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James Arness: Last Western Hero Dies, 88
Yahoo/AC ^ | June 4th, 2011 | Sherry Tomfeld

Posted on 06/04/2011 6:06:51 PM PDT by stillafreemind

The fact is, " Arness" and John Wayne could entertain us without sex, vulgarity or extreme visual violence. They still helped us to use imagination. Westerns today depend on sex, vulgarity and extreme visual violence for viewers to tune in or pay for a ticket. Encore Western Channel and TV Land still play reruns of the "Gunsmoke" series. On the official James Arness website, Jim was extremely pleased that it was still running.

(Excerpt) Read more at associatedcontent.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: dies; gunsmoke; jamesarness; westernhero
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To: Venturer

That is awesome!


21 posted on 06/04/2011 6:46:29 PM PDT by Eaker (The problem with the internet, you're never sure of the accuracy of the quotes. Abraham Lincoln '65)
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To: ProudFossil

Feel the same. My last hero: Johnny Cash


22 posted on 06/04/2011 6:48:09 PM PDT by famousdayandyear
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To: stillafreemind

He was a great man, thanks for that info. Here is the text.


Hi friends,

I decided to write a letter to you for Janet to post on our website in the event I was no longer here.

I had a wonderful life and was blessed with some many loving people and great friends. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.

I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years.

I was honored to have served in the army for my country. I was at Anzio during WWII and it makes you realize how very precious life is.

Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails and gifts we received from you over the years. You are and always have been truly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Jim Arness

http://www.jamesarness.com/


23 posted on 06/04/2011 6:50:09 PM PDT by RedMDer (Throw the Rats and RINOs out!)
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To: Libloather

With Eagleburger and Kevorkian, thats three.

RIP


24 posted on 06/04/2011 6:51:37 PM PDT by omega4179
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To: stillafreemind

He was a great man, thanks for that info. Here is the text.


Hi friends,

I decided to write a letter to you for Janet to post on our website in the event I was no longer here.

I had a wonderful life and was blessed with some many loving people and great friends. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.

I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years.

I was honored to have served in the army for my country. I was at Anzio during WWII and it makes you realize how very precious life is.

Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails and gifts we received from you over the years. You are and always have been truly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Jim Arness

http://www.jamesarness.com/


25 posted on 06/04/2011 6:51:37 PM PDT by RedMDer (Throw the Rats and RINOs out!)
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To: ProudFossil

I tried to post a picture but for some reason, it’s not working. Sorry. You’re missing a real treat!


26 posted on 06/04/2011 6:56:28 PM PDT by FrdmLvr (Death to tyrants)
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To: ProudFossil

The same goes for all of our favorite musicians.

I haven’t followed a new band since the early 90’s.


27 posted on 06/04/2011 6:57:59 PM PDT by NWFLConservative (Game On!.................Saracuda 2012)
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To: Ransomed

I had no idea that he was 6’ 7”! I remember reading that fans would write in and chastise the studio for giving Arness such a ‘small horse’ to ride. The studio said it was finding the largest horses it could for Arness but that it couldn’t find one large enough without trying Clydesdales or some other oversized horse that would not have been historically correct for the period. When I read that, I think I was told he was 6’3” and I thought surely they could find a horse for a man that size. Now, 6’7”!??? Poor horsie!


28 posted on 06/04/2011 7:00:37 PM PDT by ransomnote
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To: ransomnote

Horsey named Buck


29 posted on 06/04/2011 7:05:25 PM PDT by JamesA (You don't have to be big to stand tall)
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To: stillafreemind

I loved that show!!!

Here is the opening, then a joke opening filmed by James Arness. Hilarious!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqpa8i7R4uM


30 posted on 06/04/2011 7:05:25 PM PDT by Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears (Dear Lord, Please judge Barack Hussein Obama for betraying Israel, and not the whole nation. Amen.)
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To: NWFLConservative
The same goes for all of our favorite musicians. I haven’t followed a new band since the early 90’s.

