Old Time Radio Westerns: Interview with William Conrad | Spotlight on a Star (12-15-69)

Overview

In this episode of Old Time Radio Westerns, host Andrew Rhynes presents a classic 1969 interview between radio historian Chris and legendary actor William Conrad. Conducted at Bell Recording Studios, the conversation spotlights Conrad's remarkable contributions to the golden age of radio, most memorably as Marshal Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke, but also through his prolific work across dramatic radio. Conrad offers rich insights into his career, the artistry behind radio storytelling, and vivid anecdotes about the people and productions that shaped the era.

Main Themes & Purpose

• Celebration of Radio’s Golden Age: Revisiting the artistry, camaraderie, and craftsmanship that made radio drama an iconic American medium, with Conrad as a central figure.
• Conrad’s Life in Radio: Exploring William Conrad's journey from radio novice to leading man, and his deep impact across genres and shows, especially Gunsmoke and Escape.
• Personal Anecdotes & Historical Detail: Conrad’s candid memories of colleagues, behind-the-scenes stories, and his philosophy of performance and authenticity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

William Conrad’s Radio Origins

• Early Fascination & Entry into Radio

  • Conrad recounts his early fascination with radio, shaped by personal loss and a friend’s encouragement, leading to small gigs at KMPC.

    “I had a dear friend who was an announcer…he'd let me do a commercial every now and then. And that fascinated me.”
    (William Conrad, 06:13)

• First Network Break: ‘The Whistler’ (1945)

  • Conrad’s big network break came while in the Army, auditioning for CBS’s The Whistler. He landed the lead unexpectedly:

    “I was doing the lead in it. It scared the hell out of me, but I did it.”
    (William Conrad, 07:10)

Dramatic Radio & Early Career

• Rise to Network Stardom

  • Conrad describes the breadth of his work at CBS: 10–15 shows a week across genres—never comedy, always “the dramatic shows.”

    “It was unbelievable…averaging maybe 10 to 15 shows a week…all of the dramatic shows.”
    (11:33)

• Establishing ‘Escape’ and ‘Gunsmoke’

  • Escape: Conrad was first voice and recurring actor for this acclaimed suspense/adventure series.
    • Demonstrates his signature booming opening:

      “Tired of the everyday routine? Ever dream of a life of romantic adventures?...We offer you escape.”
      (09:50)

‘Gunsmoke’ & The Art of Realism

• Audition and Legacy as Matt Dillon

  • Conrad recalls the extensive auditioning for Gunsmoke and landing the lead after others passed:

    “I think I was the last man to audition for it. And fortunately, I managed to get it.”
    (12:39)

  • Gunsmoke’s unmatched impact—radio, then TV, and worldwide broadcasts for U.S. troops.

    “I guess it's probably the most remarkable series that's ever been on the air.”
    (13:29)

• Detail & Authenticity in Production

  • Writers and producers, notably John Meston and Norman Macdonnell, were “meticulous” about realism.

    “They took complete and deliberate time in setting up the sound effects. Which was probably one of the secrets of the show's success. We tried to make everything as honest as we possibly could.”
    (14:23)

• Memorable Characters & Cast

  • Doc Adams: Howard McNear “was a zany, wonderful, wild, crazy, beautiful human being… He was a great shock to all of us when he passed away.” Conrad recounts Parley Baer’s moving, funny funeral eulogy.
    (16:25-18:48)
  • Chester: Baer’s Chester was conceived as “always a middle aged man who was not too bright but was always getting into jams.”
    (19:15)
  • Kitty: Georgia Ellis is praised for her “sultry voice” and skill in the role.
    (24:37)

Favorite Moments & Notable Quotes

• The Realism That Set ‘Gunsmoke’ Apart

  • Host Chris notes:

    “It was adult. And I understood it and I liked it. It was unlike any dramatic show that I had heard because it was real.”
    (13:39)

• Doc’s Name Origin Story

  • Conrad describes how “Doc Adams” got his last name from a joke about Howard McNear’s ghoulish delight at medical mishaps:

