Film & Television Stars... 
Denny Miller (Scout Duke Shannon on Wagon Train)
Best known by Western fans as Duke Shannon in the Wagon Train TV series from 1961 to 1964, Denny Miller has a varied film background in films and television. His roles have spanned from Tarzan in 1959 to guest starring on Gilligan's Island in 1964, and he's played the Gorton's fisherman on TV ads for the past 14 years.
Also an author, Miller has written his autobiography and a book about the obesity problem in the United States. Donna Douglas (Elly May from The Beverly Hillbillies)
An honest-to-goodness Southern Belle (similar to her mo st famous role as "Elly May" on The Beverly Hillbillies), Donna Douglas has little experience in Western films, but exemplifies the strong values those old Westerns impart. She's become a popular participant at film festivals across the country, and will be a charming addition to the 2009 Festival, her schedule permitting.
In addition to her tom girl role on that situation comedy of the 1960s, Donna has appeared on a variety of television series and films, most often comedies. A devoted Christian, Douglas is also a noted gospel singer, and will be featured during our Cowboy Church get-together, Sunday morning of the Festival. Johnny Western (Film Star, Performer, Radio Personality & Western and Country Music Historian)
Johnny was Gene Autry's featured singer and guitarist during the mid-'5 0s, acted in a variety of films and Western TV series, writer of "The Ballad of Paladin," the theme song for Have Gun, Will Travel, and later served as a featured performer and MC of Johnny Cash's road show.
Today Johnny does a daily radio show for KFDI in Wichita, Kansas, a station that features cowboy and Western. He continues to tour and perform at radios, film festivals and Western music events throughout the world.
He's become a fixture at the Gene Autry Oklahoma Film & Music Festival, and we welcome him back with great appreciation for his time, talent and winning personality! Ben Cooper (Film & TV Actor)
A gentle, soft-spoken actor whose acting experience ranges from stage, radio, televisi on and films, mostly westerns, Ben Cooper appeared in such films as Johnny Guitar, Support Your Local Gunfighter, The Rose Tattoo, Duel at Apache Wells, The Sky’s the Limit, The Red Tomahawk, Waco and Arizona Raiders. TV appearances include The Virginian, Death Valley Days, Perry Mason, The Rifleman, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Bonanza, Zane Gray Theater, Wagon Train, Laramie, Johnny Ringo and Tales of Wells Fargo. His characters alternated between heroes and villains and his genres varied from westerns, science fiction (The Time Tunnel), detective shows (Mannix), medical dramas (Marcus Welby, MD) and even comedies (Cheers).
Cooper, a native of Hartford, Connecticut, who lives in Los Angeles, retired from films in 1961 and worked in television throughout the 1980s. Burton Gilliam (Blazing Saddles)
 Burton Gilliam achieved fame long before his film career, setting the record for most wins as a Golden Gloves boxer. Gilliam worked as a fireman in Dallas before turning to acting in the early 1970s. H is toothy grin, braying voice and village-buffoon demeanor were effectively harnessed for such roles as the night clerk in Paper Moon (1974), the chain-gang boss in Blazing Saddles (1975) and the leader of the "Flying Elvises" in Honeymoon in Vegas (1992).
On TV, Gilliam was seen on Virgie on Evening Shade (1992) and as one of the "This stuff's made in New York City" cowboys on the popular Pace's Picante Sauce commercials. Dale Berry (Walker, Texas Ranger)
A professional "picker & grinner" since 1945, Dale has performed on radio, at personal appearances and in films and TV series. As a radio and road performer, he opened for many of the great Western stars at their personal appearances, where he enjoyed meeting and working with such stars as Sunset Carson, Smiley Burnette, Kenne Duncan, Jim Bannon, Don "Red" Barry and many, many others . As an extra in some of their films, he learned the acting craft and worked his way up to parts in such television series as Route 66, Dallas, Walker, Texas Ranger and a current series called Fourth and Goal.
