LONE RANGER – LEON RIPPY’S REPORT FROM MONUMENT VALLEY

Actor Leon Rippy, who plays Collins in THE LONE RANGER, has just returned from several weeks of location shooting, much in and near Monument Valley and Canyon DeShay. 

I asked him how the shoot had gone.  “I had a blast.  What a magnificent experience it is, and will continue to be:  I get to go back in another six or eight weeks.  So I’m excited, and can feel the spirit of John Ford, John Wayne and all the countless character actors who galloped across that sacred ground before me.  I would step outside the trailer and think, I cannot believe that I’m actually in this place.  You’d have to slap me to get the smile off my face.”

Leon Rippy in THE ALAMO

I asked him what he could tell us about his character, Collins.  “Well, he’s a crusty old tracker.  Not much of a stretch for me – that’s what I see in the mirror every morning.  Interesting character: he plays both sides of the fence.  There’s room for some fun, and alcoholism and emotion; all the things that a character actor looks for in a role.” 

New Lone Ranger Armie Hammer

It’s his first time working for director Gore Verbinski.  “And it didn’t take long to notice his excellent eye for detail.  The slightest nuance, he’s very interested in.  I had a great time working with him. 

“Monument Valley is all on a Navajo Reservation.  Just to be there, with the history of the Spaniards trying to take control; being in those same canyons and hearing those gunshot reports from on top of those cliffs echo throughout those canyons – it was chilling.  Wondering what it was like so many years before.  I had a ride that ended where White Corn Woman was taken by Kit Carson back in the day, and you can still see the remains of her home, the foundation.   Historical chills.”

Johnny Depp's stunt double

I knew he hadn’t had any scenes with Johnny Depp yet, but wanted to know what he thought of the other actors.  “Excellent, everybody was great.  I spent time with some incredible actors.  Their riding skills were great – we had a lot of riding to do.  I had a small scene with Armie Hammer (The Lone Ranger), which was excellent; had a fun time.  I’ve loved riding ever since I was a kid, and don’t get to do much of it in L.A.  To do it, and get paid for it!  I had known several of these wranglers from other films I had done in the past, so it was a treat to be put back with them, this time as an elder,”  he laughed. 

“I got to meet (producer) Jerry Bruckheimer, and he made an interesting comment.  Carol and I were having our breakfast in the hotel one morning, and I told him it was unsettling, after being cast, when Disney pulled the money out and said it was too expensive, leaving us in limbo.  He said, ‘Yes, that was a shock.  But the long and short of it is it wouldn’t have made any difference to me because I’m bound and determined to bring the Western back.’  To hear this coming from the mouth of someone like him gave me reason to quietly celebrate.  There’s so much to be said for the Westerns, and I live for Saturday morning and watching reruns of THE RIFLEMAN and what have you.  There was some moral content in all of it and it was clear-cut, who was good and who was bad.  I think Hollywood gets cold feet after the dismal box-office of one or two things that they’ve invested hundreds of millions of dollars in, so everyone kinda gets gun-shy.  And hats off again to Gore for saying, ‘No, we’re going to do this there.’  It’s not an easy thing to truck that many people and that many tractor trailers and horses (so far).  They’re going to Moab, Utah; Santa Fe; Colorado and other locations.  It feels like they’re putting together something very special.” 

‘BAD BLOOD: THE HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS’ PREVIEWED

Sunday morning at ten, a crowd of invited guests packed theatre 1 of the Laemmle Town Center in Encino, to be the first to see Fred Olen Ray’s story of the famous blood feud. To this day there is no firm agreement as to the number of lives the Hatfield and McCoy feud claimed in Kentucky and West Virginia at the time of the Civil War. 

Lisa Rotondi, Perry King, Jerry Lacy, Kassandra Clementi

Fred and his cast and crew braved freezing December weather to make the film in Kentucky, where the events actually occurred.  Among cast members who attended were Perry King, who plays Ran’l McCoy, patriarch of his clan; Priscilla Barnes, who plays Vicey Hatfield; Lisa Rotandi and Kassandra Clementi, who play Sarah and Rosanna Hatfield; Dylan Vox, who plays Elias Hatfield; Griffin Winters, who plays Tennyson Hatfield; Ted Monte, who plays Special Agent Frank Phillips; and Jerry Lacy, who plays General Burbridge.  Among other attendees of note were director Jim Wynorski and beautiful Sybil Danning. 

