NOVEMBER IS WESTERN MONTH!

An unusual amount of Western movie and TV activity is happening in the month that begins on Tuesday – keep it in mind on the 24^th, when you’re thinking about what you have to be Thankful for!

‘YELLOW ROCK’ OPENS RED NATION FEST IN L.A. NOV 1^ST

On Tuesday, November 1st the 8^th Annual Red Nation Film Festival, honoring excellence in American Indian and Indigenous filmmaking, opens with the premiere of YELLOW ROCK, a Western the Round-up Rounders have been following ever since it rolled camera in the summer of 2010. 

The film, which stars Michael Biehn, James Russo and Lenore Andriel, is nominated for several Red Nation Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director – Nick Vallelonga, Best Actor – Michael Spears, and Best Supporting Actor – Zahn McClarnon.  Zahn is also nominated for Best Actor in an MOW or Miniseries for RINGER, and Eddie Spears, who costars in YELLOW ROCK, is nominated in the same category for the upcoming AMC Western series HELL ON WHEELS. 

The Festival runs at various venues November 1^st through the 7^th, and will feature a wide array of new films -- fiction and documentary, feature-length and short.  Russell Means will receive the Oyate Wayanka Po Win Lifetime Achievement Award, and there will be a reretrospective of his work.  On Friday night there will be a screening of the Vidor-Selznick collaboration DUEL IN THE SUN (1946), which will be followed by a discussion with Vidor’s granddaughter and (not yet confirmed) descendents of Selznick and of co-star Lionel Barrymore.  For details and tickets, go HERE. 

MORGAN KANE EBOOKS NOW AVAILABLE!

In 1966, Norwegian banker Kjell Hallbing changed his name to Louis Masterson and began writing novels about Texas Ranger and U.S. Marshal Morgan Kane.  In twelve years he wrote 83 of them, and became the biggest literary success in Norway’s history, selling over twenty-million books.  (To learn more about Morgan Kane, read my previous report HERE)  Despite their huge popularity in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe, they were rarely available in English, and never in the United States – until now. 

Now the first two eBooks, EL GRINGO and EL GRINGO’S REVENGE are available for sale from Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and Apple’s iBookstore, and will be followed by the release of a new title every two weeks. WR Films plans to release all titles over time, in addition to Masterson’s other Western novels, the El Diablo and El Diablito series.  The underlying goal is to familiarize a new audience with the Morgan Kane character to prime them for the movie MORGAN KANE: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS, based on the first two books.  That film is currently being scripted, and the second and third films in the series are already in the planning stage.  Keep reading the Round-up to find out more! To see a teaser trailer for the first two books, go HERE.

‘RAMONA DAYS’ NOV 5^TH AT RANCHO CAMULOS MUSEUM

Near Piru, California you can visit the museum whose location is the setting for Helen Hunt Jackson’s beloved novel, RAMONA, which was the inspiration for at least four movies, and a pageant held in Hemet, California every summer since 1923!  And the current core cast of the RAMONA PAGEANT will be taking part!  This is the place where D.W. Griffith made his, the first version of the film, starring Mary Pickford, in 1910 – and that short will be screened in addition to museum tours and other activities.  For details, go HERE.  The Museum’s site even contains a link to the entire text of the novel, if you want to do some research before you go!

AMERICAN INDIAN ARTS MARKETPLACE AT THE AUTRY NOV. 5-6

More than 160 artists will be showing and selling their work at Southern California’s largest annual American Indian arts market.  In addition, there will be artist demonstrations, music, dance, food, short plays, short films and lectures.  Plus it’s Bank of America weekend, so if you have a Bank of America card, you get in free!  For details on the marketplace, go HERE.

ALSO AT THE AUTRY NOV 5^TH – GENE AUTRY DOUBLE FEATURE!

From noon until two catch THE OLD CORRAL (Republic 1936), directed by the great Joe Kane and starring Gene with Smiley Burnette, Lon Chaney Jr. and the Sons of The Pioneers; and WAGON TEAM (Columbia 1952) starring Gene, Pat Buttram, future Annie Oakley Gail Davis, and fine young actor and stunt rider Dickie Jones. 

SPERDVAC LUNCHEON NOVEMBER 5^TH AT THE BEVERLY GARLAND

SPERDVAC, the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy, will hold their 2^nd Annual Honorary Member Appreciation Luncheon from noon until 4:00 pm, at Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn, 4222 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood, CA. Those of you who are not regular followers of Old Time Radio may not be aware that these events are rapidly disappearing: if you have a chance to attend, don’t waste it.   The poet laureate of radio, Norman Corwin, was expected to attend, but he died last week, at the age of 101.

