Editing Gunsmoke (section)

== Transition from radio to television ==
Not long after the radio show began, talk began of adapting it to television. Privately, Macdonnell had a guarded interest in taking the show to television, but publicly, he declared, "our show is perfect for radio", and he feared, as Dunning writes, "''Gunsmoke'' confined by a picture could not possibly be as authentic or attentive to detail. ... In the end, CBS simply took it away from Macdonnell and began preparing for the television version."<ref name=":0" />

When ''Gunsmoke'' was adapted for television in 1955, contrary to a campaign to persuade the network, the network was not interested in bringing either Conrad or his radio costars to the television medium. They were given auditions, but they were little more than token efforts{{snd}}especially in Conrad's case, due to his obesity. However, Meston was kept as the main writer. In the early years, most of the television episodes were adapted from the radio scripts, often using identical scenes and dialogue. Dunning wrote, "That radio fans considered the TV show a sham and its players impostors should surprise no one. That the TV show was not a sham is due in no small part to the continued strength of Meston's scripts."<ref name=":0" />

In recasting the role of Matt Dillon, [[Denver Pyle]] was considered for the role, as was [[Raymond Burr]], who was ultimately also seen as too heavy for the part. [[Charles Marquis Warren|Charles Warren]], television ''Gunsmoke''{{'}}s first director, said, "His voice was fine, but he was too big. When he stood up, his chair stood with him."<ref>[http://gunsmokenet.com/GunsmokeTGAW/Marks-Stuff/Gunsmoke/shots/91-MattBurr.htm "Raymond Burr auditioned for the role of television's Matt Dillon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927230131/http://gunsmokenet.com/GunsmokeTGAW/Marks-Stuff/Gunsmoke/shots/91-MattBurr.htm|date=September 27, 2010}}, GunsmokeNet.com.</ref> It has long been rumored that [[John Wayne]] was offered the role of Matt Dillon; according to Dennis Weaver's comments on the 50th Anniversary DVD, disc one, episode "Hack Prine", John Wayne was never even considered for the role; to have done so would have been preposterous, since Wayne was a top movie leading man. The belief that Wayne was asked to star is disputed by Warren. Although he agrees Wayne encouraged Arness to take the role, Warren says, "I hired Jim Arness on the strength of a picture he's done for me ... I never thought for a moment of offering it to Wayne."<ref name="Wayne" />

According to Thomas "Duke" Miller, a television and movie celebrity expert, this story was told to him by legendary actor [[James Stewart]]: "Jimmy said he was in the office with Charles Warren when Mr. Wayne came in. Mr. Warren asked Wayne if he knew James Arness, and Mr. Wayne said yes. Mr. Warren told Mr. Wayne about the transition of the show from radio to television, and Mr. Wayne readily agreed that James Arness would be a terrific choice for the part of Matt Dillon. I have no reason to doubt the story, because Jimmy absolutely knew everybody."

In the end, the primary roles were all recast, with Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon (on the recommendation of Wayne, who also introduced the pilot), Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode, Milburn Stone as Dr. G. "Doc" Adams (the G. later specified as standing for Galen), and Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty Russell. Macdonnell became the associate producer of the television show and later the producer. Meston was head writer.  

Conrad directed two television episodes, in 1963 and 1971, and McNear appeared on six, playing characters other than Doc, including three times as storekeeper Howard Rudd.  Macdonnell and Meston continued the radio version of ''Gunsmoke'' until 1961, making it one of the most enduring vintage radio dramas.