The blog that brings you the latest news about western movies, TV, radio and print! Updated every weekend -- more often if anything good happens!
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Although I haven't gotten a western made yet, there's interest in a western series I've created (on paper). If you'd like to take a look at the sort of things I write, please visit my website, www.henrycparke.com. Thanks for looking!
As Film Editor of TRUE WEST MAGAZINE, every month I explore the world of Western film and television. Below are links to my columns, beginning with the most recent.
On July 30th, 2015, I was the guest of hosts Bobbi Jean Bell and Jim Christina on ‘Writer’s Block’, their L.A. TALK-RADIO talk-show about the art and craft of writing. You can click PLAY to hear it, or DOWNLOAD to download it.
ROUND-UP ON THE RADIO!
Last Christmastime I was a guest on AROUND THE BARN, and had a great time talking about the Round-up, my writing, and Gene Autry’s Christmas music. To listen, click HERE.
Other Stuff I Write
While this blog is strictly about Western stuff, I also write another blog, Stalling Tactics, which is about anything else. If you'd like to read my most recent post, COSTUME DRAMA TRAUMA, go HERE.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
BUTCH CASSIDY RETURNS – AND THE CARTWRIGHTS, TOO!
‘BLACKTHORN’
is both the title and the assumed named Butch Cassidy is hiding behind in the
new Western that has arrived with very little fanfare but a handsome-looking
trailer.Starring Sam Shepard as the
low-profile outlaw, the story begins after the supposed death of both Cassidy
and the Sundance Kid in Bolivia
– and Bolivia
is where the movie was in fact shot.
Tiring
of his isolation, Cassidy is heading back to the border when his path crosses
that of a young and ambitious bandit (Eduardo Noriega), who draws him into a
plan of his own.Shepard, long better
known as a playwright than a thesp, has some mileage in westerns, having
starred in THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES, ALL THE PRETTY HORSES, THE STREETS
OF LAREDO mini, and DAYS OF HEAVEN (okay, not a western, but close).
The
cast and crew are largely from Spain,
and Noriega is a very well-known star there.The only other actor likely familiar to American audiences is Stephen
Rea of THE CRYING GAME (also not exactly a western).Director Mateo Gil is a well-respected
screenwriter in Spain.
BONANZACON 2011 Sept. 16-18 at Burbank Marriott!
Ponderosa Pals from around the globe will gather at the
Burbank Marriott to celebrate the brain-child of the great David Dortort,
BONANZA! Events over the three days will include visits to Vasquez Rocks and
other locations, the AutryCenter – home to the
Dortort archives, as well as panel discussions.
Friday’s panel will include actors Mariette
Hartley, Morgan Woodward, Michael Dante, Greg Walcott, Richard Hatch, movie producer
David Blocker (son of Dan), TV producer Susan McCray, BONANZA telewriter
Anthony Lawrence, to be moderated by Kevin Jorgenson and Susan McCray.
Saturday’s panel will feature actors BarBara Luna,
Peter Mark Richman, Mitch Vogel – the last living Cartwright (Jamie), and
Mitch’s stunt double Rick Drown.There
will be a talent show, country fair, and a Memorial Dinner for David Dortort. And I just got word that they’re adding
Monday, September 19th, (for an additional fee) to add a tour of
Warner Brothers Studio.
I’ll add more details on our Facebook page as they
become available.To visit the official
website, go HERE.To visit the official Facebook page, go HERE.
David Dortort gave a wonderful seven-part
interview to the TV LEGENDS project of the TV Academy, which is available at
Youtube, one of an incredible collection of in-depth interviews with TV
pioneers.Here’s part one.
‘HATFIELDS AND
MCCOYS’ CASTING NEWS
History Channel’s series based on the infamous family
hostilities, starring Kevin Costner
as Devil Anse Hatfield and Bill Paxton
as Randall McCoy, has added several more marquee names to its cast: Tom Berenger, Powers Boothe, Mare Winningham as Sally McCoy, and now TRUE BLOOD’S Lindsay Pulsipher will be
joining in the feudin’ and fightin’ and murderin’ starting later this month in
– you guessed it --Romania!Series is being directed by Kevin Reynolds
and scripted by Ronald Parker and Ted Mann.
INSP BACK ON DISH IN TIME FOR ‘BIG VALLEY’
Having settled their differences, INSP, the Inspiration
Network, is returning to the DISH Network.INSP will begin airing THE BIG VALLEY, the iconic western series
starring Barbara Stanwyck, Linda Evans, Lee
Majors, Peter Breck and Richard Long
on September 26th.A family-friendly outfit, INSP-TV currently shows THE
WALTONS, and will soon be adding BONANZA and DR. QUINN, MEDICINE
WOMAN.