Four half-hour radio shows will be performed. Norman Corwin’s My Client Curly, starring Tommy Cook (who guest starred in the original broadcast), directed by Michael James Kacey. Tommy Cook was the very first Little Beaver in the RED RYDER Republic serial. Sorry, Wrong Number, starring Janet Waldo, with special guest star Herb Ellis, Terry Moore, and Doris Singleton (who guest starred in the original broadcast), directed by Gregg Oppenheimer. The Six Shooter, starring Chuck McCann (as Jimmy Stewart), with special guest star Shirley Mitchell (who guest starred on the original Six Shooter series), directed by Tim Knofler. I Love Lucy: The Untold Story, based on Jess Oppenheimer’s memoir, Laughs, Luck…and Lucy, and starring Ivan Cury, Reni Santoni, Phil Proctor, and Gloria McMillan, with special guest stars Janet Waldo and Doris Singleton (both of whom guest starred on My Favorite Husband and I Love Lucy), written and directed by Gregg Oppenheimer. For more information, or reservations, go HERE. 

‘CHAPS’ THE BBC WESTERN MUSICAL COMEDY OPENS NOV 5^TH

Described as ‘Monty Python Meets The Old West,’ CHAPS, by Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner is set in 1944 London.  When America's favorite singing cowboy Tex Riley and his troupe are late for a special broadcast at the BBC, Mabel the tour manager and Miles the frantic young producer grab a snobby announcer, an agreeable sound man and a soap opera actor, slap them into costume, hand them scripts (after all, it's radio!) and shove them in front of the studio audience. The resulting performance is one England will never forget. 

Presented by ELATE (Emmanuel Lutheran Actor's Theater Ensemble), the play will be presented Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm, with Sunday matinees at 2 pm, from Saturday, November 5^th through Sunday, November 20^th,  at the Lincoln Stegman Theater, 6020 Radford, North Hollywood, CA 91606.  Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and kids under 13, and Goldstar members can do a little better.  Call 818-509-0882 for tickets.

CELEBRATE ROY ROGER’S 100^TH BIRTHDAY NOV 5^TH ON RFD-TV

On Saturday, Nov. 5^th at 8:30 pm, a new special filmed at Roy Roger’s home in Apple Valley will feature his son Dusty and grandson Dustin, the High Riders Band, interviews and more.  And RFD-TV continues to show THE ROY ROGERS SHOW every Sunday morning, and a Roy Rogers movie every Tuesday, with repeats – check your local listings.  

‘HELL ON WHEELS’ STARTS RAISING HELL ON SUNDAY, NOV 6^TH

Starting Sunday night, AMC will begin showing HELL ON WHEELS, their new Western series.  The title refers to the mobile saloons and brothels that sprung up and travelled with the crews laying the track for the transcontinental railroad.  The miniseries follows an ex-Confederate soldier, Anson Mount, seeking revenge, while working on the railroad, and costars Common, Colm Meany, Eddie Spears of YELLOW ROCK, Dominique McElligot, who places Etta Place in the current Western BLACKTHORN.    

DEATH VALLEY ‘49ERS  62^nd ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT NOV. 9-13

For all you made of sterner stuff, enjoy a wagon train, Western music, contests, rides to historic desert sits, cowboy poetry and more, at Death Valley National Park.  For details, call 831-818-4384, or go HERE .

TRIBUTE TO JOHN WAYNE  NOV. 10^TH AT ARCLIGHT HOLLYWOOD

On Thursday, November 10^th, 7:00 pm at the Cinerama Dome/Arclight Hollywood, Wayne’s sons Patrick and Ethan, and co-star Kim Darby will take part in a gala tribute to the Duke, which will include a screening of the picture that won Wayne his Oscar, TRUE GRIT. The event is presented by The Jules Verne Adventure folks, who did such a tremendous with their 40^th Anniversary tribute to THE WILD BUNCH.  Tickets are $25 to $50, but you might do even better if you are a Goldstar member, or under 20 years old.  Learn more, and buy tickets HERE. 

‘UNFORGIVEN’ SCREENS SATURDAY, NOV. 12^TH AT THE AUTRY

Winner of four Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director – Clint Eastwood, Best Supporting Actor – Gene Hackman, and Best Editing – Joel Cox, UNFORGIVEN (1992) is shown as part of the Autry’s ‘What is a Western?’ series, and will be shown at 1:30 pm in the Wells Fargo Theatre, in 35mm, introduced by curator Jeffrey Richardson.

BIG VALLEY ‘YOUNG WHIPPERSNAPPER’ MARATHON ON INSP NOV. 25^TH

The day after Thanksgiving, starting at two p.m. eastern time, INSP presents younger versions of familiar faces in a marathon of BIG VALLEY episodes.  Study the picture and see how many you recognize.  I’ll only name two, who happen to also be co-starring in the new feature film version of the BIG VALLEY, Richard Dreyfus and Bruce Dern. 

