MYTH OF THE PRIME-TIME REPEATS

[Stewart]

GUNSMOKE is one of the most honored series from the Golden Age of Radio. However, many GUNSMOKE fans have not listened to or collected a substantial number of episodes because of a myth that has existed for many years.

THE MYTH
What is that myth? Simply, that there were 64 "rerun" or "repeat" Prime-Time episodes during the original run of GUNSMOKE (04/26/1952 - 06/18/1961.) Several series broadcast logs and Old-Time Radio books list these Gunsmoke episodes as "reruns" or "repeats."

What is a "Rerun" or "Repeat?" The definition used for this post is "the re-airing of a previously broadcast, transcribed episode of a program without changes in the cast, crew, characters, dialog, and plot line.

THE TRUTH
After research conducted over a period of years, I determined that all of the so-called GUNSMOKE "Prime-Time Repeats" were actually new productions of previously used GUNSMOKE scripts. I base the following statement on having acquired and listened to all GUNSMOKE episodes in circulation and having consulted nearly 350 GUNSMOKE radio scripts.

REUSE OF SCRIPTS
As many Old-Time Radio fans know, scripts were sometimes reused on the same series and on other series. Networks often had the option to reuse scripts on the original series or on another series. A reduced fee was usually paid to the writer for the multiple uses of a script.

If the script was used again on its original series, it was normally as a new production and usually with at least a few cast or crew differences from the original production. Dialog and scene changes might also be made. This was the case with GUNSMOKE.

Over the prime-time run of GUNSMOKE, there were No Prime-Time "repeats" or "re-runs!" All of these so called "repeats" or "re-run" episodes were actually new productions of previously used scripts.

WEEKLY POSTS:
I will be posting detailed information on the so called GUNSMOKE prime-time "Repeat" episodes that will help GUNSMOKE fans to identify the various productions of reused scripts. The information will include the differences between the original and later productions of these so called "repeat" episodes such as cast and crew, dialog, and plot line.

I will post this information on the so called GUNSMOKE prime-time "Repeat" episodes at the frequency of one episode a week.


Signing off for now,

Stewart

[pete villafea]

> there were 64 "rerun" or "repeat" Prime-Time episodes

Stewart, what is the exact final/total number of shows that were aired?
is the red book correct when it says there were 413 original scripts?
if so, if you add that number (413) and the number of second & third
productions (64), is 477 indeed the final tally?

[Stewart]

The Red Book considers three scripts as original scripts that I don't.

They are:
CARMEN/GOOD GIRL - BAD COMPANY:
CARMEN aired on 05/31/1952 & 06/21/1959.
This script was also produced as GOOD GIRL - BAD COMPANY 10/08/1955.


HOW TO KILL A FRIEND/OLD FRIEND:
HOW TO KILL A FRIEND aired on 10/03/1953 & 05/05/1957. A modified script was produced as OLD FRIEND on 03/20/1954.


JAYHAWKERS/TROUBLE IN KANSAS:
JAYHAWKERS aired on 04/04/1953 & 08/11/1957.
An episode called TROUBLE IN KANSAS which aired on 10/16/1955 had major plot line similarities.


Signing off for now,

Stewart

[pete villafea]

so is this the tally? 410 + 64 = 474?
was that the definite total of Gunsmoke shows aired?
or is the total still indefinite or in dispute?

[Stewart]

There are a total of 480 episodes of GUNSMOKE that aired during its prime-time run. For the complete list of reused scripts, see the post:
RE: repeats?
Author: Stewart
Date: 05-16-04 00:17

This post lists all of the scripts that were reused as new productions and when they were reused. It also lists the scripts that were reused for new productions that received new script titles.



Signing off for now,

Stewart