    “As a matter of fact, that's what you should be called is Doc Adams. And that's how he got his name.”
    (22:18)

• The Sweet Smell of Success

  • About the show's lasting impact:

    “We tried to make everything as honest as we possibly could. That's probably why it had that sweet smell of success to it.”
    (14:23)

• The ‘Gunsmoke’ Family

  • Reminiscing about the cast dynamic:

    “Gunsmoke was like one big family. And I will stress, a happy family. I have never known the joy that we had on that. On any other enterprise that I've been involved with.”
    (28:42)

Range of Work: Beyond Gunsmoke

• Other Famous Series

  • CBS Radio Workshop, Suspense, The Whistler, Night Beat, Frontier Gentlemen, Richard Diamond: Conrad was a mainstay, acting or narrating in countless episodes, and often collaborating with major stars.
  • He recalls special productions:
    • Brave New World

      “...part 1 of 2 Half Hour Programs devoted to one of the world's most shocking and famous novels, Aldous Huxley's terrifying forecast of the future.”
      (31:34)

    • Ballad of the Iron Horse and No Place of Japan
    • Memorable readings, like the poetic “1489 Words” (38:28)

• Recollections of Colleagues

  • Warm words for frequent collaborators:
    • Parley Baer (“Chester”), John Dehner, Larry Dobkin, Harry Bartell, Georgia Ellis, and many more.
    • The camaraderie and joy of working together—even under immense weekly workload.

Listener Interaction & Cultural Impact

• Fans & Legacy

  • Conrad shares a story of a fan quoting “It’s a chancy job and it makes a man a little lonely”—a line from the Gunsmoke opening that he had not uttered in 8 years, leading to a humorous misunderstanding:

    “He thought I was being a big shot...but I honestly didn't know what he was talking about.”
    (48:52-51:02)

• Listener-Submitted Stories

  • On taking stories from listeners:

    “At least once somebody wrote in something that was a story outline that they did use, but I'm not really positive of that.”
    (48:52)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Early Life & Radio Beginnings: [06:10–07:04]
• First Network Role (‘The Whistler’): [07:04–08:19]
• ‘Escape’ and Adventure Radio: [09:34–12:11]
• ‘Gunsmoke’: Audition, Success, Realism: [12:11–16:25]
• Reminiscence on Howard McNear: [16:25–18:48]
• Chester’s Characterization: [19:15–20:22]
• Doc Adams’ Name: [22:18]
• Georgia Ellis as Kitty: [24:37]
• Radio Family & Behind-the-Scenes Stories: [28:42–29:32]
• CBS Radio Workshop & Special Dramas: [31:09–34:30]
• Listener Interaction Anecdote: [48:52–51:02]

Notable Quotes

• On Howard McNear (Doc Adams):

  “He was a zany, wonderful, wild, crazy, beautiful human being. It was such a great shock to all of us when he passed away... The most magical thing happened [at his funeral]. He started telling about the wild zaniness of Howard... For the next 45 minutes, you won't believe this, everybody laughed and loved every minute of it.”
  (William Conrad, 16:25-18:48)

• On Matt Dillon’s Realism:

  “Matt Dillon represented a figment of the writer's imagination. But you'll get a lot of fights from a lot of people who will tell you that there was. It's pretty funny...”
  (14:23)

• On the Show’s Legacy:

  “I firmly believe that radio cuts it all over television in many areas. And it's a shame that a medium that is that beautiful has to disappear.”
  (71:19-72:01)

Final Reflections

This episode is an engrossing portrait of William Conrad’s artistry and the enduring affection for old-time radio. Conrad’s warmth, humor, and humility shine through as he reflects on his storied career—his deep respect for colleagues, his pride in Gunsmoke’s authenticity, and his sense of the medium’s lost artistry. Fans of radio, westerns, and American pop culture will find this interview a rich, nostalgic, and heartfelt tribute to an era when storytelling came alive through sound alone.