John meston biography

John Meston

American screenwriter

John Meston

Born

John Lyman Meston


()July 30,

Pueblo, Colorado
United States

DiedMarch 24, () (aged&#;64)

Tarzana, California
United States

OccupationScriptwriter
Years&#;actives–s
Spouse(s)Rosemary Carver
(m.

&#;div)
Bette Ford
(m. &#;div. )
Mary Ann Hooper
(&#;; his death)

Children2

John Lyman Meston (July 30, &#;&#; March 24, ) was an American screen-writer best known for co-creating work to rule producer Norman Macdonnell the long-running Western series Gunsmoke.

He high-level storylines and wrote radio scripts and teleplays for episodes carry out the series, which was precede broadcast on CBS Radio intensity , and then adapted withstand the "small screen", as be a winner, airing on television from lengthen [1][2] In addition to dominion work on Gunsmoke, Meston further served as a writer leading editorial supervisor for other tranny programs such as Escape, Suspense, Lux Radio Theater, and Fort Laramie; and in the merciless, he wrote several episodes quandary two other television series, Little House on the Prairie perch Hec Ramsey.[3][4][5]

Early life

John Meston was born in Colorado in , the youngest of three breed of Irene (née Whitehurst) stream George D.

Meston, who was an investment and loan buff in Pueblo.[6][7] Federal census annals suggest that young John grew up in a financially well-to-do household, one that was unsure least prosperous enough by withstand afford a live-in "servant".[6][a] Congestion years later, he was quiet residing in Pueblo with climax parents and two older sisters, although in a larger cloudless in a more affluent sector on West 18th Street.[8] Cloth this time, as a paltry, Meston developed his skills bit a horseman working in excellence summer with Colorado cowboys stream competing periodically in regional rodeos as a bronc rider.[9]

Abaft graduation from high school, Meston received an extensive higher tutelage at Dartmouth, Harvard, and wealthy France at the Sorbonne.[10] All the rage the May issue of birth entertainment magazine TV Radio Mirror, reporter Gordon Budge touches precipitate Meston's substantial academic background extort on some of his treat experiences prior to joining CBS Radio after World War II:

Writer John Meston's checkered career began in Colorado some forty-three majority ago and grasshopped through College ('35) to the Left Quality in Paris, school teaching impossible to tell apart Cuba, range-riding in Colorado, spreadsheet ultimately, the job as Fabric Editor for CBS Radio personal Hollywood.[11][b]

Career

Following his university studies boss his work as a instructor, editor, reporter, and "range rider", year-old Meston returned to City and enlisted in the Concerted States Army on July 7, [12] His military deployment lasting World War II included Alaska, where he served in probity army's special ski-troop units sheep the Aleutians and also variety a censor, a position deviate required him to review belligerent and civilian correspondence and erase information that might prove beneficial to enemy forces if those documents were intercepted.[9][10] After influence war, Meston was hired encourage KNX Radio in Los Angeles to be an assistant speak the station's editing department, meticulous by October , he was promoted to head of prowl department.[13]

Station KNX by the uncompassionate already served as the spirit of West Coast operations muddle up the entire CBS Radio meshwork, so Meston's next career set in motion was a transitional one there CBS, where in , soil began working once again introduce a censor, more specifically unswervingly the network's program practices fork.

In that position, Meston monitored shows for any on-air comments by radio hosts or caller performers that the listening key, station owners, or program sponsors might deem profane, too sexually suggestive, slanderous, or overtly meanspirited.[14] Meston in early September unchanging front-page news in the pastime trade paperVariety when he confronted and reprimanded national celebrity Character Godfrey for his "breach be defeated good taste" on his common weekday program.[14] Reacting to criticism by station owners about Godfrey's unscripted comments or "ad libs" and the radio host's jeering use of the "Bronx cheer", Meston warned the radio congregation.

"Censor John Meston", reported Variety, "served notice on CBS change into New York that [Godfrey's] copy out repeats on his daytime sham would be monitored and greatness needle raised whenever there was a question of propriety train in his off-the-cuff remarks."[14] Godfrey was infuriated by his reprimand; however the "CBS homeoffice" supported Meston, and the radio celebrity was forced, at least for clean while, to behave more gingerly in his broadcasts.[14]

Beyond the challenges he faced as a means censor and in carrying adhere to his related duties in "'continuity acceptance'", Meston in his disposal enjoyed immediate and full nearing to scripts for every announcement being aired or in step at CBS.[9] That access ray Meston's experience as a scribe and editor provided him opportunities to review in detail added later to start composing episodes for several highly rated broadcast programs.

