Beer Brands On Gunsmoke: What Did They Drink?

On the popular TV western Gunsmoke, the actors drank real beer. However, when their characters were drinking whiskey, they were actually drinking tea or coloured water. This was revealed by Marshall Trimble, Arizona's official historian and vice president of the Wild West History Association.

Gunsmoke actors drank real beer

The actors on the set of Gunsmoke drank real beer. However, when their characters were drinking whiskey, the actors drank tea or coloured water instead of whiskey. This was confirmed by Marshall Trimble, Arizona's official historian and vice president of the Wild West History Association.

The Gunsmoke television series ran from 1955 to 1975 and is one of the longest-running prime-time shows on television. The show is set in Dodge City, Kansas, during the 1870s and features Marshall Matt Dillon, played by James Arness, and his deputy Chester, played by Dennis Weaver.

The show was originally a popular radio show called "Gun Law". It is one of the most popular TV Westerns in television history, with 20 seasons and 635 episodes. Gunsmoke was the second-longest-running television series of all time and won five Emmys.

The show featured many famous guest stars, including Kirk, Spock, Bones, and Scotty from Star Trek, as well as Peter, Jan, and Cindy from The Brady Bunch. James Arness is the only actor to appear in every episode of the show.

While the actors on Gunsmoke drank real beer, it is important to note that alcohol is typically not consumed on TV or movie sets. This is because scenes are often shot from multiple camera angles, which would result in the actors consuming excessive amounts of alcohol.

Whiskey was substituted with tea or coloured water

The Gunsmoke actors drank real beer on set, but when it came to whiskey, they drank tea or coloured water instead. This was confirmed by Arizona's official historian and vice president of the Wild West History Association, Marshall Trimble, in his 2017 book, Arizona Outlaws and Lawmen. Trimble writes about Arizona's history and the Wild West in his blog, too.

In addition, using tea or coloured water as a substitute for whiskey ensured the actors' safety. Whiskey is a distilled spirit with a high alcohol content, and consuming large amounts can lead to intoxication and impaired judgment. Substituting it with non-alcoholic alternatives helped to maintain a safe working environment for the cast and crew, reducing the risk of accidents or injuries.

The use of tea or coloured water also allowed for greater flexibility in filming. With non-alcoholic alternatives, the actors could reshoot scenes multiple times without worrying about the cumulative effects of alcohol consumption. This was especially important for scenes involving complex choreography or dialogue, where maintaining clarity and precision was crucial.

Finally, substituting whiskey with tea or coloured water was a cost-effective solution. Whiskey can be expensive, especially when consumed in large quantities. By using tea or coloured water, the production team could allocate their resources to other areas, such as set design, costumes, and special effects, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of the show.

Near beer was used, with 3.2% alcohol content

The actors on Gunsmoke drank "near beer", which had a low alcohol content of 3.2%. This was done to ensure the actors didn't get drunk during filming, as multiple takes were often required. To keep the beer foamy under the hot studio lights, a pinch of salt was added.

While the actors on Gunsmoke drank real beer, the whiskey they drank was actually tea or coloured water. This was a common practice in old Westerns, where whiskey was often replaced with non-alcoholic alternatives. In fact, in many saloons of the Old West, tea was the most popular whiskey alternative.

The use of near beer and whiskey substitutes allowed the actors to maintain their focus and performance during filming. It also ensured that the production stayed within budget, as real alcohol could be expensive.

It's interesting to note that in some cases, real alcohol was used in films and TV shows if it was cheaper than using props. However, this could lead to challenges as actors could get drunk, making it difficult to shoot multiple takes.

The use of near beer on Gunsmoke is an example of the creative solutions used in film and television production to balance realism and practicality.

Salt was added to beer to maintain foam under hot lights

The actors on Gunsmoke drank real beer, but the whiskey they drank was actually tea or coloured water. To keep the beer foamy under the hot studio lights, a pinch of salt was added to the beer, which was typically "near beer" with an alcohol content of 3.2%.

Salt is added to beer to enhance its flavour, reduce bitterness, and increase the perceived body/mouthfeel of the beer. It is also a natural flavour enhancer, allowing drinkers to taste the hops and malt more. The addition of salt also encourages carbon dioxide bubbles to form, giving the beer more head.

Salt was also added to beer in the early 1970s in London, Canada, and in the US in the 1940s and 1950s. It was also common for people working in hot places to add salt to their drinks to avoid a deficiency caused by sweating.

Beer was kept cool using ice from rivers and underground storage

Keeping beer cool in the 19th century was a challenge, especially in warm climates. Before the late 19th century, the temperature of food and drinks was an indicator of wealth and luxury. In the absence of electric refrigerators, ancient civilisations relied on techniques like salting, drying, pickling, and smoking to preserve their food.

In the American West of the 19th century, brewers kept beer cool by harvesting ice from frozen rivers in winter and storing it underground during the summer. Ice plants began to appear in Western towns from the 1870s, and mechanical refrigeration was developed in 1873, allowing cold lager beers to become widely accessible by the end of the century.

In the context of the TV show Gunsmoke, set in the 1870s, the actors drank real beer, while whiskey was simulated with tea or coloured water.

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