 KEITH CARRADINE JOINS CAST OF TNT’S WESTERN PILOT ‘GATEWAY’ 

GATEWAY, scripted by Exec Producer Bruce McKenna (BAND OF BROTHERS, THE PACIFIC), to be directed by Danny Cannon (CSI), is set in Gateway, a Colorado town in the 1880s.  When a lawman has been killed, his three sons must step in.  The sons will be portrayed by Keir O’Donnell, David Denman and Eric Lange.  Shannon Lucio will play Denman’s wife.  Keith Carradine, with a long list of Western credits, from THE LONG RIDERS to COWBOYS & ALIENS, will play the brothers’ surrogate father. 

MORE 'DJANGO UNCHAINED' CASTING NEWS!

According to The Onion's AV Club, there's final a name female in Tarantino's cast: Kerry Washington, of LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and RAY. As with RAY, she'll play Jamie Foxx's wife, this time named Broomhilda, but this time she's a slave in the possession of Leonardo DiCaprio.

TCM FANATIC - WESTERN NOW ONLINE!

And speaking of TCM (okay, nobody was), 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.

BONANZA, GUNSMOKE and BIG VALLEY

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.  INSP is showing THE BIG VALLEY every weekday at noon, one p.m. and nine p.m., and Saturdays at 6 p.m..  They'll soon be adding DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN to the mix.

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. 

AMC has been airing a block of THE RIFLEMAN episodes early Saturday mornings, usually followed by Western features.

And RFD-TV is currently showing THE ROY ROGERS SHOW at 9:30 Sunday morning, repeated several times a week, and a Roy feature as well -- check your local listings.

Well, tomorrow is Halloween, and I hope you enjoy celebrating it.  There aren't a lot of actually scary Westerns out there (despite the efforts of JONAH HEX and COWBOYS & ALIENS).  Once when I said to Harry Carey Jr. that I'd never seen a film he was in that wasn't worth watching, he replied, "Obviously you've never seen BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA."  I went out and saw it, and he was right.  JESSE JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEINS'S DAUGHTER is, if possible, worse.  Then again, CURSE OF THE UNDEAD is surprisingly good and spooky.  The best Halloween Western TV episode I've seen is from the first season of DANIEL BOONE, episode #27, DAUGHTER OF THE DEVIL.  It looks like Val Lewton produced it! 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN and Happy Trails,

Henry

All original content copyright October 2011 by Henry C. Parke – All Rights Reserved

14th SILVER SPURS HONORS BEST OF THE WEST

On Friday, October 14^th, the Reel Cowboys presented their 14^th Annual Silver Spur Awards, in the Empire Ballroom of the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.  The successor to the Golden Boot Awards, Reel Cowboys President Robert Lanthier explains, “We are pretty much the Oscar awards for Westerns.” 

(Early arrivals check out the silent auction)

The Reel Cowboys is made up of people in and around the motion picture and television industry with a Western bias.  The Spur gala’s purpose is to recognize career excellence, and it is also a fund raiser for a different worthy cause each year.   This year’s recipient is the Autry Center’s ‘All Aboard!’ program.  Lanthier explains, “It provides free bus transportation to California children in Title 1 schools (to the Autry), so they can learn more about their history and discover the different influences that play a part in their lives today.  This program has brought over 17,000 kids to the museum.”  Additionally, those kids and their parents receive a years’ membership at the Autry.  Currently there are more than fifty classes on the waiting list, hoping to take part.

(Karin McKechnie and the pink corset

 she contributed to the silent auction)

The doors to this very elegant event opened at six, and early arrivers, dressed in stylish western-wear, began streaming in, many of them eager to check out the items at the silent auction.  These included art, posters and lobby cards, autographed DVD collections, costume items and other mementos. 

(Dick Jones, A.J. Fenady and their ladies) 

Music was provided by Cowbop, featuring lead singer Pinto Pammy.  Among the early arrivers were singer Johnny Western.  One of the most distinctive voices in Western music, long associated with Gene Autry and Johnny Cash, he’s best remembered as the writer and singer of the theme from HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, The Ballad of Palladin.  He also co-wrote songs for BONANZA and THE REBEL.  In addition to singing a medley of Western themes, Johnny Western would co-emcee the evening with Sam Neely, known as ‘The Cowboy Auctioneer.’