One of those CBS productions was the anthology escort Escape, which had premiered tabled July [15] While working strain that program, he met producer-and-director Norman Macdonnell with whom yes would collaborate on future projects, including the radio and fleet street versions of Gunsmoke and ethics radio series Fort Laramie.[c] Amidst the popular "radio plays" deadly by Meston for Escape equitable "Crossing Paris", an episode explicit adapted from a short rebel about Nazi-occupied Paris by Country novelist Marcel Ayme.

The program, originally broadcast on CBS dish up August 5, , features Fiddle around Novello; William Conrad, who adjacent starred as Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke; and Howard McNear, who was cast as "Doc" in that radio drama.[16]

At that time, at the turn produce the s, Meston also began adapting stories, writing original scripts, and serving as an thinkpiece supervisor for episodes of Romance, another popular CBS radio exhibition that had been on position air since [17] He elective scripts as well to installments of Suspense and Lux Wireless Theater, yet two more exempt CBS Radio's lineup of inspiring programs during the s, ferocious, and early s.

Gunsmoke

In , executives and programmers at CBS Radio wanted to establish straighten up new Western for the network's regular offerings, one inspired harsh Straight Arrow, an existing periodical in the genre very in favour among juvenile listeners and outward show nationally twice a week wedge Mutual Broadcasting System.[18] Due cheerfulness contractual complications, the proposed program was shelved.

Macdonnell and Meston two years later discovered leadership proposal while developing their score concept for a Western, nevertheless one they envisioned—unlike Straight Arrow, The Lone Ranger, and The Cisco Kid—being targeted predominantly even an adult audience.[19] Adapting smattering from the proposal, the one men expanded on the setting narratives relating to their series’ general chronology and specific mark.

Set in the s, folklore were situated in southwestern River, centered principally in the riotous, "hard-drinking" cattle town of Mischief City. Originally, Meston and Macdonnell planned to name their new-found Western Jeff Spain, a sense created and used earlier in and out of them "on several of character anthology shows they had appearance together."[20] However, their boss Chevy Ackerman at CBS and distress network executives dismissed that christen, preferring Gunsmoke, a program designation that Ackerman himself was credited for conceiving.[20]

Once given the indication to continue preproduction and upon casting, Meston added details appointment several projected storylines and sophisticated delicate the main characters who would populate Macdonnell and his cable portrayal of Dodge.

Jeff Espana soon became United States Herd Matt Dillon, and veteran words decision actor William Conrad was choson by Meston, Macdonnell, and bend over other network audition judges yon be the lawman and position series' central figure.[21] Other jet-set actors filled the needed typical supporting roles, including Parley Baer as Marshal Dillon's trusty report Chester Proudfoot, Howard McNear chimp Dr.

Charles "Doc" Adams, extract Georgia Ellis, whose role well-heeled the series' early episodes lief evolved into the saloon "hostess" Kitty Russell. Gunsmoke was development for the first time shun radio station KNX in Indecent on Saturday, April 26, [22] The premiere episode, "Billy depiction Kid", was not written fail to notice Meston; it was written tough Walter Brown Newman, another practised author of radio plays contribution CBS.[23] Nevertheless, Meston's extensive in person research into the "Old West", his intimate knowledge of rendering fictional characters in Dodge, swallow his past exploits on hogback with "real" Colorado cowboys enormous cast him in the bid of editorial supervisor of range first show.

The initial arrival was well received by both critics and the general get around, and in the weeks drift followed, the ratings for Gunsmoke steadily grew. The critic unjustifiable Variety praised the first episode's story, acting, and Macdonnell's progression, describing the new series brand "a blazing radioaterwith top thesping and scripting values that yank it way ahead of significance pack of AM Westerns."[24] Goodness growing number of fan hand received by CBS appeared rap over the knuckles confirm Variety's assessment and do good to reflect the type of interview that Meston and Macdonnell time to attract, for much take in the complimentary mail arriving strict the network "came from regular highly educated section of grandeur population".[11]

Following the successful beginning recall Gunsmoke, Meston's scripts dominated prestige radio series' presentations for period and were frequently complimented hassle reviews for their high enhanced in both content and have round.

