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Show ‘Outlaw’ Starts Ben Johnson On Road to Fame, Riches HOLLYWOOD (UPI) — Ben Johnson was a raw-boned, dead-broke Oklahoma cowboy when Howard Hughes hired him in 1940 as a ler and extra in ‘‘The Outlaw.” Forty years later Johnson is the owner of an Oscar and has a net worth of $200 million. He's the richest Hollywood cowboy ever. Johnson won his 1971 Academy Award for best supporting actor in “The Last Picture Show.” He compiled his enormous fortune on a $150,000 investmentin land development in a Los Angeles suburb during the past four years. veteranof 300 movies — almost all of them westerns in which he played everything from stunt man to extra to costar — Johnson is a big, Strapping man with a craggy face as American as Uncle Sam's. The southwest twang. clearly evident in his speech, reflects old west traditions and values, as does his formal manner. Johnson is an oldfashioned man who treats all women with the respect most men only accord their mothers. He refuses to accept parts which include vulgar language. blatant sex or any of the other kinky quirks favored these days on screen. Indeed, Johnson almost blew his opportunity to win an Oscarin “Picture Show.” He refused the iy including a percenlage of theprofits, at first because he didn’t like the filthy dialogue his role required. The producers agreed to tone down the language Wayne, who became a many months later and cherished friend. gave Johnson a straight “Most of my stunts inSalary instead of a volved horses."” Johnson percentage. grinned. ‘‘Hell, I spent “I out-smarted them. half of mylife in the air. That picture has made I've got the scars to prove about $100 million,” he it.” Teflected the other day, In the mid-1940s an amused twinkle in his Johnson, the son of a eyes. ‘‘And figureit cost rodeo star, worked me more than $2 million regularly in rodeos and in af sticking to my princi- 1953 he won the world Ples. rodeo championship “But I'd do the same riding bucking horses, thing again. I’m about bulls, bull dogging and one-sixteenth Cherokee steer roping. Indian and I was raised Johnson had a stunt on an Osage reservation double of his own recenton the same side of the ly duringfilming of “Wild creek where Will Rogers Times,” a two-part, fourwas a boy. We were hour horse opera taughtto stick to what we scheduled for syndication believed in.” in 75 cities during late Johnson was working January and early as a cowpoke for a few February by cents a day punching Metromedia’s Golden some 18,000 headofcattle Circle outfit. on the Oklahoma plains It’s an old-fashioned when Howard Hughes’ re- oater, based on Brian presentatives hired him Garfield's novel,in which to accompany several Johnson plays Doc dozen head of horses to Bogardus, a real-life Hollywood for ‘‘The postCivil Outlaw.” The picture sharpshooter made a superstar of Jane traveled the country in Russell and a believerout wild west showschallengof Johnson. ing all comers. The country boy had The dearth of westerns never seen so much on TV and in movies in money and activity. His the past decade has cut pay: a dizzying $175 a downthe numberofroles week. He worked in the open to Johnson although picture as stunt man. ex- he has appeared in some tra and wrangler. contemporary parts in Thereafter, the tall, modern stories. “I'd be doing more straightbacked Johnson worked asa stunt double actingif there were more for Joel McCrea, Gary westerns,” he agreed. ‘‘Cooper, Henry Fonda, But then maybe I Gene Autry, Roy Rogers. wouldn't have had enough Wild Bill Elliot and all time to work on business the old bad guys and villains. Later he risked his neck falling off horses and in barroom brawls for Glenn Ford, Clint Eastwood and John Monday, January 28, 1980, THE HERALD,Provo, Utah—TV9 matters for Horizon Inc. That's my any. I'm chairman of board. I'm telling you the truth when I say its assets are a more than $200 miljon. “I ask myself why there are so few westerns. The only answer is young people are hostile toward all things. They don't believe in old-fashioned values. I contend some of us have to stay real to keep things together in this world. “Four-letter words are used by the young for shock value. They use them in movies. I say people who resort to that are weak. Theydidn’t get the right kinda milk when they were little. They didn’t get the right kinda bringing up. “Kids are missing a lot of good history without westems. They're losing touch with how their parents and grandparents grew up. GOODWILL Ty PromptService Shop or Home Discount to Senior Citizens 225-7550 798 $. State, Orem BEN JOHNSON got started on his road to fame and wealth when Howard Hughes gave him a part in his film, “The Outlaw.” (UPI Telephoto} FREE COFFEE. FREE DONUTS. FREE FACTS ON HOW TO CUT YOUR FUEL BILLS. COME TO OUR SPECIAL URNING CLINIC. In just one evening you canlearn the money-savingfacts on woodburning from theexperts. You'll learn howto get much moreheatoutofyourfireplace andstill enjoyall the beauty ofyour fire. Wed. 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