RONDA RICH: Gunsmoke

Published 12:24 pm Sunday, May 18, 2025

Tink and I were in Los Angeles on business. That’s the only reason we go. We had a few hours between meetings.

He said, “I’d like to take you out to the Radford lot.”

Radford is a studio a bit off the beaten path from other studios. It has a special place in Tink’s heart because he spent many carefree, childhood days there. Those are the kind of days that we all look back on and it sends a longing into our hearts. My days remembered like this are walking barefoot through freshly-plowed dirt for summer gardens, sitting on the creek bank reading and dreaming, Sundays in the swimming hole with my cousins.

For Tink, his days were more sophisticated and, while mine will be forgotten after the breath leaves my body, his childhood and teenage years will be a part of history. Tink’s father had an office at Radford where, daily, the handsome elder Tinker pulled his yellow, convertible Mercedes into a personalized parking space.

“He was so handsome,” the late actress, Valerie Harper, once said to me. “All us girls swooned when he was around.”

He could look out his window, toward the stage where his wife, Mary Tyler Moore, was shooting her comedy show or take a two-minute walk over there.

Radford, originally built by silent film producer, Mack Sennett, was host to many of the shows of my childhood favorites including the MTM Productions portfolio of hits as well as “Gilligan’s Island” and “My Three Sons.”

As we walked the lot, Tink pointed out where Gilligan’s Lagoon had been and the house of “My Three Sons.”       

Then, he struck a real chord. We read the enormous, sturdy plaque: “On this stage, a company of loving and talented friends produced a television classic: The Mary Tyler Moore Show, 1970-1977.”

We slowly started to walk away when Tink pointed to the stage next door. “That’s where ‘Gunsmoke’ was filmed.”

My eyes widened. “Gunsmoke?” A precious childhood memory, never forgotten, rushed freshly over me. The feeling was sweet, calming, and a bit sad that those innocent days had disappeared.

Every Monday night, at 8, Daddy and I had a standing date; wordlessly, together, we watched “Gunsmoke.” We loved Marshal Dillon, Miss Kitty, Doc Adams, Festus, and the others. Mama didn’t care for Westerns so she was elsewhere. But Daddy and me? We loved Westerns like “Bonanza.” But “Gunsmoke” was our favorite.

Those Monday nights together and the love of that show are at the top of my sweet memories of such a simple and happy childhood. I walked over to the sacred ground and, just like the little girl in me who loved the county fair, I thought of the ghosts of those characters which cluttered that plot of land.

Later, I read James Arness’ (Marshal Matt Dillon) autobiography which made me love him more. I wish that Daddy had known he was a multi-awarded WWII veteran who, at 6-feet-7, was always the point man who led the troops into battle, the first one off the boat at Anzio in order to help determine the water’s depth. He was wounded in a serious battle to liberate Rome but kept fighting until he collapsed from blood loss.

Daddy was always an astounding judge of character. He made no secret that he was studying a man when first he met him. He said little, looked him up and down, then straight in the eye. With some thinking on it, he would then decide if he was worthy or worthless.

And now, I am surprised to learn that he could look through a television screen and also determine character because Matt Dillon was his favorite of all time.

Recently, a “Gunsmoke” marathon was playing in the background while I worked. I kept stopping to watch. Then I realized why I was so drawn to it — the storytelling was excellent.

Goodness. If I could have one of those Monday nights back again. If only.

Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of the Stella Bankwell mystery series. Visit www.rondarich.com for her free newsletter.