Typed Letter Signed By James Arness On His Stationery

JAMES ARNESS

Publication: Privately printed, 1959, N P

A 7 1/4" X 10 1/2" typed letter on James Arness (1923-2011) stationery and signed as Jim Arness. The letter is dated July 22, 1959 and was sent to Mr. Arnold Gates, Editor, The Round Table, 289 New Hyde Park Road, Garden City, New York. Arnold F. Gates (1914-1993) was a noted Lincoln / Civil War scholar.

The actor writes an admirer about the latest development with "Gunsmoke," as after four years Arness's two production companies negotiated an ownership share in the show — raising Arness's stake in the hit show far above that of actor. "Just a note to thank you for your recent letter regarding the new contract," he writes. "Thanks, too, for the generous comments concerning the show. I am glad things worked out, naturally; there were a lot of people involved..." Signed large and bold. Gates wrote Arnold in his capacity as editor of "The Round Table" — publication of The Civil War Round Table of New York — perhaps to lend some historical gravitas to his remarks and raise them above that of garden variety "fan." 1959 proved a pivotal moment in the history of one of television's longest-running shows and Arness's comments on it are most unusual.

James Arness was also the older brother of actor Peter Graves, and although he appeared in many films, including The Farmer's Daughter (1947) and the sci-fi classic The Thing From Another World (1951), he will always be remembered as Marshall Matt Dillon from the long-running television series Gunsmoke (1955-75).

Faint evidence of folds, else fine.