James Arness: Last Western Hero Dies, 88

Yahoo/AC ^ | June 4th, 2011 | Sherry Tomfeld

[stillafreemind]

The fact is, " Arness" and John Wayne could entertain us without sex, vulgarity or extreme visual violence. They still helped us to use imagination. Westerns today depend on sex, vulgarity and extreme visual violence for viewers to tune in or pay for a ticket. Encore Western Channel and TV Land still play reruns of the "Gunsmoke" series. On the official James Arness website, Jim was extremely pleased that it was still running.

[floralamiss]

Hi, fellow NWFL! Yep, me, too. Festus and Doc’, especially when they’re a’fussin’ and a’fightin’!

[floralamiss]

I could almost fall in love with him when I hear his voice.

[floralamiss]

Oh, my goodness.

[floralamiss]

In the middle 1950’s, he seemed to have darker eyes. They sort of reminded me of a matinee idol’s in silent films. I wonder if they were darkening his lashes.

Maybe he didn’t like the look, or the color irritated his eyes, because not long after, his lashes were a light color and no longer matched his hair or brows.

When Gunsmoke went to color, his hair became a lighter color, too, but I always preferred Matthew with dark hair.

[MamaB]

I had no idea he could sing like that until about 10 years ago. I was listening to bostonpete.com and the man who plays the music told who the singer was. I had no idea he was part of the Sons of the Pioneers. He is lots better than the pretenders today.

[driftless2]

"The Thing"

You know for a cheapo horror flick made in 1951, it is still a very effective horror movie. I bet it would scare the bejabbers out of many kids ten or younger.

[floralamiss]

Found this wonderful site. There’s a great image of Ken/Festus on the home page. It opens with Ken singing a lovely song, so don’t forget to turn up the volume.

http://www.eviltwin.velvetsofa.com/Curtis/main.html

[floralamiss]

Here’s another beautiful song by Ken Curtis, MamaB.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_3P53pdqrk&feature=related

[Yorlik803]

the man was six foot seven. For a man who fought in WW2, that was freaking unusal.
God bless James Arness. May he rest in peace.

[Inspectorette]

Bump for later view.

[bert]

------Last western hero?-----

I don't think so.

[MamaB]

Thank you, thank you. I really enjoy his music. He proves that you should never judge a man's voice by the tv character he once played. : ). If you find anymore, please let me know. Thanks.

[floralamiss]

MamaB, if you go over to YouTube and put the following parameters in the search box, “Sons of the Pioneers” and “Ken Curtis” right next to eachother in quotes, you’ll find yourself being serenaded by Mr. Curtis for a good long evening.

Also, there, you’ll find the earliest filmed recording of Curtis performing “Breathless”, a Big-Band solo on stage with the orchestra. Do I remember correctly that this was when Tommy Dorsey traded him out to Birdy Shaw’s orchestra? I think I have the names right.

Anyway, he’s wearing a tux and looking and sounding mighty fine, and it’s many, many years before “Gunsmoke”! He’s extremely young-looking.

Enjoy yourself, and if you have any trouble, just let me know, and I’ll send them to you directly.

[MamaB]

I have done that but what I want are some songs I can add to my iPad songs. iTunes only has a very few songs.

[floralamiss]

I’ll keep my ears open for new ones for iPad. And it was Shep Fields, not Shaw’s orchestra. Don’t know where I get weird names flying into my head like that.

On another “James Arness” memorial thread, I’ve just commented on Festus’ mule named “Ruth” and posted a Youtube link to his story about Ruth and their time serving together during the Civil War. It’s something... gives the Festus character even more dimension.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo696R-yrn8