(Producer Rob Word beside a picture of himself as s child,

visiting John Wayne on the set of THE SEARCHERS)

Other early arrivals included past Silver Spur recipients, the beautiful Stella Stevens, television's WYATT EARP, Hugh O'Brien, and infamous Western villain (and WYATT EARP co-star) Morgan Woodward.  Near the silent auction I spotted one of the night’s recipients-to-be, Andrew J. Fenady, and I asked him about the importance of the occasion.  He grinned. “Well, I read the obituaries.  They’re pretty damned depressing.  But if I see my name’s not there – any day’s an important day.  But seriously, there’s a lot of old friends here who I haven’t seen in quite a few years,  people that I’ve worked together with during the things that we did: THE REBEL and BRANDED and HONDO, and unfortunately your paths don’t cross  as often as you would like them to.  So it’s a great opportunity to see some of us survivors.  It’s a happy occasion – it beats the Hell out of funerals.”

(Hugh O'Brien arrives)

A few minutes later I ran into producer Rob Word.  “I’m here to present to the great Andrew J. Fenady, the writer producer of THE REBEL and BRANDED and HONDO – he even named one of his sons Duke.  And he wrote and produced one of the last of the epic films that Wayne did, CHISUM.  And it’s an honor for me; Andy was the one who nominated me for a Golden Boot Award, so it’s nice for me to be able to present to him. “     

(Morgan Woodward lets me squeeze into a picture with him)

When everyone had found their seats, the program officially began with Presentation of Colors by the Merced County Sheriff Posse, the Pledge of Allegiance led by World War II veteran Ivan Creggar, the singing of God Bless America led by Erwin Jackson, and an invocation by former Wheel of Fortune hostess Dr. Susan Stafford. 

(Autry Curator Jeffrey Richardson and Mrs. Richardson)

While eating our steak and salmon we were serenaded with a Western medley by Lloyd Reading, whose voice is as full and melodic at 92 as it was when he was singing with the Rocky Mountain Cowboys in the 1940s.  Later, Johnny Western would delight us with a medley of his own and others’ Western TV themes.  We were welcomed by Reel Cowboys President Robert Lanthier, introduced to several 911 First Responders who were honored guests, and heard from event producer Cyndi Tracy, Autry National Center President Daniel M. Finley, and were treated to a brief auction by Sam Neely, who sold, among other items, a sailing trip on the late Spencer Tracy’s yacht!

(L.Q. Jones and his wife chat with Courtney Joyner and his finace, Mary)

After dinner, the first award was presented by 2003 Honoree Ann Rutherford to Fay McKenzie.  Fay started her screen career at ten weeks old, playing Gloria Swanson’s baby, and was a busy child actress on stage and screen,  Starting in 1934, at age 15, she played Western female leads opposite Wally Wales, Ken Maynard, Randolph Scott, and above all, Gene Autry, with whom she costarred five times.  Presenter Ann, equally remembered as Polly Benedict in the ANDY HARDY films, and as Scarlet O’Hara’s youngest sister in GONE WITH THE WIND, revealed that she has the distinction of being both the first and last girl to get a big-screen kiss from Gene Autry.   The reaction of the largely boy audience was so negative that Gene went back to kissing Champion.

(l to r front row -- Johnny Western, Andre Veluzat, A.C. Lyles, John Moio, Ann Rutherford, Fay McKenzie, Dick Jones, Rob Word, Renaud Veluzat.  Back row, Sam Neely, Ted White, L.Q. Jones.  Far right, applauding, Cyndi Tracy)

Next up, Rob Word presented The Silver Spur to A. J. Fenady.  Fenady, looking back on his career, talked about the luck of timing, that he arrived when television was so new that anyone who had an idea had a good idea.  “There’s an old saying that you can tell a lot about somebody by the company he or she keeps.”  He paid tribute to an amazing string of actors he’d worked with over the years, starting with, “Nick Adams, Jim Drury, Stu Whitman, Steve Forrest, Peter Graves, Jamie Farr… and that giant of all giants, John Wayne.”  It was an impressive list even before he got to the Oscar winners.  “Gloria Grahame, Ben Johnson, Ray Milland, Don Ameche, Arthur O’Connel, Dean Jagger, Broderick Crawford, and that beloved Ernie Borgnine.  And someone who should have won at least one or two of those, for CAPE FEAR, NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, HEAVEN KNOWS MR. ALLISON, Robert Mitchum.  I hope that maybe a little of their talent, and accomplishments, rubbed off on me.  A long time ago I wrote a line for Dick Powell:  ‘When you get old, you start tripping over your memories.’  But some memories are worth tripping over.  This is one of them.”

