‘WILD WEST CHRONICLES’ PRODUCERS TELL ALL, TCM FEST STARTS TONIGHT! PLUS DUELING BILLY THE KIDS!

 

THE TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL IS ON RIGHT NOW!

The TCM Festival began today, Thursday, May 6^th, at 5 pm Pacific time, 8 pm Eastern time, with West Side Story.  The real one, not the one that hasn’t opened yet.  For the second year in a row the Festival is, of necessity, virtual.  They have a terrific line-up of films, both on TCM itself, and on HBO Max.  HBO Max is doing it as a so-called ‘hub’, which apparently means that they list all of their programming, and you can watch any of it whenever you wish, not just during the four days of the festival, but for the entire month of May.   

Following West Side Story, TCM has gathered three of the film’s stars for a reunion: Rita Moreno, who appeared in a lot of Westerns TV series in the 1960s, often playing an Indian; George Chakiris; and Russ Tamblyn, who of course starred in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, as well as the Spaghetti Western Son of a Gunfighter. 

The Western offerings are a little light this year.  Friday morning at 8:45 Pacific time, TCM is premiering a 4K restoration of Irving Berlin’s musical Annie Get Your Gun, from the original Technicolor negative.   It should look great, but it’s a rather stagey musical, and while poor Betty Hutton, the rushed replacement after Judy Garland was fired, works like crazy to please, it’s pretty disappointing.   

Saturday morning at 7, Pacific time, it’s arguably Sam Peckinpah’s finest Western, Ride The High Country, starring Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea, and introducing Mariette Hartley. (Mariette was such a wonderful discovery that two years later, Alfred Hitchcock would also introduce her in Marnie.) The ideal supporting cast includes James Drury, LQ. Jones, Warren Oates, John Davis Chandler, John Anderson, R. G. Armstrong, and Edgar Buchanan.  HBO Max will be featuring John Ford’s The Searchers, which will include a discussion by Ben Mankiewicz and Bruce Springsteen.  That’s it for Westerns.  For the whole TCM Festival schedule, go HERE.

 

‘WILD WEST CHRONICLES’ PRODUCERS TELL ALL!

Every couple of years, a cable channel announces a new series with a title like Old New True Legendary Outlaws Lawmen Gunfights of the Old West.  They’re usually okay; they throw a little income to western movie-town operators, reenactors, and historians.  They’re also interchangeable and forgettable.  When producers Craig Miller of the INSP Network, and Gary Tarpinian of MorningStar Entertainment got together, men who specialize in documentaries and reality shows, they might have done something awfully similar.  In fact, they meant to.  Gary calls it, “How we went from non-fiction to fiction in three shows.”

They were well into preparing just such a show, Craig recalls, “When Gary sent over a short list of the expert historians and authors that he wanted to use.  And these people are great, literally the world's greatest experts on the West.  But you know what? I've seen them in three or four other series already. So why do we want to do this? Is there a way to not use talking head experts, and still do a docu-drama?”

Byron Preston Jackson plays Bass Reeves

Another concern was, “we needed to stay on-brand for INSP, which means to not leave the 1800s.”  Craig explains, “Our viewers like to surf into INSP and get lost in the old West. And every time you put a talking-head historian in there, you're snapping them right out. So I called Gary and I said, what if we had a frontier reporter? And instead of talking-head experts, they're interviewing eye-witnesses to the West's most notorious events?”

Gary liked the idea, even though, “We were going to shoot (our experts) in about a week at The Autry. My partner thought I'd lost my mind when I said to her, we've been wanting to get into ‘scripted’ (shows) for a long time.”

From The Real Lone Star Ranger

Craig remembers, “Gary, a stickler for accuracy and truly an expert on the West, came back with was the solution.  He said, ‘there was a real guy who did this. His name was Bat Masterson.’”