Priscilla Barnes

Also attending were executive producers Barry Barnholtz and Jeffrey Schenck and writer/director/producer Fred Olen Ray.  All three men spoke before the movie, and voiced their gratitude to the hard-working cast and crew, and to each other.  In a nod to some of his recent movies, just before the lights went down, Fred added, “I just want to say that this is not a Christmas movie, there are no sharks in the movie, and none of our female leads have to land a disabled plane.” 

Fred Olen Ray

BAD BLOOD: THE HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS, which will be released on June 5^th, also stars Jeff Fahey as Devil Anse Hatfield, Christian Slater as Governor Bramlette, Sean Flynn as Johnse Hatfield and, in one of the stand-out performances of the movie, Tim Abel as Uncle Jim Vance.

Exec. Producer Barry Barnholtz

When the lights came up, more than one person commented that it might be the best film Fred has ever directed.  For a man with more than 120 directing credits, that is no small compliment.  My review will be in next week’s Round-up.

TOMMY LEE JONES TO SCRIBE, HELM, AND STAR IN ‘THE HOMESMAN’

On the eve of the release of his new starrer, MEN IN BLACK 3, Tommy Lee Jones is set to adapt, direct and star in THE HOMESMAN.  It’s based on the novel of the same title by Glendon Swarthout, whose previously filmed novels and stories include the unforgettable THE SHOOTIST, as well as THEY CAME TO CORDURA, BLESS THE BEATS AND CHILDREN, WHERE THE BOYS ARE, and the Randolph Scott starrer 7^TH CAVALRY. 

It’s the story of a man with dubious morals who undertakes the transporting of three insane women from Nebraska to Iowa.  A project that has been in the works for decades, it had long been owned by Paul Newman, who at one time had it set up at First Artists, with John Milius slated to direct.

It will be produced by Michael Fitzgerald, who previously produced THE PLEDGE and THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA.  THE THREE BURIALS was Tommy Lee Jones’ feature directorial debut.  Jones, who was in last year’s CAPTAIN AMERICA, will also be seen in Steven Speilberg’s LINCOLN, portraying Thaddeus Stevens.  My thanks to C. Courtney Joyner for historical details on this project.

CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES ON BOTH COASTS

100 years of Universal Studios film history is being celebrated, in May and June in California at the Billy Wilder Theatre of UCLA, and in July and August in New York at the Film Forum.  Taking part here in the west is Carla Laemmle.  Not only is she a niece of Uncle Carl Laemmle, who built the studio, and an actress who appeared in their films, including DRACULA; she is also proud of the fact that she pre-dates the studio by three years!  The representation of Western movies is woefully small: at UCLA on June 17^th there’s a double bill of HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER and WINCHESTER 73, and at Film Forum on July 21^st there’s a double bill of WINCHESTER 73 and DESTRY RIDES AGAIN.  But they both have a wonderful selection of non-westerns scheduled.  You can find details for UCLA here: http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2012-05-04/universal-pictures-celebrating-100-years.  Details for Film Forum are here: http://www.filmforum.org/

On the plus side, next week I’ll tell you about Film Forum’s mind-blowing three-week festival of Spaghetti Westerns in June!

MORGAN KANE UPDATE

As I first reported here last July (see HERE), WR Films is planning at least a trio of movies about Morgan Kane, Louis Masterson’s western hero of 83 novels written between 1966 and 1978.  Masterson’s real name was Kjell Hellbing, and his Kane is the most popular fictional character in the history of Norwegian literature.   The adventures of a Texas Ranger and U.S. Marshall, they’ve sold twenty-million copies internationally – ten million in Norway alone, which has a population of only five million! They’re popular in Spain and France and Germany and, translated into English, they sold well in Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Canada by Corgi Books.

