The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: MikeBjerum on June 03, 2011, 12:41:27 PM
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http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/celebrities/123110698.html (http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/celebrities/123110698.html)
James Arness dead at age 88 :'(
Under the heading of good TV shows - Gunsmoke and his brother's Mission Impossible are both right up there!
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Dang, RIP, Marshal Dillon. :'( :'(
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Arness wanted to be a naval fighter pilot, but he felt his poor eyesight would bar him. His height of 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) ended his hopes, since 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) was the limit for aviators. Instead, he was called for the Army and reported to Fort Snelling, Minnesota in March 1943.
Arness served as a rifleman with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, and was severely wounded during Operation Shingle, at Anzio, Italy.
According to James Arness – An Autobiography, he landed on Anzio Beachhead on January 21, 1944 as a rifleman with 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. Due to his height, he was the first ordered off his landing craft to determine the depth of the water; it came up to his waist.
On January 29, 1945, having undergone surgery several times, Arness was honorably discharged. His wounds continued to bother him, and in later years Arness suffered from acute leg pain, which even prevented him from mounting a horse.
His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
More than just an actor.
An American Hero!
RIP Mr. Arness!
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Going to miss the Marshal..... :(
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Matt, Doc, Miss Kitty, and Chester are all up the road at the Longbranch having a cold one and waiting for the time when we can all come in and sit down and visit.
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Matt Dillon was certainly one of the "good guys," but, TV had a number of guys in white hats back when Gunsmoke had its run.
Remember Yancy Derringer, Jim Bowie, Bat Masterson..? And there were so many more. Nowadays, they'd have to have some terrible back story, have a sex scene in the second half, and kill some innocent illegal in order to have a hit show.
It was just cleaner back then. I mean, we all knew Miss Kitty was a working girl, and we didn't have to see her rolling around naked to understand how she made her living (the Longbranch was a bar with a second floor full of bedrooms, after all).
I know, I am an old fart, and I have nothing against nekkid women (in point of fact, I rather like 'em). But I could always watch Gunsmoke with my parents, and not feel uncomfortable.
Yes, James Arness was an American hero as well as an actor. And he will be missed as much for what he was in real life, as for what he played on TV.
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One of the great ones for sure, RIP Mr.Arness
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One of the great ones for sure, RIP Mr.Arness
Ditto.
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These guys acted like real men too. Not like the ones you see on tv now a days. The guys on TV now look and act like a bunch of wussys.
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Right on Bulldog!
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These guys acted like real men too. Not like the ones you see on tv now a days. The guys on TV now look and act like a bunch of wussys.
+1
Definitely not many positive role models (or roles, for that matter) on TV and in movies these days.