What they’ve created with Wild West Chronicles is a lot less like those previous documentary series, and a lot more like the half-hour Western anthology series of the 1960s, like Zane Grey Theatre and Death Valley Days.  Actually a good deal like Stories of the Century was meant to be, had it stuck closer to the actual history. 

“I knew we would be pretty good at it,” Gary says.  “We are very well equipped to tell a story that's based on a true story, with real people, in a certain time period, faithfully reproduced, based on our research, and tell the story accurately. Because when you're doing non-fiction, that's what you do.  We've taken creative liberties, no doubt about it. We weren't there, so we're putting words in their mouths. But other than that, we're trying to tell the stories accurately and to show how much we love this world and these people, these characters.”

In Wild Bill Hickok and the First Quick-Draw Duel,

flirtation, and a gold watch... 

Another problem they avoided while moving away from the standard talking-heads docudramas was to not be a ‘greatest hits’ show: so far at least, they are NOT doing Jesse James and Billy the Kid and the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.  “I'll let you in on a little inside baseball,” Craig shares. “When we first created the concept, we actually focus-tested three of the episodes and almost unanimously, the respondents said what they were interested in were stories they had never heard, about little-known characters of the West. Or if we were going to tell the story of a famous character, they wanted it to be a little-known story about that famous character. We intentionally kept our format to a half an hour. Because we don't want to do a birth-to-death biography of each character. We just wanted to take one slice of life, one story. And then that also allows us to do multiple episodes with the same characters.”

“Exactly,” Gary agrees. “And we think the audience is going to love it, because we're going to have the same actors play those people. For example, one episode we have a coming up is on the death of Dora Hand, in Dodge City, at the hand of Spike Kenedy. And one of the guys in the posse is Bat's deputy Bill Tilghman. And later on, Bill Tilghman's one of the Three Guardsmen (of Oklahoma), going after Bill Doolin. So it's the same actor.  And Bass Reeves -- there are so many great stories we can do with him, how we used his head to capture people, the story of him going after his own son, who was involved in domestic violence.  It has been particularly enjoyable working with INSP. Diversity is very important to us at Morningstar; my partner is not only a woman, she's Chinese. We met in film school at Loyola Marymount here in LA, and we’ve always felt that it's important to send a proper message and that just meshed perfectly with what the network wanted to do. That same focus group (said) we'd like to hear more about black cowboys, and women.   In season one we've been able to do Bass Reeves, Stagecoach Mary.  We're doing Elfego Bacca, probably the most famous Mexican-American law man. (Pioneer doctor) Susan Anderson.”

...lead to a showdown.

Craig adds, “This sense of diversity also includes the types of stories.  Because this is an anthology series, it allows us to do a wider spectrum of stories from the West. For instance, the last episode this season is on Charles M. Russell, the cowboy artist, and probably not something you're going to see in a traditional series that’s all Jesse James and Billy the Kid. It allows us to paint, no pun intended, a more accurate picture of what the West was like.”

Wild West Chronicles stars Jack Elliot, who doesn’t look or dress much like Gene Barry (who starred in Bat Masterson from 1956 to 1961), but looks a lot like the photographs of the real lawman-turned-journalist.  The episode Dr. Susan Anderson – Frontier Medicine Woman, airs Friday at 9 p.m., Pacific Time.  On Sunday at 2:30 p.m., Pacific Time, Bat Masterson & The Dodge City Deadline, Part 1, premieres.

Jack Elliot as Bat Masterson

If you’d like to read some of Bat Masterson’s actual writing, his collection, Famous Gunfighters of the Western Frontier is available from Dover Books, and other publishers.

 

JUST ONE MORE THING...

COMING SOON – DUELING BILLY THE KIDS!

Emilio Estevez, who was unforgettable as Billy the Kid in 1988’s Young Guns, and 1990’s Young Guns II, has spread the word that he’s coming back!  Screenwriter John Fusco, who wrote both Young Guns films, is hard at work on Guns 3: Alias Billy the Kid, which Estevez will direct as well as star in.  And this week the Epix Channel announced an 8-part limited series about Billy, to be written and produced by Michael Hirst, of The Tudors and Vikings fame.  Updates on both projects coming soon!