But they’ve never been available before in the United States, and by way of introducing the character to American readers, a new e-book has been released every month or so.  There are ten available now, with number eleven coming soon.  The screenplay for the first film is still in the development stage, but it will be based on the first two novels in the series, EL GRINGO and EL GRINGO’S REVENGE, and will be entitled MORGAN KANE: THE LEGEND BEGINS.  The intention is to make him a Western James Bond-like hero.  One of the things that strikes you when reading them is the influence that Ernest Hemingway had on Masterson.  It’s an influence he clearly acknowledges by naming one of his female protagonists ‘Pilar,’ after a similar character in FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS.  It’s not an exaggeration to say that, if not for the template of FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, the first two Morgan Kane novels would not exist.  They are fast and exciting reads, and often more emotional than traditional westerns.  The first ten e-books are all available from iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobobooks.  Number eleven, THE DEVIL’S MARSHALL, will appear shortly.    

WESTERN FILM FESTIVAL IN ORVIETO, ITALY

I am hugely jealous of anyone who gets to attend the event Sara Monacelli is organizing on May 11-13, in Orvieto. In addition to a great line-up of films to be screened, here are some of the guests who will be making personal appearances: composer Ennio Morricone; Spaghetti Western stars Tomas Milian, Fabio Testi and Gianni Garko; director Giancarlo Santi (The Grand Duel); screenwriter Sergio Donati (Once Upon A Time In The West); editor Nino Baragli (all of Leone’s Westerns!); and producer Claudio Mancini (many Leone films). For more information, go here: http://www.westernfestival.it/

 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. Currently they run LAWMAN, WAGON TRAIN, HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, LAREDO, RAWHIDE, GUNSMOKE, THE REBEL, and MARSHALL DILLON, which is the syndication title for the original half-hour GUNSMOKE.



RFD-TV is currently showing THE ROY ROGERS SHOW, first at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Pacific Time, then repeated several times a week. They show a Roy feature every Tuesday as well, with repeats -- check your local listings.

INSP-TVshows THE BIG VALLEYMonday through Saturday,LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE seven days a week, DR. QUINN: MEDICINE WOMAN on weekdays, and BONANZA on Saturdays.

WHT runs DANIEL BOONE on weekdays from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., Pacific Time, and on Saturdays they run two episodes of BAT MASTERSON. They often show western films on the weekend, but the schedule is sporadic.

TVLAND has dropped GUNSMOKE after all these years, but still shows four episodes of BONANZA every weekday.

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 TVis currently running RIN TIN TIN, 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,RAWHIDE, THE RIFLEMAN, THE REBEL, 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.


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.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for tonight, but be sure to check our Facebook page during the week for updates and news.

Happy Trails,

Henry

All Original Contents Copyright May 2012 by Henry C. Parke – All Rights Reserved

CIVIL WAR FOUGHT FOUR TIMES THIS WEEKEND

The annual Heritage Days Civil War Historical Reenactment took place at the Pierce College Farm Center in Woodland Hills, California on Saturday and Sunday, April 28^th and 29^th.  On each day, a few hundred soldiers in blue or grey stormed the battlefield at noon and again at three, each time followed by President Lincoln presenting his Gettysburg Address. 

The battle itself involved several cannons on both sides, and soldiers armed with rifle and pistol.  Much of the Union Army was behind a breastwork that offered some protection, whereas the majority of Confederate soldiers were in the open, and officers of both sides were on horseback.  There were bleachers sponsored by a fraternal group, and plenty of standing room along the lines of skirmish.  The hundreds of observers who packed the place were mostly family groups, photographers and, to my surprise, teenaged high school students who seemed genuinely excited at the event.

As both sides advanced, each trying to outflank the other, the cannon and long-gun fire continued, and a stretcher was rushed onto the field to retrieve a wounded soldier.  Observers near the temporary medic station were startled to see blood gushing from an open wound, and soon after, he was laid aside with his face covered, his hands folded across his chest.  A twin barrage of rifle-fire from both sides abruptly littered the battlefield with bodies, and brought even the most gabby observer to a gasping silence.

This being the third reenactment I’ve attended, I am again struck that the soldiers taking part often look much more like Matthew Brady’s photographs than the actors in Civil War movies do.  The reason is that these soldiers, like the genuine ones, didn’t have their uniforms issued en masse from Western Costume, but assembled them and had them sewn from patterns.  They don’t all match perfectly, and they take note of the fact that there was a vast difference in uniform design from regiment to regiment.

