National Network for Equitable Library Service

Volume 1 of Chuck-Wagon Jamboree! To western fans, he will always be best known as Festus Haggen, the cantankerous sidekick of Sheriff Matt Dillon on the television series "Gunsmoke." But even die-hard fans of Dodge City may not realize that, in the years just after World War II, actor Ken Curtis was a singing cowboy -- the star of his own western movie series and a musical radio favorite to boot. In 1948, he was teamed with The Novelty Aces to record a series of shows titled the "Chuck-Wagon Jamboree", a series which would be heard daily on local stations nationwide for the next two years. Musically, the tone was decidedly down-home, and, for modern listeners, the shows are a tuneful throwback to a simpler and more melodic era. When you hear them, don't be surprised if you find yourself humming along.