This Here Trail Sure Stretches A Long Way.

This month marks the 13th year of this blog. Wow.

That also means I’ve been working on the book that’s its namesake, 50 Westerns From The 50s, just as long. Along the way, there have been job changes, a move, several computer purchases and a steady coming and going of films on the list of “The Fifty.”

And while all that time is kinda embarrassing to admit to, I’m stoked to report that it’s getting pretty close and I have a publishing date in mind for it. Gonna try really hard to stick to it. As sure as the turning of the earth.

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Coming Soon: The Joel McCrea Blogathon.

This is a reminder that the Joel McCrea Blogathon will come riding up November 4-6. It marks what would’ve been McCrea’s 111th birthday, November 5, with a celebration of his incredible body of work. His career covered about every genre and included some of cinema’s greatest directors: Sturges, Walsh, Hawks, DeMille, Hitchcock, Peckinpah.

If you’re interested in playing along, here’s what you do:
• Pick a McCrea picture. Any one will do.
• Let me know you want to participate (email fiftieswesterns@gmail.com), what you want to cover and when you plan to post it — Friday November 4th through Sunday the 6th. Your posts can be in any form, of any length, and on any topic as long as it relates to McCrea, but I’d like to manage things a bit to make sure we don’t end up with 14 people writing about the same thing.
• Post your piece on the scheduled day, using the official blogathon banner (up top).
• Send me the link so I can post it on the master list.
• Be sure to read all the other posts from your fellow bloggers.

A tip of the hat to Phil Hansley for the badge.

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Seven Years And Still Itching To Watch More Westerns.

It’s hard to believe this blog has been going for seven years. Time really does fly when you’re having fun.

I owe y’all a big fat thanks for your clicks, your recommendations and your comments. Without you, this thing wouldn’t have made it near this long.

And with this announcement out of the way, it’s back to business. After all, there’s an Audie Murphy set on the way!

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Coming Soon: The Joel McCrea Blogathon.

The Joel McCrea Blogathon
November 4 – 6, 2016

Joel McCrea stands tall as a true icon of Hollywood’s West. Before becoming so associated with cowboy pictures, he appeared in classics like Most Dangerous Game (1932), Foreign Correspondent (1940) and Sullivan’s Travels (1941). Let’s mark what would’ve been his 111th birthday, November 5, with a celebration of his work.

Here’s what you do:
• Pick a McCrea picture. Any one will do.
• Let me know you want to participate (email fiftieswesterns@gmail.com), what you want to cover and when you plan to post it — Friday November 4th through Sunday the 6th. Your posts can be in any form, of any length, and on any topic as long as it relates to McCrea, but I’d like to manage things a bit to make sure we don’t end up with 14 people writing about the same thing.
• Post your piece on the scheduled day, using the official blogathon banner and link (to come).
• Send me the link so I can post it on the master list.

This should be a lot of fun.

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Starts Friday! The Republic Pictures Blogathon.

The Republic Pictures Blogathon kicks off Friday, and I’m getting excited about it. Some good people are covering some of the studio’s coolest movies.

If you’d like to participate, feel free. Here’s what you do:
• Pick a Republic-related topic: the possibilities are almost endless.
• Let me know you want to ride along (email fiftieswesterns@gmail.com), what subject you want to cover and when you plan to post it. Your posts can be in any form, of any length, and on any topic as long as it relates to Republic Pictures, but I’d like to manage things a bit to make sure we don’t end up with 14 people writing about Radar Men From The Moon.
• Post your piece on the scheduled day, using the Republic Pictures Blogathon banner (above) and link (to come).
• Send me the link to your post so I can add it to the master list.

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Announcing The Republic Pictures Blogathon.

The Republic Pictures Blogathon is coming, September 18-20 — a celebration of the studio’s incredible talent roster, wonderful output and lasting legacy.

Here’s what you do:
• Pick a Republic-related topic: the possibilities are almost endless.
• Let me know you want to ride along (email fiftieswesterns@gmail.com), what subject you want to cover and when you plan to post it. Your posts can be in any form, of any length, and on any topic as long as it relates to Republic Pictures, but I’d like to manage things a bit to make sure we don’t end up with 14 people writing about Radar Men From The Moon.
• Post your piece on the scheduled day, using the Republic Pictures Blogathon banner and link (to come).
• Send me the link so I can post it on the master list.

This should be a lot of fun.

Thanks to John Knight for planting the seed for this thing. And to Mr. Jack Mathis for keeping the eagle flying all those years.

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No Gunfight At The 1K Corral, But Plenty Of Typing.

This is the 1,000th post on 50 Westerns From The 50s. I was going to give the milestone a quick mention in an upcoming post (on Badman’s Territory) and move on, but when Jennifer came up with “The 1K Corral,” it seemed like I had to do something more with it.

A thousand of these things is a lot of writin’ on my part — and a ton of readin’ and commentin’ on yours. Thanks for riding along. It’d be a lonely trail without you.

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The Blogathon For Randolph Scott: End Of The Trail.

Well, that’s it for The Blogathon For Randolph Scott.

I don’t know where to start. This turned out to be a much bigger deal than I ever woulda thought.

Thanks to everyone who took part in the writing and/or the comments. So much good stuff. I wasn’t able to be as active as I wanted, but y’all more than took up the slack. We all probably came away with a movie or two (or more) we want to revisit. For me, it’s The Nevadan (1950), Trail Street (1947) and Virginia City (1940). Oh, and Tall Man Riding (1955). And I’m certainly envious of all of you who’ve experienced The Stranger Wore A Gun (1953) in 3D.

Another blogathon will kick off before long, maybe in the spring. Thanks to you, it’s gonna have some mighty big boots to fill.

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A Blogathon For Randolph Scott.

A Blogathon For Randolph Scott
January 23 – 25, 2015

Randolph Scott is my favorite actor. Period. And this blogathon has been a goal of mine since I first figured out what a blogathon was.

To me, Scott’s the poster child for the 50s Western. His finest work during the decade ranks among the genre’s best — in spite of, or maybe even because of, tighter budgets and schedules than the films of stars like, say, John Wayne or Jimmy Stewart. And his lesser ones, they’re still worthwhile — even if only for his presence.

Randolph Scott was born on January 23, and that’s when we’ll saddle up.

Here’s how it works:
• Pick a Randolph Scott film or related topic. (It does not have to be a Western or from the 50s.)
• Write me at fiftieswesterns@gmail.com to let me know you want to ride along, what you want to write about, and when you plan to post it.
• Post your piece on your scheduled day, using the official Randolph Scott Blogathon badge (below) and link to the hub.
• Send me the link to your post so I can add it to the master list.

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There Are Movies That Aren’t Westerns?

I’ve enjoyed the researchin’, writin’ and opinionatin’ of this blog so much, I wanted to do the same thing about the other genres I love, from 50s monster stuff to the 60s spy craze to 70s road movies.

It’s called The Hannibal 8. I’ll let you figure out what that’s about. There’s no book or anything attached to this one, it’s just an excuse to watch some of my favorite films again—and write a bit about ’em.

Check it out when you get a chance. (That’s Buster Keaton up top, in 1924’s Sherlock Jr.)

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