JOHN WAYNE TRIBUTE PACKS CINERAMA DOME

On Thursday night, November 10^th, more than 800 of Marion Robert Morrison’s closest friends and biggest fans filled the Arclight Cinerama Dome in Hollywood for a tribute to Oscar-winning movie star John Wayne.  Wayne, who died more than thirty years ago, has been in the Harris Poll of Top Ten Movie Stars every year for over fifteen years – and he’s the only deceased actor on the list.  It was a perfect location for the tribute, as so many John Wayne movies, among them, HOW THE WEST WAS WON, had played there over the years.

(Nikki Pelley shows off buckle)

Folks in Western costume and regalia massed outside the theatre, and filled the lobby.  One I spotted was trick-rider and costumer Nikki Pelley, showing off the John Wayne Rodeo buckle she’d won at the Dean Smith Tribute to John Wayne Rodeo, where she and Western actor Ben Cooper were penning partners.  Also spotted were SILVER SPUR AWARD producer Cyndi Tracy and Western film and TV producer Rob Word. 

The orchestra section of the theatre was quickly filling up as the 7:30 start of the program neared, and sizing up the remaining spots, I grabbed the last seat in the first row of the balcony, reasoning that any farther back and I’d be looking through a sea of Stetsons. 

(Tommy Morgan and Clyde Lucas)

Music was provided, at an on-stage campfire set, by harmonica virtuoso Tommy Morgan, accompanied by singer and guitarist Clyde Lucas.  Morgan’s distinctive sound can be heard in John Wayne movies like HOW THE WEST WAS WON, THE WAR WAGON, RIO BRAVO, RIO LOBO, CHISUM, THE COWBOYS, and other Westerns from THE WILD BUNCH to BLAZING SADDLES, DANCES WITH WOLVES, and the current video game RED DEAD REDEMPTION.  He even plays solos on The Hollies’ ‘HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER’, and the Beach Boys’ ‘GOOD VIBRATIONS.’ 

After a well-deserved hand for Morgan and Lucas, and ‘a word from our sponsor’ – in this case Land Rover of Encino -- the program began with Jules Verne Festival co-founders Jean-Christophe Jeuffre and Frederic Dieudonne speaking about their organization and its many good works – their annual Legendaire Award is their principal fund-raiser.  To underline where their inspiration comes from, they showed an original 1871 edition of Verne’s 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, which they’ve carry around for inspiration, from the Arctic to the Amazon when making their documentaries. 

Next onstage was John Wayne’s son Patrick Wayne, who commented, “If you had told me, in 1980 that my father’s popularity and celebrity would be as it is today, I would have said you were crazy.  I am in awe and amazed and humbled – and happy to have you all here – and I’m not alone.”  He asked his siblings, nieces and nephews, and step-mother to stand up, and it was a quite a group – well over a dozen.  He pointed out that the poll that still puts Wayne in the top ten movies stars, is taken with people from eighteen to twenty-six, none of whom were alive when Wayne died. 

Patrick next did an onstage Q&A with Nick Redman, whose WILD BUNCH documentary was Oscar-nominated.  “My dad was driven; he was driven to be successful.  He was focused.  When he was in high school he wanted to go to the Navy Academy, but they didn’t have the political connections to get him in there.  By the way – if he got into the Navy Academy he would have been the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  He was offered a football scholarship to S.C..  He played football his freshman year, and during the summer he broke his shoulder showing off for the girls in Newport Beach.  He couldn’t play football; he lost his scholarship.  But the kids who played football at S.C. worked at the studios for summer jobs, So he started working as a prop man, a stunt man…and went on to become John Wayne.  He was going to be successful wherever he went, and it just turned out by fate that it was to be in films...  He was encouraging.  He never tried to tell any of his children what they should do in their lives, he was always supportive.  But I think he was proud that Ethan and I decided to work with him.” 

Patrick Wayne was just a boy when John Ford offered him a whopping five bucks a day to work along with his dad in movies.  “It was a very special experience for me, because at that time I had four brothers and sisters, and none of (them were) interested in working in film.  So when I’d go on a film with my dad, I had him to myself, and didn’t have to share him.  It was special.”  He talked about how Ford was, “…brilliant, cynical, acerbic,” and how anyone who worked with Ford knew that one day they would become his target.  Patrick actually fared pretty well, outside of playing gin rummy with Ford.  “I thought I was pretty good, so I thought, ‘Well, I’ll let this old man win one.’  He catches on and says, ‘From now on, just play with Ward Bond and young boys.’”

