Long before she wowed daytime audiences, The Young and the Restless' Jess Walton (Jill Abbott; ex-Kelly Harper, Capitol) starred in television's classic series Gunsmoke. And for the first time in years, she and some of her former costars -- including Hollywood stars Burt Reynolds and Buck Taylor -- will be reunited to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the former Western series.
Walton, who played Gunsmoke's Patricia on the series in 1973, will meet with Reynolds (Quint Asper), Taylor (Deputy Newly O'Brien), Lane Bradbury (Merry Florene), Bruce Boxleitner (Toby Hogue), and Jim Byrnes, who served as writer for the series from 1969 to 1975, at Wild West Fest celebration in Dodge City, Kansas, the weekend of September 25-27.
The fun-filled weekend kicks off on Friday, September 25, with Gunsmoke Under the Stars, in which a variety of old episodes will be shown along with video messages from the cast at the South Drive-In Theater. Meet and Greet sessions, including photos and autographs with celebrity guests, will be held on Saturday, September 26, at 10AM and 4PM. Sunday, September 27, will play host to the Gunsmoke Anniversary Banquet at the Boot Hill Museum on Front Street, where the stars will be recognized for their ongoing dedication to the series and the heritage of the Wild West.
"Having these Gunsmoke celebrities reunite and interact with the fans is a once in a lifetime experience," said Sharon Stroburg, General Manager of Boot Hill Casino & Resort. "Gunsmoke transcends the generations and continues to resonate with today's television viewers. Dodge City is proud to have been the home of the show. It's only natural that we host the celebration here and celebrate this milestone!"
For more information on the event, visit Dodge City Wild West Fest's official website.
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