Was there a real matt dillon in dodge city kansas

In southwest Kansas, in the path of the Great Western Cattle Trail, lies the historic locale known as Dodge City. To history buffs, it’s the raucous settlement frequented by notable figures like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. For millions of TV fans, it’s the setting of the long-running Western Gunsmoke.

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Watch Gunsmoke on MeTV!
The Stereotypical Marshall of the West
Characters Come Together in True Grit by CharlesPortis
The Stereotypical Old-West Hero
Revenge and Murder, Justified with the Characters in the Short Story, Killings
Gunsmoke and the Old-West Hero
Gunsmoke Synthesis
Colonel George Armstrong Custer
Wild Western History
William Buffalo Bill Cody
Montana 1948 by Larry Watson
Was there a real Matt Dillon from Dodge City?
Did James Arness ever visit Dodge City Kansas?
Is Dodge City of Gunsmoke a real city?
How many times did Matt Dillon get shot on Gunsmoke?

The city is proud of its place both in American history and the hearts of television Western devotees. In many ways, they are one and the same.

You can drive down Wyatt Earp Boulevard or stroll along Gunsmoke Street. There are statues of Doc Holliday and James Arness, the actor famous for playing U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke.

In fact, Arness and fellow cast members Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty, and Milburn Stone, who portrayed Doc Adams, visited Dodge City in 1958 and helped intertwine the mythic Old West with the modern Kansas town.

They were on a promotional trip billed as "Return to the Santa Fe Trail" by Gunsmoke's network, CBS. While on the trail, so to speak, they met the real marshal of Dodge City, Ramon House. A replica of the old Long Branch Saloon, the lively establishment owned by Miss Kitty on the show, provided the perfect place for a photo opportunity of the marshal (the real one) and the three Gunsmoke leads.

It was in 1958 when a small, historic road named Walnut became known as Gunsmoke Street.

Today, visitors can stride down the cobblestone thoroughfare following the Dodge City Trail of Fame. Just like in Hollywood, plaques in the sidewalk commemorate both real historical figures, like Bat Masterson, and the actors who brought them to life. Like Gene Barry — who played Masterson on TV from 1958–61.

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The Stereotypical Marshall of the West

The west was a rough and rugged era that needed taming. It was a time of outlaws, gunfights, and cowboys. Some sort of order had to be enforced so that the west could become a productive safe place for everyone. The best way for that to happen was to bring in law enforcement. Someone to be in charge and make things run smoothly. Matt Dillon from the show Gunsmoke was the answer to this problem. He brought balance to the west. Dillon was the Marshall to the city of Dodge. He had all of the characteristics that a Marshall would need to possess in order to keep a city like Dodge to run without too many problems. Dillon was so good at what he did because he was cautious, caring, and honorable.
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Characters Come Together in True Grit by CharlesPortis
Mattie Ross is not a typical country girl, but rather a very typical quest type hero. Just like any other quest hero, she possesses the drive to accomplish her goal, the brains as to how to accomplish it, and the reason to embark on such a dangerous quest. Mattie wants to avenge her father’s death, Franks Ross, after Chaney shoots him in broad daylight, while he was just trying to help Chaney. When Frank is trying to talk to him, “Tom Chaney raised his rifle and shot him in the forehead, killing him instantly” (10). Mattie is devastated with this news, and sets out to find Tom Chaney, and kill him herself, or watch him be killed. She goes to Fort Smith and starts asking around for information regarding Frank Ross, her father. When Mattie looks for deputy marshals for the job, she picks Rooster Cogburn for the job, because she hears he is the one that will shoot Chaney on sight, and not just try and talk. Another way that Mattie is the hero is that she does not give in when Rooster and LeBeouf tell her to go back across the river, and they tell the ferrymen, ‘“Slim, take this girl to town and present her to the sheriff. She is a runaway. Her people are worried nearly to death about her. There is a fifty-dollar reward for her return”’ (136). LeBeouf is unquestionably telling a story about this, just to get Mattie to stay, whe...
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The Stereotypical Old-West Hero
No matter what situation arises in Dodge, or the surrounding area, Matt Dillon is able to resolve it most often without the help of anyone else except for his faithful follower Chester. Whenever Dillon hears of a problem, he immediately goes to see what the trouble is with Chester. He doesn't listen to anyone and only brings more people if it would go better with his plan. In the episode, "Tecetta", Dillon boldly asks three gunmen to give up their guns at a bar and then tells them to leave the next morning. He says it in such a way that is unquestionable and demanding of respect. And people listen! In the episode, "The Buffalo Hunter", when Dillon and Chester go searching for the villain, Gatloff, they run into one of his skinners whose been shot. Always the independent spirit, Dillon commands Chester to stay with the man saying, "I'll ride on by myself".
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Revenge and Murder, Justified with the Characters in the Short Story, Killings
Matt Fowler’s thoughts transform into revenge as a way of healing for his family. He plans the assassination of Richard Strout. After months of planning, Matt waits for Strout to get off work: “when Strout came around it alone [the building], [sic] Matt got out of the car, giving up the hope he had kept all night (and for the week) that Strout would come out with friends” (Dubus 112-113). Ironic symbolization: Matt Fowler didn’t really want to kill Richard Strout: however, he had to protect his family and avenge the murder of his son. One murder ultimately justifies the second murder within the mindset of Matt. The story concludes with not only two murders, but also with the insinuation of the second murder being justified by Matt and Ruth
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Gunsmoke and the Old-West Hero
Dillon, (as many other old-west heroes), has a deep care and concern for all people. It is his job to take care of them and to keep them safe. He is always doing what is right. In each episode he has a deep concern for what the impact the decisions of some may have on others. He also has a concern for what the outcome of their decisions will have on themselves. He does all he can to help them realize that making the right decision and being honest will provide the best route of happiness and survival.
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Gunsmoke Synthesis