Patrick held up the TRUE GRIT eye patch, which he explained was actually ‘a’ TRUE GRIT eye patch, because Wayne decided, what with dirt and sweat and make-up, to use a new one every day, so there were something like sixty eye patches. 

(Patrick, Marisa, Ethan and Pilar Wayne admire Legendaire Award)

Next to speak, briefly, was Ethan Wayne, and then Duke’s daughter Marisa and former wife Pilar were brought onstage to receive the Jules Verne Legendaire Award.

Next was Robert Mitchum’s son Christopher, who appeared with Duke in BIG JAKE.  “Duke was one of three mentors in my life.  My father of course, and much later Charlton Heston.  But in the middle I did three films with Duke, and he was my mentor.  And he took me from a two-line part in CHISUM, introduced me to Howard Hawks, to a co-starring role in RIO LOBO.  He asked me, ‘How’d you like to play my son?’  How do you say ‘no’ to that?  I love this family.  And I’m delighted and proud to be here.”

(Earl Holliman and Christopher Mitchum)

Next up was Duke’s brother from the SONS OF KATIE ELDER, Earl Holliman.  “It was a thrill for me.  I was a movie usher, and I used to see all these John Wayne movies.  I could never call him ‘Duke.’  It was always ‘John’ and ‘Big John.’  I was never a member of that inner clan.  I was like an orphan on THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER, because John had all these other people he’d worked with all these years – it was like a family.  And there was Dean Martin, who was in a world of his own – who was a great guy, a wonderful guy.  So I just kind of stood aside and watched all these folks, and it was really a great experience.  I think John at first kind of doubted my potential, because he didn’t know me at all.  And when he found out that I could fight and I could shoot and actually act, he was wonderful.”  And turning to Chris Mitchum, he added, “And your father, I played with too, in ANZIO.  It was a great experience.  It’s great fun to be here – thank you for letting me come.” 

Next onstage was John Wayne’s costar from TRUE GRIT, Kim Darby.  “I want to thank the Wayne family for asking me to be here tonight, and always being so supportive of me.  There is one story that sticks out in my mind, and that was at Paramount.  We had been on location, and we were back at the lot shooting.  And there was a big picture being taken of all the stars at Paramount.  They were shooting there (on the lot) all at the same time: Barbra Streisand, Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Goldie Hawn, and there were some others in there.  There was this big room, and in the middle was (Paramount boss) Bob Evans.  So I was standing on the side watching this, and – I never called him Duke either – Mr. Wayne stepped out of the picture, walked over to me and said, ‘You’re not going to be on the side,’ and put me right in the middle of the picture with him.”

(Ethan and Pilar Wayne, Kim Darby, with Councilman Tom LeBonge presenting a proclamation)

There was one last surprise before the screening of TRUE GRIT on the Dome’s giant screen.  A filmed greeting was shown from Glen Campbell, who looked very well, and showed no signs of the Alzheimer’s Disease he’s been diagnosed with.  He told the story of John Wayne coming backstage after one of his concerts, because one of his daughters thought Campbell had talent, and offering him the part of LeBoeurf in TRUE GRIT.  When Campbell worried that he had no acting experience, Wayne assured him, “…that he could drag me through it alright.”  He had a great time on the film, though he was put out by the fact that, because he had little riding experience, “…what they gave me was a Shetland pony,” and Wayne enjoyed needling him with, “You understand that when we all ride off, you’re supposed to keep up with us!”  Always modest, Campbell claims that it was his own poor performance that helped make Wayne look so good that he got his Oscar.  But as we all saw a little while later, Campbell’s performance is solid, and considering his lack of experience, compares well to Matt Damon’s as the same character in the recent remake.  And yes, Campbell’s horse does appear to be a Shetland pony.        

EX-GOVERNOR ARNOLD BLOODIED BUT UNBOWED

Former California Governor and action movie-star Arnold Schwarznegger Tweeted this picture of himself, direct from the set of THE LAST STAND his modern-day Western directed by the Korean director of the wonderful THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE WEIRD, Jee-Woon Kim. "Got a little banged up on set today. Thanks to the medical staff who got me back in action an hour later!"

