Ken Curtis

Ken Curtis

Ken Curtis (born Curtis Wain Gates; July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991) was an American actor and singer best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the CBS western television series Gunsmoke. He appeared on Gunsmoke earlier in other roles (such as “Brisco” in S4E32’s “Change of Heart"). His first appearance as Festus was in season 8, episode 13, "Us Haggens", which debuted December 8, 1962. His next appearance was Season 9, episode 2, October 5, 1963, as Kyle Kelly, in "Lover Boy". Curtis joined the cast of Gunsmoke permanently as Festus in "Prairie Wolfer", season 9 episode 16, which debuted January 18, 1964. The episode often is confused with a 1969 episode of the same title made five years later (S13E10).

Birth and Death Data: Born July 2, 1916 (Lamar), Died April 28, 1991 (Fresno)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-32 of 32 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	E0VB-3576	10-in.	3/13/1950	Chuckwalla swing	Sons of the Pioneers	Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist
Victor	E0VB-3712	10-in.	7/17/1950	Old man atom	Sons of the Pioneers	Comic monologue, with male vocal ensemble and string band	vocalist
Victor	E0VB-3713	10-in.	7/17/1950	What this country needs (is a good old fashioned talk with the Lord)	Sons of the Pioneers	Male vocal ensemble, with recitation and string band	vocalist
Victor	D9VB-2606	10-in.	12/14/1949	Let's go west again	Ken Curtis ; Sons of the Pioneers	Male vocal solo, with string band and vocal chorus	vocalist
Victor	D9VB-2609	10-in.	12/14/1949	Wedding dolls (from your wedding cake)	Ken Curtis ; Sons of the Pioneers	Male vocal solo, with string band and vocal chorus	vocalist
Decca	L 10949		5/16/1958	Sugar lips	Ken Curtis		vocalist
Decca	L 10950		5/16/1958	Kiss and run lover	Ken Curtis		vocalist

(Results 26-32 of 32 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Curtis, Ken," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100085.

Curtis, Ken. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100085.

"Curtis, Ken." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.