Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jessi Rabe
620.255.4022
[email protected]
Burt Reynolds, Gunsmoke Celebrities Attend Gunsmoke Anniversary in Dodge City, Kansas.
Dodge City, Kansas host to legendary actors, actresses and crew of the historic Gunsmoke series.
(Dodge City, Kansas) August 27, 2015–Miss Kitty and Matt Dillon have been part of cultural history for sixty years this September.
Their names have been in songs, books and stories since they first graced the small screen in the legendary Gunsmoke series. From
1955 to 1975 families gathered around their television sets to see the latest drama unfold in the Wild West. The series still stands as
the longest-running prime time, live action show. Sixty years later, audiences still cheer on Marshal Dillon as he brings justice to the
streets of historic Dodge City.
Wild West Heritage Foundation with Boot Hill Casino & Resort and Roundup Rodeo sponsored celebrity appearances in Dodge City
September 25-27, 2015. Two of the last three remaining Gunsmoke regulars, Burt Reynolds, who portrayed Quint Asper on the series
from 1962-1965, and Buck Taylor, who portrayed Newly O’Brien on the series from 1967-1975, attended the Anniversary events in
Dodge City, Kansas.
Burt Reynolds
“Quint Asper”
Gunsmoke
1962-1965
Buck Taylor
“Newly O’Brien”
Gunsmoke
1967-1975
Other celebrities also in Dodge City for the celebration:
From left to right:
• Jess Walton, who portrayed Patricia on the series in 1973
• Lane Bradbury, who portrayed Merry Florene (among others) on the series 1965-1969
• Bruce Boxleitner, who portrayed Toby Hogue on the series in 1975
• Jim Byrnes, who served as a writer on the series from 1969-1975
These six legendary Gunsmoke actors, actresses and writer got the heck into Dodge to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary during this
year’s Wild West Fest celebration September 25-27, 2015. The anniversary celebration kicked off with Gunsmoke Under the Stars,
a showing of a variety of episodes along with video messages from the cast on September 25 at the South Drive-In Theater in Dodge
City.
On Saturday, September 26, public question and answer panels, along with meet-and-greet autograph sessions, drew hundreds of fans.
“Having these Gunsmoke celebrities reunite and interact with the fans is a once in a lifetime experience,” said Sharon Stroburg,
General Manager of Boot Hill Casino & Resort. “Gunsmoke transcends the generations and continues to resonate with today’s
television viewers. Dodge City is proud to have been the home of the show. It’s only natural that we host the celebration here and
celebrate this milestone!”
Wild West Fest is a joint partnership between Boot Hill Casino & Resort, the Wild West Heritage Foundation and the Roundup Rodeo
that showcases the legendary history of Dodge City’s past and still celebrates the present day cowboys through the Kansas Pro Rodeo
Finals that rounded out the weekend. Fun for both residents and visitors of all ages, Wild West Fest featured multiple events, including
Taste of the Wild West, Wild West Beer Fest, a Jared Daniels Band concert, and Gunsmoke Under the Stars.
For more information visit DodgeCityWildWestFest.com. For media inquiries, please contact Jessi Rabe at 620-255-4022 or
[email protected].
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About Boot Hill Casino & Resort
Boot Hill Casino & Resort features over 680 electronic gaming machines, 18 table games, 5 live poker tables, a 150-seat casual dining
restaurant known as Firesides at Boot Hill, Wild Bill’s Beer Bar for a variety of specialty, imported and domestic beers, Cowboy Cafe
for a light fare on-the-go, Daylight Donuts, and also offers retail logoed items.
Phase I of the $90 million project opened in December 2009. Phase II was completed in August 2012 which included an additional
200 electronic gaming machines. Boot Hill Casino & Resort is managed by BHCMC, LLC, a subsidiary of Butler National Service
Corporation, a Kansas corporation. The lottery facility games at Boot Hill Casino & Resort are owned and operated by the Kansas
Lottery. The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission provides regulatory oversight for the casino. For more information about Boot
Hill Casino & Resort, please visit us at www.boothillcasino.com, or call us at 1.877.906.0777.
Boot Hill Casino & Resort supports responsible gambling practices. All games are owned and operated by the Kansas Lottery. ©2015
BHCMC, LLC. Gambling Problem? Getting help is your best bet. Call 1.800.522.4700 or visit www.ksgamblinghelp.com. Any
promotions are not valid to persons banned from the casino or persons in the Kansas Voluntary Exclusion program.