AND THAT’S A WRAP!

And please check out the May issue of True West, on newsstands now. It features my interview with author Paulette Jiles, whose News of the World is the basis for what many – including me – consider the best film of the year!

Happy Trails,

Henry

All Original Contents Copyright May 2021 by Henry C. Parke – All Rights Reserved

'RENEGADE' HUNTS FOR GOLD!

RENEGADE -- Film Review

 

I don’t know how I missed this one.  This heartfelt little Western slipped out from Barnholtz Entertainment in September to very little fanfare, but it’s well worth a look.  RENEGADE, originally titled MATTIE, takes place during the gold rush, and stars fetching Kaylee Defer, of GOSSIP GIRL and RED STATE, as Mattie Springer.  In her late teens, her mother has recently died in a cholera epidemic, and she has taken her mother’s place in helping dad raise three younger sisters and a brother.

 

Then a handsome man named Zeb (Ryan Doom) comes to the prospecting community, sweeps Mattie off her feet, and she’s soon married to him, sharing his mine-shack home, along with his partner and brother Jacob (Ric Maddox).  But it’s a pity she didn’t meet the quieter, more steadfast brother first.  While Jacob stays home and works the mine, keeping house with his sister-in-law, husband Zeb is never home long, always searching for another, better claim. 

Mattie sees Zeb

 

Not surprising in a community looking for quick riches, the specter of danger is always lurking in the shadows, here in the persons of a band of comancheros who prey on the miners at their isolated claims, willing to kill for a sprinkle of gold dust.  Soon after she marries, much of Mattie’s family is slaughtered by the roaming band, and she then has the added responsibility of raising the survivors. 

 

RENEGADE has bursts of violence, but the story is more about Mattie’s personal struggles than the life-and-death kind.  While the action is sudden and often intense, the stand-out moments are not elaborate showdowns but character scenes.  Shot on locations and ranches around Tucson, much of cinematographer Winston Ashley Maddox’s work is startling beautiful; not just for his inclusion of stark and stunning landscapes, but also for creative use of lighting and composition.  Images of a sheriff rescuing a smoking Bible from a torched house, and a man weeping on a porch after learning of a loved-one’s death, linger in the memory.  Much of the story is told in unobtrusive narration by Mattie, and here both camerawork, and editing by Kyle Lovrein, primarily a visual effects specialist, shine in the seamless flow of scenes of the lives of the miners and townsfolk, helped in large degree by Brian Helms’ production design and art direction, and Georgia Goodwin’s costume design. 

 

First-time feature director Michael Dohrmann co-wrote the screenplay with fellow tyro James Purdy, and they did an admirable job, especially for a first-time effort.  There are weaknesses; the plot ambles along pleasantly, rather than charging ahead, and while George Chatalis looks and plays the sheriff well, you can’t understand why, as the locals are picked off, neither he nor anyone else makes a concerted effort to track the villains down.  In a particularly disconcerting choice, Lou Pimber plays Chuy, an outlaw who is clearly costumed as a Hollywood Apache, but speaks like a ‘stinking badges’ Mexican bandito. 

 

The performances vary.  Kaylee Defer, whose character must carry the story, is the greatest strength of the cast.  Interestingly, the women have the best-written parts, and are the best actors.  Quincy Cooper, in a small role as Mattie’s cousin Ellen, shines; and Danielle Demski as the Parson’s wife Clara is a delight, especially in the scene where she teaches Mattie to shoot.  Many of the supporting roles are played by obvious non-pros, and among the men only Ric Maddox gets to emerge enough from his stoicism to bring his character to life. 

 

Ric Maddox

 

RENEGADE is a very enjoyable look at a feisty (without being shrill and strident) young woman’s life in a mining camp, and well worth tracking down.  The budget clearly was tight, but every dollar is up on the screen.  And don’t be put off, as I was initially, by an opening sequence with jerky hand-held camerawork.  The vast majority of the picture is effectively-to-beautifully shot.  

