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

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