True West Magazine
Few individuals have enjoyed such a successful, varied and influential career in Hollywood as 84-year-old actor, story editor, writer, director, producer and studio executive John Wilder.
Courtesy John Wilder
“My parents loved Westerns. My mother’s family were pioneers; they were the first four wagons into Seattle, Washington. When I was five, in a little house on American Lake in Washington, we’d listen to the radio, to the
Adventures of Red Ryder. Two years later I’m at the microphone doing the voice of the little Indian boy.”
John Wilder’s journey from kid, to kid actor, to TV writer, to writer-producer seemed almost predestined to prepare him for the crowning achievement of his career: writing and producing the monumental 26-hour miniseries, James H. Michener’s
A Tribute to Those We Lost in 2020
January 1, 2021 by:
As 2020 comes to a close, we here at JoBlo.com would like to take a moment to honour some of the people who sadly passed away this year. Our deepest respect goes out to everyone in the industry we have lost, and our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of those who died in 2020. These talented individuals will always be remembered for their impact on the world of film and television.
In Memory Of.
Buck Henry
Buck Henry passed away on January 8th at the age of 89 due to a heart attack. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Henry joined The Premise, an improv comedy group that performed in the West Village in Manhattan. From there, Henry went on to write for Steve Allen and Garry Moore, and he was even the face of an elaborate hoax created by comedian Alan Abel that spanned close to three years. Henry made many public appearances as G. Clifford Prout, the president of the Society for Indecency
The Sons of the Pioneers signing autographs in North Battleford at the Western Development Museum in August of 2015. They played to a sold out crowd. Photo by Jayne Foster
On stage, the Sons of the Pioneers the last time they played in North Battleford. Photo by Jayne Foster
Dusty’s father, Roy Rogers, founder of the Sons of the Pioneers, circa 1934. Photo submitted
Roy Rogers and Trigger. Not every piece of history is on record. Margaret Morrissette of Old Rivers Western Productions Ltd. wonders if Rogers was ever in the Battleford area? We are asking our more mature readers if they have any information. Morrissette says, “We know he was at Danceland in Watrous in the early 1940s.” If you have information, email us at newsoptimist.news@sasktel.net. Photo submitted