Jane Russell turned 86 on June 21, 2007. Her big break into show biz came when director/billionaire Howard Hughes became enamored with her two biggest assets and featured her/them in a Western called "The Outlaw". Bob Hope once introduced her as . . . "The two and only, Jane Russell." And after one of her visits to a World War II battle area, the troops named two nearby hills after her. She also starred with Roy Rogers and Bob Hope in the Western comedies, "Paleface" and "Son of Paleface".

Legendary songwriter Kris Kristofferson turned 71 on June 22nd. He also starred in what must rank in the Top 10 of the very worst Westerns ever made: "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" (1973).

And what is the worst Western of the modern era (i.e., since 1960)? My vote would go for "The Legend of O.B. Taggard," the brain-child of Mickey Rooney. He wrote the screenplay, directed it and starred in it. Everything about it was bad. The plot, the casting, the photography, etc. It was one of the late Ben Johnson's last movies, and no doubt an embarrassment to this Oscar-winning actor.

Native American actor Graham Greene, who first came to the attention of most of us when he appeared in "Dances with Wolves," turned 55 on June 22nd.


That famous (or is it infamous, I keep forgetting) cowgirl deejay, Jo Hargrave, has two radio programs that you'll want to listen to if you're in the area. She has a cowboy gospel show at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. It is called "Cowboy Camp Meetin'." It is  followed at 11:00 a.m. by "Keepin' It Cowboy," a show filled with general cowboy music and poetry. Both of Hargrave's programs are heard on 98.5 on the FM dial on KACO in Anadarko, Oklahoma. Her phone number is 580-464-2193. And her web site is www.keepinitcowboy.com.


Good news for fans of the Western TV classic "Rawhide". The first and second seasons of Rawhide are each now available on DVD. This is the show that gave us the young and impulsive cowhand called Rowdy Yates, otherwise known as Clint Eastwood. With great cast members and excellent screen writers and directors, Rawhide is always a pleasure to watch, no matter how many times you've seen the particular episode.

 The Cowboy's Memory Problem
by Stan Paregien, Sr.
Copyrighted 2007

 

Seems like my memory is slippin' its cinch,

And lots of things and people are just a fuzz.

Near as I can figure out the reason I'm like this is

'Cause my memory just ain't like it never was.

That ol' ranch rooster woke me up as usual,

With his loud, screetching yell.

Guess I plum forgot to set my alarm clock, again.

But I can't remember enough of that story to tell.

I got out of bed today, wondering where I was,

And I put on my cowboy boots and hat.

Thank heavens for that mirror on the wall,

Or I'd gone outside with nothing on more'n that.

Truth is, I looked for well over an hour and a half,

Trying to find the keys to my pickup truck.

Finally had to drive into town on my John Deere tractor,

Hoping the rest of the day I'd have better luck.

Somebody was supposed to call me today,

And I think maybe his name rhymes with sings.

I reckon if I get back home before he calls me,

I'd find my lost cell phone when it rings.

I admit I do have trouble remembering things.

So I'm gonna take a Sam Carnegie Seminar.

That way I'll remember ol' Bill and Bobby Joe

--Or was it Jake and Ed—at the Longhorn Bar.

Last time I went to town it was embarrarsing,

When all those strangers said howdy to me.

Some of their names soundly just a bit familiar,

But I can't remember which ones, you see.

The stranger down at my regular feed store

Was just as helpful as any feller ever was.

But I kinda wondered just what he meant

When he said, “Well, I'll be seein' ya, cuz.”

I stopped by the bank to do something or other,

But I couldn't remember exactly why.

The nice teller at the drive-up offered to help me,

But I told her me and my tractor were just driving by.

I was hungry so I went inside a little diner

And that cute waitress kinda gave me the eye.

She sounded sorta familiar when she said,

“Are you pickin' up the kids at school, or am I?”

Well, it seems like there is a another verse to this,

But . . . . well, I have forgotten how it goes.

So, pardner, you can just make up a line your self,

'Cause this is your big chance to compose.

--End.

This poem is copyrighted. It may not be reproduced in any form, including public performances, without written permission of Stan Paregien, Sr.