 

 

NEW WESTERN E-BOOK SERIES –‘COLBY JACKSON’ – INTRODUCED WITH FREE KINDLE DOWNLOAD!

 

Before you say, ‘I never heard of Colby Jackson,’ let me assure you’ve heard of at least a third of him.  Colby Jackson is the collective pseudonym of three writers who have written hundreds of novels, under their own names and house names.  Bill Crider’s western books include Galveston Gunman, Ryan Rides Back, A Time for Hanging, Outrage at Blanco, and Texas Vigilante.  James Reasoner has written, among many others, the Wind River series, Sons of Texas series, Patriots series, Civil War Battle series, Judge Earl Stark series, and several entries in the Longarm series.  Mel Odom has never written a western before, but he’s written over 170 books in every other conceivable genre.  

The first book is RANCHO DIABLO: SHOOTER’S CROSS, and here’s the official synopsis: Army Scout Sam Blaylock wasn’t looking for trouble when he rode into Shooter’s Cross, a small Texas town with a colorful history, but he found trouble in spades. After being nearly killed in an ambush, Sam discovers a patch of land where he thinks he can settle his family, put down roots, and build a future. Unfortunately, that land has poisoned water and rumors of ghosts. Sam’s figured a way to fix the water problem, and he’s never been a big believer in ghosts, but he hadn’t planned on running up against newspaperman Mitchell McCarthy, who’s willing to kill to take Rancho Diablo now that Sam has turned the land into a profitable enterprise. Sam enlists the aid of two friends from the army – fast talking Duane Beatty and gunhawk and fellow scout Mike Tucker – and digs in tighter than a tick to fight back.

 

On Sunday and Monday, March 17^th and 18^th, you can go to Amazon, and download the book for free. The link's HERE.  If you get it, shoot me a line at the Round-up to let me know how you liked it!

 

‘THE SEARCHERS’ AND A BOOK SIGNING MONDAY AT THE AERO

 

If you couldn’t get to the Autry for Saturday’s discussion and signing, on Monday, March 11^th, Pulitzer Prize Winning author Glenn Frankel will be at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica to sign his book, THE SEARCHERS: THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN LEGEND, prior to a screening of the film.  The signing is at 6:30 pm, the screening at 7:30 pm. 

 

STUNT LEGEND HAL NEEDHAM AT THE AERO FRIDAY

 

Hal Needham, Burt Reynolds,

Bassett Hound, Jerry Reed

The man who went from taking falls for Burt Reynolds to directing him, and who just received an honorary Oscar for a career of bravery (you can read more about him HERE ) Hal Needham will be appearing at the Aero on Friday, March 15^th, to sign his book, STUNTMAN!, prior to screenings of two of the twenty films he’s directed, SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT and CANNONBALL RUN. 

 

‘ARGONAUTS’, BRONCO BILLY AND RARE PECKINPAH AT BILLY WILDER

 

As part of the UCLA Billy Wilder Theatre festival of recently preserved films, on Monday, March 18^th at 7:30 pm, the Wilder will be screening THE ARGONAUTS OF CALIFORNIA – 1849 (1916), a 12-reel story of the gold-fields shot in Monrovia, before Hollywood became the center of California film production.  It will be presented with a live musical accompaniment by Robert Israel.  This will be followed by a one-reel from 1914, starring the screen’s first cowboy star, Bronco Billy Anderson in BRONCO BILLY’S WILD RIDE.

On Saturday, March 23^rd, at 4 pm, the Wilder will present an all-but-impossible-to-see TV episode from the anthology series ABC STAGE 67, NOON WINE (1966), based on Katherine Ann Porter’s story, written and directed by Sam Peckinpah, and starring Jason Robards, Theodore Bikel, and Olivia De Havilland.  And Theodore Bikel will attend.  It will be followed by another episode, THE HUMAN VOICE, starring Ingrid Bergman, and directed by Ted Kotcheff from Jean Cocteau’s play.  You can learn more about these and other screenings in the series HERE

R.I.P.D.3D!