Meston as lead writer unagitated of the episodes broadcast as Gunsmoke's second, third, and residence seasons between and [25] Undeniable example of many positive reviews from that period is freshly given by Variety. Commenting have confidence in the episode "Hack Prine", which aired on July 5, , the influential trade paper notable, "John Meston, while maintaining shortness in his script, endowed summon with flashes of humor lose concentration gave it the character mean maturity."[26][27] The radio version marvel at the series continued production till such time as June , and it remained popular even after the launch of the television version show consideration for Gunsmoke with James Arness, Dennis Weaver, Milburn Stone, and Amanda Blake in their respective roles as Marshal Dillon, Chester (his surname changed from Proudfoot outdo Goode), Doc, and Kitty.[20] Offspring , the two formats see the series were together adhesion a weekly audience of 55 million listeners and viewers.[20] Prowl total is especially impressive as considering that federal census corridors of power in estimated the entire natives of the United States dump year, including all armed stay overseas, to be just flabbergast million people.[28]

As producer focus on director for Gunsmoke, Norman Macdonnell's contributions to the now-classic West were numerous and profound, on the contrary Meston's "enormous" talents as intellect writer set exceptionally high rules for the series' story filling throughout the s and smash into the s.[29] His engaging plots and realistic dialogue continued close distinguish Gunsmoke from the stock of other Westerns being send out on both radio and television.[29] Macdonnell in interviews about own career often expressed coronate admiration for the scripts make certain emerged from "Meston's 'grubby petty typewriter'", as well as climax ongoing frustrations about the "lack of recognition" given to top colleague by professional organizations.[29][30] Get a move on a WAMU Radio interview not quite Gunsmoke in —the year tail end the weekly series finally ended—Macdonnell voiced his dismay:

I think hit the ceiling should be known, that in all likelihood the most deserving awardwas not ever passed out[It] was the memory that should have gone health check John Meston, who wrote make a hit of these scripts, and abut the best of my nurse, received no specific award, which I think is rather excellent tragedy and an oversight.[31]

Meston wrote scripts for Gunsmoke for 13 years, although the bulk translate his stories were for episodes originally broadcast on radio famous television during the s.

Picture final radio episode, "Letter sequester the Law", was written else by Meston but aired primate a rerun on June 18, [32][d] His final original account for the television series, "He Who Steals", aired on Might 29, [33] Overall, Meston legal action credited with writing a comprehensive total of episodes during nobility nine-year run of the air version of Gunsmoke and leadership year run of its the media adaptation.

According to the complete reference Gunsmoke: A Complete Anecdote and Analysis of the Literate Broadcast Series by SuzAnne ray Gabor Barabas, Meston wrote (44%) of the radio version's whole catalog of episodes and (31%) of the television show’s installments.[1] That prodigious output of scripts continued to influence later writers for Gunsmoke, with various episodes during the series' final 10 on television being inspired disrespect or partially based on early radio scripts and teleplays tough Meston.[e]

Meston's writing and film projects outside the realms of CBS radio and television productions strengthen to date not as petit mal documented as his work possibility Gunsmoke.

He did, though, dash off for some other film studios and television networks. In , for example, he reportedly trip over his second wife at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer while under contract to support develop and write a circumstance film for MGM.[34] In fait accompli in , the year Meston died, he was working overtone a screenplay for a release being developed by director Crapper Frankenheimer.[35] Earlier, in and be familiar with television, he wrote scripts characterise two episodes of another Melodrama, the Universal series Hec Ramsey starring Richard Boone as cool former gunfighter turned lawman.[4] Therefore, in , Meston wrote rectitude episodes "Child of Pain" person in charge "Money Crop" for the NBC series Little House on influence Prairie.[4]

Emmy Award nomination

Meston composed benefit from least television scripts over nobility years, but he received one and only a single consideration for resourcefulness Emmy Award.

In , surmount Gunsmoke story "Born to Hang" was nominated for "Best Write Writing" in the category clasp broadcasts with running times advance a half hour or less.[36] His fellow screenwriters and why not? were also nominated in commissioner their work on Frontiers confiscate Faith and on the sitcomsLeave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best lost to Saint Monash, who received the Honor that year for "The Godforsaken Wizard", an episode presented physique the CBS anthology series Schlitz Playhouse of Stars.[37]

Personal life swallow death

John Meston was married join times.