Between the years 1952 to 1961, the series Gunsmoke was broadcasted across the nation. The show gave people insight into a past life of men who carried guns, fought for what was theirs, and showed that even the hardest people could be tamed.
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Colonel George Armstrong Custer
Colonel George Armstrong Custer The West's most famous battle pitted glory seeking Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry against 3,000 warriors under the leadership of Chief Sitting Bull. Sitting Bull had been told to report to the Sioux reservation by the end of January 1876. when he chose to stay on his land that had earlier been promised to him and his people in a treaty, the government, or mostly the War Department declared Sitting Bull and his people hostile and planned a large scale military advance. Sitting Bull sent messengers to the Sioux, the Cheyenne, and the Arapaho, including the tribes that were on reservations, trying to get the tribes to unite against the advancing white troops.
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Wild Western History
The Wild West is idealized as a time period in which different people had specific roles such as cattle herders, miners, and sheriffs and villains. These people portrayed these roles with such enthusiasm that it seemed over exaggerated and many stories were therefore created. The movies that were created over the years have not always been as accurate as the history books have recorded. Even the history books have conflicting accounts as to what actually happened to the cowboys of the Wild West. Some of the greatest stories ever told and turned into movies were the stories about the gunman cowboys.
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William Buffalo Bill Cody
William Buffalo Bill Cody Buffalo Bill was one of the most interesting figures of the old west, and the best known spokesman of the new west. Buffalo Bill was born in 1846 and his real name was William Frederick Cody. Cody was many things. He was a trapper, bullwhacker, Colorado 'Fifty-Niner';, Pony Express rider, Civil War soldier, wagonmaster, stagecoach driver, and even a manager of a hotel. He changed his name to Buffalo Bill sometime in his early twenties for his skill while supplying railroad workers with buffalo meat.
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Montana 1948 by Larry Watson
Larry Watson, in “Montana 1948”, uses the motif of light and silence in many ways to develop, clarify and reinforce ideas about truth and injustice, and portray the nature of some characters. He illustrates the injustice in Bentrock through the motif of light and then demonstrates to the reader the occurrence of something wrong through the motif of silence. The motif of light also sometimes assists the motif of silence to emphasize the significance of the event.
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Was there a real Matt Dillon from Dodge City?

Matt Dillon is a fictional character featured on both the radio and television versions of Gunsmoke. He is the U.S. Marshal of Dodge City, Kansas, who works to preserve law and order in the western frontier of the 1870s. The character was created by writer John Meston.

Did James Arness ever visit Dodge City Kansas?

Arness, along with his fellow cast members, actually did go check out the real Dodge City one time. It made an impression on him as an actor and person.

Is Dodge City of Gunsmoke a real city?

The Western ran on CBS from 1955 to 1975 and featured a fictional Dodge City of the Old West (the show was actually shot outside Kanab, Utah).

How many times did Matt Dillon get shot on Gunsmoke?

A: According to several Gunsmoke references online, Matt Dillon — the marshal that James Arness played — was shot more than 50 times during the series' 20-year episodic run and its reunion movies.