Gunsmoke was one of the longest running television shows in history, airing for an incredible 20 seasons from 1955 to 1975. For the first several years of its run, Gunsmoke was broadcast in black and white before eventually transitioning to color. Let’s take a look at exactly when that transition occurred and which seasons were in black and white versus color.
The Early Black and White Seasons
When Gunsmoke first premiered on CBS in 1955, all television shows were broadcast in black and white. Color television technology was still in its infancy and had not yet become standardized or widespread. As a result, the first several seasons of Gunsmoke all aired entirely in black and white:
| Season | Years | Episodes | Color/Black & White |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 1955-1956 | 39 | Black & White |
| Season 2 | 1956-1957 | 39 | Black & White |
| Season 3 | 1957-1958 | 39 | Black & White |
| Season 4 | 1958-1959 | 38 | Black & White |
| Season 5 | 1959-1960 | 39 | Black & White |
| Season 6 | 1960-1961 | 38 | Black & White |
As you can see, the first six seasons of Gunsmoke, encompassing some 233 episodes from 1955 to 1961, were broadcast fully in black and white. This was the norm for television of the era, as color technology had not reached mass consumer adoption.
The Transition to Color
The television landscape began to shift dramatically in the early 1960s. NBC had begun broadcasting select shows in color starting in 1954, with CBS and ABC soon following suit. By the 1961-1962 television season, all three major networks were airing many primetime shows in color. Gunsmoke, however, remained steadfastly in black and white for a few more years. It was not until 1966 in Season 12 that Gunsmoke finally switched to broadcasting in color:
| Season | Years | Episodes | Color/Black & White |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 7 | 1961-1962 | 34 | Black & White |
| Season 8 | 1962-1963 | 38 | Black & White |
| Season 9 | 1963-1964 | 36 | Black & White |
| Season 10 | 1964-1965 | 36 | Black & White |
| Season 11 | 1965-1966 | 36 | Black & White |
| Season 12 | 1966-1967 | 26 | Color |
After over a decade on the air, Gunsmoke switched to color midway through Season 12 in 1966. This was a year after NBC and ABC had mandated that all of their primetime programming would be broadcast in color. CBS held out another year after its competitors, but eventually made the same switch. For Gunsmoke, the show’s landmark 12th season was the start of a new colorful era.
The Color Seasons
Once Gunsmoke converted to color with Season 12, it remained in color for the remainder of its epic run:
| Season | Years | Episodes | Color/Black & White |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 12 | 1966-1967 | 26 | Color |
| Season 13 | 1967-1968 | 25 | Color |
| Season 14 | 1968-1969 | 26 | Color |
| Season 15 | 1969-1970 | 26 | Color |
| Season 16 | 1970-1971 | 24 | Color |
| Season 17 | 1971-1972 | 24 | Color |
| Season 18 | 1972-1973 | 24 | Color |
| Season 19 | 1973-1974 | 24 | Color |
| Season 20 | 1974-1975 | 24 | Color |
Gunsmoke’s transition to color ushered in a new era for the long-running Western series. For eight and a half seasons and 197 episodes, fans enjoyed seeing Marshal Matt Dillon and the cast in vibrant color on their television screens. The show continued evolving its look and feel over the years, benefiting from advancing broadcast technology. But it never lost the heart and spirit that made viewers tune in for 20 years.
Conclusion
In summary, Gunsmoke began in the era of black and white television, airing its first six seasons from 1955 to 1961 completely in monochrome. The classic Western series finally switched to color partway through Season 12 in 1966. This transition mirrored the overall shift in broadcast standards, as networks mandated color programming and consumer adoption of color televisions accelerated. From Season 12 through the end of its historic run in 1975, Gunsmoke aired exclusively in color for its final eight and a half seasons and nearly 200 episodes. Overall, the first 233 episodes were in black and white, with the remaining 297 episodes broadcast in color. For 20 years and two distinct eras, Gunsmoke captivated audiences and stands tall as an iconic chapter in television history.