Gunsmoke season 7

Gunsmoke is an American Western television series developed by Charles Marquis Warren and based on the radio program of the same name. The series ran for 20 seasons, making it the longest-running Western in television history.

The first episode of season 7 aired in the United States on September 30, 1961, and the final episode aired on May 26, 1962. All episodes were broadcast in the U.S. by CBS.

Season 7 of Gunsmoke was the first season of one hour episodes filmed in black-and-white. Previous seasons were half-hour episodes, and color episodes were not filmed until season 12.

Synopsis
Gunsmoke is set in and around Dodge City, Kansas, in the post-Civil War era and centers on United States Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) as he enforces law and order in the city. In its original format, the series also focuses on Dillon's friendship with three other citizens of Dodge City: Doctor Galen "Doc" Adams (Milburn Stone), the town's physician; Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), saloon girl and later owner of the Long Branch Saloon; and Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), Dillon's assistant.

Main

 * James Arness as Matt Dillon
 * Dennis Weaver as Chester
 * Milburn Stone as Doc
 * Amanda Blake as Kitty

Production
Season 7 consisted of 34 one hour black-and-white episodes produced by Norman Macdonnell and Frank Paris as associate producer.

Episode 13, "Marry Me", was the last of four episodes directed by Dennis Weaver.

Broadcast
Season seven aired Saturdays at 10:00-11:00 pm (EST) on CBS.

Home media
The seventh season was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment in two volumes. The first 17 episodes were released on December 11, 2012 and the remaining 17 episodes were released on February 5, 2013.

Reception
After four straight seasons in the number one primetime spot in the Nielsen ratings, Gunsmoke dropped to number three, being unseated by two other Westerns, Wagon Train and Bonanza.