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Show 6 Signpost Tuesday, 22 July 1986 Celebrities express love for Westerns at the film festival Tanja Schaffer Arts and Entertainment Editor The 1930's saw the golden age dawn for the big Silver Screen. Shortly thereafter, Western films started to sprout and cowboys became the heroes of the era. "Those were the good oP days when feelings of camaraderie ruled strong in the business," said Jock Mahoney, veteran stuntman who starred in the movies, Tarzan and Yancy Derringer and others. A chance to relive the thrill of that period was brought back to Ogden through the National Western Film Festial, which began its second annual year with an "Old West Evening" on July 17. This occasion proceeded with music, seminars, panel discussions, famous film screenings and live celebrity appearances throughout the entire weekend. Among the list of stars who were scheduled to participate in the celebration were Jerry Potter (veteran of Hill Street Blues who also starred in The Alamo), James Cash (a young cowboy who played Henry Fonda's double in On Golden Pond), Casey Tibbs (movie stuntman and world champion rodeo star), Jock Mahoney and many others. What prompted these stars to come to Ogden to take part in this event anyway? "Anything to get people more interested in Westerns!" said Rusty Richards, former member of the Sons of the Pioneers. (He has just recently formed his own group called The American Cowboys, with Bob Wagoner and Dick Goodman, songwriters in their own right.) Many of the celebrities agreed with Richards. i ' v l t . " ,S III BABY JUNE and Baby Louise present their forever repeated audition number to many talent agents. (Signpost photo: Jeff Bybee) FOR RENT Roommates: $130.00 by college. Excellent, furnished home. Includes utilities, dryer, cable, color TV. No smoking. 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Call 392-6200 813 MISCELLANEOUS ATTENTION TABLETOP GAMERS! The Ogden Tabletop Baseball Association is now forming a face to face, dice activated league using actual players from major league baseball. Game used is Strat-O-Matic, nationally advertised in all baseball publications. If you would like more details call Mike at 479-7731 anytime. Protect your valuables with Renters Insurance! 100 percent contents replacement. Affordable rates. Call 621-2252 weekdays. At a panel discussion held on Friday afternoon in the Union Station, people were invited to ask the celebrities questions and to talk with them afterward. Here is what was discussed at the session: "Back in the old days," Mahoney began, "each studio had its own 'big man' who got really involved with his clients. He made himself present at just about everything! Nowadays, 'the man' keeps at a distance." With that statement, Mahoney seemed to depict 'long distance' literally involving particularly the telephone among everything else. He said the current 'bigwig' reigns from the inside of his office quarters. Blanch, a Hollywood agent whose late husband acted as Jock Ewing on the TV series of Dallas, said that most 'bigwigs' now take a monetary standpoint. "Years ago, it was creativity that mattered most," she said, using her hands extensively as she talked. "Also," she added, "jealousy rarely existed. Everyone helped everybody out." "No jealousy," repeated James Cash. He slid his right-handed fingers into his front Levi pocket, "Well, there's some of us young ones who hope to carry that on." "It's not the same business anymore," said Blanch. "A lot of young people now are in there to fight." "They don't want to pay their dues and they've got to," Mahoney said. Times have changed enormously since the more innocent frontier days of America. Western films have portrayed the great American continent as a place of challenge and opportunity. "They reinforced the strong American image," said Casey Tibbs, twisting the lid of his tobacco case. The films focused upon the necessary rugged independence of western living and the joy of our magnificent western landscape. Today it is quite obvious that certain forms of Westerns have disappeared. But, will they return? "As long as game shows and soap operas keep Hollywood going, it's rather doubtful," said Mahoney. "If Western is gonna be good, it's gotta capture imaginations," Cash said, slightly smiling. (He smiled often.) "Young people between the ages of 12 and 20 don't know what a Western even is!" According to Richards,' the movie Urban Cowboy went into motion after our American athletes dressed up in Levis and cowboy hats in order to welcome home the 50 hostages in 1980. In respect to our native costume and in response to the united love that was shown on that day, the hearts of many Americans swelled with pride. The western heritage is America's symbol. It represents that way of life that originated when our forefathers arrived back in 1620. Each summer, Ogden will host the National Western Film Festival, built around the films and their long-remembered actors. The event should tickle the palates of the curious amateur as well as the technically proficient expert. Perhaps even those who don't love Westerns can learn to capture the charm of the wonderful Old West. Let the classifieds work for you! |