Gunsmoke: An American Institution Celebrating 50 Years of Television's Best Western [Hardcover]

Ben Costello (Author), Jim Byrnes (Author), Jon Voight (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 2005

Starting on September 10, 1955, and continuing for more than 600 episodes over the next twenty years, Gunsmoke ruled the airwaves. Never in the history of television had a show so captured the hearts of the American public. Each week, Marshal Matt Dillon and his friends would face a new threat to the peace and lawfulness of their frontier home of Dodge City, Kansas. And each week, goodness and determination prevailed. In recognition of this, the showÂ’s golden anniversary, author Ben Costello has produced a remarkable testament to the on-screen and off-screen individuals who made the story lines come alive.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I appeared in a lot of Westerns in those days, and ‘Gunsmoke’ was the king of them all." -- Actress Angie Dickinson

"I appreciate your book, and I think a lot of people will. The interest is still certainly there." -- Actor & Artist Buck Taylor

"The reason for the record-breaking longevity of ‘Gunsmoke’ is simple: Quality." -- Actor & Author Alex Cord

"This marvelous tome helps me re-live my work with the superb ‘Gunsmoke’ cast." -- Actor Morgan Woodward

"What a book, what a show, what a cast, crew and pleasure it was to be part of it." -- Actor Lance LeGault

Costello has captured just about every detail about the show and put them all together with hundreds of photographs. --Wayne Price, Editor’s Page – Rural Electric Nebraskan, November 2005

About the Author

Ben Costello is a self-confessed film and television buff. Starting at the age of five, he has appeared on stage in a variety of dramatic and comedic roles. He also enjoys writing and directing.

Along with fellow comedian John Babrowski, Costello has played in casinos and clubs from New York City to Las Vegas, frequently portraying characters similar to Abbott and Costello (no, Ben Costello and Lou Costello are not related). In fact, Costello and Babrowski performed the classic "WhoÂ’s on First" routine at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, to kick off the 2000 World Series. They were the first to do so since Abbott and Costello performed the skit there 44 years earlier.

Costello wrote, produced, and costarred in The Whitley & Costello Show in 1979. In 1987, he took the classic Laurel and Hardy movie Way Out West" and adapted it for the stage, with the blessings of Lucille Hardy Price, widow of comedian Oliver Hardy.

In 1988, his play titled "Company B" debuted. The show, a slapstick musical tribute to World War II, was so popular that it spawned five stage sequels. For his work on this production, Costello won Best Actor, Writer, Director, and Production awards from the Southern California Theatre Leagues.

Costello teaches seminars on "Hollywood Comedy and Comedians" and is an authority on television and motion picture Westerns.

A divorced father of one, Costello makes his home in the desert community of Joshua Tree, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 622 pages
• Publisher: Five Star Publications (AZ) (August 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589850149
• ISBN-13: 978-1589850149
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 11.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #793,967 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!, October 7, 2005

By 

Marilyn B. Marbury - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gunsmoke: An American Institution Celebrating 50 Years of Television's Best Western (Hardcover)

Ben Costello's book, Gunsmoke: An American Institution Celebrating 50 Years of Television's Best Western is a wonderful tribute to Gunsmoke; the longest running dramatic series on television. Judging by the length of the title, you might expect one BIG BOOK. Indeed, it is! It's a big wonderful ride through Dodge City with Matt, Kitty, Doc, Chester, Festus, Quint and all the characters, writers and producers that made Gunsmoke such a classic.

It's filled with insightful interviews from Burt Reynolds, Jon Voight, Dennis Weaver, and many, many others. Great stories abound about filming, the cast and crew, the family atmosphere on the set, and lots of other 'insider' information, but thankfully, this is not a gossipy book. Ben's love for Gunsmoke is apparent and his sensitive approach to the classic series is right on target.

The numerous photographs (candid and posed) are terrific and practically in framing condition! Every one of the 635 episodes is given a brief synopsis accompanied by the cast, writer/s and producers list.

It's obvious this special tribute to Gunsmoke was a monumental effort and it shows. From cover to cover, it's a great read....and read....and read. This book is a 'must have' for any fan of Gunsmoke. Thank you Ben for this wonderful treat. Kudos!!! Marilyn Marbury

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Golden Tribute, September 26, 2005

By 

Sandra Henry (PA/ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gunsmoke: An American Institution Celebrating 50 Years of Television's Best Western (Hardcover)

Gunsmoke: An American Institution is a wonderful read, and I highly recommend it. Author Ben Costello has penned an impressive (and vast) tribute to TV's longest-running drama, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary since debuting on CBS in 1955.

I must confess to feeling just a particle cocky. After all, I thought I'd seen all of the photographs and heard all the stories about the TV show that has captivated me since I was a very small child. However, I was surprised and delighted by the dozens of candid pictures and interviews that were new and fresh.

Costello's book joins the ranks of a half dozen other published works devoted to the fictional characters of Dodge City, Kansas, circa 1872. However, this book is unique in a very big way . . . it's evident that like so many of us, Ben Costello is a devoted fan. Gunsmoke: An American Institution oozes warmth and affection, but it never traverses into "syrupy." That's a fine line, but the author navigates it with skill.

United States Marshal Matt Dillon, Kitty Russell and their Dodge City friends come alive on the pages of this wonderful tribute. And I am confident that, like the series it honors, this book will entertain and delight fans for many years to come. I know it tops my holiday gift list this year!

Sandy Henry
author, A Child's Bedtime Companion
Something Borrowed, Something Blue

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent Work, January 14, 2006

By 

M. Fisher (Yukon, Oklahoma United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gunsmoke: An American Institution Celebrating 50 Years of Television's Best Western (Hardcover)

At the beginning, Costello states he's a fan of the show, and to be honest, only a fan could write such a loving work such as this. He's obviously put a lot of time and effort into it, and this is not as much a book, as a labor of love. I envy him the interviews with Dennis Weaver, Burt Reynolds, and Buck Taylor, all of which were wonderful to read. It's great to read how each of the stars of the show put their fans first, and how professional the show was. How they were a close-knit group, never losing thier humanity. A show the caliber of GUNSMOKE deserves a quality book, and Costello delivers.