In addition to the battlefield, tent encampments were full of era-attired civilians, some demonstrating arts and crafts to passers-by, others more passively presenting a visible history lesson.  Beyond the encampments, tented shops sold clothes, uniforms, books, and food of the period.  Many a girl tried on her first hoop skirt; many a boy pleaded for a Springfield Rifle with an orange tip, and a kepi, blue or grey.  My favorite overheard exchange was at a stall where a man in his early twenties was buying four books, and also wanted to know, “What is the Gettysburg map?”

“It’s a map of Gettysburg.”

“Is that a city?”

“Gettysburg.  Like the Gettysburg Address.”

“Wait a second,” he said, fumbling out a pen.  “Is that a web address?”

I know, I know, but I’m cutting the guy some slack.  At least he’s buying four books: hopefully he’ll learn about Gettysburg from them.

Speaking of books, author David H. Jones was there with his book, TWO BROTHERS, ONE NORTH, ONE SOUTH, a novel based on the true story of the Prentiss brothers, who were divided by the War Between the States, and met in the battlefield.  It’s available in hardback and trade paperback as well as an audiobook.  You can learn more at www.davidhjones.net.    

Last year there was only a representative of the Sons Of Confederate Veterans, but this year there was also a representative of the Sons of Union Veterans of The Civil War. 

Among the displays by representatives of Civil War-related museums was a contingent from Fort Tejon, near Frazier Park.  I’ve detailed in the Round-up that with California’s financial woes, combined with the state’s financial incompetence, many sites of great historical value are endangered, and listed for closure.  While Los Encinos Park and Santa Susanna Pass Park have been saved by generous and undisclosed donors, many more are still threatened, including Will Roger Park, Pio Pico State Historic Park (home of the last Mexican Governor of California) and now Fort Tejon.  John Harman, a volunteer at Fort Tejon for fourteen years, told me some of the history behind the fort.  “The Fort was established in 1854, initially garrisoned by various companies of the First Regiment of United States Dragoons…the Dragoons being a mounted force, but also trained on various weapons, including the mountain howitzer.  At the beginning of the Civil War, the first Regiment of Dragoons was re-designated the First Cavalry.”  

Among the historical events coming up at the Fort is a Dragoon-era period program on the first Saturday of every month – the next one is May 5^th.  There is a Civil War Battle weekend on May 19^th and 20^th.  He went on to tell me, “At this time, the park is scheduled to be closed at the end of the fiscal year, on June 30^th.”  If you would like to find out more about Fort Tejon, to visit, or to help in the fight to save the Fort and other historically important places on the chopping block, please visit www.forttejon.org.  Incidentally, the Pierce College Farm Center is also said to be in danger of closing.

Also present were representatives from THE DRUM BARRACKS, in Wilmington, California, the last remaining Civil War era military facility in the Los Angeles area.  Built in 1862, with 22 buildings on sixty acres, the Drum Barracks is the last remaining building, and houses the museum.  You can learn more, and enjoy an on-line tour by going to www.drumbarracks.org.  There’s a link there that features a great run-down of Civil War-related events all over Southern California.

One of the most striking elements of events like these is the realization that you are surrounded by so many people with a great passion and knowledge of history.  I was on the way back to my car when I spotted a young Union soldier walking my way.  I asked his name.  “Bridger Zadina.  Over the weekend, Corporal Bridger Zadina.” I asked him if he’d been involved in reenactments before.  “I’ve been doing it for about five years now.  It’s been a heckuva five years.  I’ve always been interested in history, and I’ve always had the desire to feel closer to my ancestors, and the struggles they’d gone through.  And I feel that by partaking in this, I can….educate the public about what happened before.  Seeing soldiers on a field; it’s not something you can get out of a book.  This summer I went to First Manassas, in Virginia, where there were 7,000 re-enactors in the field: that was a grand old time!  I actually got to fight in the same regiment – the 2^nd Mississippi – same company as my family, the Brookshires, did.  It was quite an experience.  A little intense.  A little crazy.”  I asked him how old he was.  He said eighteen: he’s been taking part in reenactments since he was 12 or 13.  I bet even then, he knew what Gettysburg was.    

