Gunsmoke aired on television from 1955 to 1975. One of the first TV Westerns geared toward adults, the show was a huge hit for CBS. It centered on Matt Dillon (James Arness), a U.S. Marshal in the frontier town of Dodge City, Kansas. Plenty of conflicts and criminals blew into town, and the marshall and his deputies dutifully handled them all. Dillon also had a friend and confidant in Miss Kitty Russell. Actor Amanda Blake portrayed the local saloon and bordello owner for 19 of the show’s 20 seasons.
But after her successful stint, the actor faced challenges, including health problems that ultimately killed her. What was Amanda Blake’s cause of death, and why did her friends tell everyone she died of throat cancer?
Miss Kitty was a pivotal character in ‘Gunsmoke’ Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty Russell in ‘Gunsmoke’ | CBS via Getty Images
When Amanda Blake signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the late 1940s,...
But after her successful stint, the actor faced challenges, including health problems that ultimately killed her. What was Amanda Blake’s cause of death, and why did her friends tell everyone she died of throat cancer?
Miss Kitty was a pivotal character in ‘Gunsmoke’ Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty Russell in ‘Gunsmoke’ | CBS via Getty Images
When Amanda Blake signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the late 1940s,...
- 1/28/2023
- by Stacy Feintuch
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
1980: Edge of Night's Calvin and Star were married.
1983: General Hospital's Luke was found after an avalanche.
1984: One Life to Live's Asa was not happy with Clint.
2006: Days' Bo and Hope said goodbye to Zack."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1968: On Dark Shadows, angered and frightened by Angelique Bouchard (Lara Parker), Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) attempted to meet Josette duPres (Kathryn Leigh Scot). Angelique sent a bat to spy on him.
1972: On The Doctors, Dr. Hendryx insisted that he could not find...
1983: General Hospital's Luke was found after an avalanche.
1984: One Life to Live's Asa was not happy with Clint.
2006: Days' Bo and Hope said goodbye to Zack."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1968: On Dark Shadows, angered and frightened by Angelique Bouchard (Lara Parker), Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) attempted to meet Josette duPres (Kathryn Leigh Scot). Angelique sent a bat to spy on him.
1972: On The Doctors, Dr. Hendryx insisted that he could not find...
- 1/11/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1979: Edge of Night's Bobbie was hired to be the Whitneys' maid.
1986: Another World's Nicole Love returned to Bay City.
1992: Guiding Light's Ross had an Election Day dream.
2005: Laura Wright ended her run as Guiding Light's Cassie."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, after a run-in with Carolyn Stoddard, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) was convinced that Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) was planning to kill her.
1970: On Another World, Walter (Val Dufour) was thrilled when Lenore (Judith Barcroft) told him she was pregnant.
1977: On Guiding Light, a hateful Georgene...
1986: Another World's Nicole Love returned to Bay City.
1992: Guiding Light's Ross had an Election Day dream.
2005: Laura Wright ended her run as Guiding Light's Cassie."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, after a run-in with Carolyn Stoddard, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) was convinced that Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) was planning to kill her.
1970: On Another World, Walter (Val Dufour) was thrilled when Lenore (Judith Barcroft) told him she was pregnant.
1977: On Guiding Light, a hateful Georgene...
- 11/3/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
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