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| Courtesy
photo |
D.R.
Buck Montgomery (left with pistol), gets
the drop on the bad guy in a street brawl.
Montgomery (below), surveys the scene looking
to keep law and order at Pioneer Village.
(Click picture for full size image) |
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| Courtesy
photo |
| (Click
picture for full size image) |
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Old
West to come alive at Pioneer Village
by
Jim Crawford
PIONEER
VILLAGE – For those lookin’ for a wild and
woolly good time this weekend, the third annual
Wild West Festival rolls into Pioneer Village
for three days of Old West action and adventure.
The
event features a Wild West comedy stunt show,
entertainment, movie and television stars,
an artisan fair and the most important element–
loads and loads of fun for all ages.
The
whole shebang is the brainchild of D.R. Buck
Montgomery, an hombre who knows the Wild West
from the inside out, having spent most of
his life connected to the Western movie business.
After
33 years as a Hollywood stuntman, several
years as general manager of the famed Ponderosa
Ranch in Lake Tahoe, Nev., 11 concussions,
countless broken ribs, crushed vertebra and
a fully rebuilt leg, Montgomery decided it
was time to do something else. After all,
he ain’t no spring chicken.
“This
is our third year,” Montgomery said. “It feels
like its our sixth we’ve had so many people
come through the gates. I’ve gone to a bunch
of these Western festivals and every time
I went, I looked around and thought ... there’s
something missing.
“When
I found Pioneer Village I thought, ‘Wow, I
finally found a place with the right atmosphere.’
I like to call it ‘history meets Hollywood.’
It’s got 22 authentic Western buildings. It’s
the perfect spot and it’s great exposure for
Pioneer Village.”
Hollywood
stuntmen will demonstrate their moves along
with quick draw champions. Famous actors from
popular Western movies and TV series will
meet and greet the public. (For a more complete
list of performers, visit thedesertadvocate.com.)
John Wayne and Gabby Hayes impersonators will
take many old‑timers back to the glory
days of shoot ‘em up Western flicks so popular
in the 1940s and ‘50s and ‘60s.
The
Artists Village will feature scads of Old West
clothing, leather goods, authentic carpet bags,
collectibles, home décor, art, Native American
jewelry, pottery, customized branding irons,
furniture, custom leather work, cowboy hats,
western clothing and accessories, rock art,
ladies apparel, jewelry, toys and gift items.
Those
really wanting to get into the swing of things
can come dressed in their finest Western duds
and compete for prizes in the festival costume
contest.
“Some
of those folks eat that stuff up,” Montgomery
said. “The costumes are incredible.”
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