Burt Reynolds and Buck Taylor will be on hand to mark the 60th anniversary of the series.
This year’s Wild West Fest in Dodge City, Kansas, is shaping up to be a spirited celebration of all things Gunsmoke.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the long-running and enduringly popular TV series, the Wild West Heritage Foundation has joined forces with the Boot Hill Casino & Resort and Roundup Rodeo to invite two Gunsmoke stars — Burt Reynolds, who portrayed Quint Asper from 1962 to 1965, and Buck Taylor, who was Newly O’Brien from 1967 to 1975 — to take part in festivities during the Sept 25-27 festival.
But wait, there’s more: This year’s Wild West Fest guest list also includes Gunsmoke veterans Jess Walton, Lane Bradbury and Bruce Boxleitner, who appeared in supporting roles during the show’s 20-year run, and Jim Byrnes, who was a Gunsmoke scriptwriter from 1969 to 1975.
The anniversary celebration will kick off Sept. 25 with Gunsmoke Under the Stars, a presentation of classic episodes along with video messages from the cast, at the South Drive-In Theater in Dodge City. On Sept. 26, fans can attend a 10 a.m. public Q&A panel at Roundup Rodeo, and autographs sessions later in the day.
“Having these Gunsmoke celebrities reunite and interact with the fans is a once in a lifetime experience," says Sharon Stroburg, general manager of Boot Hill Casino & Resort.
“Gunsmoke transcends transcends the generations and continues to resonate with today's television viewers. Dodge City is proud to have been the home of the show. It's only natural that we host the celebration here and celebrate this milestone.”
For tickets and additional information, visit the official Dodge City Wild West Fest website.