'WESTERN X’ WEBISODE SERIES POSTS CH. 8

Back in November of 2011 I started following ‘WESTERN X’.  By far one of the most ambitious webisode productions I’ve seen, WESTERN X, the creation of Michael Flores, is available online through Youtube and ITunes, and tells its story in six to ten minute ‘bites’. Chapter #8 is now available, and I believe the whole will be fifteen chapters. Shot in striking desert locations and Western towns, its hero is named X because he awakens after a beating, not knowing where, or who, he is.

Overall the chapters are elegantly produced, with eerie music, striking editing and often beautiful photography. But they’re heavy on atmosphere and light on plot – there’s a lot going on at times, but while I assume it will all become clear down the line, at times, much of it is incomprehensible. But it’s certainly worth a peek. Here’s the official website link: http://www.westernxtheshow.com/.  That page has links to all the chapters.

And if you’d like to listen to Michael and some cast members discuss the show, go here: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=dse8ludab&v=001RTSvD7iYYABk5pPg8MO9VM02m4bTjSLBc7F0e_oq-IQzHAwQ9jDCSKtQyabHJxaDgChwuhNpXAYQEiEiBE1gw7fLDLEPYO-CcO2F9srQikSW2HJCgcB37iAxti1usJDnqqhLQz7cAps%3D

EVENTS THIS WEEK

FIESTA OF THE SPANISH HORSE MAY 2ND-6TH

Daily horse shows and an equestrian musical showcase on May 5th.  At the Los Angeles Equestrian Center,  818-842-8444.  www.fiestaspanishhorse.org

FREE DOUBLE FEATURE AT THE AUTRY SATURDAY, MAY 6TH

On Saturday, May 5^th, The Autry will present, at noon, a double-bill of Gene Autry Westerns: DOWN MEXICO WAY(1941) and THE BIG SOMBRERO (1949).

RANCHO FIESTA DAYS MAY 6TH, LAKE FOREST

Celebrating California life in the mid-19th century with music, dance, food, crafts, reenactors, presentations by local historians, and hands-on activities.  Heritage Hill Historical Park.  949-923-2230.  www.ocparks.com/heritagehill




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. Currently they run LAWMAN, WAGON TRAIN, HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, LAREDO, RAWHIDE, GUNSMOKE, THE REBEL, and MARSHALL DILLON, which is the syndication title for the original half-hour GUNSMOKE.

RFD-TV is currently showing THE ROY ROGERS SHOW, first at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Pacific Time, then repeated several times a week. They show a Roy feature every Tuesday as well, with repeats -- check your local listings.

INSP-TVshows THE BIG VALLEY Monday through Saturday, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE seven days a week, DR. QUINN: MEDICINE WOMAN on weekdays, and BONANZA on Saturdays.

WHT runs DANIEL BOONE on weekdays from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., Pacific Time, and on Saturdays they run two episodes of BAT MASTERSON. They often show western films on the weekend, but the schedule is sporadic.

TVLAND has dropped GUNSMOKE after all these years, but still shows four episodes of BONANZA every weekday.

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 TVis currently running RIN TIN TIN, 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,RAWHIDE, THE RIFLEMAN, THE REBEL, 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.

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.

That's about it for now.  I've been working all week on a doumentary about early TV comedians, and didn't think I'd get half this much written!

Happy Trails,

Henry

All Original Contents Copyright April 2012 by Henry C. Parke -- All Rights Reserved

OLD WEST NOW -- CIVIL WAR NEXT WEEK!

Yesterday and today, Saturday April 21^st and Sunday April 22^nd, thousand of devotees of cowboy poetry and western music, literature, movies and television poured into Melody Ranch for the 19^th Annual Cowboy Festival.  What started as a Cowboy Poetry event at Santa Clarita High School got ‘Earthquaked out’ in 1994.  The Veluzat family, who own and have operated Melody Ranch since they bought it from Gene Autry in 1990, invited the displaced poets to hold their event at the ranch, and they’ve been doing it there ever since.  The event gets bigger and more enjoyable, every year.

