When I worked as a master control engineer, I ran this program after the 10 pm news M-F. I used to love coming out of the last commercial break and running the short clip here of the closing credits. we had hundreds of thousands of viewers then before the days of cable. Have you ever seen the episode where young HARRISON FORD played a rowdy cowboy who Dillon punched? As Harrison fell his prop gun knocked out all his front teeth. CBS felt terrible and replaced them with false ones, Ford went on
Great job. This is the only version of this closing theme I have found, (this one that starts with the drum and strumming guitar). I ran this program many times when I was a master control engineer at a large TV station in the Denver area back in 1982-3. Gunsmoke really was a classic, and the stories were far more involved with human emotion and real-life drama than the average TV westerns. Even though we were re-running old episodes, we were the NUMBER ONE show in our time slot. Love the theme.
The theme {aka "Old Trails"} was originally written for the radio series by Rex Koury. These credits are from the episode, "Deadman's Law" {1/8/68}, when the series appeared on Mondays at 7:30pm(et).
"GGGUUUNNNSSSMMMOOOKKKEEE !!!....., starring James Arness as Matt Dillon". One of the most recognised opening lines in the history of TV series. This song is definetly one of my favorite closing theme songs.
I have a great feeling when I hear this song, and I'm not sure why that is. The series was canceled before I was even born, and I never even saw an episode of it until last year (I was always more of a Bonanza fan). Regardless, the closing theme on this show sure does bring a good feeling every single time I hear it.
They just don't make shows like this anymore. Gunsmoke is Classic all the way! I love this version of the closing theme and that old coffee pot on the stove. This brings back so many memories of watching it as a child back in the day.
@bybeert I like the original b/w versions but the later color with the old coffee pot on the wood burning stove in the closing credits always elicits memories of my dad. Growing up on a farm in the early '50's we had a wood burning stove and I vividly remember him brewing coffee in an old coffee pot. The whole house would be cold except the living room and we'd lay our clothes out across the backs of chairs facing the stove so they'd be warm when we dressed for school. Ancient history now.
@greenecycle I was obsessed with the coffee pot in the closing credits when I was little, I told my mom and dad about that. there was a little hole, kinda like a birthmark on the coffee pot, didnt know that huh?
@jhzenor61481 If you look real close at the end credits on the very first 1966 color episode, you will see steam coming out of the coffee pot spout. I guess they didnt 'still' it. :-)
@jhzenor61481 These old coffee pots were enamel coated steel. The enamel was baked on and very brittle, like porcelain. Over time with heating and cooling of the coffee pot small chucks of enamel would break off,or if you dropped or hit it with something. Thus the "birthmark". Google images "antique enamel coffee pot". My dad's was kind of gray with blue speckles. Wish I knew what happened to it. If still alive my dad would be 101.
This is one of my favorite closing themes. The TV show Gunsmoke has transcended generations. One of the longest running shows in the form of a weekly series! Also a little known fact, practically every famous actor has guest starred on Gunsmoke. From Bette Davis to Clint Eastwood, they've all been on Gunsmoke.
It is my second all time favorite. I loved Bewitched.... that was my favorite. Agnes Moorehead was on Gunsmoke more that once. One of the greatest shows of all time.
Funny how I always remember the coffee pot at the end with the scratch on it. Classic and sweet memory of sitting on the couch with my Grandpa watching this and how by this part he was already falling asleep with his mouth wide open. Me and my brothers would always crack up laughing at that. I miss him so much and when this show comes out it brings those days to mind.
I spent alot of time with my grandparents growing up, they had a farm and I have some many great memoies. We use to watch this show, my grandparents and we would be shelling peas. This brought back some wonderful times in my life. I was close to both of them and miss them very much. Part of the farm is mine, and it is 110 miles from my house and I willl drive and take my boys and show them where I chopped and picked cotton. all the tractors are still there, thanks for letting me go down mem lane
Hey 1969pontiac1,thanks for that beautiful memory. I know what you mean. I miss my Grandparents too. They were treasures to me . I went by their old house the other day got out of ther car and walked to the front by the door and I was overwhelmed with a yearning to see them even though they are gone now. The nice poeple that live there now let me go in and I almost broke down seeing the old house. So many sweet moments there. They'll always be in my heart.
