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35-538: The exterior of the new Long Branch Saloon was built in 1958 and modeled on period photographs of the original Long Branch Saloon building , which burned down in 1885 and was not rebuilt. The interior is largely based on the Gunsmoke television show and is consistent with period saloons of the era. It is furnished with an 1881 bar and two Golden Eagles on top of the back bar that were once owned by Chalkley Beeson. It features actors portraying characters including Miss Kitty,

70-447: A bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 4.2% of the population. 30.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 94.8 males. The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that

105-483: A gunfight in front of the saloon nightly prior to the Long Branch Variety Show and it has become just as popular as the show itself. The gunfight troupe strives to present authentic period costuming and also maintains a safety council to make sure that adequate safety precautions are met not only for the gunfighters themselves, but the audience as well. Training in proper handling of firearms and stunt fighting

140-510: A quick-draw contest, dramatic readings, and dance numbers. Local young women became part of the dance troupe, presenting one specialty number as well as the Can-Can at each performance. Mrs. Mock also wrote the original show theme song "Down at the Long Branch Saloon". The song was used for the first nine years and then was lost to history for a number years after it was replaced in 1967. In

175-408: A saloon. Chalkley Beeson, a wealthy farmer and rancher, and William Harris bought the saloon in 1878. Harris named it after his hometown of Long Branch, New Jersey . It was a plain storefront bar with little ornamentation, typical for frontier saloons of the time. The saloon prospered until the railroad replaced the cattle drive. The establishment burned down in 1885 and was never rebuilt. Beeson

210-514: A variety act role rather than being the hostess of the show. In recent years, the role of Miss Kitty was expanded back to what it originally was and the current version more closely resembles the original format of the Rosemary Mock years. In 2017, the show opened for its 60th season. Through the years, a number of local Dodge City actors and actresses have created variety acts for the Long Branch Variety Show. Local men and women have presented

245-524: Is a city in Kearny County , Kansas , United States. As of the 2020 census , the population of the city was 711. It is located along Highway 50 . The first settlement was made at Deerfield in 1885. Deerfield was incorporated as a city in 1907. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 0.47 square miles (1.22 km ), all of it land. According to

280-516: Is currently held by Mrs. Mock. A new theme song - "The Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City" - was introduced in 1967 and was written by JoAnn Bock, Bruce Dillman, and George Henrichs. It was used until 1984 in the summer show and was used in a few Christmas shows in the late 1980s. It was reintroduced in 2010 as the show opening number. The copyright for this song is currently held by Boot Hill Museum. A third show theme song - "When You're in Dodge City"

315-414: Is required of all persons performing in the gunfights. Rosemary Mock introduced the first show theme song entitled "Down at the Long Branch Saloon". Sheet music for the piece was sold as a souvenir of the show which included a photo of Mrs. Mock as Dodge City Kitty on the front. The song was used in the show until 1966 and was re-introduced sometime after 2000 and is currently the show finale. The copyright

350-864: The Köppen Climate Classification system, Deerfield has a semi-arid climate , abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. The 2020 United States census counted 711 people, 235 households, and 169 families in Deerfield. The population density was 1,478.2 per square mile (570.7/km ). There were 259 housing units at an average density of 538.5 per square mile (207.9/km ). The racial makeup was 49.93% (355) white or European American (39.8% non-Hispanic white ), 0.84% (6) black or African-American , 1.55% (11) Native American or Alaska Native , 0.28% (2) Asian , 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian , 24.61% (175) from other races , and 22.78% (162) from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race

385-417: The "Queen of Dodge City" and Chalkley Beeson , the saloon owner. The show was initially presented during the summer of 1958 as a temporary offering over the 4th of July holiday. The show proved so popular that it was continued. It has been presented seven nights a week during the summer months since then, making it one of the longest running seasonal shows of its type in the nation. The original concept for

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420-510: The Long Branch Saloon, their first questions were "Where is Kitty?" Visitors expected to see Kitty at the Long Branch Saloon so Dora Hand was replaced with Miss Kitty. Members of the original cast of Gunsmoke visited in the early days of the show including a special ceremony to rename a downtown Dodge City street to Gunsmoke Avenue. James Arness (Matt Dillon), Amanda Blake (Kitty), Milburn Stone (Doc Adams), and Ken Curtis (Festus) all visited Dodge City and its Long Branch Saloon . For

