Did Festus ever really say: "Yew look purtier than a 20 dollar whore."

Cafe Society
1

This used to be one of my favorite one liners.

I remember one of my radio stations used to have a clip of what sounded like Festus saying this but it’s hard for me to believe (even back then) that the shows producers would give the thumbs up on this.
Any Gunsmoke fans remember him saying this? Or is this the equivalent to Star Treks Capt. Kirk saying: “Beam me up Scotty.”?

2

I never watched Gunsmoke, but I’m about 99% certain that the line was never uttered on the show. I remember when they used “son of a bitch” on MAS*H, and my jaw dropped to the floor. You just didn’t hear that sort of talk on TV, even well into the 70s.

3

I can’t say I watched every episode of Gunsmoke, but I saw quite a few, plus I remember well what kind of restrictions were in place on what could be said and shown on TV in the Sixties. Even though the Long Branch was full of whores, no one ever called them whores – it would have been unthinkable.

Now, I can imagine Festus saying "You look purtier than a 20 dollar Horse.

4

You’re thinking of Slim Pickens in Blazing Saddles. He says something to the effect of, “Gosh, Mr. Lamar. You use your tongue purtier than a $20 whore.”

A great line.

5

I concur. Festus and Chester did have some great lines, though. Remember when Burt Reynolds was Quint?