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tall, skinny youth from Min-
neapolis, just discharged from
the Army, drove out to Cali-
A fornia 10 years ago to soak up
some sun and swim in the Pacific
Ocean. He figured he had enough
money for a fortnight of lollygagging
before going back to the cold of Min-
nesota and a crack at getting some
sort of job.
A few weeks later he was earning
$400 a week playing the role of one of
Loretta Young's brothers in the film,
"The Farmer's Daughter." Today he
earns considerably more than $400 a
week as Marshal Matt Dillon on CBS's
adult Western series, Gunsmoke.
James Arness, who filled out to 232
pounds during the intervening decade,
unhesitatingly admits that Hollywood
has been very kind to him.
"I was a pretty dumb kid when I
first started out. You see, I made that
$400 a week for 17 weeks on 'The
Farmer's Daughter' picture and I fig-
ured I was a rich man. So right
away I took off on a vacation. It
lasted nine months, mostly down in
Mexico, and I wound up flat broke."
Arness paused, then continued
sheepishly. "Fact is, I couldn't land
another job in Holly- continued

MARSHAl

FROM

Arness in action: above, with Amanda
Blake, Gunsmoke's dance-hall queen. At MINNEAPOUS
right, as Marshal Dillon he shoots to kill.