455-547: The age of 18 and 27.7% of those ages 65 or over. As of the census of 2010, there were 700 people, 235 households, and 180 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,489.4 inhabitants per square mile (575.1/km ). There were 249 housing units at an average density of 529.8 per square mile (204.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 81.0% White , 1.1% African American , 1.1% Native American , 0.3% Asian , 14.6% from other races , and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 48.7% of

490-403: The average family size was 3.66. 39.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males. The median household income was $ 31,944 and the median family income

525-412: The city. The population density was 1,843.3 inhabitants per square mile (711.7/km ). There were 284 housing units at an average density of 592.2 per square mile (228.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 65.27% White , 0.34% African American , 0.23% Native American , 0.45% Pacific Islander , 30.54% from other races , and 3.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 51.58% of

560-411: The early 2000s, the song returned to the show and is currently featured as the finale. At the end of the 1966 season, Rosemary & Lewis Mock, the original "Doc & Kitty" retired. Nine summers of seven nights a week was exhausting and they were ready for a rest. The 1967 season would see an all new cast which included Nellis Reinert, a local Dodge City housewife and member of Sweet Adelines who

595-510: The first nine years, Mrs. Mock portrayed Miss Kitty and Dr. Mock provided piano accompaniment and because of his profession, he acquired the nickname "Doc". Many of the early musical numbers were written by Mrs. Mock. Tunes such as "She Runs an Elegant Place", "Best Saloon in the West", and "How'd You Like to Teepee with Me?" were numbers created by the Mocks for the show. Early versions of the show included

630-427: The median household income was $ 56,250 (with a margin of error of +/- $ 17,416) and the median family income was $ 55,625 (+/- $ 23,803). Males had a median income of $ 38,000 (+/- $ 10,037) versus $ 21,806 (+/- $ 11,290) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $ 29,917 (+/- $ 13,385). Approximately, 24.1% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 22.0% of those under

665-479: The modern Boot Hill Museum entertainment and exhibit complex in Dodge City. The exterior was modeled on period photographs of the original building, while the interior is consistent with period saloons of the era. It is furnished with an 1881 bar and two Golden Eagles on top of the back bar that were once owned by Beeson. 37°45′04″N 100°01′19″W  /  37.751°N 100.022°W  / 37.751; -100.022 Deerfield, Kansas Deerfield

700-439: The population. There were 235 households, of which 46.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 23.4% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

735-402: The population. There were 270 households, of which 50.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.27 and

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770-410: The role of Miss Kitty until 1985 when she was replaced by Hutchinson, Kansas native - Roberta Scott. Ms. Scott was followed by Mischel Raney Miller in 1988 who played the role until 1993. Over the next 15 years, the show continued with various changes to the style and content, but the basic format has remained the same. The role of Chalkley Beeson was expanded, even to the point that Miss Kitty took

805-481: The show flourished, still riding the wave of popularity created by the TV show Gunsmoke . There was also an expansion of the entertainment offered at Boot Hill Museum and a daytime version of the Long Branch Variety Show was added. This was an abbreviated version of the evening show and was presented several times throughout the day. The daytime version was discontinued after only one or two seasons. Mrs. Hudnett continued in

840-472: The show was developed by Rosemary & Lewis Mock. Dr. Mock was a local Dodge City optometrist and his wife was noted as a local entertainer and both were well-suited to form the show. The 1958 reconstruction of the first six buildings of Front Street in Dodge City, was built at the base of what had become known as Boot Hill where early inhabitants of Dodge City who met an unfortunate demise were "buried with their boots on." One of those original six buildings

875-422: Was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.41. The median age in the city was 32 years. 31.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 10% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 21.1% were from 45 to 64; and 11.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female. As the 2000 census , there were 884 people, 270 households and 221 families residing in