Betty Hutton

Betty Hutton was born as Elizabeth June Thornburg. That was on February 26, 1921, in Battle Creek, Michigan.

The beautiful blond with the golden voice didn't give up on her dream of making it in New York City. Sure enough, in 1940 at the age of 19, she was singing on Broadway. And in 1941, Hollywood came calling and at age 21 made her first movie, "The Fleet's In (Paramount, 1942).

Her only Western entertainment credits came for starring in the movie, "Annie Get Your Gun" in 1950, starring in a TV special, "Satins and Spurs" in 1954, and for a guest appearance in 1965 on the TV show, "Gunsmoke". 

She was extremely sensitive to criticism. She quit show biz "for good," several times. She turned down the part of Ado Annie in that new play, "Oklahoma!" in 1954. Her career as over by 1959.


Betty Hutton married four times and had three children in the process. She spent her last years quietly and out of the public eye in Palm Springs, Calif. She died on March 11, 2007, at the age of 86. She had colon cancer. She is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cathedral City, Calif.
(See her longer bio under the regular menu)


Jim Shoulders

Rodeo superstar Jim Shoulders, age 79, died at his home in Henryetta, Oklahoma on June 20, 2007. He had been suffering from congestive heart failure. He was a bull rider and saddle bronc rider who won 16 world championships during his long career.

Ironically, I was the next to the last interviewer to be in his home before his death. I had interviewed him there, some time ago, but my computer crashed and I lost those photographs. So I returned to his home on March 17th of this year to re-take those photos. I have sold that article to American Cowboy magazine and editor Jesse Mullins, Jr., tells me he will post it on their web site as soon as possible. So look for it at www.americancowboy.com .

This photo was taken of Stan Paregien with Jim Shoulders on
March 17, 2007 by Shoulders' wife, Sharon Shoulders.

He had just been released a few days earlier from a short stay in the hospital, but he was bright and cheerful and cooperative during the photo shoot. His wife, Sharon, had just taken a shower and was in her bathrobe and houseshoes. But she kept the hot coffee coming and also supplied some addition information about Jim's legendary career.

There was an outdoor memorial service for him at 2 pm on Sunday, June 24th, at the Jim Shoulders Arena at Nichols Park in Henryetta. 


Click here   to watch a video of Jim Shoulders winning the World Championship in 1959. He was one tough competitor.



Boots Randolph

Boots Randolph, a saxophone player best known for the 1963 hit "Yakety Sax," died Tuesday, July 3rd in Nashville, Tenn. He had entered the hospital for treatment of a brain hemmorhage. He was 80 years of age.

Randolph played his tenor sax with style and flair. And that made him a hot item on TV shows and festivals, as well as in the recording studio. He was on the Jimmy Dean TV show many times, and for eight years was a featured a member of the "Million Dollar Band" on Hee Haw.

See his complete bio at our web site, www.cowboydirectory.com .




60 YEARS AND COUNTING        
                                                         

Congratulations to Elmer and Ann Kelton

on the 60th anniversary of their marriage.

They had a big celebration at the Cactus

Hotel in San Angelo, Texas on July 3rd.

You're just not gonna find two nicer folks

than Elmer and Ann Kelton.








 

By the way, Dr. Stan Hoig was born in Gage, Oklahoma on June 24, 1924. He lives here in Edmond. I had the pleasure of interviewing him in his home, and I hope to have that interview ready in a few weeks.

Anyway, Dr. Hoig served as the Grand Marshall of the Edmond (Oklahoma) 4th of July Parade.

Well, folks, no one answered the last trivia question correctly or even came close.

Some of you are going to hate yourself in the morning,
because you know the man very well.

This photo was taken in the early 1930's. The trivia question featured a closeup of the person at the far right. And now you know that the guy in Hawaiian drag is none other than one of the best steel guitar players of all time, Leon McAuliffe. You remember Bob Wills shouting, "Take it away, Leon!" don't you? He is playing a dobro in the picture.

                                       New Trivia Question
 
Here is the new trivia question:  Who is the only entertainer to ever have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Stars?