Me too, it was the SEASON I was born and they played this as well. Im going to try t get a better audio version of this, you have to give me more time to do so.
Best closing theme they ever had. I personally like the somewhat gravelly quality of this copy, just makes it that much more "back in the day". Also always liked CBS slide at the tail end. V of Doom is absent, but awesome nonetheless.
Ya know..even though this was taped off TV...I love hearing this tune as much as possible because we used to play this in Orchestra in High School. This is one of the best wrtten western tunes around.
Thanks for posting. Is the entire theme available?
coomason5 3 months ago
anyone have a CLEAN copy of hte ending? not some version recorded off the TV with a $10 camcorder from walmart?
ivegotalongdong 8 months ago
When I worked as a master control engineer, I ran this program after the 10 pm news M-F. I used to love coming out of the last commercial break and running the short clip here of the closing credits. we had hundreds of thousands of viewers then before the days of cable. Have you ever seen the episode where young HARRISON FORD played a rowdy cowboy who Dillon punched? As Harrison fell his prop gun knocked out all his front teeth. CBS felt terrible and replaced them with false ones, Ford went on
WillSee11 1 year ago
@WillSee11 WOW! No way! Ouch!
I love YouTube..the stories and comments are a goldmine of info otherwise not accessible.
Trund27 8 months ago
Great job. This is the only version of this closing theme I have found, (this one that starts with the drum and strumming guitar). I ran this program many times when I was a master control engineer at a large TV station in the Denver area back in 1982-3. Gunsmoke really was a classic, and the stories were far more involved with human emotion and real-life drama than the average TV westerns. Even though we were re-running old episodes, we were the NUMBER ONE show in our time slot. Love the theme.
WillSee11 1 year ago
The theme {aka "Old Trails"} was originally written for the radio series by Rex Koury. These credits are from the episode, "Deadman's Law" {1/8/68}, when the series appeared on Mondays at 7:30pm(et).
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
I cannot tell you how many nights I watched Gunsmoke after the 10:00 news. This theme song was my sign that it was bedtime
bobke114 1 year ago
"GGGUUUNNNSSSMMMOOOKKKEEE !!!....., starring James Arness as Matt Dillon". One of the most recognised opening lines in the history of TV series. This song is definetly one of my favorite closing theme songs.
BobK1001 1 year ago
I have a great feeling when I hear this song, and I'm not sure why that is. The series was canceled before I was even born, and I never even saw an episode of it until last year (I was always more of a Bonanza fan). Regardless, the closing theme on this show sure does bring a good feeling every single time I hear it.
mrbobbyh 1 year ago
They just don't make shows like this anymore. Gunsmoke is Classic all the way! I love this version of the closing theme and that old coffee pot on the stove. This brings back so many memories of watching it as a child back in the day.
bybeert 1 year ago 2
,,thats funny because I remember that the most with the old kettle on the stove, it was one of my earliest memories.
S0lidState 1 year ago
@bybeert I like the original b/w versions but the later color with the old coffee pot on the wood burning stove in the closing credits always elicits memories of my dad. Growing up on a farm in the early '50's we had a wood burning stove and I vividly remember him brewing coffee in an old coffee pot. The whole house would be cold except the living room and we'd lay our clothes out across the backs of chairs facing the stove so they'd be warm when we dressed for school. Ancient history now.
greenecycle 11 months ago
@greenecycle Oh, man! I totally got a really cool image from your story. Thanks for sharing that.