(Erwin Jackson, Cyndi Tracy, Johnny Western, Robert Lanthier)

Then treasured character actor and all-around wild-man L.Q. Jones took to the stage to honor James Drury, and actor who will always be recalled as the unnamed character The Virginian, whom he portrayed in 249 episodes.  Speaking about the grueling pace of production, Jones pointed out that each VIRGINIAN was 90 a minute TV-movie, and they started a new one every eight days!  Drury recalled, "I was in Fredericksburg, Texas recently, making a personal appearance.  And this man came up to me and said, 'It must be wonderful to be Jamie Drury, The Virginian.  Because everywhere you go, people are happy to see you.'  Well, I hadn't really thought of it that way.  But it's true.  THE VIRGINIAN moved so many people, on so many levels.  And now that it's back on Encore, I have grandfathers calling me -- and I'm a grandfather -- and saying, 'Jim, my kids are watching your show without being asked, and without being told.'  And that's the most gratifying thing that I could possibly hear." 

In one of the more sentimental moments in an already very sentimental evening, Johnny Western and Dick Jones stepped to the podium to honor the late, great Gene Autry.  Dick Jones, a child actor of the 1930s and 1940s, remembered by many as the voice of the little wooden boy in Disney’s PINNOCHIO, had an even busier career in Westerns due to his skill as a horseman.  Known as The World’s Youngest Trick-Rider and Trick-Roper at age four, by six he was performing in Hoot Gibson’s rodeo.  His horsemanship was shown off to great effect in dozens of movies, ROCKY MOUNTAIN (1950) with Errol Flynn being one of the best.  But his connection with Autry was legendary, starring in five features with Gene, with appearances in Gene’s own series and ANNIE OAKLEY, and two starring Flying A series of his own: THE RANGE RIDER, with Jock Mahoney, and BUFFALO BILL JR.  Both Jones and Johnny Western, the self-described “Last man standing in the Gene Autry Music Organization,” said they felt like Gene was a father to them.  So how perfect that his widow, Jackie Autry, is a recorded appearance, said that Gene, who never had children, thought of Johnny and Dick as his sons. 

A well-deserved, yet highly unusual, award went to Andre and Renaud Veluzat.  These brothers bought Melody Ranch from Gene Autry in the 1990s, after it had been largely destroyed by fire, and painstakingly rebuilt it to its former design and former glory.  It’s now one of the busiest and finest of movie ranches, and soon to be the home Quentin Tarantino’s new Western, DJANGO UNCHAINED.  The award was presented by the Ambassador and Elder Statesman of Paramount Studios, and unquestionably the most dapper man in Hollywood, A.C. Lyles.   Lyles, who started his career at Paramount in 1928, and is still there today, began producing with RAWHIDE, was consulting producer for DEADWOOD, and in the interim produced more than a dozen Western features. 

(Cake in the shape of a boot with a Silver Spur)

The final honoree of the night was stuntman Ted White, whose presenter was John Moio, a fellow stuntman whose career goes back to THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL and THE CINCINNATI KID.  A Marine wounded during World War II, White used the G.I. Bill to attend the University of Oklahoma, where he excelled in football and boxing.  When he came to L.A., he met legendary stuntman Roydon Clark, who encouraged Ted to get into the business.  Ted not only took the advice, in 1961 he and eleven other stuntmen formed the Stuntmen’s Association.  Ted has doubled Clark Gable, Rock Hudson, Fess Parker, John Wayne, and many others. 

All too soon the evening was over, and folks started making their way home.  But the good news is that, while The Silver Spurs are given out only once a year, the Reel Cowboys are accessible all year round.  Robert Lanthier explained, “Saturday mornings we meet at Big Jim’s Restaurant in Sunland – at the corner of Lauren Canyon and Sheldon.  The public is welcome.  And we discuss upcoming events, what’s going on in our organization, and then we have about a half hour of fine country music.  And we’ll be doing that again tomorrow.  Hopefully Johnny Western will be able to come there and sing with us.”  I understand Johnny Western sang for 45 minutes on Saturday.

JERRY BRUCKHEIMER SACRIFICES SUPERNATURAL COYOTES TO SAVE LONE RANGER!

Probably the first case of animal sacrifice that I heartily approve of! In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, producer Bruckheimer, explaining how they cut the budget from $250 million to $215 million said, “We cut a sequence involving a coyote attack—supernatural coyotes—and a small animated segment.” 

MORE ‘DJANGO UNCHAINED’ CASTING

Although no deal-memo is signed yet, reportedly Quentin Tarantino is hoping to add Joseph Gordon-Levitt, of INCEPTION and 500 DAYS OF SUMMER,  to his cast.  No details yet on who he’d play. 

TCM FANATIC - WESTERN NOW ONLINE!

And speaking of TCM (okay, nobody was), 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.

BONANZA, GUNSMOKE and BIG VALLEY

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.  INSP is showing THE BIG VALLEY every weekday at noon, one p.m. and nine p.m., and Saturdays at 6 p.m..  They'll soon be adding DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN to the mix.