The story about a small-town sheriff tracking down drug dealers who escape from court, the picture also stars Oscar Winner (for LAST KING OF SCOTLAND) Forest Whitaker (in the role previously announced for Liam Neeson), Rodrigo Santoro, Johnny “JACKASS” Knoxville, and one of the greatest of all Western villains, Harry Dean Stanton.

RFD-TV UNVEILS ROY ROGERS TOURNAMENT OF ROSES FLOAT

The Annual New Years Day Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena will feature an RFD-TV-sponsored float honoring the 100^th birthday of the King Of The Cowboys, Roy Rogers!  And though they’ve been gone longer than Roy, riding the float will be Trigger, the smartest horse in the movies, and Roy’s wonder-dog, Bullet!  The artfully taxidermied pair has been touring the country, making public appearances, for about a year, since network owner Patrick Gottsch purchased the dynamic duo at the big Roy Rogers Estate Auction.  RFD-TV shows an episode of the Roy Rogers Show every Sunday, and a Roy Rogers movie – this week it’s JESSE JAMES AT BAY – every Tuesday, with repeats.  To get you in a Roy Rogers mood, click HERE to watch him on HEE HAW, singing a song about an auctioneer.

NEW TV TRAILER FOR INSP’S NOV 25^TH ‘WHIPPERSNAPPER FEST’

The Friday after Thanksgiving, when all those dummies are standing on lines to buy gifts they could as easily buy a week later for the same price, many smart characters like myself will be sitting at home watching the Big Valley Young Whippersnapper Marathon on INSP, featuring guest performances by youngsters on the edge of stardom.  Here’s a preview:

 

TV WESTERNS ALL OVER THE DIAL!

More and more, classic TV Westerns are available all over the TV universe, but they tend to be on small networks that are easy to miss. Of course, ENCORE WESTERNS is the best continuous source of such programming, and has been for years. It’s not in my current satellite package, which is why I often forget to mention it, but currently they run CHEYENNE, MAVERICK, LAWMAN, THE VIRGINIAN, WAGON TRAIN, HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, GUNSMOKE, BRET MAVERICK, CIMMARON STRIP, and HOW THE WEST WAS WON. (I’d get it in a minute, if I didn’t have to buy a huge package of STARZ and ENCORE channels just to get the one!)

But there are several new, or at least new-to-me, channels showing sagebrush fare. GEB, which stands for Golden Eagle Broadcasting, is largely a religious-programming cable outlet that runs at least one Western on Saturdays – the ones I’ve caught have been public domain Roy Rogers and John Wayne pictures – and sometimes have weekday afternoon movies as well.

For those of you who watch TV with an antenna, there are at least a couple of channels that exist between the standard numbers – largely unavailable on cable or satellite systems – that provide Western fare. ANTENNA TV is currently running RIN TIN TIN, CIRCUS BOY, HERE COME THE BRIDES, and IRON HORSE.

Another ‘in between’ outfit, ME-TV, which stands for Memorable Entertainment TV, runs a wide collection: BIG VALLEY, BONANZA, BRANDED, DANIEL BOONE, GUNS OF WILL SONNETT, GUNSMOKE, MARSHALL DILLON (the renamed black and white GUNSMOKE), RAWHIDE, THE RIFLEMAN, and WILD WILD WEST. Some of these channels are hard to track down, but if they show what you’ve been missing, it’s worth the search. 

TCM FANATIC - WESTERN NOW ONLINE!

That's right, 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 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've stopped running GUNSMOKE.  INSP is showing THE BIG VALLEY every weekday at noon, one p.m. and nine p.m., and Saturdays at 6 p.m., and have just added DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN to their schedule.

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.

Have a great Thanksgiving, and take a minute to think about what you've got to be thankful for -- I mean besides getting the drumstick!

Much obliged,
Henry

All original content copyright November 2011 by Henry C. Parke -- All Rights Reserved

YELLOW ROCK NABS ‘RED NATION’ TOP PRIZES

(Elaine Lockley Smith, Michael Spears, Lenore Andriel, Steve Doucette, Joanelle Romero)

Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor – Michael Spears, and Best Director – Nick Vallelonga were won by YELLOW ROCK, a small-budget independent Western with tons of heart, at Monday’s Red Nation Film Festival Awards Ceremony. Appropriately, the awards were presented at CBS Studios, once the home of Republic Pictures, a hub of production for films about, and starring, American Indians. 

