Amanda Blake's last episode on "Gunsmoke" was "The Disciple," which originally aired on April 1, 1974. Blake subsequently quit the popular television show, which was then in its 19th season.
Blake's character was Miss Kathleen "Kitty" Russell, the proprietor of a saloon in Dodge City, the setting for "Gunsmoke." After Blake left the show, the writers decided that Kitty had left Dodge City for New Orleans. The show introduced Fran Ryan as Hannah, the new saloon owner.
Blake played Kitty from the series' debut in 1955 until 1974. She reprised the role in the 1987 television movie, "Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge."
