Ken Curtis

I joined Tommy Dorsey at the Paramount Theater in New York as a singer. I replaced Frank Sinatra.

I wouldn't care if they tattoo Festus all over. He's been good to me.

In this business you break a leg and 150 other people are out of work while production is shut down. It's not like you were an accountant and could still work with your leg in a cast.

We did some jumping at the start of the show. We went out without telling anyone - and the studio liked to kill us. They were threatened with cancellation of their production insurance.

I really miss Gunsmoke. It was like losing my whole family.

I'm really proud of Gunsmoke. We put on a good show every week - one that families could all watch together without offending anyone.

The scenes in the show were filmed with a crew of really excellent stunt jumpers, but we had the feel of the parachutes, so we could be more realistic in the roles.

I've thought about doing other dramatic roles besides westerns, but I grew up in the West and I know the West.

I'd stop in the middle of a gun fight and sing a song.