The Wild, Wild West revisited in Winston-Salem
The Western Film Fair rides into Winston- Salem on Wednesday, July 15, marking the second consecutive year that the annual event has moseyed into the City of the Arts.
The Clarion Sundance Plaza Hotel (3050 University Pkwy.) is again this year’s Film Fair headquarters. “Last year we had a successful year,” says Jerry Campbell, co-chairman (with Graham Talbott) of the film committee. “We never had any hotel treat us any better.”
For those who have heard of or attended conventions devoted to horror, science-fiction or Star Trek — or variations of all three — the Western Film Fair will not be unfamiliar territory. True, the fans aren’t dressing up like aliens, but their love of the Western genre is just as fervent. Nostalgia plays a big part in the proceedings, whether you grew up with the Westerns of John Wayne or the Westerns of Clint Eastwood.
The Western Film Fair includes daily screenings of almost 100 16mm movies and TV shows running simultaneously in multiple screening rooms; a dealers’ showcase with dozens of tables laden with DVDs, posters, autographs and myriad memorabilia; panel discussions and autograph sessions with the guest stars, many of whom know a thing or two about riding tall in the saddle; live entertainment each night; and, on the evening of Saturday (July 18), the Awards Night Banquet with live entertainment and the presentation of the Ernest Tubb Memorial Award. Whether it’s Gene Autry or Roy Rogers, John Wayne or Randolph Scott, John Ford or Howard Hawks, Sam Peckinpah or Sergio Leone, there’s no question that the Western remains one of the most durable genres of the 20th century — and it’s still continuing into this century.
Campbell’s old-school, and proud of it. “In 1936, I saw Gene Autry in a movie at the Broadhurst Theatre, and I never got over it,” he says. “The good guy in the white hat always wins — that’s a big part of it. I’ve always liked music, and I tell people that I have two favorites: The first is Gene Autry, and my second favorite is all the others — and that’s the truth.”
Nevertheless, he’s always willing to give a new Western a fair shake. He thought Ed Harris’ Appaloosa (2008) “came pretty close,” and Kevin Costner’s Open Range (2003) “was a good picture.” He also enjoyed Walter Hill’s Emmy Award-winning AMC miniseries “Broken Trail” (2006) which, like Open Range, starred Robert Duvall (who won an Emmy). “Any time you’ve got Robert Duvall, you’ve got a great head start,” Campbell says with a laugh.
Among the guest stars at this year’s Western Film Fair are such familiar faces as Gary Lockwood (2001: A Space Odyssey, Firecreek), Lynda Day George (Chisum, Day of the Animals), Kathy Garver (“Family Affair,” “The Patty Duke Show”), Deanna Lund (“Land of the Giants,” “Batman”), Beverly Washburn (“Star Trek,” Spider Baby), Marlyn Mason (“The Big Valley,” “Longstreet”), Eddie Wallace of the Sunshine Boys, William “Bill” Phipps (“The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp,” Arch Oboler’s Five), Michael Forest (100 Rifles, “The Virginian” and “Gunsmoke”), Rebecca Holden (“Knight Rider”), Wright King (the original Planet of the Apes), festival favorite Johnny Meeks, Gordie Peer and BarBara Luna (who costarred with Lockwood in Firecreek).
The Ernest Tubb Memorial Award, which honors a musical performer who has made a significant contribution to the arts through films, television, albums and personal appearances, will this year be presented to Mount Airy’s own Donna Fargo. In addition to a Grammy Award, Fargo has also won five awards from the Academy of Country Music, one from the Country Music Association, and is also a noted poet and author. Fargo joins the likes of such luminaries as Justin Tubb (who won the first award named after his father), Sheb Wooley, Patsy Montana, Hank Thompson, Tommy Overstreet, the Statler Brothers, Jean Shepard (last year’s recipient) and George Hamilton IV (who is scheduled to attend this year’s event), who have previously received the award.
Campbell has been a part of the Western Film Fair since its inception in 1978, when the event was held in St. Louis — but only as a fan. Over the years, he’s gotten more involved as the event has made the trek to North Carolina, from Charlotte to Raleigh, then back to Charlotte and now, for the second year, in Winston-Salem.
The Western Film Preservation Society, the official name of the organization from which the Western Film Fair sprung, is a non-profit organization established to preserve and promote the memories and ideals of Western movies and classic television.
“Our goal is to preserve the old Westerns,” notes Campbell, “and we hope we can continue to do this. We just like doing it. It’s a labor of love, it really is.” The Western Film Fair opens Wednesday at 1 p.m., but the real fireworks begin Thursday at 10 a.m., when the movies start running and the stars start shining. The fun also begins Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. A single three-day pass is $60, and a double three-day pass (for couples) is $75. A single-day pass is $20 per person, $5 per person after 5 p.m.
For more information, see the official website, westernfilmfair.tripod.com/index.html or call the hotel at 336.723.2911.
To comment on this story, e-mail Mark Burger at marksburger@yahoo.com.
