Amanda Blake loved Gunsmoke so much, she spent her days off on set

The Gunsmoke set wasn't just a workplace. It was home.

The Everett Collection

It's a pretty clear sign you've got a good job when you want to spend all your time there, even on your days off. Most people can't wait to clock out at the end of a long day, but not Amanda Blake.

Amanda Blake spent over 15 years playing Kitty Russell on Gunsmoke, so it's safe to say she enjoyed her time on the series. But she took that dedication a step further: She told TV Guide in 1964 that she liked hanging around the set even when she wasn't needed for filming.

"I feel just as much at home in that saloon as I do here — more so because I spend more time there!" Blake said.

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At the time, Gunsmoke showed no signs of slowing down, but Blake was already thinking about what she'd do when the series eventually came to an end. Her solution? Bring the set home with her.

"When the show ends, I'll have 'em pack up that set and move it out here," Blake said. "I don't know what I'd do without it — and besides, the bar is practical!"

Blake's loyalty to Gunsmoke paid off, helping turn her into a television star. In an interview with the Ottawa Citizen, she reflected on what the role had done for her career, saying that as Kitty Russell, she'd "achieved status" in the industry and in her own eyes.

"I've become a successful actress, and I made it the hard way," Blake said. "No one gave me anything in this business except my start at Metro. I've struggled all the way."

And it seems Blake knew early on that Gunsmoke could be something special. In an interview with the Burlington Free Press, she recalled joining the series with hopes of establishing herself in Hollywood.

"If the show was successful, I thought I could become a name in the business," Blake said. "Then, as the years went by, I thought to myself, 'This is marvelous'... I'm very grateful."