Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

George Walsh, newsman and "Gunsmoke" announcer, dies at 88 (KNX-AM, Los Angeles; Roswell,NM 1947)
ap on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 1/11/06 | AP

Posted on 01/11/2006 9:32:21 AM PST by NormsRevenge

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) - George Walsh, a longtime newsman and announcer for the "Gunsmoke" radio and television programs, has died. He was 88.

Walsh died of congestive heart failure Dec. 5 at Garfield Medical Center in Monterey Park, said his daughter, Fran.

He became the "Gunsmoke" announcer in 1952, introducing the live, weekly radio series with the following words: "Around Dodge City and in the territory out West, there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with a U.S. marshal and the smell of 'Gunsmoke.'" He remained the announcer when the show moved to television in 1955.

In the Los Angeles area, Walsh was a longtime fixture at KNX-AM radio, serving as an interviewer, sports reporter, newscaster and announcer from 1952 to 1986. His voice also was used in the Smokey Bear forest fire prevention campaign and on the now-closed Disneyland rides Flight to the Moon and Mission to Mars.

In June 1947, he scored what appeared to be a huge scoop while working at a radio station in Roswell, N.M., breaking a story about a UFO landing based on an Air Force press officer's claim that a flying saucer had been captured near the city. The military eventually determined that the UFO was in fact a radar target, but the story by then had spread worldwide.

In addition to his daughter, Fran, Walsh is survived by his wife of 49 years, Charlotte; two other daughters, Janice and Carolyn; two brothers; two sisters; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: California
KEYWORDS: announcer; georgewalsh; gunsmoke; knx; newsman; obituary; roswell
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

1 posted on 01/11/2006 9:32:24 AM PST by NormsRevenge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Las Vegas Dave

Ping!


2 posted on 01/11/2006 9:34:04 AM PST by Frank_Discussion (May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Gunsmoke, my all time favorite TV show. They don't make them like that any more. The early shows were the best...


3 posted on 01/11/2006 9:35:15 AM PST by Russ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Re: Roswell, he was at KSWS


4 posted on 01/11/2006 9:36:16 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Monthly Donor spoken Here. Go to ... https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

I used to listen to the Gunsmoke radio show.

RIP, George.


5 posted on 01/11/2006 9:38:22 AM PST by EveningStar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge
there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with a U.S. marshal and the smell of 'Gunsmoke.'

I want that on a t-shirt.

6 posted on 01/11/2006 9:38:23 AM PST by atomicpossum (If I don't reply, don't think you're winning. I often just don't bother to argue.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Russ
Great show. The mystery of Miss Kitty and Marshall Dillon's relationship was better than the sexual innuendo and blatant crudity of many of todays shows (example: Friends) A lot of class with the plots and acting. I liked the later shows as well. Festus was an interesting character.
7 posted on 01/11/2006 9:39:10 AM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: EveningStar

I did too. On Far East Network in Tokyo in the 1950s.


8 posted on 01/11/2006 9:56:55 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Don't buy Bose. Their warranty is no good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: GeorgefromGeorgia
The voices of the Gunsmoke characters were great, too. William Conrad (Jake and the Fat Man) was Marshall Dillon. Georgia Ellis was Kitty, Howard McNear at "Doc"...don't remember the others.
9 posted on 01/11/2006 10:15:05 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Don't buy Bose. Their warranty is no good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: GeorgefromGeorgia

I listen to the show every Sunday on NPR. I am too young to remember it on radio or TV, but I have become a fan.
Sad news, RIP


10 posted on 01/11/2006 10:17:03 AM PST by conserv13 (Happy New Year!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: GeorgefromGeorgia

Agreed. They just don't take the time to make them that good anymore.


11 posted on 01/11/2006 10:29:43 AM PST by mallardx
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Favorites:
Ken Curtis as "Festus Haggans" and Milburn Stone as "Doc Adams"...of course loved Amanda Blake and James Arness (still living). Incidentally, Ken Curtis, who played the illiterate Festus and took the brunt of Doc's jokes was, at one time, almost a real doctor as he tried medical school before acting.


12 posted on 01/11/2006 11:01:18 AM PST by meandog (FUDU)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: meandog

Ken Curtis took over the deputy role from Dennis Weaver who played Chester, who had a stiff leg. There was also a certain blacksmith character, played by ...?


13 posted on 01/11/2006 11:20:18 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Don't buy Bose. Their warranty is no good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: conserv13

What time is the show on NPR (time zone)? I'd love to hear some of those old shows.


14 posted on 01/11/2006 11:21:51 AM PST by MCRD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks
There was also a certain blacksmith character, played by ...?

Burt Reynolds?

15 posted on 01/11/2006 11:26:57 AM PST by IndyTiger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: MCRD

I live in Baltimore, we listen to it on the Washington DC station. It is sunday nights at 8. They also play old Dragnet and other shows. Not all stations play it but luckily our local NPR does.


16 posted on 01/11/2006 11:28:44 AM PST by conserv13 (Happy New Year!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks

Ken Curtis was one of the original Sons of The Pioneers.


17 posted on 01/11/2006 11:33:22 AM PST by uglybiker (Iraqis have purple on their fingers. Liberals have brown on their thumbs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks
The voices of the Gunsmoke characters were great, too.

Agreed. I enjoyed old time radio shows on KNX until their new management dropped the reruns and made other programming changes in Fall 2003.

William Conrad (Jake and the Fat Man) was Marshall Dillon. Georgia Ellis was Kitty, Howard McNear at "Doc"...don't remember the others.

Parley Baer was the voice of Chester Proudfoot in Gunsmoke.

18 posted on 01/11/2006 11:52:03 AM PST by heleny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: heleny

His name became Chester Goode when Dennis Weaver payed the role in early TV.


19 posted on 01/11/2006 11:53:37 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Don't buy Bose. Their warranty is no good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: conserv13

Thanks!


20 posted on 01/11/2006 12:04:36 PM PST by MCRD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson