countries love America for the cowboy thing he was a true blue actor so proud to have grown up and watch that hanging out my mom and dad was way cool late 60s in the 70s best times do not care what anybody says for the kids still innocence but not as innocent as everybody thinks
A good friend of mine used to live in Palmdale CA. From his account Ken Curtis lived just down the street. He said Ken was the nicest guy. Just as friendly as you can imagine.
Wow!! That's awesome!! Does he have any stories about Ken?
I would have thought just the opposite. If Ken Curtis was alive today, I would like to ask him about show business compared to when he broke in it and now. Now we hear about awful stuff going on with the women and men and children. What a sick bunch of people. Hopefully righteous men and women will replace those wicked people and start making wholesome TV and movies. That would be nice,I mean really.
Anonymous to people who don't know me, Amen to that.......
I love that his boots are all scuffed up, and real trail boots not fancy dude ones. He had a very intense physicality about his presence on stage. No wonder people adored him.
Just remembered that Ken Curtis was Frank Sinatra’s back-up during the Tommy Dorsey contract dispute that was back in the 1940’s that must have been his break in show biz. I do remember him as a member of The Son’s of the Pioneers.Go Festus.
AMEN GONE TO SOON MAY 20 1991 74 YEARS YOUNG !!!!!
Is this the Steve tucker maryanne knows
From potlatch
I'm loving " the loving cup!:)"
Ken you are the greatest!
This was great!!! I love this guy.
Ken Curtis loved me when I was an infant, he loved my grandmother. I have autographed pictures to me from him, He has a very special place in my heart, always has. I love Gunsmoke. I will learn more, we are connected
I really enjoyed this.
How sweet; such a kind and good hearted man.
Erik Bye was king of Television. Simply the greatest.
I loved that cute accent he used on Gunsmoke!
Came from a little Colorado town... Las Animas... on Hwy 50 and east of La Junta....
GREAT GUY, GREAT ACTOR, RARE TALENT, LOOK AT THE CROWD, THEY REALLY LOVE KC. R.I.P KEN, AND A BILLION THANX FOR THE GREAT TIMES
curtis what an american icon and herooooooooooooooooooo
beautiful wife
thanks for posting this it is very cool
those chidren look so intrested!!
I really enjoyed that. Thank for sharing.
THANK YOU FESTUS WHERE YOUR HEART WAS TRUE UND PURE . pww
Man, Festus was my hero when I was boy. Partly because he reminds of my grandfather.
The young,Iroqouis Lady sure could sing! Wish I knew her name! Her song,the way she sung it gave you good shivers...Awesome! All the performers gave their best!😍💖🕊☘🎼🎵🎵🎼
That little boy 9:13 to 9:36. How precious!
Shizue Hicks the kids in my day during the show time. Good love the cowboys stuff the kids are just awesome used to go horseback riding and people would have been make fastest and Matt Dillon very cool though very cool indeed
Festus forever!
Loved..Ken Curtis
. Festus
This is Awesome❣
Beautiful ❤️😍 voice
He was really a good actor in his time and he did good with Marshall Dillon
What a great couple
This is great, the only thing I would suggest was English Subtitles.
What a handsome man under that hat and beard.
Charismatic
Does anyone know if Festus screwed Ms. Kitty?
Rod Wilson.. you are so crude. ..😖
Wonderful beautiful Festus!!!
Awesome actor and singer..
MARAVILLOSOOOOO!!!!!
I wish I understood norsk, so I could fully enjoy this.
You can have all the big lead movie stars, I'll take real genuine men like Ken Curtis and Walter Brennan. Icons who were so talented creating a persona that you thought they were simple bumpkins in real life too. Class personalities.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE WESTERNER WITH W.B. AND GARY COOPER ???
Ken, we never get tired of Festus, either!
Wasn't James Arness' (Matt Dillon) dad from Norway?
Yes
Sorry I didn’t see these pictures before; especially the singing. Love this .
Saw Festus at a TV station promotion in 1960. It was in Manchester, S.Dak., and yes he did, "man-up" on Chester , as the Gunsmoke series progressed on thru the sixties. Although Chester was a true character, also....Dennis Weaver...
I have one of the sons of the pioneers recordings with Festus. Love it
Ship...singers, love love to hear...
Always loved watching Festus on Gunsmoke but it's great to see him here in and out of Character .
LOVE FESTUS AND GUN SMOKE !
Me too,darlin. I've got 15 Years of of it on DVD. They won't release the rest. Don't know why. But if and when they do, I'll download it to you ok? Seminole Wind.
EDITH GILBERTT imagine this... one night I fell asleep with the inspiration channel and gunsmoke came on.. i was asleep and Festus says??? Mr Ayers! Ya Gotta Let Marshal Dillion take care of this?!
I grew up in Cheyenne Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 watching most every Gunsmoke TV show... so please do understand? Asleep and hearing Festus again Mr Ayers... a Gunsmoke episode from the early 60’s I had missed this one...
But here today I live in Clovis California USA 🇺🇸 close to a Statue of Ken Curtis as Festus...
My grandpa grew up in Abilene Kansas and went to school with Dwight D. Eisenhower in Abilene Kansas..
And Cheyenne Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 for me the 60’s and 70’s Cheyenne Frontier Daze!! yeeeeeeeeHaaa saddle Up! Out under a Wyoming Sky!
I am truly blessed indeed and thankful for such a wonderful life! Happy Rails and Happy Trails!!
Sons of The Pioneers yeeeeaaah? Myself from a USA 🇺🇸 1776 Family!
On the Trail again Willy Nelson? Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn.. heard them in Cheyenne Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days The WORLDS Largest Outdoor Rodeo “ The DADDY of Em ALL
He make that show 😂 fun all of them they were so good
@@leahakel6383 thank you for your kind reply.
God Bless You-RIP
Paul A Kosik NONO
I'M SURE THAT KEN CURTIS SANG WITH THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS !!!!!
He did.
Yes he did and he has the most beautiful voice. When he first came as Festus he was sounding like himself.
He did have a beautiful voice and was in many movies with John Wayne ❤️.
He was one of the Sons of the Pioneers and was such a handsome young singer.
@@vivians9392 Ken Curtis had a very infectious smile, and he knew how to use his smile when he sang.
I still to this very day love Gunsmoke.. ❤
Hilarious opening! 🐎
You didn't think I could git a woman that purty, did ya? : )
Love that Ken Curtis
That was cute
Festus wuz the bestus !!!
Wundervoller Ken Curtis. ❤❤❤
Now this is Real entertainment, not like the stuff they have today.