On September 10, 1955, tv audiences have been launched to a brand new type of Western hero when Gunsmoke premiered on CBS. Although it wasn’t the primary Western present on TV, the community took pains to make sure that folks understood from the start that the present was particular: earlier than the episode started, viewers obtained a shock greeting from John Wayne, who stepped on display to introduce the present and its new star, James Arness. Wayne informed audiences that Arness was a buddy and a wonderful actor, basically passing the torch to him — however Arness nearly skipped out on his star-making position.