Marshal Matt Dillon is a fictional character featured on both the radio and television versions of Gunsmoke. He serves as the U.S. Marshal of Dodge City, Kansas who works to preserve law and order in the western frontier of the 1870's. The character was originally created by writer John Meston, who envisioned him as a man "...whose hair is probably red, if he's got any left. He'd be handsomer than he is if he had better manners but life and his enemies have left him looking a little beat up, and I suppose having seen his mother (back about 1840) trying to take a bath in a wooden washtub without fully undressing left his soul a little warped. Anyway, there'd have to be something wrong with him or he wouldn't have hired on as a United States Marshal in the heyday of Dodge City, Kansas." Notwithstanding Meston's original vision, the character evolved considerably during Gunsmoke's nine-year run on CBS Radio and its 20-year run on CBS Television. On the radio series (which ran from 1952 until 1961), Matt was portrayed by William Conrad, whose booming voice helped to project a larger than life presence. In the opening of most radio episodes, the announcer would describe the show as "...the story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man who moved with it." Matt would take over, saying, "I'm that man, Matt Dillon, United States Marshal -- the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job, and it makes a man watchful . . . and a little lonely." Matt narrated many of the radio episodes, usually to help set the scene for the listener or to provide observations that assisted with character development. In the radio series, Matt often struggled with the need to utilize violence in order to fulfill his duties. He also struggled with the many needless tragedies that he was forced to witness on a frequent basis. These factors led him to become snappish and impatient at times, but he nevertheless managed to remain sufficiently in control of his emotions to perform his difficult job capably and impartially. In the radio version, Matt spoke of actual persons who were well known in the history of the American West, and he often referred to Wild Bill Hickock as being a close personal friend. In the television version (which ran from 1955 until 1975), Matt was portrayed by James Arness. Since most of the early television episodes were based upon stories and scripts from the radio version, Arness's interpretation and portrayal were initially similar to those offered by William Conrad. However, as the television version continued, Arness's Matt developed a number of differences. In the television version, Matt became more resigned to the violent nature of his job and he was somewhat less given to brooding about the dangers and tragedies inherent in it. Arness's Matt was a bit more understanding and tolerant of people's foibles and he was a bit quicker to recognize persons who came to Dodge City with the intention of committing crimes. As time went on, Arness's Matt became less inclined to use violence to subdue wrongdoers, but he never hesitated to do so when the situation warranted. Because of Arness's large (6' 7") physical presence, most of Matt's adversaries seemed overmatched unless there were several of them. In any event, only the toughest or the most foolhardy individuals dared challenge him to a fair fight. He was fast and accurate with the single gun he carried and could easily outdraw almost any adversary, despite the fact that he virtually always allowed them to draw first. During the 9-year run of the radio version of "Gunsmoke" and the 20-year run of the television version, surprisingly little was revealed about Matt's family history or about events in his past that may have shaped his views or his attitude toward his work. Certain of Matt's characteristics remained common to both the radio and television versions. Throughout both, Matt remained steadfast, honest, absolutely incorruptible, and dedicated to the cause of bringing genuine law and order to the violent and untamed American West. He could also be notably compassionate toward those who had fallen on hard times or who had lost a loved one to crime or violence. In both the television and the radio versions, his closest friends were his assistant Chester, town physician "Doc" Adams, and saloonkeeper Kitty Russell. Chester and Doc were among Matt's few real friends because he knew that he could trust them in any situation. In the television version, Chester was eventually replaced by Festus Haggen, an uneducated but savvy plainsman who ultimately became a badge-wearing Deputy U. S. Marshal (a position that always eluded Chester). In both the radio and television versions, the nature of Matt's relationship with Kitty Russell was deliberately kept somewhat vague. Kitty was initially just another saloon "hostess", but she eventually became a part-owner and ultimately the sole owner of the thriving Long Branch Saloon. In both the radio and television versions, Matt frequently dined and socialized with Kitty and he seldom showed more than polite interest in any other woman. Kitty was similarly devoted to Matt, notwithstanding the fact that her job called for frequent socializing with many men from all walks of life. She seldom showed more than fleeting interest in any man other than Matt and it was evident that she would have readily accepted Matt's proposal of marriage. However, she was a realist and she was well aware that Matt was reluctant to marry because the high-risk nature of his job could have made her a widow suddenly and without warning. In any event, they always remained devoted to one another in their own unique fashion.
In a 1949 audition show (or pilot) for the radio series, the character was named "Mark Dillon," but by 1952, when the regular series aired, he had become Matt Dillon. When the program came to television in 1955, introduced by John Wayne in a brief film clip before the first episode, James Arness had been given the role that he would play for the next twenty years. A popular story holds that Wayne had been offered the part and had turned it down. However, this was refuted by Charles Marquis Warren, who produced the first year of the television version of "Gunsmoke" and made the major casting decisions. Warren flatly denied that Wayne had ever actually been offered the role or that anyone would have been bold enough to suggest that he abandon a still-promising movie career for a less certain and less lucrative television role. Wayne did, however, recommend James Arness for the part and his offer to introduce the first episode was readily accepted by CBS. Others who had auditioned for the part included Raymond Burr, Richard Boone, Denver Pyle, and William Conrad. All would go on to other television successes. Conrad, in particular, would continue to portray Matt on the radio series until it ended in 1961. He would also go on to direct a number of television programs and star in two television series, Cannon (1971-1976) and Jake and the Fat Man (1987-1992).
Sources
- Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. pp. 301-306. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507678-8
- Barabas, SuzAnne and Barabas, Gabor (1990). "Gunsmoke: A Complete History and Analysis of the Legendary Broadcast Series". Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Company, Publishers. ISBN 0-899450-418-3