Hey young whippersnapper, mine left us in the 70's and 80's. Como, Sinatra, Four Freshmen, Hi-Los, and I can't even begin to list all the instrumentals, Goodman, Winding, Brubeck, etc.. Now it is just me and my recordings. Except Gene Harris just died earlier this year.

31 posted on 06/04/2011 7:06:38 PM PDT by ProudFossil
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To: ProudFossil

>>I am beginning to hate my age. All my heroes are leaving and there are none to replace them.<<

What we are experiencing is the Bieberization of the American Male.

And it ain’t good.


32 posted on 06/04/2011 7:06:50 PM PDT by Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears (Dear Lord, Please judge Barack Hussein Obama for betraying Israel, and not the whole nation. Amen.)
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To: txrangerette

I’m from Kansas and have a book, Why the West Was Wild. In the index it has Marshall Matt Dillon with the caption, “No there was never a Marshall Matt Dillon in Dodge City.”

Thought that was rather fun.


33 posted on 06/04/2011 7:09:39 PM PDT by navymom1
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To: ransomnote

I heard that his army troop used him as a surf-measuring device when they made beach landings. Don’t know if it was true or not, but he was a huge guy. Matthews horse seemed to always be buff coloured with a dark mane. I remember that he called him “buck” at one point, but I think that must have been just one episode.

He towered over everyone on that show, Festus looked like a kid, and Ken Curtis was 6 foot according to IMBD, he looked like he was about 5 foot 3 next to “Matthew”!!

Freegards


34 posted on 06/04/2011 7:09:52 PM PDT by Ransomed
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To: stillafreemind

A true hero, served his country, entertained us through heroism without vulgarity or bragadocious meme, was a great role model for our children. Well done, Sir. Rest now...


35 posted on 06/04/2011 7:10:39 PM PDT by RowdyFFC
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To: ProudFossil

I’m not nearly as young as you think!

For me the 60’s and 70’s were the golden age of rock and roll, no doubt about it. I grew up listening to, in no specific order, just as I remember them, the Doors, the Stones, the Beatles, the Who, the Yardbirds, the Byrds, Clapton (through all his various incarnations, Loving Spoonful, John Mayall’s Blues Breakers, Derek and the Dominos, Cream), Fleetwood Mac, CCR, America, Mama’s and the Papa’s, Zeppelin, ZZ Top, et al.

I think the last two new bands I listened to were Gin Blossoms and Hootie and the Blowfish (the early 90’s), and they are both long gone now.


36 posted on 06/04/2011 7:20:59 PM PDT by NWFLConservative (Game On!.................Saracuda 2012)
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To: RowdyFFC

“I had the pleasure of knowing Ronald Reagan before he became Governor of California. He was a truly great human being and we usually spent our time together reminiscing about mutual friends. He will be missed by all who knew him and by a nation that will mourn with us.”

—James Arness, 2004

Freegards


37 posted on 06/04/2011 7:21:10 PM PDT by Ransomed
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To: Libloather

Walker or Eastwood?


38 posted on 06/04/2011 7:23:39 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Monarchy is the one system of government where power is exercised for the good of all - Aristotle)
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To: stillafreemind; All

Hi friends,

I decided to write a letter to you for Janet to post on our website in the event I was no longer here.

I had a wonderful life and was blessed with some many loving people and great friends. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.

I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years.

I was honored to have served in the army for my country. I was at Anzio during WWII and it makes you realize how very precious life is.

Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails and gifts we received from you over the years. You are and always have been truly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Jim Arness


39 posted on 06/04/2011 7:25:43 PM PDT by mountn man (The pleasure you get from life, is equal to the attitude you put into it.)
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To: RedMDer

Wow, that brought a tear to my eye. What a class act.


40 posted on 06/04/2011 7:30:38 PM PDT by andyk (Wealth != Income)
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