What did the actors drink when they were drinking “beer” on Gunsmoke?
Dave Rapoza
Olathe, Kansas
The Gunsmoke actors actually drank beer, but the whiskey was tea or colored water.
Marshall Trimble is Arizona’s official historian and vice president of the Wild West History Association. His latest book is Arizona Outlaws and Lawmen; The History Press, 2015. If you have a question, write: Ask the Marshall, P.O. Box 8008, Cave Creek, AZ 85327 or email him at marshall.trimble@scottsdal

True West January 2018
In This Issue:
Features
- Classic Gunfights: Don’t Look Back
- True West Best of the West Heritage Travel
- The 65 Most Important Historical Photos From the McCubbin Collection
- True West Best of the West 2018 Western Wear
- True West Best of the West 2018 Western Movies
- True West Best of the West 2018 Firearms
- True West Best of the West 2018 Western Books
- True West Best of the West 2018 Art and Collectibles
- True West’s Best of the West 2018
Departments
- Classic Gunfights: Don’t Look Back
- Who Was the Fastest Gun in Hollywood?
- What History Has Taught Me: Dan Harshberger
- How Was Life in Territory Prisons?
- Mining the Optics
- Who Was the Best Housekeeper in the West?
- Was Bat Masterson Run Out of Denver?
- Were Archery Contests Held Out West?
- Cheering Our Culinary Journey
- What is 3-7-77, Associated with the Montana Vigilantes?
- An Angel and the Train Man
- What Did the Actors Drink When They were Drinking “Beer” on Gunsmoke?
- The Size of an Assignment
- What’s the Story Behind the Naming of Show Low, Arizona?