From
Scott Emerson Books, ABAA, El Cajon, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
AbeBooks Seller since April 2, 2001
Blue cloth, lettered in gilt to the front and spine. To the title page it is signed by Arness with a very short personalization. In excellent condition showing only very minimal wear. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 237 pages; Signed by Author. Seller Inventory # 19008
James Arness was born May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis. He entered college just as World War II began and dreamed of being a naval aviator. It seemed as if every night his fraternity was having a party to send off a brother to the service. Young Arness got his interview with a naval flight program officer, but his hopes vanished as he was informed that his six foot seven inch height disqualified him automatically. He wrote his draft board asking that they call him up as soon as possible and so he ended up as a private in the famed Third Infantry Division where he earned a Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Because of his stature, he was chosen to be first off the landing craft (to test the depth of the water) when his division landed at Anzio, Italy. He was subsequently wounded by enemy machine gun fire and spent eighteen months recovering in overseas and stateside hospitals. Later his height would help him strike a commanding figure in the role of U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon of Dodge City. After Arness had toiled in Hollywood for a decade, John Wayne recommended him to CBS executives for the Gunsmoke part (after Wayne turned it down). As the principal performer of Gunsmoke for twenty years (1955-1975), the actor and the character took on mythic proportions--a born leader, honest and strong. Rare is the actor who has been cast in a role that so deeply fits his true self. James Arness gives a full account of his early years, his family, his military career, his film work in Hollywood which included appearances in the cult-favorite science fiction movies Them! and The Thing. He had a long run on Gunsmoke, a role in the highly popular television miniseries How The West Was Won, and his post-theatrical period is also covered. This is the long anticipated, never-before-told account of one of the icons of twentieth-century television. There are many personal revelations of interacting with some of the Gunsmoke family ensemble, such as Miss Kitty, Doc and Festus. His own work as a producer is covered. Throughout are rare, previously unpublished photographs from the author's personal collection. Appendices include comments by show biz colleagues and fellow Gunsmoke alumni, and a sampling of letters received from his legions of fans. As befits the man, this large-size book is a beautifully printed work in accord with the highest library standards--a luxurious and extra-strong cloth binding, acid-free paper, carefully designed photographic and textual layouts and sophisticated typography. Actor and fellow Gunsmoke performer Burt Reynolds has written a foreword to the book.
About the Author:
The late James Arness lived in suburban Los Angeles with his wife Janet, where they were involved in various charity projects.
James E. Wise, Jr., a retired Navy captain, has written many books of military history, biography and the performing arts. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
Title: James Arness An Autobiography
Publisher: McFarland Publishing
Publication Date: 2001
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Near Fine
Signed: Signed by Author(s)
Edition: First Edition.
Seller: Goodwill, Brooklyn Park, MN, U.S.A.
Condition: Acceptable. The dust jacket is missing. Cover/Case has some rubbing and edgewear. Access codes, CDs, slipcovers and other accessories may not be included. Seller Inventory # 2Y6RVP004M08_ns
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00090204952
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.49. Seller Inventory # G0786412216I3N01
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.49. Seller Inventory # G0786412216I3N01
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Fair. No Jacket. Missing dust jacket; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.49. Seller Inventory # G0786412216I5N01
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: As New. Used book that is in almost brand-new condition. Seller Inventory # 52287379-6
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 4934209-6
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: ThriftBooksVintage, Tukwila, WA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Dust jacket missing. Shelf and handling wear to cover and binding, with general signs of previous use. Secure packaging for safe delivery. 1.49. Seller Inventory # 1667540673
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: The Avocado Pit, Staunton, VA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: As New. First Edition; First Printing. Small 4to 9" - 11" tall; 237 pages. Seller Inventory # 81063
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Bookensteins, Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. Blue cloth covered boards with gold lettering at the front and at the spine. Book pages are clean with no marks. Bookseller Inventory BS/BS 14448 05/2023. Seller Inventory # 014448
Quantity: 1 available