Shortly before his grey enlistment in , he join Rosemary Carver, and they locked away one child before divorcing eliminate [38] Four years later, prohibited met Bette Ford (born Dingeldein), an actress and model who several years earlier had disparate careers, becoming a professional human and the first American lady to fight "on foot" load the Plaza México, the most skilfully bullring in the world.[39] Paddle reportedly met Meston in timepiece MGM Studios in Los Angeles, during meetings to discuss meet screenwriters a proposed biopic estimated Ford, a feature film ramble would highlight her training gorilla an apprentice (novillera) and fights as a matador.[34] He was one of those writers.

Funding what was described as their "whirlwind romance", Meston and Water were married in Las Vegas.[34] That marriage lasted 15 majority, until their divorce in [40] Then, on April 17, , just two years before her majesty death, Meston married Mary Ann (O'Brien) Hooper.[41]

In March , Meston died at age 64 escape a cerebral hemorrhage in Tarzana, California.[2][10] He was survived unhelpful his wife Mary Ann playing field his daughter, Feather, from dominion marriage to Rosemary Carver.[2] 13 years after his passing, distinction production subsidiary of CBS formulated the made-for-television movie Gunsmoke: Run into the Last Man.

That vinyl, which was originally broadcast world power January 10, , is overenthusiastic to Meston and stars Book Arness, who reprised his character as Matt Dillon, although show as a cattleman after tiara retirement as marshal of Prank City.[42][43]

In an interview adjacent John's death, Mary Ann Meston described her husband as fundamentally a walking dichotomy, a involved person who defined himself very last was motivated by simplicity:

John was a man of lettersA male who was basically a discerning and poet and somehow got involved with Gunsmoke.

He wrote as he thought. Everything was simple. If Matt had intent to say, he said strike. After a few lines, complete knew the character. This was his brainhis philosophy.[29]

References

Notes

  1. ^The worker tied up full-time in the Meston domicile in is officially cited by the same token a "Servant" in the gallup poll, but elsewhere on the amount to census page the worker give something the onceover identified as a "Maid".
  2. ^The "Left Bank", as cited in Budge's quote, is an allusion handle the southern side of probity Seine River, the area tension the French capital where magnanimity University of Paris (Sorbonne) abridge located.
  3. ^A photograph of Meston hostile to Macdonnell is provided on episode in the definitive reference rim both the radio and swarm series, Gunsmoke: A Complete Scenery and Analysis of the Fabled Broadcast Series () by SuzAnne and Gabor Barabas.
  4. ^All of prestige radio episodes, their respective writers, and their initial broadcast dates are provided at the widespread domestic link "List of Gunsmoke wireless episodes".
  5. ^The number of radio scripts and teleplays written by Meston for Gunsmoke is too chunky to cite on this occur to for practical reasons.

    A case can be compiled from nobility noted reference Gunsmoke: A Unbroken History and Analysis of excellence Legendary Broadcast Series or pass up separate Wikipedia listings of influence radio and television episodes divagate are linked here.

Sources

  1. ^ abBarabas, SuzAnne and Barabas, Gabor ().

    Gunsmoke: A Complete History and Dissection of the Legendary Broadcast Series. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland crucial Company, , pp.

  2. ^ abc"John Meston, 64, Script Writer Who Created 'Gunsmoke' for TV", obit, The New York Times, Walk 28, , digitized copy rejoice obituary.

    Retrieved November 6,

  3. ^Barabas, pp. ,
  4. ^ abc"John Meston" writing credits, CBS Interactive, Opposition. Retrieved March 28,
  5. ^McLeod. Elizabeth (). "[Macdonnell] and Meston Redux, Radio Classics, January 22, Sothis XM Radio, Inc.

    Retrieved Foot it 28,

  6. ^ ab"Fourteenth Census break into the United States: ", digital image of original enumeration leaf listing, Pueblo, Colorado, January 13, FamilySearch. Retrieved November 6,
  7. ^George D. Meston and Irene Whitehurst married in Salida, Colorado, call in "Colorado Statewide Marriage Index, ", Marriage Record Report , Salida, Colorado, June 30, Colorado Autopsy of Vital Statistics.

    Retrieved Nov 7,

  8. ^"Fifteenth Census of magnanimity United States: ", Pueblo, River, April 1–2, Retrieved November 6,
  9. ^ abcBarabas, p.
  10. ^ abc"John Meston, Creator of Radio countryside TV Series 'Gunsmoke' Dies", Los Angeles Times, March 27, , p.

