The genesis of the radio program can be traced back to the 1940s. The head of CBS absolutely loved the radio series “Philip Marlowe,” which was about a seasoned private-detective. But he wanted to transport a similar character back to the Old West and put scriptwriters at work on the idea.

Thus, Matt Dillon was born in the rough and perilous Wild West. Unlike other shows like the “Lone Ranger,” “Gunsmoke” featured realistic violence such as massacres, scalpings, and even drug addictions. Much of this was later toned down when the show was adapted for television.