BY DEE PHILLIPS and BEV COPELAND

RIDING HIGH on the waves of INDIGNATION

Milburn Stone, ‘Gunsmoke’s cantankerous Dot, c~ntes up with some salty obseroations on. the course of the venerable Western

For 10 successful seasons Milburn know how to run a network, or be the the very period and place which Gun- people who don’t understand the Stone has faithfully portrayed Gun- producer of a show, but I do know the smoke emulates, he is also unofficial show at all. smoke’s Doc Adams as a contentious, flavor of Gunsmoke. You can detect keeper of the Gunsmoke code. “We’re also getting into something cranky, querulous old bachelor in- the changes.” Stone’s indignation rose to a boiling else that I certainly don’t agree with,” sulting Marshal Dillon’s integrity, Perhaps years of immersion in the point last fall when then-producer grumbles Stone. “They’re bringing in overlooking Miss Kitty’s questionable . . role have imbued him with-sublimi- Norman Macdonnell (who originated guest stars.” character and needling. the unkempt nally-the Dot-like traits he so ad- the series with writer John Meston), Producer Leacock presents an in- Festus unmercifully. mires. In person it becomes a moot was given his walking papers by the congruous contrast to the Kansas Off-screen, the dedicated Doc also point as to where Doc tapers off and network. “We were all stunned,” re- colloquialisms which surround him. remains in character-contentious, the real Milburn Stone emerges. calls Stone. “They called Norm over He is aware of the resentment guest cranky, querulous-especially about Over the years Stone has earned to CBS at 6 o’clock one evening and stars can create, but feels competition what is happening to his favorite TV respect and a grudging admiration for told him the news.” Britisher Philip is good for the regulars. In fact, he series, Gunsmoke. his pugnacious protection of Doc's Leacock, heretofore a director, was feels it’s “awfully good for us to have Mustache bristling, Stone pulls at image and his vehement insistence on named to his first producership. a good outside actor give us a breath his proboscis just as a disconcerted professionalism. As a born-and-bred “And,” snorts Stone, “the scripts of fresh air occasionally.” Doc would do. “I wouldn’t presume to Kansan whose lineage dates back to coming through now are written by Here again, Stone continued 24 25 To accuse this Stone man of senti- Gunsmoke‘s Doc/continued giant had tossed him right #rough Ken replaced the recently married Amanda and the dear-departed Dennis mentality would produce a derisive the ceiling. Says Stone, “When I was snicker. However, he admits that his disagrees. “We’re Matt, Kitty, Doc through he looked me right in the Weaver in personal appearances with and Festus. We have no other identity. Stone at fairs. rodeos and horse shows. Kansas heritage has been a talisman eye and said, ‘You’re absolutely of sorts. He started in show business A Jean Arthur, a James Wbitmore, a right.’ ” Stone slapped his knee. “From The veteran vaudevillian (“Stone and Betty Hutton are one-shots. Their Strain, songs, dances and snappy chat- in Kansas, playing tent shows; went that moment on I begun to love that to New York and made his Broadway fans will tune in, but not necessarily guy. He’s a great big wonderful cub ter,”circa 1920’s) still loves the ex- debut in Sinclair Lewis' “Jay- again.” bear.” citement of a live audience-and the But for all his pseudo-irascibility, money to be earned helps toward the hawker,” a play about Kansas set in Since that episode, this same great the Civil War; and has spent the last Stone is regarded with tolerant af- big wonderful cub bear negotiated a purchase of such accouterments of TV fection by his co-workers--even Lea- stardom as a luxury yacht. 10 years performing in a replica of partnership for himself in Gunsmoke, Dodge City, Kan. And his new 46- Lock. “I must say,” admitted the and just last fall reportedly sold it foot yacht he has christened the Jay- producer, “I’m in sort of a mellow ‘He doesn‘t pull any punches’ back to the CBS television network hawker, of course. mood towards him today-he’s not on for a neat capital gain. the se-but there are moments when Curtis is almost adulant in his ad- Proudly Stone boasts, “My mother Meanwhile, back at the tirade. . . was a Kansas pioneer who lived in a I could say different things. He may Finished with Jim, Stone took off on miration for Stone. “Mil is one of the be a bit irascible sometimes, but you most entertaining fellows I’ve ever sod house-the oldest of nine children. Amanda Blake and Dennis Weaver My