Those who may have been expecting things to heat up on screen between Kitty and the leading man were destined to wait a long time.
In fact, even though it may have been implied that the saloon owner was secretly working a job that was a little more, well, secret, they never actually showed anything happening between them, no matter how badly fans may have wanted it to happen.
The Leading Man
Matt Dillon, the series protagonist, is famously portrayed by James Arness. The U.S Marshal works hard to keep criminals at bay on the streets of small-town Kansas in the 1870s.
The fictional city of Dodge was full of shenanigans and interesting characters. There was always something happening to pull viewers into the world of the show, relieving them of the stress of their own.
Miss Kitty
Amanda Blake played the fiery-haired saloon owner, Kitty Russell. And those who watched the show know that her hair is far from the only fiery thing about her. But Blake wasn’t the first actress who was up for the saucy saloon proprietress. Originally, the show’s creators offered the role to Polly Bond.
Fortunately for Blake, Bond declined the role, and it was then all up to her to bring Kitty to life – and she did just that.
Army Life
Before James Arness became known for his role in "Gunsmoke", he was playing a very different kind of role in his real life – a soldier in the United States military during World War II.
His vision for his future was to become a fighter pilot, but something would hold him back. He did, however, become a rifleman. And he would find himself deployed to fight in the Battle of Anzio.
War Time
During his time at war, Arness wounded his leg pretty severely and was evacuated home for medical care.
He was lucky to be alive, but, sadly, his wounds would haunt him throughout his entire life. While he did heal from the injury, he suffered from chronic pain in his right leg for the rest of his life. Still, he didn't let that stop him from having a successful career.