Dennis "Bill" Weaver in Oklahoma track uniform
Sometimes things pop into your head and they need to be written down before they disappear back into the folds of the cerebral cortex. Here's one of those memories.
Dennis Weaver who played Chester in the 1950s TV series Gunsmoke, was a very good athlete at the University of Oklahoma. He placed 59th in the NCAA cross country meet in 1946. In 1948 he participated in the US Olympic Trials in the decathlon and placed 6th. The meet was held in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and Dennis being a Fine Arts major with a bent for acting had gone across the Hudson River the day before the decathlon and walked the streets of Manhattan looking for opportunities to break into the profession. Back at the track next day he paid a price for that day on his feet in the big city and performed somewhat beneath his ability. Didn't make the team, but he was back on the streets next day where his career got underway. He was also the principle actor in Steven Spielberg's first full length film Duel. We covered this story a few years ago. See link: Two Runners Who Kicked Butt on Stage and Screen
What stimulated this entry was remembering a quote from Chester in one of the episodes of Gunsmoke. The simple line was: "You won't lose weight, eatin' at Ma Smalley's". Ma Smalley was the proprietress of a boarding house in Dodge City where the show took place. Sarah Selby played the role. (see bio below). Well, the real life Ma Smalley was the head cook at the athletes' dorm at the U. of Oklahoma where Dennis often dined in his undergrad days. He was able to use his artistic license to get Ma Smalley a mention in the show. I still remember the next day after that episode where Dennis gave her immortality. She was just beaming behind the serving line filled with grits and gravy, okra, collard greens, white gravy and biscuits for 'soppin', and chicken fried steak. It was definitely true that you would not lose weight in that chow line.
Bill Weaver had the following performances at the 1948 trials.
100M 11.6, BJ 6.21 , 20' 4 1/2" Shot Put 15.47, 50' 9" HJ 1.73, 5' 7" 400M 53.9
110HH 16.4, Discus 33.45, 109' 9" Pole Vault 3.51, 11' 6" Javelin 42.69, 140', 1500M 4:34.8
(any errors in conversion are mine G.B.) His shot put is remarkable, and his 1500 was best in the top eight competitors reflecting that cross country background. Not bad for a guy with a stiff leg.
Dennis Weaver bio from Dennisweaver.com
Dennis Weaver, athlete, Navy pilot, actor, humanitarian and passionate environmentalist, leaves behind a long legacy of helping people and helping the planet. Dennis dedicated 175 acres with spectacular Rocky Mountain vistas for a wildlife preserve and recreation area along the Uncompahgre River. Today that land incorporates RiverSage, an eco-friendly real estate development surrounded by 130 acres of green open space and the spectacular, 60-acre Dennis Weaver Memorial Park, in Ridgway, Colorado, honoring his memory and many accomplishments.
Dennis grew up on a Missouri farm during the Depression. He served as a Navy Pilot during WWII, then returned to college, graduating with a degree in fine arts in theater from the University of Oklahoma. In 1945, he married his childhood sweetheart, Gerry Stowell; they had three sons: Rick, Rob, and Rusty. Dennis was also a fine athlete. in 1948, Dennis was a decathlon finalist in the United States Olympic trials.
From his earliest years, Dennis had always wanted to be an actor. He made his acting debut on Broadway which led to a contract with Universal Studios in Hollywood, where Dennis played various characters, mostly in westerns. His big break came when he was chosen for the role of Chester Goode in “Gunsmoke,” which ran for nine years, and for which Dennis won an Emmy. He later played the sexy McCloud in a television series (of the same name) which ran seven years and earned him two Emmy nominations.
Dennis was involved in television and motion picture industries for many years, playing leading roles in 40 movies, starring in several successful TV series, and directing some of the episodes. He was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1973 to 1975, and has his star on the Hollywood Star Walk.
A talented musician and entertainer, Dennis released several country western albums. In his one-man Shakespearean show, he played 19 different characters. With his wife Gerry and singer/songwriter son Rusty, Dennis performed in a family comedy/variety stage show. He also wrote poetry and published the autobiographical. “All the World’s a Stage.” Dennis Weaver passed away in 2006.
Ma Smalley's alter ego Sarah Selby from Wikipedia:
 Sarah Selby in The Hardy Boys 1956 | |
| Born | Sarah Elizabeth Selby August 30, 1905 Middletown, OH, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died | January 7, 1980 (aged 74) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1941–1979 |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2 |
Sarah Elizabeth Selby (born August 30, 1905 – January 7, 1980) was an American actress.
Career[edit]
Selby was a character actress who played minor roles for the most part – usually a town gossip, maiden aunt, or teacher. Beginning her career as a radio actress, she made her screen debut voicing one of the elephants in Disney's Dumbo (1941). She was best known for her recurring role as Ma Smalley, the owner of a boarding house on TV's Gunsmoke (1955).[1] She had recurring roles on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, initially as Gracie's friend Mamie Kelly, and then a recurring role as Lucille Vanderlip the society hostess wife of banker Chester Vanderlip. In 1964, she appeared with Jackie Cooper in an episode of the Twilight Zone (S5E32 - “Caesar & Me”).
She starred in numerous films from 1941 to 1978. In her first role, she voiced[2] the elephant Prissy in the movie Dumbo.[3]
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