..., according to producer John Mantley

https://www.metv.com/stories/buck-taylor-made-gunsmoke-better-than-the-radio-show-according-to-producer-john-mantley

"...the one element that seemed to be missing from that cross-section."

There were moments in Gunsmoke's run where Amanda Blake considered retiring — here's why she stayed (https://www.metv.com/stories/there-were-moments-in-gunsmokes-run-where-amanda-blake-considered-retiring-heres-why-she-stayed)

Blake almost said goodbye to the well-loved character, Kitty Russell.

Newly I have to say came off as a true fool: incredibly hot Merry Florene wanted him, and he had no interest. He may well then have been TV's first homosexual western character.

Newly I have to say came off as a true fool: incredibly hot Merry Florene wanted him, and he had no interest. He may well then have been TV's first homosexual western character.

LOL! Except that he had lots of girls on the show and I'm pretty sure he got married in one of the later episodes. They met, got married, and she died all in the same episode (a la Bonanza).