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. 

AMC has been airing a block of THE RIFLEMAN episodes early Saturday mornings, usually followed by Western features.

And RFD-TV is currently showing THE ROY ROGERS SHOW at 9:30 Sunday morning, repeated several times a week, and a Roy feature as well -- check your local listings.

That’s all for now! 

Happy Trails,

Henry

All original content copyright October 2011 by Henry C. Parke – All Rights Reserved

LONE RANGER BACK IN THE SADDLE! DJANGO RIDES THE AUTRY TRAIL!

THE LONE RANGER, which Disney put on hold back on August 12^th, is once again a ‘go’ project, with cameras set to roll on February 2^nd, 2012, and an already-booked release date of May 21^st, 2013.  Town-wide panic had ensued following the disappointing box-office take of COWBOYS & ALIENS, and the masked rider of the plains had been put on hold.  (For the record, C&A has taken in $167 million so far, which is 2^nd only to TRUE GRIT, at $171 million, for any Western ever made.  They didn’t sell too few tickets, they just spent too much making it. )  But now Disney and Johnny ‘Tonto’ Depp and director Gore Verbinski have reportedly reached an accord. After paring down the hideously bloated $285 million budget to a positively svelte $215 million, all systems are go!  There is talk, although I haven’t had it confirmed, that the budget was sheered by having all the above-the-line participants (Depp, Hammer, Verbinski, etc.) agree to a 20% pay cut.  

Incidentally, since I started running updates on this situation on the Round-up Facebook page a couple of days ago, I’ve had a lot of comments left, the gist being ‘I hope they made the budget cuts by eliminating the CGI money for the werewolves.’  Yeah, last time I heard, the Lone Ranger was going to be pumping his silver bullets into lycanthropes.   

There’s casting news as well.  In an interview on one of the entertainment magazine shows Johnny Depp, confirming that the faithful Indian companion has gone back to work, rattled off some cast-names not previously mentioned. Helena Bonham Carter, of the Tim Burton and HARRY POTTER movies, is aboard, in addition to the already announced Armie Hammer as the Lone Ranger, Ruth Wilson, Timothy Hutton and James P. Bennett.  Stunt coordinator will be Thomas Robinson Harper, who did similar chores for C&A and stunted in the upcoming ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER.  The sound department will be run by Lee Orloff, who did similar work on RANGO, the most recent PIRATES movie, and who I went to college with – way to go, Lee!

 

DJANGO UNCHAINED TO SHOOT AT MELODY RANCH!

At Friday night's SILVER SPUR AWARDS, honorees the Veluzat brothers, owners of Melody Ranch, the Newhall Western movie-town, revealed that Quentin Tarantino will be lensing his Western at said former galloping-grounds of Gene Autry!  The family also owns the nearby Veluzat Ranch, and I’ll bet money Tarantino will be shooting there as well. 

The film will star Jamie Foxx as Django, a former slave, and Christoph Waltz as the dentist who trains Django to be a bounty hunter.  Leo DiCaprio will be the evil plantation/brothel owner who stages ‘Mandigo’ fights for fun and profit.  As was said here recently, Kevin Costner, who had been announced as playing the fighters’ trainer, had to ankle due to previous commitments, including starring in and co-producing the HATFIELDS & MCCOYS miniseries for The History Channel.  He’s being replaced by Tarantino stalwart and western pro Kurt Russell.  Also in the cast are Samuel L. Jackson; Gerald McRaney, whose westerns include several GUNSMOKE appearances and a regular role in DEADWOOD; Dennis Christopher, of BREAKING AWAY fame, and a DEADWOOD regular; and Todd Allen, of SILVERADO, THE MAGNIFICENT 7 series and BROKEN TRAIL.   

Just added to the cast is Don Johnson, whose Western credits include ZACHARIAH – THE FIRST ELECTRIC WESTERN, KUNG FU, LAW OF THE LAND and BEULAH LAND.  He plays another plantation owner who, in a nod to one of the greatest of Republic’s serial and Western directors, is named Spencer Bennett

MOVIE REVIEWS – SILENT WESTERNS FROM GRAPEVINE VIDEO

THE BETTER MAN WINS

Brothers Jack and Jason Hardy run Grapevine Video, and their mission is to track down rarely seen silent films of all genres, and make them available to the public.  Their prices are unusually reasonable: I haven’t noticed anything higher than $16.95, fifteen is more common, and quite a number are under ten dollars.

Among their Westerns is THE BETTER MAN WINS (1922), starring the largely forgotten but once very popular rodeo-star-turned-actor Pete Morrison, who played the lead in numerous Westerns for Universal and Triangle, but whose career died with the coming of sound.  From 1929 on, he played unnamed barflies and cowhands, and retired from the screen in 1935, at the age of 45.  Not traditionally handsome, he had a strong, unusual character face, and was expressive without being flamboyant. 