Incidentally, the DISH Network
has been a loyal sponsor of Henry’s Western Round-up for over a year now –
their understated ad is in the upper left-hand corner of our top page.We hope to learn more soon about THE BIG
VALLEY – THE MOVIE, starring Jessica Lange in the Barbara Stanwyck role of
Victoria Barkely, and Lee Majors as Tom Barkely, his own father in the TV series!
RFD-TV ADDS EVEN MORE ROY TO THE MIX!
First we had the Roy Rogers
Happy Trails Theatre.After a year or so
they swapped it for The Roy Rogers Show.Now we’re getting both!While
RFD-TV will continue to introduce a new TV episode every Sunday morning – and
the prints are absolutely pristine – starting Tuesday afternoon with THE
ARIZONA KID, the features are back as well.I find the repeat schedule for both the series and features a little
confusing, so check your local listings.
‘TOMBSTONE’ AT THE AUTRY ON SATURDAY
On Saturday, September 17th,
at 1:30 pm in the Wells Fargo Theatre, the Autry will screen a 35mm print of TOMBSTONE (1993), as part
of their ‘What is a Western?’ series.The film stars Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer in a very strong ensemble
cast, and was written by the late Kevin Jarre (THE TRACKER, GLORY).It should make a nice contrast to last
month’s movie based on the same subject, GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL.Again, curator Jeffrey Richardson will lead a
discussion, and he’ll be joined by Michael F. Blake, author of HOLLYWOOD AND
THE O.K. CORRAL: PORTRAYALS OF THE GUNFIGHT AND WYATT EARP.
TCM FANATIC - WESTERN NOW ONLINE!And speaking of TCM, have I mentioned that the segment I was interviewed for is now viewable here?
THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER
Built by cowboy actor, singer, baseball and TV entrepeneur Gene Autry, and designed by the Disney Imagineering team, the Autry is a world-class museum housing a fascinating collection of items related to the fact, fiction, film, history and art of the American West. In addition to their permenant galleries (to which new items are frequently added), they have temporary shows. The Autry has many special programs every week -- sometimes several in a day. To check their daily calendar, CLICK HERE. And they always have gold panning for kids every weekend. For directions, hours, admission prices, and all other information, CLICK HERE.
HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM
Across the street from the Hollywood Bowl, this building, once the headquarters of Lasky-Famous Players (later Paramount Pictures) was the original DeMille Barn, where Cecil B. DeMille made the first Hollywood western, The Squaw Man. They have a permanent display of movie props, documents and other items related to early, especially silent, film production. They also have occasional special programs. 2100 Highland Ave., L.A. CA 323-874-2276. Thursday – Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. $5 for adults, $3 for senior, $1 for children.
WELLS FARGO HISTORY MUSEUM
This small but entertaining museum gives a detailed history of Wells Fargo when the name suggested stage-coaches rather than ATMS. There’s a historically accurate reproduction of an agent’s office, an original Concord Coach, and other historical displays. Open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Admission is free. 213-253-7166. 333 S. Grand Street, L.A. CA.
FREE WESTERNS ON YOUR COMPUTER AT HULU
A staggering number of western TV episodes and movies are available, entirely free, for viewing on your computer at HULU. You do have to sit through the commercials, but that seems like a small price to pay. The series available -- often several entire seasons to choose from -- include THE RIFLEMAN, THE CISCO KID, THE LONE RANGER, BAT MASTERSON, THE BIG VALLEY, ALIAS SMITH AND JONES, and one I missed from 2003 called PEACEMAKERS starring Tom Berenger. Because they are linked up with the TV LAND website, you can also see BONANZA and GUNSMOKE episodes, but only the ones that are running on the network that week.
The features include a dozen Zane Grey adaptations, and many or most of the others are public domain features. To visit HULU on their western page, CLICK HERE.
TV LAND - BONANZA and GUNSMOKE
Every weekday, TV LAND airs a three-hour block of BONANZA episodes from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They run a GUNSMOKE Monday through Thursday at 10:00 a.m., and on Friday they show two, from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m.. They're not currently running either series on weekends, but that could change at any time.
NEED YOUR BLACK & WHITE TV FIX?
Check out your cable system for WHT, which stands for World Harvest Television. It's a religious network that runs a lot of good western programming. Your times may vary, depending on where you live, but weekdays in Los Angeles they run DANIEL BOONE at 1:00 p.m., and two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.. On Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. it's THE RIFLEMAN again, followed at 2:30 by BAT MASTERSON. And unlike many stations in the re-run business, they run the shows in the original airing order. There's an afternoon movie on weekdays at noon, often a western, and they show western films on the weekend, but the schedule is sporadic.
That's it for this week's Round-up! Thanks for reading. Never forget what happened ten years ago today.
Henry
All contents copyright September 2011 by Henry C. Parke -- All Rights Reserved
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