Beer Authenticity In Gunsmoke: Real Deal Or Fake?

The Gunsmoke actors drank real beer on set, but the whiskey they drank was actually tea or coloured water. Marshall Trimble, Arizona's official historian and vice president of the Wild West History Association, confirmed this. In the world of Westerns, cowboys were known to drink whiskey as fuel for the saloon's other activities, and beer was less common.

Gunsmoke actors drank real beer

The actors on the set of Gunsmoke drank real beer. However, the whiskey they drank was tea or coloured water. Marshall Trimble, Arizona's official historian and vice president of the Wild West History Association, confirmed this.

The Gunsmoke actors' consumption of real beer may be surprising, especially considering the show's genre and setting. Westerns are often associated with whiskey, and the idea of drinking beer in the Wild West may seem unusual. However, it is important to note that beer was indeed consumed in the Old West, although it was not as common as whiskey.

The decision to use real beer on the set of Gunsmoke may have been influenced by several factors. Firstly, beer was a genuine part of the cultural landscape of the Wild West, and including it in the show added authenticity to the depiction of life in that era. Additionally, using real beer may have been a practical choice, as creating a convincing fake beer alternative could have been challenging.

It is worth noting that the use of real alcohol in films and television shows is not uncommon. In some cases, actors may consume real alcohol on set to enhance their performance or create a more authentic atmosphere. However, this practice is often carefully monitored to ensure the actors' safety and well-being.

The consumption of real beer by the Gunsmoke actors adds an interesting layer of authenticity to the show. It showcases the attention to detail that went into creating the world of Gunsmoke, and it highlights the unique challenges and choices faced by the production team in bringing the Wild West to life on screen.

Whiskey was substituted with tea or coloured water

The Gunsmoke actors drank real beer on set, but whiskey was substituted with tea or coloured water. Marshall Trimble, Arizona's official historian and vice president of the Wild West History Association, confirmed this.

In the world of television and film, it is uncommon for actors to drink alcohol while performing. This is because multiple takes are required, and actors would end up getting drunk. However, in some cases, real alcohol is used because it is cheaper than using props.

In the context of Gunsmoke, a popular TV western, the actors were shown drinking "beer", and this was, in fact, real beer. However, when it came to whiskey, the choice of beverage was different. Tea or coloured water was used instead of whiskey, maintaining the appearance of whiskey without the actual alcohol content.

This substitution of whiskey with tea or coloured water is an example of the creative solutions used in film and television production to address the challenges of incorporating alcoholic beverages into scenes. It is important to ensure that actors remain sober and able to deliver consistent performances across multiple takes, while also maintaining the authenticity and realism of the scene.

Beer was not widely bottled until 1873

Nationally distributed beers, led by the innovative Anheuser-Busch Company, began to make their way across the country by 1872 or 1873. The ability to pasteurise and ship beer long distances diminished the importance of local breweries with their reliance on kegs and draught beer.

Before 1873, beer was mostly kept in kegs, sometimes stored in barrels that patrons would sit upon. Up until the 1870s, beer was served at room temperature in the European tradition. Though the beer had a head, it wasn't sudsy as it is today. Patrons had to knock back the beer in a hurry before it got too warm or flat.

Ice plants in Western towns provided cold beer

The Gunsmoke actors drank real beer on set, but the whiskey they drank was actually tea or coloured water. In the show, Miss Kitty frequently offers Marshal Dillon a cold beer at the Longbranch Saloon.

Ice plants are native to Africa, specifically the mid- and high-elevation mountains and deserts of South Africa and Lesotho. They are referred to as ice plants because of the sparkling evergreen foliage of some plants in the genus. These plants are particularly well-suited to the dry, less humid climates of the western US.

Actors drank warm beer quickly, as it wasn't pasteurised

The actors on the set of Gunsmoke drank real beer, but the whiskey they drank was actually tea or coloured water. This is because pasteurisation, which allowed for the bottling and cooling of beer, was not invented until 1873. Before this, beer was often consumed warm.

In the Wild West, brewers cut ice from frozen rivers in the winter and stored it underground to keep the brew cool during the summer. However, this was not always possible, and beer was not widely bottled until pasteurisation was introduced. As a result, the actors on the Gunsmoke set drank warm beer, which was likely more similar to the beer consumed in the Wild West setting of the show.

The decision to use real beer on set was likely due to the fact that it was cheaper than using props. This is a common practice in film and TV, as alcohol is often cheaper than non-alcoholic alternatives. Additionally, the actors may have been trying to stay true to the time period, as beer was consumed in the Wild West, although it was not as common as whiskey.

While the actors on Gunsmoke drank real beer, it is important to note that they did not drink excessively. This is because alcohol is typically not consumed on TV or movie sets, as actors need to remain sober to film multiple takes of a scene. However, there have been exceptions to this, with some actors choosing to drink alcohol on set to stay in character.

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