910-424: Was 56.82% (404) of the population. Of the 235 households, 44.7% had children under the age of 18; 49.8% were married couples living together; 26.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 24.3% of households consisted of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.3 and the average family size was 5.1. The percent of those with

945-786: Was a talented musician and led a five-piece orchestra that played at the establishment nightly. The Long Branch served milk, tea, lemonade , sarsaparilla , and many types of alcohol, including champagne and beer. Anheuser-Busch was the original beer served at the Long Branch. Drinks were kept cold in the winter with ice hauled up from the river; in the summer, ice was shipped by train from the mountains of Colorado. Gambling ranged from five cent chuck-a-luck to thousand dollar poker. The saloon hosted many Old West characters including Clay Allison , Wyatt Earp , Doc Holliday , Frank Loving , Mysterious Dave , Charlie Bassett ( town marshal ), and brothers Ed , James , and Bat Masterson . The saloon

980-475: Was also enamored with the new medium of television and so they wanted to visit this place called Dodge City and belly-up to the bar in the Long Branch Saloon and hoped to get a glimpse of Miss Kitty and Marshal Matt Dillon . The very first Long Branch Variety Show did not feature Miss Kitty, but rather starred Mrs. Mock portraying Dora Hand , who was an entertainer in the saloons and theaters of early Dodge City. As more and more travelers visited Boot Hill and

1015-498: Was chosen to portray Miss Kitty now billed as the "Queen of Dodge City". The cast may have changed, but the basic format remained the same. A new show theme song was introduced, "The Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City" and was used until 1983 when it was replaced. It too, was lost to history for a few years, but was used in the Christmas versions of the Long Branch Variety Show in the late 1980s (with seasonal lyrics). The original version

1050-605: Was introduced in 1984 and was written by Don Steele (who holds the copyright). It was used from 1984 until 1994. 37°45′14″N 100°01′19″W  /  37.75389°N 100.02194°W  / 37.75389; -100.02194 Long Branch Saloon The Long Branch Saloon was a well-known saloon in Dodge City, Kansas , from about 1874 to 1885. It had several owners, most notably Chalk Beeson and gunfighter Luke Short . The establishment provided gambling and live entertainment, including Beeson's five-person orchestra. It

1085-456: Was reintroduced in 2010 as the opening number of the show. At the end of the 1975 season, Mrs. Reinert announced her retirement and Connie Hudnett was selected to take over as the Queen of Dodge City. A Deerfield, Kansas , native, Mrs. Hudnett was a homemaker but had a theatrical background. She began in the summer of 1976 and Mrs. Reinert continued part-time as backup. During Mrs. Hudnett's tenure

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1120-465: Was released without charges. Professional gambler and gunfighter Short's purchase of a partial interest in the saloon in 1883 was credited as one of the causes of the bloodless Dodge City War . A saloon of the same name was featured in the long-running radio and television drama, Gunsmoke . A new establishment named the Long Branch Saloon, largely based on the Gunsmoke series, was built as part of

1155-492: Was the new Long Branch Saloon. The Long Branch was known for its entertainment since an early owner was Chalkley Beeson who formed the original Dodge City Cowboy Band. It made sense that the reconstructed saloon should have some sort of show. The Mocks approached the museum director about providing entertainment in the saloon and were given the go-ahead to develop the early show. The TV show Gunsmoke premiered in 1955 and brought Dodge City much publicity. The traveling public

1190-506: Was the scene of several altercations, shoot-outs, gunfights, and standoffs often associated with cattle towns in the American wild west . Most famous was the 1879 Long Branch Saloon Gunfight , in which Frank Loving killed Levi Richardson . The saloon was built as the result of a wager between cowboys and soldiers playing ball. Bets were placed and if the cowboys beat the soldiers, the soldiers agreed to provide building materials to construct

1225-456: Was the site of a gunfight on April 5, 1879, between Frank Loving and Levi Richardson. Loving accused Richardson of making disrespectful advances towards his wife, and the two got into an argument that turned into a gunfight across a table. Loving was grazed on the hand by one bullet; Richardson was shot three times and died. Town Marshal Bassett arrested Loving, but on April 7, a coroner ′s inquest ruled that Loving had acted in self-defense and he

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