The ranch opened to filming in 1915, was later bought by Monogram Studios, and sold to Gene Autry in 1952.  Over 750 ‘B’ westerns were shot there, as well as many ‘A’s, and countless TV episodes – over 2000 productions in all.  The main western street served as Dodge City in GUNSMOKE, and the main street of DEADWOOD, and just finished up as the primary location of Quentin Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED.  

The New Livery Stable

As Melody Ranch is only opened to the public this one week-end a year, it is an event not to be missed, and I was particularly eager to see what changes Tarantino, who reportedly had the ranch sewn up for six months, had wrought.  Happily, the changes made were so in keeping with the place that they were all but unnoticeable.  The biggest addition, right at the beginning of the street, is a livery stable.  The other addition – and I’d never have noticed it if a man who’d helped build it hadn’t pointed it out to me – is to the Adams Hotel.  A balcony has been added to the second story.  Overall, everything looked just a bit sturdier – not ‘newer’, because they’re expert at hiding any inappropriate newness, but somehow more substantial.

Hotel with new balcony

That livery was occupied by a group of Buffalo Soldiers, including Justin Collins, who is pictured showing an officer’s saddle.  He also told a joke about the difference in design between the enlisted man’s and the officer’s saddle, and if there was any way to clean it up, I’d repeat it. 

The street was full of entertainers, from lariat-spinners to fiddlers.  The shops sold a wide variety of art, hats, and anything you could make out of leather. 

LAREDO star William Smith, set up in a saloon, did land-office business selling his book of poetry, sharing the space with VENTURES guitarist Nokie Edwards. 

Nokie Edwards and William Smith

picture by Mike Gaglio

Bobbi Jean and Jim Bell

Across the street was the Buckaroo Bookshop, run by Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell, whose OutWest store in Newhall is a hub for western literature and music.  They’ve taken on a massive project: identifying all of the cowboys in a photo taken at the Madison Square Garden Rodeo in 1944!  Among authors out on the patio was Peter Sherayko.  His TOMBSTONE: THE GUNS AND GEAR, details all of the weapons and props he provided for that film, and his new book, THE FRINGE OF HOLLYWOOD explains, as its subtitle says, THE ART OF MAKING A WESTERN. 

Peter Sherayko

Among the authors signing books inside, and taking part in panels, were Roy Roger’s daughter Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, JR Sanders, Troy Andrew Smith, Larry Kenneth Potts, and C. Courtney Joyner, whose THE WESTERNERS is an unbeatable collection of interviews with Western-makers, in front of and behind the camera. 

JR Sanders and C. Courtney Joyner

The Children’s Corral featured all manner of arts and crafts like wool spinning, and money-makin’ propositions like gold-panning. 

Among non-musical performers was the always impressive and amusing champion quick-draw artist and gun-slinger, Joey Dillon.  Having trained Josh Brolin with a gun for JONAH HEX, his behind-the-scenes training will soon be demonstrated in the upcoming LOOPER, DUKE, GANGSTER SQUAD and THE BIG VALLEY remake.   He’s also working at putting together a series for the History Channel, which he describes as, “basically WILD WEST TECH and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE squeezed together.” 

Joey Dillon about to shoot an apple off a volunteer's head

There were five performance spaces, from the intimate to the Texas-size, featuring poets like Waddie Mitchell, Gary Robertson and Doris Daley.  They alternated with music acts like The Quebe Sisters Band, Don Edwards, John Bergstrom and Cow Bop. 

Cow Bop performs

The Gold Rush Food Court featured all manner of barbecue, Mexican and Native American food, and the Visalia Cowboy Cultural Committee was present with their famous cowboy peach cobbler and cowboy coffee.  I tried an Indian dog, which was a hot-dog cooked in fry-bread; like a corn-dog, only not rancidly sweet.  At the food court I ran into Jeffrey Richardson, who curated the wonderful new Colt Firearms show at the Autry, and actor Mike Gaglio, who was enjoying his last day wearing a scruffy western beard, knowing he’d have to shave it on Sunday, to play a military part in a web series.

Costume designer Karin McKechnie

As always, my favorite part of the event was walking the Western street, strolling along the boardwalk, trying to recognize where things were shot, admiring the folks who came in costume, the horses, and odd pieces of rolling stock.  It was a great event, and I only wish I could have come back on Sunday to hear more of the music. 

