Gunsmoke - Grass

Season 4 Episode 129  aired 11/29/1959


originally aired on radio Season 1 episode 62  07/11/1953

Top of the Pops (Glen Campbell Edition)

With the sad announcement today that Glen Campbell is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, today's Top of the Pops contains his 4 biggest singles on the US Billboard Hot 100.

4 - Wichita Lineman (1969)


3 - Galveston (1969)


2 - Rhinestone Cowboy (1975)


1 - Southern Nights (1977)

Gunsmoke on Radio - The Last Episode

This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the airing of the last original episode of the radio version of Gunsmoke.   A true legend in radio history, this was the first "grown up" western which started airing in 1952.
Shortly after in 1954 the television version was aired on CBS and ran for 20 seasons.

Here, thanks to Buck Benny's wonderful podcast, is the last episode of Gunsmoke's radio version.

Letter of the Law from June 18th  1961 episode 28 of season 9 and the 413th of the entire run.  Written by John Meston.


The episode was made for the television version in Season 4 episode 5 October 11th 1958.

New York Times Bestseller List 06/19/2011

This week we have new #1 books atop both the fiction and non fiction list of the New York Times Bestseller List.

Here is the Top 5 bestsellers in Non Fiction for the week ending June 19th 2011

1 - The Greater Journey - David McCullough (2 weeks on list)
The historian explores the intellectual legacy that France settled on its 19th-century visitors.


2 - In the Garden of the Beasts - Erik Larson (4 weeks)
This portrait of Berlin during the rise of the Nazi Party concentrates on William E. Dodd, who became the U.S. ambassador to Germany in 1933, and his daughter, Martha.


3 - Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand (29 weeks)
An Olympic runner's story of survival as a prisoner of the Japanese in World War II.

4 - Bossypants - Tina Fey (9 weeks)

5 - Those Guys Have All the Fun - James A Miller and Tom Shales (2 weeks)
An oral history of the sports network ESPN.


Here is the Top 5 bestsellers in Fiction for the week ending June 19th 2011

1 - Dreams of Joy - Lisa See (Debut)
 A young woman angry at her mother and aunt over family secrets runs away to Shanghai in search of her birth father.


2 - Dead Reckoning - Charlaine Harris (5 weeks)
 The telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse seeks the culprit in a firebombing.


3 - 10th Anniversary - James Patterson (5 weeks)
Detective Lindsay Boxer and the Women's Murder Club race to find a missing baby.


4 - Buried Prey - John Sanford (4 weeks)
 The Minneapolis detective Lucas Davenport investigates the murders of two girls who were kidnapped in 1985.


5 - The Jefferson Key - Steve Berry (3 weeks)
 The former government operative Cotton Malone foils an assassination attempt on the president and finds himself at dangerous odds with a secret society.

Horse Racing Update

Lets get caught up on the latest horse racing.

We had the 2011 Belmont Stakes from New York this last Saturday and it was upset city as Ruler on Ice shocked the crowd and took home the 3rd leg of the Triple Crown.   Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom had a near mishap as he almost fell coming out of the starting gate and used up all his energy just getting back to the pack as they entered the turn for home but did manage a 4th place finish.   The 2011 Preakness winner Shackleford held the lead for most of the race but completely gave up about 100 yards from the wire and Ruler on Ice shot past him like he was standing still.



2 weeks ago was the 2nd leg of the British Triple crown and the biggest race in the UK, The Epsom Derby. The winner of the first leg of the British Triple Crown, Frankel, opted out of the Derby this year leaving it wide open.
This was a close finish as Pour Moi, the french entry snuck it at the wire.

WATCH THE RACE HERE.

Sanford and Son

Tonight just for a change of pace here is an episode from one of my favorite Sitcoms of all time, Sanford and Son.
This is called "My Fair Esther" from Season 5, aired November 14th 1975

Gunsmoke - The Cook

I have been in a Gunsmoke mood lately, especially with the passing of James Arness.   Here is an episode from the TV series called -

 "The Cook"  Season 6 Episode 209 Aired: 12/17/1960





Here is the same episdode "The Cook" aired on radio 12/11/1960 Season 9 episode 9 of the season