Universal has announced that R.I.P.D., a summer 2013 release based on the Dark Horse comic of the same name, already in the can, will be post-adapted to 3D.  The film, a big-budget crime-comedy, stars Ryan Reynolds as a cop who is murdered and ends up in the Rest In Peace Department, a police department of the dead, and turns to Jeff Bridges, an old-West lawman, to help solve his own murder.  Also in the cast are Kevin Bacon and Mary Louise Parker.  

That’s all for this week!  Next week I’ll have a report from the set of QUICK DRAW, and an interview with Kevin Sorbo about his upcoming Hallmark Movie Channel western, SHADOW ON THE MESA!

Happy Trails,

Henry


All Original Content Copyright March 2013 by Henry C. Parke – All Rights Reserved

 

 

SPEILBERG TAKES 'COWBOYS AND ALIENS' TO WESTERN SCHOOL

(Updated Tuesday 8/10/2010 -- see Screenings)

COWBOYS AND ALIENS co-screenwriter Robert Orci, speaking at the San Diego Comic Con, says the producer insisted he, co-writer Alex Kurtzman, and director Jon Favreau study the Western movie form before diving into it. “He literally showed us a brand new print of THE SEARCHERS, and he commented throughout the whole thing. We had…Steven Speilberg...take us to Western school. That was the first one we saw. And then he…gave us a list, and we saw a couple of movies after that every weekend. And we just saw SHANE, THE PROFESSIONALS, THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE, HIGH NOON… but THE SEARCHERS was the first one, and that’s the one that really stuck in our minds. It’s a dark film, but very emotional. That moment when John Wayne picks up that girl (Natalie Wood), you know…it gets you.” To see more of the interview, courtesy of io9, CLICK HERE.

Among those who showed up unannounced at a panel discussing the film was Harrison Ford – in handcuffs! The word at Comic-Con about COWBOYS AND ALIENS is very positive. The clips that were shown were said to look great. The film, starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde and Sam Rockwell is set to open on July 29th, 2011. To see a nearly 8 minute clip of the panel discussion at Comic Con, CLICK HERE. (warning, just as a clip from the film is being introduced, the footage ends.)

(Photos - Daniel Craig in COWBOYS AND ALIENS, Jack Mather, Radio's CISCO KID)

AUTRY EXPANSION ANNOUNCED

The Autry National Center of the American West announced this week that they have purchased a building in Burbank, which they will be calling the Autry Research Center. The 100,000 square foot building on Victory Boulevard will, “…provide the space and state-of-the-art museum-quality conditions to properly care for our collections and libraries, paving the way for us to modernize and increase our galleries within the existing walls of the building in Griffith Park.”

Many of the collections currently housed but not displayed at the Autry, and many collections now stored at the Southwest Museum, will be relocated to the Autry Research Center, which will make it possible to expand the Griffith Park Museum’s displays without expanding the building. For several years, the Autry has been stymied in their plans to expand the museum by people who object to their taking over more park land. Similarly, their work at the Southwest Museum has been made difficult by local ‘activists’ in that area.

REVIEW – CISCO KID ON RADIO

Like most Californians (and most city-dwellers, for that matter) I spend an inordinate amount of time behind the wheel, but going nowhere. One of the truly enjoyable activities one can safely indulge in at such a time is listening to ‘OTR,’ or old time radio. One of the very enjoyable Western programs is The Cisco Kid, and Radio Archives is currently offering a set of twenty half-hour shows on ten CDs.

