About the Author
John McGran
Veteran author and web content creator John McGran has spent the past 40 years blazing trails in the fields of news, food, and sports. The guy who grew up binge-watching black-and-white Westerns like The Rifleman, Gunsmoke, and Bonanza has joined the posse of INSP writers to provide a colorful new look at the characters, shows, and movies you know and love.
Stories by John McGran
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How Festus Became a Deputy on Gunsmoke?
Festus Haggen may have arrived in Dodge City as a replacement character for the departing Chester Goode, but he left fans with plenty of fond memories as Marshall Dillon’s deputy sheriff.
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What is John Wayne’s Most Famous Line?
Iconic cowboy actor John Wayne is fondly remembered for speaking some of the all-time favorite movie lines and for calling folks “Pilgrims.” But how often did he actually say the word?
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Clint Eastwood and John Wayne … Friends or Foes?
John Wayne and Clint Eastwood held differing opinions of the values, traditions and heroes of the Old West. A major rift arose when Eastwood expressed his opinions on the big screen.
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Horses of Hollywood: Matt Dillon’s Trusty Steed
By John McGran There was no CGI or AI when the opening credits of Gunsmoke unspooled for the first time on Sept. 10, 1955. The breathtaking 15-second opening sequence that features U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon racing across…
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The Marilyn Monroe Story
By John McGran Norma Jeane Mortenson was born June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles A studio executive is credited with suggesting she take the name Marilyn Monroe The 23 films in which she appeared grossed…
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Was John Wayne’s Nathan Brittles Based on a Real Person?
By John McGran John Wayne was 41 and on the cusp of big-screen greatness when he saddled up as U.S. cavalry officer Captain Nathan Brittles for the 1949 John Ford Western classic She Wore a Yellow…
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Why Did Dennis Weaver Leave Gunsmoke?
By John McGran Key Takeaways The question remains more than 60 years later Goode limped into retirement with a throwaway line There would never be an official explanation Americans love conspiracy theories and plot twists.…
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Gold Rush 101: The Nuggets You Need to Know
By John McGran The California Gold Rush of 1849 reshaped a nation, sparked amazing innovation and triggered frenzy like none seen before or since. Fueled by gold fever, thousands upon thousands of Americans—and waves…
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INSP’s Must-Watch Westerns
By John McGran Key Takeaways Gunsmoke leans heavily on its unforgettable and relatable characters The Big Valley remains a big hit 55 years and 112 episodes after its last airing Laramie is a roller-coaster ride of adventure from…
