 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Hopalong Cassidy
Festival Report
The 16th Annual Festival was held Thursday to Saturday, May 4-6, 2006 in Cambridge, Ohio.
It was dedicated to Grace Bradley Boyd (Mrs. Hopalong Cassidy).
Before attending the Festival events, I made a pilgrimage stop at William Boyd's birthplace house in Hendrysburg, Ohio, shown here.
Click on photos for larger view:
The Festival was sponsored by The Hopalong Cassidy Fan Club International.
The local arrangements were handled by hardworking Festival General Director, Laura Bates. She was assisted by others, including Fan Club President Jim Truitt; Fan Club Vice President Barry Tourtellotte; Fan Club Treasurer John Spencer; Dinner Chair Martha Cherry; and Collector's Show Coordinator Charlie Cheek.
There was a full range of activities including a Western Collector's Show and Sale, a Parade of Cowboy Look-A-Likes; a Friday night dinner and panel with the guest stars; the Saturday morning parade in downtown Cambridge; and the Saturday Night Banquet with awards given out and a fund-raising auction.
Most of the events were held at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center in Cambridge.
These are the invited guests who appeared:
Dale Berry (Walker, Texas Ranger)
Peter Breck (The Big Valley )
John Buttram (nephew of Pat Buttram)
Serge Darrigrand (Tom Mix Look-A-Like)
Robert Hinkle (Gunsmoke)
Bo Hopkins (The Culpepper Cattle Co.)
Dick Jones (The Frontiersmen - Hopalong Cassidy film, 1938/
Range Rider/ Buffalo Bill Jr.)
Donna Martell (Blind Encounter - Hopalong Cassidy TV show)
Russ McCubbin (Cheyenne)
Denny Miller (Wagon Train)
Gregg Palmer (Daniel Boone)
Francis Reeves (Hoppy Look-A-Like)The Friday events included a memorial tribute to Bob Brown by Mary Ann and Fred Kunig and Frank Friers.
Also Judy Keel spoke about her late husband, the wonderful singer Howard Keel, before showing the popular movie musical: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
I gave a talk about Hoppy music with excerpts from several Hopalong Cassidy soundtracks and some readings from my book, "Following the Stars" -- Music and Memories of Hopalong Cassidy.
Many folks said this "Sweet 16" Hopalong Cassidy Festival was one of the best and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves .
It was a "Hoppy Time" for all!
I was pleased to receive two awards at the Festival:
The Hoppy Talk Golden Boot Award for 2006.
I was also awarded a Doctorate of Cowboys certificate from
"Hopalong Cassidy University."What a great honor! All for writing about my favorite cowboy star of the past.
Many thanks to Laura Bates and the Festival Committee for their recognition of my series of Hoppy Songs in the Hoppy Talk newsletter.
For all those fans who remember him, I'll say it loud and say it proud...
"Long live Hoppy!"
1. Roger Hall in front of the Festival sign in downtown Cambridge.
2. 1966 Producers Milk Truck at the Hopalong Cassidy Museum.
3. Serge Darrigrand (Tom Mix Look-A-Like) and Francis Reeves (Hoppy Look-A-Like).
4. Cowboy Look-A-Likes at the Festival.
5. Roger Hall talking about Hoppy music and reading from his book, "Following the Stars."
6. John Buttram, Denny Miller, Dick Jones.
7. Roger Hall and John Buttram.
8. Dale Berry.
9. Judy Keel holding her late husband Howard Keel's book, Only Make Believe.
10. Gail Hall and Dick Jones.
11. Gail Hall, Susie Coffman, Roger Hall.
12. Roger Hall and Rita Maenner.
13. Denny Miller.
14. Roger Hall and Festival Director Laura Bates.
15. William Boyd's boyhood home in Cambridge.
16. William Boyd Memorial in Cambridge, dedicated in 1992.Click on each photo to see larger view...
.jpg)
Read more about this disc by songwriter Roger Hall
who met Hopalong Cassidy in 1950 -- click here
Return to: Hopalong Cassidy Music
.jpg)
© 2006 PineTree Productions. All Rifghts Reserved.