• The name of the Gunsmoke theme is
  • 'Ol Trails. Melancholy Marshal. Dodge City Serenade. There's Blood on the Saddle.
  • Smoking Gun.

Answer: ... 'Ol Trails or Gunsmoke Trails

• The Gunsmoke theme was written by
  • James Arness. Rex Koury. Ted Post.
  • John Meston.
    

Answer: b ... Koury. Spencer is also listed as a writer.

Rex Koury. Click HERE for a note from his daughter Gigi. Click HERE for Gunsmoke sheet music.

• The publisher of the theme for Gunsmoke is
  • Herman Music Inc. Dodge City Music Limited. Koury Inc.
  • Cow Town Music Inc.

Answer: ... Herman



• Music published in the United States either uses BMI, ASCAP or SESAC to collect royalties. The theme for Gunsmoke uses which?

ASCAP



• (T/F) The theme for Gunsmoke was initially conceived in late 1950 and developed over a period of a year.

False ... the theme was written very quickly in order to meet a deadline.


• Is the Gunsmoke theme played in a major or a minor key?

Major


• (T/F) The theme to Gunsmoke was released on record and in sheet music form. These products were pitched on the radio.

True

• (T/F) In the late 1950's, the Gunsmoke theme reached number nine on {\it Billboard's top 100 pop song list.
  

False


• (T/F) The version of the Gunsmoke theme that was released on record was performed by Bill Paley and the Comets.

False ... Bill Paley was a cofounder and chair of CBS. Because he enjoyed Gunsmoke, he ordered the show returned to television after it had been canceled by CBS in the early 60's.)


• (T/F) Chester would frequently whistle the Gunsmoke theme as he walked down Front Street.
  

False

• (T/F) The same arrangement of the Gunsmoke theme was used the entire 23 years that Gunsmoke aired on radio and television.

False

• On radio's early Gunsmokes, the music was performed live. What historical event popularized the use of canned (or prerecorded) music?
  

The 1957 musicians strike

• Interior music in a radio play is that music played between scenes or to highlight a desired mood. Rex Koury wrote much of the interior music for radio's Gunsmoke. Had he ever written such music for a western prior to this?

No

• (T/F) The theme for Gunsmoke was written on the same day as its first radio broadcast.

True

• Which did Rex Koury write first: the interior music for Gunsmoke or the Gunsmoke theme?
  

Interior ... to get the feel what might make a good theme.

• To within one hour, how long does Koury claim that it took him to write the theme for Gunsmoke?

Ten minutes

• (T/F) Koury graduated with a BS in music from the University of Washington and went to work immediately after for CBS. Gunsmoke was his first assignment.

False ... Koury had been writing music since the '30's.

• Was the interior music that Koury wrote for radio's Gunsmoke also used in the television version?

Yes

• (T/F) After Gunsmoke, Koury toured the country playing organ for what type of events?
  

The showing of old silent movies

• (T/F) Koury worked his way through college as a silent film extra.

False