Artist's Statement:

Ever since I was very young, I always loved "Gunsmoke's" character, Festus Haggen. He was created in 1962 when the Actor, Ken Curtis made a guest appearance as the character. The episode was highly rated so when Dennis Weaver ("Chester") left the show, Festus became a regular in the 1963 season. Milburn Stone ("Doc Adams") autographed a photo of himself to Ken and stated "To Ken-- welcome to Dodge. You have given 'Gunsmoke' a badly needed shot in the arm. Your Friend, Doc".

Ken's real name was Curtis Waine Gates, but it was changed to Ken Curtis early in his entertainment career. In later years when he created Festus, he relied on his memories of real-life people he knew in his early years while growing up in Eastern Colorado. There was a man everyone called Cedar Jack that deeply influenced young Curt. Jack would use such phrases as "Yew ol' scutter" (common man), "she-males" (women), and "Weyall, it's a-cloudyin' up, agin!" (rain clouds forming, again). Then of course, "I'll git all over you like ugly on a ape!!"

John Wayne, or "Duke" as his friends called him, was filming his classic movie, "The Searchers" directed by the great John Ford in the early 1950's. Ken was in the cast and during breaks between scenes in the early shooting, he would hang around crew members and tell stories about Cedar Jack and other colorful characters he grew up with. Mr. Ford overheard him talking with that unusual twang and asked him if he could do that character throughout the rest of the movie. One never said "No" to John Ford, so Ken certainly, but reluctantly agreed to do what the director wanted.

The young actor was sorely disappointed that he would have to deliver his dialogue with that hickish twang, because he wanted to be a leading man someday. Duke heard about that and approached Ken with his advice. He told him "Ya know Ken, there's a lotta leadin' men out there in this business. If you try ta be one, ya won't stand out. If ya do what Jack (John Ford) says, you'll stand out and then ya might get ta be a Star!"

Ken took Duke's advice and did similar characters in other movies and television shows such as "Have Gun Will Travel" and "Ripcord". CBS Television executives noticed him and sure enough, Ken Curtis became a great star as his character, Festus Haggen became endeared to audiences worldwide, including this young artist from West Texas.

Take a look at "Friends of Jimmy Don". Click on Ken "Festus" Curtis and read what's written there.