A western legend: The two-decade run of 'Gunsmoke' is honored by Kanab fest

One reason the show was and is so popular is that "in every facet, it had the best the industry had to offer," Costello said by phone from his home in California. "From cast to writers, directors, and technical people, they were the best in the world. There's not another dramatic series that has come close. It was so popular that by 1959 there were 30 Westerns on the air — and we only had three networks."

One reason "Gunsmoke" became an American institution, said Costello, is that it was moral. "It shows us good versus evil, and good triumphs in the end. But not always by itself. Sometimes the whole town had to rally and work together. It sounds kind of silly to say stuff like that, but wouldn't it be nice if we had more of that morality now?"

The "Gunsmoke" stars also made appearances at rodeos and other arenas around the country, and that helped build their fan base. "Ken Curtis told me about a time he and Buck were visiting a military hospital. A couple whose son was in a coma asked them to come and stand by his bed so they could take a picture. Even though the boy wouldn't know they were there, it was his favorite show. So they did, and Ken began to talk to the boy like Festus — and the boy woke up. It just shows the power of something positive, the effect it can have on people."

It was a great thing to be part of, Buck Taylor said by phone from his ranch in Texas. He's looking forward to returning to Kanab. "It's a beautiful part of the United States, with those majestic red rocks and the green trees. And it brings back a lot of good memories. Things were different then; entertainment was different. I'm proud to be part of that era."

At the time, Taylor said, no one really thought about the impact of the show or its longevity. "It's amazing that it is still around and still so well liked."

He, too, credits a lot of the success to both good writing and the moral nature of the show. "The good guy wins, and the bad guy loses. I was lucky to be part of that."

Taylor still does a little acting but spends most of his time raising horses and painting Western watercolors. "I studied art before I became an actor. When I was young, my goal was to paint covers for True West magazine." He quit art when he started acting but has enjoyed getting back to it.

As he travels to art shows around the country, Taylor said he is surprised how many people tell him that "Gunsmoke" touched their lives. "Its touching when someone comes up and said that they grew up watching 'Gunsmoke' because they didn't really have a choice — they had to watch it with their mom and dad and grandpa. It was a real family thing. It's awesome that it just won't go away."