Profiles In History, the auction house that specializes in show-biz memorabilia, will be holding HOLLYWOOD AUCTION 40 on July 10th, 11th and 12th. While most items are movie or music-related, there are some mighty interesting western items offered. As you can see above, there is lot #219, a written question and answer page from Buffalo Bill Cody, #221, a Carte de Viste of and signed by George Armstrong Custer, photographed by Matthew Brady, #150, a signed picture of Tom Mix – one of thirty-five pictures in the lot, and #220 a signed picture of Emmett Dalton. My favorite is the last, in that the auction catalogue describes him as a “lawman,” kinda like describing John Wilkes Booth as an “actor.” To see the whole catalogue online, CLICK HERE.
ADAM BEACH CHOOSES COWBOYS OVER ALIENS!
Adam Beach, the American Indian actor who played Ira Hayes in Clint Eastwood’s FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (2007), and whose many credits include the excellent SMOKE SIGNALS (1998), the character Blue Duck COMANCHE MOON (2008), and a continuing role in this season’s BIG LOVE, will join Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell and Wes Studi in DreamWorks’ production of COWBOYS AND ALIENS, directed by Jon Favreau and written by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof. The comic-book derived tale revolves around the town of Absolution, in 1973, in the Arizona Territory. Jake (Craig), the amnesiac who wanders into town, finds the people crushed under the heel of iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). Beach will portray Nat Colorado, a half-Apache who works for Dolarhyde. The film is shooting this summer, with a release on July 29, 2011.
ANTHONY MANN FESTIVAL AT NEW YORK’S FILM FORUM
What a treat for all of you that live East but love West! From June 25th through July 15th, the Forum will be presenting 26 movies – most in double features and a few in triple bills! -- directed by the great Anthony Mann, whose post-war westerns brought a new-found maturity to the form, and gave James Stewart a chance to stretch as an actor as never before. In addition to the westerns being shown, Mann's fine crime and war stories will also be on view. Among the westerns: NAKED SPUR (1953) and WINCHESTER '73 (1950) on Friday and Saturday June 25th and 26th; BORDER INCIDENT (1949) and DEVIL'S DOORWAY (1950) on Wednesday, June 30th; THE LAST FRONTIER (1956) and GOD'S LITTLE ACRE (1958) on Thursday July 1st; MAN OF THE WEST (1958) and a new 35MM print of THE MAN FROM LARAMIE (1955) on Friday and Saturday July 2nd and 3rd; BEND OF THE RIVER (1952) and a new 35mm print of THUNDER BAY (1953) on Sunday and Monday, July 4th and 5th; CIMARRON (1960) on Monday July 5th, THE FURIES (1950) and THE TIN STAR (1957) on Tuesday July 6th; THE FAR COUNTRY (1955) and THE TALL TARGET (1951) on Friday and Saturday, July 9th and 10th. I know you've got a couple of weeks to wait, but to whet your appetite -- and this is for everyone, not just New Yorkers - CLICK HERE to see trailers of several of the Anthony Mann westerns.
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE WEIRD AT LANDMARK THEATRES
To read my review of The Good, The Bad and The Weird, check out May 9th's entry. It's currently playing at the Main Arts Theatre in Royal Oak, MI.
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.
TV LAND - BONANZA and GUNSMOKE
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.
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 THE LONE RANGER at 1:30 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.
More stuff is coming as the day progresses!
Adios,
Henry
All Contents Copyright June 2010 by Henry C. Parke - All Rights Reserved