Widder, SASS #59054 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Lunch Time discussion and me and Keystone are sitting discussing Gunsmoke, etc..... We're both wondering, How did Chester get his limp AND/OR, why was it significant for him to have a limp during his seasons on Gunsmoke? Thanks ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madd Mike #8595 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 it is my understanding that (past interview I saw, long time past) Dennis Weaver came up that idea on his first day on the set hiz own self not the directors (which is strange / odd) it may have worked for him but I have never cared for the concept I personally prefere the shows with festus instead of chester mileage always varies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD Trampas, SASS # 55781 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Madd Mike is correct on this, it was Dennis Weaver's idea to do this, the rest is history, was surprised that the producers agreed, now I liked Chester, but Fetus was my favorite All for now JD Trampas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shynee Graves, SASS #19,614 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Howdy all! Dennis Weaver told the story of Chester. During the reading for the part he was trying to come up with something unique for the character that would make his audition stand out. The idea of a stiff leg as the result of a wound in the Civil War seemed attractive at the time. Dennis said he practiced in his back yard jumping over obsticles and such till he felt comfortable he could maintain the effect on camera. He also said if he had known just what a pain in the backside it was going to become he would have never gone thru with it. Having to do everything with one stiff leg can make even the most mundain tasks a challange--like putting on your boot or getting on, off and riding a horse. To all who have suffered for their craft-hurray!! S,G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Ranger Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Hear tell he strapped a piece of wood to his leg so he wouldn't ferget to limp~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korupt Karl Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 He had a rock in his shoe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted March 2, 2012 Author Share Posted March 2, 2012 Hear tell he strapped a piece of wood to his leg so he wouldn't ferget to limp~ In some of the recent reruns with him, it appears there might be something under his pants leg but its so hard to tell exactly. I do know that he does a good job of keeping it stiff while riding his horse. ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kajun Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 In some of the recent reruns with him, it appears there might be something under his pants leg but its so hard to tell exactly. I do know that he does a good job of keeping it stiff while riding his horse. ..........Widder WIdder....he didn't take no pill with a V on it back then did he Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargo Bill, SASS #4942 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 He had a rock in his shoe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Lunch Time discussion and me and Keystone are sitting discussing Gunsmoke, etc..... We're both wondering, How did Chester get his limp AND/OR, why was it significant for him to have a limp during his seasons on Gunsmoke? Thanks ..........Widder On the PBS series, "Pioneers of Television" there was a episode on westerns. Gunsmoke was part of that episode. Dennis Weaver stated that he seemed more like a leading man than a sidekick. His role as a deputy was a sidekick to Arness. He came up with the limp as a way to make him more like a sidekick. Weaver said he regretted this suggestion since walking with a limp was terrible for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nasty Newt # 7365 Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 And James Arness really did have an injured leg and foot, courtesy of the Nazis. Kind of ironic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokey Shayne Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 And no episode ever mentioned why Chester had a limp. I always found that strange that they wouldnt mention a past accident or reason for the limp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacknife Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I thought it was cause he was glad to see Miss Kitty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pack Saddle Slim, SASS #73122 Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 It was more than just a limp. Supposedly Chester had a wooden leg due to a war injury. Years ago, Dennis Weaver appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, if I remember right. Came limping out with the stiff leg. Tried to sit on a tall stool and kept slipping off. Finally, Weaver said, "Aw heck, we're among friends." He slapped his leg and "Presto!"...it was regular. During the segment, it was brought up that he had run hurdles in college. Well, they had a few hurdles set up and Weaver decided he'd run the hurdles like Chester. He slapped his leg again, made it "wooden" again, and went over the hurdles swinging the "wooden" leg off to the side. Not very fast, but very entertaining. EDIT: Just checked this out on Wikipedia, and it said that Chester's leg was not supposed to be prosthetic...so I stand corrected. Still saw him on the Ed Sullivan Show in '59 though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lead Ringer Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 He probably wished he had never thought of that idea after limping around for umpteen seasons P.S. Chester was a idiot, but Festus was hillbilly cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lead Ringer Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I thought it was cause he was glad to see Miss Kitty. The whole Town probably walked that way. They just edited it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caliope Cupcake #13981 Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I thought it was cause he was glad to see Miss Kitty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Winchester Jack, SASS #70195 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 In some of the recent reruns with him, it appears there might be something under his pants leg but its so hard to tell exactly. I do know that he does a good job of keeping it stiff while riding his horse. ..........Widder apparently Weaver went through a whole episode limping on the wrong side... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Branch Louie Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Festus ruled..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherokee Kliff Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Festus ruled..... Ditto that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caliope Cupcake #13981 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 apparently Weaver went through a whole episode limping on the wrong side... what side was the right one? It didn't really matter anyhow as long as he had a little hitch in his getalong to show his character had physical limitations. As the show lasted, there were better writers. Both Chester and Festus were interesting characters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tionesta Toby, SASS #74169 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Howdy all! Dennis Weaver told the story of Chester. During the reading for the part he was trying to come up with something unique for the character that would make his audition stand out. The idea of a stiff leg as the result of a wound in the Civil War seemed attractive at the time. Dennis said he practiced in his back yard jumping over obsticles and such till he felt comfortable he could maintain the effect on camera. He also said if he had known just what a pain in the backside it was going to become he would have never gone thru with it. Having to do everything with one stiff leg can make even the most mundain tasks a challange--like putting on your boot or getting on, off and riding a horse. To all who have suffered for their craft-hurray!! S,G. Which is probably why you never see Chester putting his boots on. I remember somewhere that Dennis Weaver said he didn't use any prosthesis to keep his leg stiff, but I think it'd be really hard to do something like pull on boots stiff-legged without any "help" like a brace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adirondack Jack, SASS #53440 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 It was an ingenious device to make himself appear the lesser man to Arness and get the part, that's what it was. That's why they call em ACTORS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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