(Peter Sherayko, Ardeshir Radpour)

The Festival began the previous Tuesday, November 1^st, with the premier screening of YELLOW ROCK at the Peltz Theater at the Simon Wiesenthal Center.  There by the red carpet I ran into Peter and Susan Sherayko – in addition to acting in the film, Peter supplied the props, guns, saddles, horses and costumes.  He’d spent the day working with Christian Ramirez on a pseudo-Western project, this one starring Charlie Sheen.  “It’s called A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE MIND OF CHARLES SWAN III.  It’s a modern movie, and today Chris and I went down and set up an Indian village for a dream sequence.  I don’t what the film’s about, I haven’t read the script, but it’s Charlie Sheen, so it’s going to be fun.” 

(Katarina, Christian & Cory Ramirez and Katarina'a sister)

Among the other YELLOW ROCK cast and crew members attending were line producer T.A. Williams and his wife, art director Christian Ramirez and his wife Katarina, prop man Cory Ramirez, writer/producer/star Lenore Andriel, writer/producer Steve Doucette, producer and Melody Ranch top hand Daniel Veluzat, actress and associate producer Amy Jennings, actress and associate producer Elaine Lockley-Smith, wrangler and actor Ardeshir Radpour, and actors Eddie and Michael Spears, Zahn McClarnon, Clay Wilcox, Joseph Billingiere, Rick Mora and Sam Bearclaw. 

(Michael and Eddie Spears)

After all the red-carpet posing, everyone moved into the beautiful Peltz Theater, and the screening began.  I can’t pretend to be an impartial observer of YELLOW ROCK – I was on the set, got to know a lot of the cast and crew (I’d already known James Russo since we were high school kids working together on student films), and have been following along all through post-production – so I’d looked forward to this screening with great anticipation.  And I was not disappointed in the least. 

(Ric Mora, Zahn McClarnon, Michael Spears)

After the screening, Joanelle Romero, actress, and founder and president of the Red Nation Film Festival, brought cast and crew onstage for a Q&A.  Joanelle asked Lenore what the inspiration for YELLOW ROCK was.  “Steve and I were doing research, and we found that in California there were so many small bands of Native Americans who had lived here, and once the Gold Rush happened, they were just driven off, and there is no history of them, and we will never know who they were.  And the more were learned, the more we thought this story hasn’t been told enough.  So we fictionalized the Black Paw tribe – there was no Black Paw tribe.  But what we wanted to do was make it emblematic of the many that died.” 

(Clay Wilcox)

Steve Doucette added, “What’s going on with corporate greed in this country – you still see these things going on with American Indians today: people are still after the mineral rights on their land.  So we hope that our story will remind people that this is still going on.”   

(Daniel Veluzat being interviewed)

Things can move quickly in the film business – the crew is just back from San Francisco, screening YELLOW ROCK at the American Indian Film Festival on Friday.  I’ll keep you up-to-date on the film’s progress, and will have the names of the rest of the Red Nation Film Festival award winners next week.

(Amy Jennings and her family)

(On the way to the screening)

Film Review:  YELLOW ROCK

When Max Detreich (James Russo) and his ominous entourage (Christopher Backus, Peter Sherayko, Clay Wilcox and Brian Gleason) come to town, it’s assumed they’re up to no good.  But he claims they’re on an errand of mercy.  His brother and nephew went trapping around Falcon’s Peak, and never returned.  To find them, he approaches Tom Hanner (Michael Biehn).  Once a lawman, he lost his wife, then his son, and now he’s lost himself in a bottle.  Maybe he can help them find the missing two, and pull himself out of his own quagmire. 

Knowing they’ll have to enter territory of the Black Paw tribe, Hanner enlists the aid of Sarah Taylor (Lenore Andriel), a doctor who is one of the only whites the Black Paws trust.  Dr. Sarah meets with the Chief (Joseph Billingiere) who reluctantly allows the search party on their land, with strict limitations on where they can go, and what they can do.  Dr. Sarah accompanies the search party onto Black Paw ground, and things go rapidly to Hell in a hand basket.  

YELLOW ROCK is a small gem, with a powerful and evocative score by Randy Miller, and often stunningly beautiful photography by Ricardo Jacques Gale.  Forgive me for sounding perverse, but a scene near the end, in a field, is one of the most strikingly beautiful killings of a man that I recall seeing on film. 

And yes, there is plenty of killing – not in an ‘over-kill’ sense -- but the lead flies fast and heavy at times, and Jon Vasquez’s editing makes the most of it, never letting you lose track of who shot at who, who missed and who hit.