I can smell the wood smoke and coffee now
Trund27 8 months ago
@greenecycle I was obsessed with the coffee pot in the closing credits when I was little, I told my mom and dad about that. there was a little hole, kinda like a birthmark on the coffee pot, didnt know that huh?
jhzenor61481 8 months ago
@jhzenor61481 If you look real close at the end credits on the very first 1966 color episode, you will see steam coming out of the coffee pot spout. I guess they didnt 'still' it. :-)
Landaux 8 months ago
@jhzenor61481 These old coffee pots were enamel coated steel. The enamel was baked on and very brittle, like porcelain. Over time with heating and cooling of the coffee pot small chucks of enamel would break off,or if you dropped or hit it with something. Thus the "birthmark". Google images "antique enamel coffee pot". My dad's was kind of gray with blue speckles. Wish I knew what happened to it. If still alive my dad would be 101.
greenecycle 8 months ago
@jhzenor61481, that coffee pot was one of the loneliest sights on television.
cag1970 6 months ago
This is one of my favorite closing themes. The TV show Gunsmoke has transcended generations. One of the longest running shows in the form of a weekly series! Also a little known fact, practically every famous actor has guest starred on Gunsmoke. From Bette Davis to Clint Eastwood, they've all been on Gunsmoke.
RealDare2 2 years ago 8
I cant think of anyone of HASNT been on Gunsmoke. Everyone has gotten their 'turn' over the years.
Landaux 2 years ago
It is my second all time favorite. I loved Bewitched.... that was my favorite. Agnes Moorehead was on Gunsmoke more that once. One of the greatest shows of all time.
1969pontiac1 2 years ago
Funny how I always remember the coffee pot at the end with the scratch on it. Classic and sweet memory of sitting on the couch with my Grandpa watching this and how by this part he was already falling asleep with his mouth wide open. Me and my brothers would always crack up laughing at that. I miss him so much and when this show comes out it brings those days to mind.
OldMrMemories 2 years ago
I spent alot of time with my grandparents growing up, they had a farm and I have some many great memoies. We use to watch this show, my grandparents and we would be shelling peas. This brought back some wonderful times in my life. I was close to both of them and miss them very much. Part of the farm is mine, and it is 110 miles from my house and I willl drive and take my boys and show them where I chopped and picked cotton. all the tractors are still there, thanks for letting me go down mem lane
1969pontiac1 2 years ago
Hey 1969pontiac1,thanks for that beautiful memory. I know what you mean. I miss my Grandparents too. They were treasures to me . I went by their old house the other day got out of ther car and walked to the front by the door and I was overwhelmed with a yearning to see them even though they are gone now. The nice poeple that live there now let me go in and I almost broke down seeing the old house. So many sweet moments there. They'll always be in my heart.
OldMrMemories 2 years ago
The closing credits for "Gunsmoke" from 1967 looks a lot better!! 8-)
CraigFoye80 2 years ago
In my opinion, the Gunsmoke closing theme is the greatest closing theme in the history of television.
MrRussia61 2 years ago 3
Next to 'My Three Sons' in my opinion, yes. :-)
Landaux 2 years ago
Hey..........
luvthoseclips 2 years ago
......What?
Landaux 2 years ago
i love that old show
rugged66 2 years ago
1969-71 is my favorite.
scorpio888 2 years ago
best tv westren of all time, even though it supposed to be Kansas, and in all the scenes there are big mountains! There are no mountains in Kansas!
calimar28 2 years ago
Do most Gunsmoke episodes have the V Of Steel?
jinglebell61 2 years ago
Well Somehow They Do, But What About The "Wigga-Wigga" One?
05309193 2 years ago
For both logos, chances are about 50/50 for each.
Half the time it's the V of Steel, half the time it's Wigga Wigga.
tbone2004 2 years ago
gives me goosebumps.this is from the year I was born.
dcat918 2 years ago
Me too, it was the SEASON I was born and they played this as well. Im going to try t get a better audio version of this, you have to give me more time to do so.
Landaux 2 years ago
Best closing theme they ever had. I personally like the somewhat gravelly quality of this copy, just makes it that much more "back in the day". Also always liked CBS slide at the tail end. V of Doom is absent, but awesome nonetheless.
compretrofan66 2 years ago
Ya know..even though this was taped off TV...I love hearing this tune as much as possible because we used to play this in Orchestra in High School. This is one of the best wrtten western tunes around.
Mandi7882 3 years ago
OH No gunsmoke has a V of doom in this show
1soniccool 3 years ago
What channel was this off of?
jhzenor61481 3 years ago