Stories by Jay Coffin
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What’s the difference between Chester and Festus on Gunsmoke?
Both were lovable sidekicks for the legendary Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke. Let’s break down the differences between the two.
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Did the cast of Gunsmoke get along in real life?
For a series that ran 20 years, there was never any real angst among the staff over the years, and the Gunsmoke cast even stayed friends well after the series ended.
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Remembering Roger Ewing, Gunsmoke’s Thad Greenwood
Roger Ewing grew up watching Gunsmoke and was surprised that it led to an acting career that included appearing in more than 50 episodes, most notably as Deputy Marshal and handyman Thad Greenwood.
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Who was Zane Grey?
Zane Grey was a famous American Western novelist and one of the most influential writers of frontier and adventure fiction in the early 20th century.
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What Was The Virginian’s Real Name?
The decision not to give James Drury’s character a name in The Virginian was made so he would be seen as a Western hero defined by his actions more than his name.
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Was Gunsmoke’s Dodge City a Real Town?
Dodge City was made famous because of Gunsmoke’s historic run. But was it a real place led by Marshal Matt Dillon, and if so, where is it? We dig in here.
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Did Joel McCrea own a ranch?
Joel McCrea appeared in 80 films, including many historic Westerns. One of the oft-asked questions about the star was how much his off-screen life mirrored his on-screen performances.
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Was Theodore Roosevelt Shot During a Speech?
Theodore Roosevelt was shot while preparing for a campaign speech in Milwaukee on Oct. 14, 1912, during his run for a third term as president, this time on the Progressive ticket.
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Who was the first female lead in a Western film?
The story of female leads in Western films begins as early as 1908 and stretches across decades of innovation, struggle, and reinvention.