Just as we have ‘modern-day Westerns’ today, they had them in the past as well, which makes THE BETTER MAN WINS unusual as sort of a double-period film, reflecting both the old west and the start of the Roaring Twenties, seen from  a rural, and disapproving, perspective.   Pete is the cowhand in love with Dorothy Wood, the little blonde girl who is trying desperately to save her ailing father, and his ailing farm.  When bad men rustle their cattle, and Dorothy, trying to stop them, falls within their grasp, Pete must save her, and if the story sounds melodramatic, the performances are not: Dorothy’s attempt to reload her gun while backing away seems fresh and unfamiliar, and the bad men seem all the more dangerous for not being caricatures.  The action is rough and exciting and convincing.

Then unexpectedly, from the big city, a wayward town-car loses control and tumbles down a hill and onto Dorothy’s farm.  The chauffeur, and the male passenger Dick Murray, are thrown clear, but Grace Parker is wedged under the car and must be rescued.  In a predicament reminiscent of the much later Kaufmann and Hart comedy, THE MAN WHO CAME DINNER, a doctor announces that Grace cannot be moved for six weeks, until her broken leg mends. 

There’s no doubt that this is a sophisticated, but dissipated couple – a title informs us that they made their money before the 18th Amendment!  Pete wants them out of there, but the kind Dorothy won’t hear of it.  And in a story that reflects a much less morally predictable time than the 1930s, the invading pair, each for their own interests, attempt to corrupt Pete and Dorothy, neither of whom are above being seduced! 

I won’t give away more of the story, except to say that much of it takes place in the speakeasies of the big bad city, and it’s always engaging and frequently exciting – and not overly neat.  I found this film very enjoyable, and while it may be typical of films of the period, it is decidedly not typical of the silent films that have survived. 

The quality of the print is stunning – while silent movies were originally very crisp looking, we’ve gotten so used to seeing worn and scratched copies of copies of copies that the unexpected clarity of image is a delight.  The music score by Lou McMahon captures the moods effectively.  And at the end there’s a very funny Koko The Clown cartoon, JUMPING BEANS which, being from 1922 also, you might very well have seen at the original release.  It sells for $14.95.

TOM MIX IN ‘SKY HIGH’

Another Western from 1922, and another ‘Modern Day Western’, SKY HIGH features box office champ Tom Mix at his exuberant best as a Border Patrol officer, keeping our borders safe from Chinese laborers being smuggled in from Mexico.  Not even slightly politically correct, this film was made in the middle of the Chinese Exclusion Act, signed by President Chester A. Arthur in 1882 to halt Chinese immigration for ten years, but kept in effect until 1943.   

Mix goes undercover, infiltrating the gang that plans to smuggle a hundred ‘pigtails’ into the States through The Grand Canyon, and the often breathtaking location shooting in the Canyon and along the Colorado River is among the most appealing aspects of the film, along with Mix’s charm, riding skills, and a wild airplane stunt in the Canyon.

The romantic interest is lovely Eva Novak who, starting out as a Mack Sennett bathing beauty, costarred ten times with Mix, who taught her to do her own stunts along the way.  Unfortunately for her career, she married stuntman William Reed, who insisted she stop risking her life.  Her career never recovered, but she continued doing bits for many years.  John Ford must have liked her; he used her in FOUR GODFATHERS (1948), SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (1960) and THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (1962).  She made her last appearance in a 1966 episode of LAREDO. 

Not nearly as serious as THE BETTER MAN WINS, SKY HIGH is exciting, good-natured and sometimes silly fun.  The only downside is the quality of the print it is taken from, presumably the best that survives.  All too often, with stars of Mix’s level of popularity, the films were copied endlessly, and this print is so many steps from the original negative that for much of the film the four corners of the frame are in black, making the image a very high-contrast oval.  At times the Grand Canyon is washed out, although much of the time it looks spectacular.  The score is by Jack Hardy.

Also included is AN ARIZONA WOOING, another Mix film set in Arizona, but this one is from 1915, a short from the Selig Company.  Here again, Mix wants the girl, but he has a major problem: he’s a shepherd, and the man leading the cattle ranchers in trying to drive him out happens to be the girl’s father.   At one point Tom is staked out on the ground, and told he’ll be left there until he agrees to get rid of the sheep.  He’s found in that position by his rival for the girl, Mexican Joe (Pat Chrisman), who starts to abuse the helpless man, and I was worried about where the story was headed.  Happily, even with sheep, this was made about a century before BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN.  It’s interesting to compare the two Mix films, and see how much more elaborate the films became in seven short years.  I highly recommend this one.  The price is $12.95.  You can connect with Grapevine Video HERE. 