The performances are strong, among the more familiar performers and those that may be new to you.  Lenore Andriel is convincing as Dr. Sarah right out of the gate when she must calmly treat a wounded Indian boy with hysteria and panic all around her.  Amy Jennings is effective as her assistant who has no use for Detreich and his men.   As Detreich, James Russo embodies the man who, right or wrong, you do not want to cross.  Michael Biehn is startlingly convincing as the dissipated lawman trying to rise to the occasion.  Among the man Indian actors, Eddie and Michael Spears are effectively used as brothers on opposite sides on the treatment of the white men.  Zahn McLarnon is a stand-out in the role of translator between whites and Black Paws: it’s one of the very few times where you absolutely believe that someone is groping with converting ideas from one language to another.

Admittedly, no movie is perfect.  There is, for instance, a scene with wolves that is beautiful but too long.  Sometimes it seems that characters are taking a long time to grasp a situation that is obvious to the audience.  And I sure thought that a character who was killed early on got killed a second time later on.  But these are minor complaints.  Overall the story is logical and strong, the dialogue always workmanlike-to-crisp, and the characters draw you in.  This is a movie with a lot of heart, about the collision of the white and the red man, and while it toys with the mystical, it never gets sappy about it.

 Book Review – JEFFREY HUNTER AND ‘TEMPLE HOUSTON’

TEMPLE HOUSTON ran for just one season, just 26 episodes, in 1963, and it was very enjoyable – I remember it fondly, nearly fifty years after its brief run.  Starring Jeffrey Hunter and Jack Elam, it was modeled on the son of Sam Houston, who was a very prominent and successful Wild West attorney.  This book by Glenn A. Mosley is subtitled, ‘A Story of Network Television,’ and it is that as much as it is the story of one series and one actor.  It is a story of what goes wrong in television, why it goes wrong, and its implications and lessons reach far beyond the one show.  It’s a cautionary tale that anyone looking to work in television, especially in the writing and producing end, should read.

To begin with, someone has a smart idea: create a Western law series about a real lawyer, Temple Houston.  Base the plots on his real cases.  A studio, in this case Warner Brothers Television, decides to develop it.  Their first move?  Throw out everything they liked about it in the first place: the real cases, and the real personality of Temple Houston the man.   Next step?  Supposedly base the plot on the Philip Lonergan story ‘Galahad of Cactus Spring.’  Why?  Because they already owned that story – they had since the silent days! – and thus they wouldn’t have to give the new writer a ‘Created By’ credit, which would get him payment for every episode thereafter. 

Warner Brothers Television was in a tough way in 1963.  Once the king of TV Westerns with MAVERICK, CHEYENNE, SUGARFOOT, BRONCO and LAWMAN, those shows were mostly gone.  Warner Television had a new President, DRAGNET creator and star Jack Webb, and he was determined to re-dominate prime-time TV.  His first series to be scheduled was THE ROBERT TAYLOR SHOW, with Taylor starring as a special assistant to the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.  When the network got a hint that some of the stories would cast a jaundiced eye on some of their sponsors, cigarette makers among them, they pulled the plug, and the TEMPLE HOUSTON folks, just starting to develop the series, were told they were going on the air in a matter of weeks, to fill the ROBERT TAYLOR spot. 

In a way, they never recovered, and the book tells of all the various approaches the producers and writers tried, from serious and lawyerly to broadly comic.  The book also tells about the career of Jeffrey Hunter, a talented actor and a favorite of John Ford – he has a great role in THE SEARCHERS – who some believe was a victim of the ‘Jesus curse’ after starring in KING OF KINGS.  Many actors believe it’s fatal bad luck, career-wise, to play Jesus, and Hunter certainly joined the long list of actors whose career went downhill after that role. 

Sadly, it’s not currently possible to take a new look at the series.  It’s not available on any format, except for the 54 minute pilot, which was released theatrically as THE MAN FROM GALVESTON.  That’s available from the Warner Archive.