“O. Henry’s Robin Hood of the old west,” who we know and love, has very little resemblance to the character described in O. Henry’s original story, THE CABALLERO’S WAY. Originally he was an American outlaw who blithely killed Mexicans, and was a clever but thoroughly bad guy. He became a lovable Mexican bandito when portrayed by Warner Baxter in IN OLD CALIFORNIA (1928), for which he won an Oscar. (Actor, later turned director, Raoul Walsh was originally cast in the part, but was replaced when he lost an eye in a car accident.) Baxter played the role twice more, then Cesar Romero took over for six films, the last in 1941. In 1946 the character moved from 20th Century Fox to Monogram, and Duncan Renaldo played him three times, with a mustache, then Gilbert Roland played him six times. Then in 1948 the character moved again, this time to United Artists, where Duncan Renaldo played him for five more outings, without a mustache, but with Leo Carrillo as Pancho. They would co-star in 156 TV episodes as well, shows which were of much greater long-term value than most contemporary shows, because they were produced in color. It’s said that Renaldo sometimes got impatient with Carrillo’s scene stealing, but he also admired that Carrillo was still riding and fighting and shooting at the age of 75!

Starting in 1947 and continuing for nearly a decade, The Cisco Kid radio shows were recorded at New York’s WOR Studios, starring Jack Mather as Cisco, and Harry Lang as Pancho. A mix of action, adventure and humor, the half-hour shows are very much like the TV episodes in tone and style. But the opening narrations give a little historical perspective, and the action can be a little darker than the TV version: Cisco and Pancho still shoot to disarm, but the bad guys can and do kill people.

About 600 radio episodes were produced over the years. The remarkable thing about this collection of shows is the stunning quality of the sound. Most OTR shows were aired live, and not professionally recorded – the majority of existing radio-show recordings come from amateur collectors. As a result, many shows don’t exist in any form, and many that do are in terrible shape, and painful to listen to. The Ciscos sound incredibly crisp and clear – and for good reason: according to Radio Archives, a veritable treasure-trove of 16” vinyl transcription disks – many never played, were discovered in Des Moines, Iowa. The more OTR you’ve heard, the more you’ll appreciate the outstanding audio quality of these shows. And if OTR is new to you, it’s a great introduction.

As an added temptation, when Harry Lang became ill, that great Loony Tunes voice Mel Blanc took over as Pancho’s cousin Profiro, who is, incredibly, not as bright as Pancho. The collection, which sells for $29.98, is available at their website, HERE. Incidentally, next week I’ll tell you a little more about the Cisco Kid movie saga, and hope someone out there can solve a Duncan Renaldo mystery!

SCREENINGS

ANNE JEFFREYS IN PERSON AT THE AERO

On Wednesday night, August 11th, at 7:30 p.m., The Aero Theatre at 1328 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, will show a double bill of Anne Jeffrey movies, and she will be discussing the films between the screenings.

First up is TRAIL STREET (1947) co-starring Randolph Scott as Bat Masterson, trying to clean up Liberal, Kansas (after which it became Conservative, Kansas). Also featured are Robert Ryan and Gabby Hayes, directed by Ray Enright, script by Norman Houston and Gene Lewis.

Next up, RIFFRAFF (1947), isn’t a western, but it’s a delightful, fast-paced caper about attempts to take over a Panama oil field, and stars Anne Jeffreys with Pat O’Brien.

SAM FULLER’S ‘FORTY GUNS’ AT L.A.C.M.A.

Friday, August 13th, at 7:30 p.m. Sam wrote, directed and produced this thrilling western, which stars Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Dean Jagger, John Ericson and Gene Barry. Can Sullivan, the Marshall, tame Stanwyck the Land Baroness? Let him try!

ROY ROGERS IN 'UNDER WESTERN STARS' AT THE AUTRY

On Saturday, August 14th, from 1:30 to 3:30, The Autry will present the movie that made Leonard Slye (Roy Rogers) a star: UNDER WESTERN STARS (1938). Just think -- if Republic hadn't been having disputes with Gene Autry -- whom this picture was originally written for -- we might never have had The King Of The Cowboys! Jeffrey Richardson, Associate Curator of Film and Popular Culture, will discuss the film's production and the museum's recent acquisition of key artifacts relating to Roy Rogers. A variety of Rogers's artifacts, including his one-of-a-kind plastic Rose Parade saddle, will be on display throughout the museum. The 35mm print is from the UCLA Archive, and admission cost of $9 includes admission to the museum.