Just be the first to email your answer to Stan and you will be the big weiner . . . er, I mean, winner!

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       Oklahoma Nominees for WMA Awards


Hey, folks, my home state of Oklahoma is well represented in the nominations for the Western Music Association Awards to be presented at the Festival in Albuquerque in November.

Jean Cahill and Jerome Campbell (Strang, OK), who perform together as "Call of the West," were nominated for "Traditional Duo/Group" who has shown the greatest competence in both recorded and in-person performances.

And "Call of the West" was also nominated in the category of "Western Swing Duo/Group".

Then Jean and Jerome each were nominated as "Instrumentalist of the Year". Wow, how often is that gonna happen? Not often, you can bet.

Jay Snider (Cyril, OK) is nominated for "Male Poet of the Year". And his CD, "Of Horses and Men," is nominated for "Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year".

Francine Roark Robison (Tecumseh, OK), the current Poet Lariet of Oklahoma, is nomindated for "Female Poet of the Year".

Debra Coppinger Hill (poet; Chelsea, OK) and friend Jon Messenger (musician) are nominated in the "Best Collaboration of Poet and Musician" category for "Spirits of Truth".

Way to go buckeroos and buckerettes! We're proud of ya!

July 19-20, 2007  -- "Hall of Fame Showcase" presented by the Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest, will be held at the Express Event Center, 8512 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK.  NOTE: This is a both a change of locations and a change of dates. For more info, call Harry Coffman (405-495-3166) or Jerry Emery (918-486-3372).

August 7, 2007  -- The Academy of Western Artists convention will take place at the Granville Theater in Garland, Texas. The day ends with the presentation of the Will Rogers Awards to the best Western artists, musicians, singers, cowboy poets, disc jockeys, cartoonists, spurmakers, saddlemakers, and so forth.  For more information, see www.awa-awards.com or call 580-389-5350. 

                               

August 24-25, 2007  --  The 9th Annual Midwest Bluegrass Festival in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Scotty & Tommie Howard host this event at the Potawatomi Tribal Campgrounds (From Interstate I-40, exit to Hwy 177, go south to Hardesty Road, turn left and go1mile to Gordon Cooper Dr., then turn right (south). The Campground is 1/4 mile further, on the right side of road.). In keeping with the Oklahoma Centennial celebration, all bands this year are from Oklahoma. The best known performer, no doubt, is fiddler extraordinaire Jana Jae. See the Howard's web site for more details -- http://www.geocities.com/tommiehoward/  You will notice, there, that the Howard's latest CD features "The Angel Song," a song sung by Gene Autry in his 1948 movie, "The Strawberry Roan".

September 6-9, 2007  --  The National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration at the Civic Center in Lubbock, Texas

Sept. 27-29, 2007  -- Dance and Jam, presented by the Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest, at the Ritz Plaza Hotel, I40 East and Lakeside Road (Exit 75), in Amarillo, Texas. For more info, contact Jimmy or Gwen Cox at 806-655-4940.

Sept. 26-30, 2007  --

The Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum Film & Music Festival will be held on Sept.26-30, 2007. They usually manage to bring in a few  of the remaining B-Western movie actors. Those scheduled to be there this year include Dick Jones ("Buffalo Bill Jr."), James Drury ("The Virginian") and Roberta Shore (also in The Virginian). Singers and musicians scheduled to be performing include Riders in the Sky, Les Gilliam, Buck Helton, and Call of the West.

This festival will mark not only the Centennial Celebration of when Oklahoma became a state in 1907, it will also mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gene Autry himself. No, he wasn't born in Oklahoma. He was born in Tioga, Texas. But as soon as he saw the light, he moved to Ravia, Oklahoma and grew up there.

The official Museum web site is: www.cow-boy.com/museum.htm . Or call 580-294-3047 for information.

Nov. 14-18, 2007  -- Western Music Association Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is a wonderful gathering of cowboy singers, musicians and poets. This good, clean family-oriented show features some of the best Western entertainers in the business.   www.westernmusic.org

Guess that's about it, for now. See ya again in two months or so.
--Stan Paregien, Sr.

 

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© 2007 by Stan Paregien, Sr.

 

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