The book, entertainingly written, is exhaustively researched, but must, like its short-lived subject, be brief.  It’s only 139 pages long, counting the index, and one does sense a bit of padding – it not only includes descriptions of all TEMPLE HOUSTON episodes, and unwritten episodes for the second season that never happened, it also includes a list of unrealized Jeffery Hunter projects, and an episode guide to the ROBERT TAYLOR SHOW, none of which ever aired.  On the other hand, when you finish the book, I seriously doubt you’ll have any lingering unanswered questions about TEMPLE HOUSTON.  And you may have new insights into how television works, and how remarkable it is that anything half-way good ever gets on the air.  JEFFREY HUNTER AND TEMPLE HOUSTON is $14.95 from Bear Manor Media, at www.bearmanormedia.com, which also published Glenn A. Mosley’s earlier book, HENRY FONDA AND THE DEPUTY: THE FILM AND STAGE STAR AND HIS TV WESTERN. 


THIRD ‘MORGAN KANE’ NOVEL NOW AVAILABLE

As regular Round-up Rounders know, Morgan Kane, sometime lawman and sometime scoundrel, is the star character of the most popular Western series to ever come out of Norway.  WR Films has acquired to rights to all 80 plus novels by Louis Masterson, in conjunction with their upcoming movie MORGAN KANE: THE LEGEND BEGINS, and are releasing them as e-books, to help familiarize the English-speaking world with Kane.  They’ll be releasing a new one every few weeks.
The first two books, EL GRINGO and EL GRINGO’S REVENGE, which together serve as the basis for the first movie – there are at least three movies planned -- have been available online for a few weeks, and now the 3rd book in the series, WITHOUT MERCY, just hit the books-stalls, electronically speaking, this week. You can check it out at Amazon here :http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064GMRSW, and at I-Tunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/without-mercy/id478981224.

 RIFLEMAN REBOOT!

 

CBS is developing a remake of the classic Chuck Connors, Johnny Crawford, Paul Fix series, scripted by Laeta Kalogridist, who co-produced AVATAR and wrote SHUTTER ISLAND, and Patrick Lussier, who has written three Dracula movies and DRIVE ANGRY, to be directed by 'Harry Potter' helmer Chris Columbus.

The folks at TVSeriesFinale.com contacted singer and band-leader Johnny Crawford to see what he thought of the idea.  He thought it was, “intriguing,” and added, “I would love to be involved as an actor, director or music supervisor. I’ve always loved Westerns and I loved working on the original series.  It was a great childhood.”  Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford remained close after the end of the RIFLEMAN run, and worked together on BRANDED, PARADISE, and THE GAMBLER RETURNS: THE LUCK OF THE DRAW. 

 ‘HELL ON WHEELS’ EPISODE #2 AIRS SUNDAY NIGHT!

I don’t know about you, but after so many years of nothing new, I’m delighted to have a new weekly Western to look forward to. If you missed episode #1, you can see it here:

 

JUST THREE MORE PERFORMANCES OF 'CHAPS'!

Next weekend, November 18th through the 20th, will be the final performances of 'CHAPS'.  Described as ‘Monty Python Meets The Old West,’ CHAPS, by Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner is set in 1944 London, during the War and the Blitz.  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. 

I just came from the Sunday matinee, and had a great time -- the show is delightfuly goofy and the cast is exuberant and vocally gifted -- and a good thing, because there are more than twenty songs, including many Gene Autry and Sons of the Pioneers favorites, all beautifully backed up by the 'Tex Riley Radio Round-up Orchestra.'

Presented by ELATE (Emmanuel Lutheran Actor's Theater Ensemble), the play will be presented Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm, with a Sunday matinee at 2 pm,  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.

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 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've stopped running GUNSMOKE.  INSP is showing THE BIG VALLEY every weekday at noon, one p.m. and nine p.m., and Saturdays at 6 p.m., and have just added DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN to their schedule.

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.

I guess that's enough for now.  Next week I'll have coverage of the JOHN WAYNE TRIBUTE at the Arclight Cinerama Dome, which included family members, Kim Darby, Earl Holliman, Christopher Mitchum, and a video message from Glen Campbell.
Happy Trails,

Henry

All original content copyright November 2011 by Henry C. Parke -- All Rights Reserved

INDIANS SURROUND AUTRY!

From all over the country they came, nearly two-hundred American Indian artists, to display and sell their art.  The artists and their art were in an immense tent beside the Autry.  In the mail courtyard, there was continuous entertainment by story-tellers and dancers.  There were tours of the permanent collection, and of the Art of Native American Basketry -- one of my favorite displays, lectures, play readings, short film screenings, children's activities and, for people who like a little cowboy with their Indian, a double feature of Gene Autry Westerns.