The Western Film Fair rides into Winston- Salem on Wednesday, July 15, marking the second consecutive year that the annual event has moseyed into the City of the Arts.
The Clarion Sundance Plaza Hotel (3050 University Pkwy.) is again this year’s Film Fair headquarters. “Last year we had a successful year,” says Jerry Campbell, co-chairman (with Graham Talbott) of the film committee. “We never had any hotel treat us any better.”
For those who have heard of or attended conventions devoted to horror, science-fiction or Star Trek — or variations of all three — the Western Film Fair will not be unfamiliar territory. True, the fans aren’t dressing up like aliens, but their love of the Western genre is just as fervent. Nostalgia plays a big part in the proceedings, whether you grew up with the Westerns of John Wayne or the Westerns of Clint Eastwood.
The Western Film Fair includes daily screenings of almost 100 16mm movies and TV shows running simultaneously in multiple screening rooms; a dealers’ showcase with dozens of tables laden with DVDs, posters, autographs and myriad memorabilia; panel discussions and autograph sessions with the guest stars, many of whom know a thing or two about riding tall in the saddle; live entertainment each night; and, on the evening of Saturday (July 18), the Awards Night Banquet with live entertainment and the presentation of the Ernest Tubb Memorial Award. Whether it’s Gene Autry or Roy Rogers, John Wayne or Randolph Scott, John Ford or Howard Hawks, Sam Peckinpah or Sergio Leone, there’s no question that the Western remains one of the most durable genres of the 20th century — and it’s still continuing into this century.
Campbell’s old-school, and proud of it. “In 1936, I saw Gene Autry in a movie at the Broadhurst Theatre, and I never got over it,” he says. “The good guy in the white hat always wins — that’s a big part of it. I’ve always liked music, and I tell people that I have two favorites: The first is Gene Autry, and my second favorite is all the others — and that’s the truth.”
Nevertheless, he’s always willing to give a new Western a fair shake. He thought Ed Harris’ Appaloosa (2008) “came pretty close,” and Kevin Costner’s Open Range (2003) “was a good picture.” He also enjoyed Walter Hill’s Emmy Award-winning AMC miniseries “Broken Trail” (2006) which, like Open Range, starred Robert Duvall (who won an Emmy). “Any time you’ve got Robert Duvall, you’ve got a great head start,” Campbell says with a laugh.
Among the guest stars at this year’s Western Film Fair are such familiar faces as Gary Lockwood (2001: A Space Odyssey, Firecreek), Lynda Day George (Chisum, Day of the Animals), Kathy Garver (“Family Affair,” “The Patty Duke Show”), Deanna Lund (“Land of the Giants,” “Batman”), Beverly Washburn (“Star Trek,” Spider Baby), Marlyn Mason (“The Big Valley,” “Longstreet”), Eddie Wallace of the Sunshine Boys, William “Bill” Phipps (“The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp,” Arch Oboler’s Five), Michael Forest (100 Rifles, “The Virginian” and “Gunsmoke”), Rebecca Holden (“Knight Rider”), Wright King (the original Planet of the Apes), festival favorite Johnny Meeks, Gordie Peer and BarBara Luna (who costarred with Lockwood in Firecreek).
The Ernest Tubb Memorial Award, which honors a musical performer who has made a significant contribution to the arts through films, television, albums and personal appearances, will this year be presented to Mount Airy’s own Donna Fargo. In addition to a Grammy Award, Fargo has also won five awards from the Academy of Country Music, one from the Country Music Association, and is also a noted poet and author. Fargo joins the likes of such luminaries as Justin Tubb (who won the first award named after his father), Sheb Wooley, Patsy Montana, Hank Thompson, Tommy Overstreet, the Statler Brothers, Jean Shepard (last year’s recipient) and George Hamilton IV (who is scheduled to attend this year’s event), who have previously received the award.
Campbell has been a part of the Western Film Fair since its inception in 1978, when the event was held in St. Louis — but only as a fan. Over the years, he’s gotten more involved as the event has made the trek to North Carolina, from Charlotte to Raleigh, then back to Charlotte and now, for the second year, in Winston-Salem.
The Western Film Preservation Society, the official name of the organization from which the Western Film Fair sprung, is a non-profit organization established to preserve and promote the memories and ideals of Western movies and classic television.
“Our goal is to preserve the old Westerns,” notes Campbell, “and we hope we can continue to do this. We just like doing it. It’s a labor of love, it really is.” The Western Film Fair opens Wednesday at 1 p.m., but the real fireworks begin Thursday at 10 a.m., when the movies start running and the stars start shining. The fun also begins Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. A single three-day pass is $60, and a double three-day pass (for couples) is $75. A single-day pass is $20 per person, $5 per person after 5 p.m.
For more information, see the official website, westernfilmfair.tripod.com/index.html or call the hotel at 336.723.2911.
To comment on this story, e-mail Mark Burger at marksburger@yahoo.com.