THREE FREE WESTERNS SATURDAY AT SPUDIC’S!

On Saturday, August 14th, Eric Spudic’s Movie Empire will be hosting a free western triple bill! At 6:30 p.m., they’ll begin with FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE (1975), directed by Lucio Fulci from a Bret Harte story, and starring Fabio Testi, Michael J. Pollard, Tomas Milian and Lynne Frederick. At 8:00 p.m. it’s VALDEZ IS COMING (1971) Edwin Sherin directing from the Elmore Leonard story, and starring Burt Lancaster, Susan Clark, Jon Cypher and Richard Jordan. THE THIRD MOVIE WILL BE SELECTED FROM SEVERAL OPTIONS BY YOU, THE ATTENDEES! Spudic’s Movie Empire is located at 5910 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91401. They sell all DVDs for $5 and all VHS tapes for $2, and are open from noon to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

WILLIAM S. HART DOUBLE-BILL UNDER THE STARS!

On Saturday, August 14th, Friends of Hart Park will present HELL'S HINGES and THE TAKING OF LUKE MCVANE, at Wm. S. Hart Park - Hart Hall, at 24151 Newhall Avenue, in the city of Newhall. Additionally, there will be a WESTERN SILENT AUCTION, at 6 p.m. EVENING TOURS and patio seating, 7 p.m. BBQ DINNER FROM RATTLER'S. Tickets are $50 a piece, with reserved tables of ten for $500. You can find out more, and order tickets by calling 661-254-4584, or clicking HERE. They say this event sells out, so if you want to go, reserve now!

SILENTS UNDER THE STARS AT PARAMOUNT RANCH

On Sunday, August 15th, BEGGARS OF LIFE (1928) Directed by William Wellman, starring Louise Brooks and Richard Arlen, will be screened at the historic Paramount Ranch. It's not a Western -- it's the story of a girl who runs away from her abusive father to ride the rails as a hobo, passing as a man. And it's a rare chance to visit a historic Western location. In fact, there's a historic tour at 5:45pm, followed by the movie at 7:30. Tickets are $6.00 for adults, $5.00 for members of Hollywood Heritage. Children under twelve are $3.00, under three free.

Picnicing is encouraged -- there are clean restrooms and free parking, but it gets dark, so bring a flashlight!

Directions:

The Paramount Ranch
Take the Ventura Freeway (101 north) to KANAN ROAD offramp. At light make a left turn onto Kanan Road going south. Cross the freeway to Agoura Road. Cross Agoura Road and shortly make a left turn onto CORNELL ROAD. (watch carefully, it is a small sign and small road) Follow Cornell Road about a couple of miles to the PARAMOUNT RANCH driveway, marked with large signs. Make a right turn into the driveway and down into the ranch. Look for signs as to where to park. The signs will say "Silents Under the Stars- Parking."
Official Website

SIGNINGS

EARLY WARNER BROTHERS HISTORY AT LARRY EDMUNDS

On Thursday, August 12th, at 7 p.m., Hollywood historians par excellence, co-authors Marc Wanamaker and E. J. Stephens, will be signing their latest book, EARLY WARNER BROTHERS HISTORY. The great movie bookstore is located at 6644 Hollywood Boulevard, L.A., CA 90028. (323) 463-3273. And you can visit info@larryedmunds.com to learn more.

I'll be back in a couple of hours with that Cisco Kid radio-show review. And I've been fortunate enough to meet and interview some very interesting people. In the coming weeks I'll be running interviews with Earl Holliman and Morgan Woodward, and several more western favorites!

Hasta manana,

Henry

All contents Copyright August 8th, 2010, by Henry C. Parke. All Rights Reserved.