Supposedly Mat Dillon (James Arness) had never been on a horse before that casting and Ms. Kitty had been a real life hooker in Hollywood before that series. Lots of real stuff in the background world of make believe.
Actually, I need to check the dates, but a younger James Arness appeared in the John Wayne movie, "Hondo." Although, I can't actually recall if he was ever on a horse in Hondo. I'll have to go watch it. He might have been in one small period of the movie.
OK, I just checked. Hondo was filmed in 1953 and Gunsmoke started as a TV show in 1955. Gunsmoke actually started as a radio show ran from 1952 to 1961. William Conrad played Matt Dillon on the radio show.
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