(A Storyteller)

There was art in every medium imaginable.  Among my favorites:

"If you need masks, I'm your man," said Timothy Antonio, a Dine' of New Mexico.  tim.antonio@yahoo.com

Amos Hasken, a Navajo from Arizona, who specializes in weapons and ceremonial pieces.  haskenamos@yahoo.com

Traditional Pueblan jeweler Priscilla Abeyta, of the Kewa/Santo Domingo in New Mexico, is doing the final polish of stone on leather.  priscillaspueblogifts@gmail.com

Earl Sisto, of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, in Moreno Valley, California, makes  stunning beadwork, moccasins, quilts, dolls, and much more.  earl.sisto@yahoo.com

Basket-weaver Kelly Church, Ottawa/Ojibe from Michigan, taught me that among the weave styles you are looking at are porcupine point, curlycue and loop (but she didn't teach me how to do them).  artcove@hotmail.com

 Virginia Yazzie-Ballenger's "Steppin' Out in my One Dollar Dress" won second prize -- the shiny buttons are pennies.  She's Navajo, from New Mexico.  www.NavajoSpirit.com

When I left, it was too early to say how well the art was selling, but the fry-bread truck was taking in money hand-over-fist.

CHUCK MCCANN BREAKS UP SPERDVAC AS JIMMY STEWART

(Gloria McMillan and Chuck McCann, Ben Cooper seated)

At the Saturday, November 5^th ‘Honorary Members Appreciation Luncheon,’ Old Time Radio veterans and fans were treated to four radio show reenactments.  SPERDVAC stands for the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety And Comedy, and the shows presented at the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn included MY CLIENT CURLEY, by radio’s Poet Laureate Norman Corwin, who passed away just over a week ago, at the age of 101.  There was an original radio play, I LOVE LUCY: THE UNTOLD STORY, by Gregg Oppenheimer, based on his book.  They also performed Lucille Fletcher’s classic suspense radio play, SORRY, WRONG NUMBER, with Janet Waldo as the bedridden woman who hears her own murder being plotted – the role that made Agnes Moorehead a star.  Said audience member Michael Stern, “It was fabulous!  It was a fun day for a person who’d never heard a radio show before!” 

(original Little Beaver, Tommy Cook)

For Western fans, the highlight was the recreation of the great James Stewart series THE SIX SHOOTER, this episode written and directed by Tim Knofler.  As Chuck McCann explained before the show began, they usually did a dress rehearsal before the performance, but after last year’s show they decided to try doing the show cold, in effect doing the dress rehearsal for the audience.  The result was hysterical, a mix of fine acting combined with ad-libbing when sounds effects were missing, music cues were wrong, or script pages were out of order -- or whenever the cast felt like having fun with it.   

(Stewart's horse, Scar, portrayed by two cocoanuts in a box of gravel)

Many actors took part in several shows – prolific actor Herb Ellis -- who played Officer Frank Smith on DRAGNET – was in three out of four shows.  Tommy Cook, a western favorite since playing the original ‘Little Beaver’ to Don Barry’s RED RYDER, was in two shows, as were Reni Santoni and Gloria McMillan.  Tony Dow, famous as Wally in LEAVE IT TO BEAVER also appeared, as did lovely Terry Moore, Dick Van Patten, Western favorite Ben Cooper, Frank Bank, John Harlan, Ivan Cury, Jan Merlin, Melinda Peterson, Michael C. Gwynne, Nancy Marks, Phil Proctor, Ron Cocking, Stuffy Singer, Gladys Holland, and Sean and Christopher Uminski. 

(Terry Moore)

It’s worth noting that as interest in Old Time Radio is waning nationally – conventions are being cancelled or having their final get-togethers – in California it’s going strong.  The World War II BBC-themed comedy CHAPS just opened on Saturday (for information, read last week's Round-up; for tickets call 818-509-0882), and just this morning author A. J. Fenady told me about a new radio-reading stage production of his play, YES VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS.  Incidentally, I’ll have an interview with A.J. about his TV series, THE REBEL and BRANDED, and his movie with John Wayne, CHISUM, very soon in the Round-up!

(Reni Santoni)

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.

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.


I guess thatr'll do it for today.  Next week I'll have in-depth coverage of the YELLOW ROCK premiere at the Red Nation Film Festival!  Don't forget the premiere of HELL ON WHEELS on AMC Sunday night! 

Happy Trails,

Henry

All original content copyright November 2011 by Henry C. Parke -- All Rights Reserved