RAMONA PAGEANT APRIL 28, 29 & MAY 5^TH

Just as it has been since 1923, RAMONA, California’s official outdoor play, will be presented at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre in Hemet, California.  Now in its 89^th season, RAMONA is a grand tradition, based on the novel written by Helen Hunt Jackson in 1884.  Her intention was to draw attention to the plight of California Indians in the same way that Harriet Beecher Stowe exposed the evils of slavery with UNCLE TOM’S CABIN.  A work of fiction, but set in real locations, RAMONA was a publishing phenomena, and it was decided to present a play based on the book, in a natural outdoor setting, in the area where the story takes place. 

It’s a remarkably colorful presentation, with about 350 participants, and only the two leads are usually professional actors.  Some locals have taken part, in various roles and positions onstage and behind the scenes, for decades.  Among the famous actors who have taken part are GONE WITH THE WIND villain Victor Jory, who played the lead early in his career, and was associated with the show for years, and Raquel Welch, who played Ramona in 1959.  To learn more, and buy tickets, call 800-645-4465, or go HERE.  www.ramonabowl.com

CIVIL WAR RETURNS TO PIERCE COLLEGE APRIL 28 & 29

If you want to smell the black powder, feel the thunder of cannon, and be transported back to America’s greatest inner-conflict, visit the Pierce College Farm Center as hundreds of re-enactors recreate The Civil War.

Whether you want to give your kids a stirring lesson in living history, or immerse yourself in another time, you can’t beat it. You’ll see cavalry charges, artillery barrages, and infantry assaults.  Each day will feature demonstrations of Victorian dancing, military drill, and skills and crafts from the era.   And you’ll see President Lincoln deliver his Gettysburg Address!  I’ve attended for the past two years, and enjoyed it immensely both times.  To learn more, and order tickets, go here: http://www.piercefarmcenter.com/

To save 25%, use this promotional code: FAMILY.

WESTERN FILM FESTIVAL IN ORVIETO, ITALY

I am hugely jealous of anyone who gets to attend the event Sara Monacelli is organizing on May 11-13, in Orvieto.  In addition to a great line-up of films to be screened, here are some of the guests who will be making personal appearances:  composer Ennio Morricone; Spaghetti Western stars Tomas Milian, Fabio Testi and Gianni Garko; director Giancarlo Santi (The Grand Duel); screenwriter Sergio Donati (Once Upon A Time In The West); editor Nino Baragli (all of Leone’s Westerns!); and producer Claudio Mancini (many Leone films).  For more information, go here: http://www.westernfestival.it/

UPCOMING SCREENINGS AT THE AUTRY

Continuing with their monthly What Is A Western? Saturday series, curator Jeffrey Richardson will be showing THE GUNFIGHTER (1950) on June 9^th; CAT BALLOU (1965) on July 14^th; BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) on August 11^th; MARK OF ZORRO (1940) on September 8^th; 3:10 TO YUMA (1957) on October 13^th; ONE EYED JACKS (1961) on November 10^th; THE TALL T (1957) on January 19^th 2013; and LAST OF THE MOHICANS on February 8^th, 2013.  All prints will be 35mm, unless we’re informed otherwise.  I’ll be talking about the rapid disappearance of 35mm film in next week’s Round-up.

And coming on Saturday, September 22^nd, the Autry will salute the 75^th Anniversary of THE VIRGINIAN TV series.  Cast members scheduled to attend are James Drury, Randy Boone, Gary Clarke, Sara Lane, Diane Roter, Roberta Shore and Don Quine, and the moderator will author Boyd Magers.

CLINT EASTWOOD DOUBLE BILL AT THE AERO

On Sunday, April 29^th, catch a pair of 1970s Clint Eastwood westerns that are rarely shown on the big screen anymore: HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER, directed by Clint, and JOE KIDD, directed by John Sturges from an Elmore Leonard script.

That’s all for today’s Round-up – I’ll be working on a comedy documentary most of week!

Happy Trails,

Henry

All Original Material Copyright April 2012 by Henry C. Parke – All Rights Reserved