SUNSET CARSON RETURNS – AND HE’S TALKING!

I am indebted for this information to Chuck Anderson, whose The Old Corral website is the ultimate source and authority on all B-western matters.  Sunset Carson was one of the later Republic cowboy stars, a genuine rodeo cowboy-turned-actor.  And he didn’t turn to that much of an actor at first – he told the story of how he learned his lines all together, and once he started talking, he didn’t get that he had to stop, to let the next actor speak.  One of his early costars, Peggy Stewart or Linda Stirling, taught him to say a line, count to five so she could talk, then say his next line and count to five again.  In his early films you can see his lips counting! 

He was also paired with the already very popular Smiley Burnette – it’s the only time I know of where the sidekick was billed above the star!  But he learned, and was a very likeable, down-to-Earth guy.  He began putting his movies out on video in the 1980s, and they were a great success.  He began to prepare to do a syndicated TV series with Jerry Whittington.  Then, at the age of 70, a visit to Reno in 1990 killed him: the sudden change of altitude gave him a fatal heart attack. 

In preparation for the series that would never happen, Sunset began interviewing Western costars and friends, and Jerry has now put these interviews, most circa 1982 and shot at Movieland Frontier Town in Colton, California, on Youtube.  Among the interviewees are Eddie Dean, Linda Stirling, Peggy Stewart, Monte Hale, John Hart, Pierce Lydon, Terry Frost, Yakima Cannutt, Lash LaRue, and many more.  So many are gone now, and this is an absolute treasure-trove for the B-western fan.  You can find the index at the Old Corral site HERE.  And while you’re at it, visit the main site HERE . You’ll have a great time, and learn a ton.

SPERDVAC LUNCHEON NOVEMBER 5^TH AT THE BEVERLY GARLAND

SPERDVAC, the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy, will hold their 2^nd Annual Honorary Member Appreciation Luncheon from noon until 4:00 pm, at Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn, 4222 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood, CA.  Those of you who are not regular followers of Old Time Radio may not be aware that these events are rapidly disappearing: if you have a chance to attend, don’t waste it.   

Four half-hour radio shows will be performed.   Norman Corwin’s My Client Curly, starring Tommy Cook (who guest starred in the original broadcast), directed by Michael James Kacey. [Norman Corwin is expected to attend.]  Tommy Cook was the very first Little Beaver in the RED RYDER Republic serial.  Sorry, Wrong Number, starring Janet Waldo, with special guest star Herb Ellis, Terry Moore, and Doris Singleton (who guest starred in the original broadcast), directed by Gregg Oppenheimer.  The Six Shooter, starring Chuck McCann (as Jimmy Stewart), with special guest star Shirley Mitchell (who guest starred on the original Six Shooter series), directed by Tim Knofler.  I Love Lucy: The Untold Story, based on Jess Oppenheimer’s memoir, Laughs, Luck…and Lucy, and starring Ivan Cury, Reni Santoni, Phil Proctor, and Gloria McMillan, with special guest stars Janet Waldo and Doris Singleton (both of whom guest starred on My Favorite Husband and I Love Lucy), written and directed by Gregg Oppenheimer.   For more information, or reservations, go HERE. 

‘NATIONAL DAY OF THE COWBOY’ FUNDRAISER: 

HATS OFF TO COWBOYS!

On Saturday, October 22nd, the National Day of the Cowboy organization will hold a ‘Hats Off To Cowboys’ benefit to continue the work of making the Day of the Cowboy a reality nationally.  The event will take place in Black Canyon City, Arizona, at the Rock Springs Café.  Festivities include a traditional cowboy dinner (no, not just beans), country music, moonlight dancing, an auction, a raffle and more – there’ll even be a free raffle ticket to everyone who attends wearing a cowboy hat!  It’s only $20 per person!  For more information, visit the official site HERE.  

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.

BONANZA, GUNSMOKE and BIG VALLEY

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.  INSP is showing THE BIG VALLEY every weekday at noon, one p.m. and nine p.m., and Saturdays at 6 p.m..  They'll soon be adding DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN to the mix.

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. 

AMC has been airing a block of THE RIFLEMAN episodes early Saturday mornings, usually followed by Western features.

And RFD-TV is currently showing THE ROY ROGERS SHOW at 9:30 Sunday morning, repeated several times a week, and a Roy feature as well -- check your local listings.

That’s all for now! Next week I’ll have coverage of the 14^th Annual Silver Spur Awards!

Happy Trails,

Henry

All original content copyright October 2011 by Henry C. Parke – All Rights Reserved