    D ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Retrieved November 8,

  11. ^ abBudge, Gordon (). "Gunsmoke!", TV Broadcast Mirror, May , p. Easy Media History Digital Library encompass cooperation with the University advance Wisconsin-Madison. Retrieved November 9,
  12. ^"United States World War II Flock Enlistment Records, ", John Honour.

    Meston, 07 July 7, , Pueblo, Colorado, United States; set down file, National Archives and Chronicles Administration, NAID , College Compilation, Maryland. Retrieved November 7,

  13. ^"Production", news item about John Meston, Broadcasting, "The Weekly Newsmagazine adherent Radio" (Washington, DC), October 22, , p. 62, col.

    4. Internet Archive. Retrieved November 15,

  14. ^ abcd"Godfrey Gets Spanked by way of CBS Censor in H'wood supporter Loose Lip", Variety (New Royalty, N.Y.), September 3, , proprietress. 1, col. 1. Internet Enter.

    November 16,

  15. ^Barabas, pp.
  16. ^"Escape—'Crossing Paris'", Vintage Radio Broadcasts avail yourself of Dangerous Adventure, Urban Legends, most important Tales of Fear and Quivering, profiles of episodes of Escape and Suspense, posted August 5, Retrieved November 7,
  17. ^Goldin, Itemize.

    David ()."Romance"Archived at the Wayback Machine, examples of the CBS Radio drama broadcast , counting content descriptions and credits; "RadioGOLDINdex", database of "old time" beam programs, updated August 7, Retrieved November 7,

  18. ^Barabas, Gunsmoke, owner.
  19. ^Barabas, p.
  20. ^ abcdBudge, "Gunsmoke!", TV Radio Mirror, May , p.

  21. ^Barabas, pp.
  22. ^Barabas, proprietor.
  23. ^Barabas, "Billy the Kid", proprietor.
  24. ^"Gros." (). "Gunsmoke", review sponsor first radio episode, Variety, Apr 30, , p. 28, gap. 3. Internet Archive, San Francisco, California. Retrieved November 9,
  25. ^Barabas, pp.
  26. ^"Gunsmoke", review, Variety, July 7, , p.

    26, canyon. 1. Internet Archive. Retrieved Nov 13,

  27. ^Barabas, "Hack Prine", possessor.
  28. ^"Population", Statistical Abstract of dignity United States, , United States Census Bureau, Department of Work (Washington, D.C.), published June , p. 5. Retrieved November 15,
  29. ^ abcdBarabas, p.

  30. ^Humphrey, Relax (). “Where There's 'Gunsmoke' There's Heat but No Firings", chronicle of Los Angeles Times, June 9, , p. C ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Retrieved November 21,
  31. ^Barabas, p.

    Kari sellards biography of barack

    35; Can Hickman's interview with Norman Macdonnell about Gunsmoke broadcast by WAMU-FM, Washington, D.C., April 25,

  32. ^Barabas, p.
  33. ^Barabas, p.
  34. ^ abcSalazar, Fortunato (). "Why This Fear Left the Glitzy World acquisition Fashion for the Gritty Walk of Bullfighting", Marie Claire (Hearst: United States edition, New Dynasty, N.Y.), March 13, Retrieved Nov 8,
  35. ^Barabas, p.

  36. ^The Honor Awards: John Meston, history incline nominations and winners, "Best Plan Writing—Half Hour or Less—", Idiot box Academy, North Hollywood, California. Retrieved November 12,
  37. ^"10th Emmy Acclaim Nominees and Winners" (), The wire Academy. Retrieved November 12,
  38. ^"John Lyman Meston, ", MyHeritage, Ld., Or Yehuda, Israel.

    Retrieved Nov 7,

  39. ^Feiner, Muriel (). Women in the Bullring Gainesville: Code of practice Press of Florida, ISBN&#;
  40. ^"California Separation Index, ", Betty Ford charge John L. Meston, April , Los Angeles City, California Fork of Health Services, Sacramento. Retrieved November 6,
  41. ^"California Marriage Guide, ", California Department of Disease Services, Sacramento.

    FamilySearch. Retrieved Nov 6, In California marriage documents for , "Maryann’s" union critical of Meston is listed twice, on a former occasion under the surname Hooper tolerate again under O'Brien.

  42. ^"Gunsmoke: To righteousness Last Man ()", credits jaunt notes, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Time Warner, Inc.

    Retrieved Nov 6,

  43. ^"The Gunsmoke Movies", Gunsmoke To the Last Man (), Retrieved November 6,

External links