first wife was a Kansan. My second have to put up with that in good (who has since departed the show for been around in my life. But when actors. He’s a bit dogmatic, but he’s he decides to do something, he doesn’t wife is a Kansan. My daughter was his own series). Angered because he born in Kansas.And I patterned Doc also great, great fun.” felt they didn’t take the show seriously pull any punches. You’ve got to admire him for it, because he really stands largely on my grandfather, Joe Stone, enough at first, Stone continued in who was in the Civil War. You could The champion storyteller up and fights. He’s one of the most high dudgeon. say I never really left Kansas.” "My feeling was that they just honest guys I’ve ever met. He gets For all his outward gruffness and a little salty now and then, but always didn’t belong in the business. I’ve A cinch for next year studied sarcasm, Stone is the champion been in it all my life, and I feel that for a reason.” storyteller of the cast and usually This season, Stone’s brand of salt people who make a living at it. even Stone can now afford to be dis- livens up a dull day with his sense spiced up the set considerably, some- a meager one, are the luckiest people illusioned “Everybody keeps saying of humor. He hides his sentimentality in the world. How many people wish times keeping the front office in a behind an aphorism which he tosses stew. He took umbrage at one par- we’re Gunsmoke a cinch for next to God for a chance like we had? year. "I still don’t believe it.” He off-“The only way true men can show ticular script recently and the result- Then to see people fluff it off . . .n grinned suddenly looking 20 years their love is to insult the hell out of Some of Stone’s fervor evidently ant effect on Doc. I've never seen a each other.” more obvious attempt to inject social younger than Doc. “Ive made a bet was contagious. Today he admits every year for the past three years Stone’s insults have encompassed Amanda balances precariously be- significance into a Gunsmoke show . I’m not anti-anybody. But this was like and lost them all-that Gvnsmoke the rest of the cast. “I spent the first tween “school-teacher sweet and three ‘years hating Jim (Arness). I saying, ‘Now this next act is for you wouldn’t be back." Doc just lost his dance-hall tough-a slender tight- bet again. His shingIe will remain in couldn’t stand him professionally-r rope!” As far as he is concerned, she people in Little Rock. Pay close at- his attitude,” Stone explained. “He’d tention.’ Certainly all men are broth- Dodge next season. is the world’s greatest Kitty Russell. “I don’t concern myself too much be late or wouldn’t show up - never ers regardless of the color of their because I know I can’t do anything apologize. And once he was there ‘Nine funerals’ for Weaver skin.” Stone was building to a high he’d clown around.” Finally Stone pique just remembering. about it. They [CBS-TV] have me for one more year. After that it’s my op- exploded at rehearsal one day. “I told As for Weaver, Stone snorted. “We “In this scene, Doc was supposed him we were diametrically opposed to walk out of the hotel and get into tion, and I don’t believe I’d do it. had about nine funerals over him” “Actually,” his bIue eyes twinkled, and I felt he did not belong in the when he left the show after three this philosophical thing. I said, ‘I know business at all. I said, ‘I’ve read my what somebody had in mind here, but “I own a property-1 mean a TV abortive attempts. The death of series. It’s set at the turn of the contract and there’s nothing in it that Chester, however, gave birth to a new it’s not Doc.’ It was completely out of says I have to put diapers on you or context. It was about the fifth re- Century, about the time the horse character on Gunsmoke, Festus Hag- and buggy was being replaced by the wait for you. And if you ever show gen, the only white sheep, in a clan write, and the final argument was up late again, buddy, you’ll have two that the speech was necessary because Model T Ford.” of outlaws, played with a scraggly The main character? ‘Why do I things to explain-not only where you beard by otherwise handsome Ken the show was running two minutes were, but where I went!” short. So I said, ‘What the hell, why want to prove to somebody that I can Curtis. Fortunately, Ken’s profession- play a lawyer? He’s a doctor. Why Stone sheepishly admits he wouldn’t don’t I sing and dance? I could. Hell, alism meets with Stone’s exacting not just go on being Doc?” have blamed Arness if the 6-foot-4 standards. yes. Let’s throw that in, too!’ 27 26