KANAB – “Lights, camera, action!” are words that have been heard myriad times throughout a small, Southern Utah town.
Since 1924, Kanab, Utah has served as the setting for many western films. The town’s unique propinquity to Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, and the Grand Canyon, offers filmmakers a diverse array of scenic backdrops, causing over one hundred Hollywood productions to take advantage of these grand and wondrous landscapes. Kanab was dubbed Little Hollywood early on, and has been the center of western movie production ever since.
Utah’s Little Hollywood did more than just put this small mountain range town on the map, it created Old West heroes and western legends. In keeping this western tradition alive, once a year, western fans flock to Kanab for one of the most unique events in the west, the Western Legends Roundup, which has turned into one of the signature western festivals in America. This year marks the festival’s 15th year.
The Roundup theme 2013 is a tribute to Western Legend Clint Walker, who appeared in “Fort Dobbs,” “The Virginian,” and “Cheyenne.” Already having a plaque of his own on the Little Hollywood Walk of Fame, Walker will be accepting a plaque on behalf of his co-star, late Hollywood legend Virginia Mayo.
In addition to Walker, this year’s visiting movie stars lineup is their largest yet with 20 Hollywood celebrities scheduled to appear, including, James Drury and Roberta Shore – “The Virginian,” Dan Haggerty – “Grizzly Adams,” Peter Brown – “Lawman” and “Loredo,” Andrew Prine – “Gunsmoke,” Robert Fuller and Denny Miller – “Wagon Train,” Ed Faulkner and Lana Wood – “Have Gun, Will Travel,” Peter Ford – “Cades County” and “A Time for Killing,” Kathy Garver – “Death Valley Days,” James Hampton – “Hawmps & F Troop,” and many more.
This year four plaques to commemorate stars, movies, and TV shows filmed in the area will be added to the Walk of Fame, including “Daniel Boone” (1964) being accepted by cast member Darby Hinton, Dan Duryea for “Black Bart” (1948), Anthony Quinn for “Buffalo Bill” (1944) and “Ride, Vaquero!” (1953), and Jack Nicholson and Will Hutchins for “The Shooting” (1966).
Aside from the celebrity panel discussions and autographs, other festivities include the street fair with merchandise and food vendors, two outdoor stages with continuous entertainment, Dinner with the Stars at the city park was held last night, Saturday morning will offer Breakfast with the Stars at the Chuckwagon Cookout, as the day goes on, there will a High Noon Parade and a Saturday night Barn Dance. There will also be film festival activities and lectures, stunt shows, quick draw shooting, western workshops, antique equipment and blacksmith demonstrations, a quilt show, and a silent auction.
These festivities are going on now and continue through Saturday night.
Resources
- Western Legends Roundup | Telephone: 435-644-3444
Related
- Festival in Kanab rounds up Western Legends and Hollywood stars
- Cheryl Rogers Hosts Salute to Roy Rogers on TCM
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