Dale Berry with friend Gene Autry. James Hampton (F Troop)
Jim Hampton, known primarily for his role in TV's F Troop as .jpg) Trooper Hannibal Dobbs, is another Oklahoma-born film star who will participate in the 2009 Festival. You may have also seen him on The D oris Day Show during the late '60s and such films as The Longest Yard, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination, Teen Wolf with Michael J. Fox and Sling Blade with Billy Bob Thornton. Jim and his quick wit have proven to be a favorite of the Gene Autry Oklahoma Film & Music Festival. Don Reynolds (Little Beaver)
The son of famed horse trainer Fez Reynolds and a champion trick and fancy rider from early childhood, Don Kay Reynolds replaced Bobby Blake as "Little Beaver," in the last four films of the Red Ryder series.
Among his most recent credits is animal trainer for The Lord of the Rings, shot on location in New Zealand.
Reynolds is retired and living in northern Texas. Judy Keel (Actress, author & wife of Western star Howard Keel)
Howard Keel burst onto the international scene in 1947 via his London theatrical p erformance as “Curly” in Oklahoma! Memorable film roles followed, including Annie Get Your Gun, Showboat, Kiss Me Kate, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and War Wagon.
When Howard met Judy on a blind date in 1970, he described her as a beautiful blonde with the most fantastic eyes he’d ever seen. The next 36 years represented a love story for all time, interrupted with making motion pictures, performing in live theater, singing in concerts, and his 12-season stint as Clayton Farlow, J.R. Ewing’s step-father on Dallas.
Howard loved Westerns and appeared in several of them. Judy and Howard were long- time friends of Jackie and Gene Autry’s.
Authors & More Cheryl Rogers Barnett (Cowboy Princess, Roy Rogers' daughter)
The adopted daughter of Roy Rogers and his first wife, Arline, Cheryl Rogers Barnett has spent her life in an active business career, filled with charity work, some related to the filmmaking industry.
Cheryl's acting career was brief, consisting of one of her father's movies, Trail of Robin Hood, and one episode, Outlaws of Paradise Valley, of her dad's TV series The Roy Rogers Show. Cheryl's professional life has included banking and finance in the enter tainment industry, property management for a food service company with holdings throughout the U.S. and Mexico, and managing the offices of a legal firm and a civil engineering company. She has also contributed her time and talent to many worthwhile charitable groups.
Along with Dale, Cheryl was a charter member of the parent organization of Childhelp USA, which after 30 years still leads the national battle against child abuse. Cheryl and her husband, Larry, live in Washington, Utah.
Cheryl is the author of two books, Cowboy Princess, the story of her life with Roy and Dale, and The All-American Cowboy Grill, a cookbook featuring favorite recipes from a variety of cowboy stars. Francis (Mike) Nevins (novelist and writer of articles on various B-Western topics)
An energetic writer of mystery novels and stories, this professor emeritus at St.  Louis University School of Law also writes about B-Western films and their characters, including Hopalong Cassidy: On the Page, On the Screen, The Cisco Kid: American Hero, Hispanic Roots, The Films of Hopalong Cassidy, The Films of the Cisco Kid, Joseph H. Lewis: Overview, Interview and Filmography and Paul Landres: A Director's Stories.
He's won numerous awards for his works and enjoys appearing at book events and film festivals across the country. Bobby Copeland (prolific author of B-Western books)
The world's most prolific writer of movie cowboy books, Bobby Copeland has just published his 13th and 14th book on this subject, biographies of Sunset Carson and Smiley Burnette.
A B-Western historian who has studied the subject for more than 25 years, Copeland's numerous articles and books cover the cowboys, horses and many other things pertaining to the B-Western films. His books cover such subjects as the movie bad men, Western star quotes, the star's horses, plus biographies of Tom Tyler, Johnny Mack Brown, Bill Elliott, Roy Barcroft, Charlie King, Bob Baker, Whip Wilson as well as some of the lesser known cowboys, including Eddie Dean and Russell Hayden. His most recent publication is a profile of popular movie sidekick Gabby Hayes.
Bobby regularly participates in film festivals across the country and has received numerous awards for his efforts in preserving the history of the B-Western films. Joy ce Spizer Foy (Howard Keel biographer)
Singer, actor, producer and co-writer (with Judy Keel) of actor Howard Keel’s biography, entitled Only Make Believe, Judy has done it all. She spent her early adulthood as, believe it or not, a private investigator. Then she decided that being a writer was her true calling, and took instruction from such notables as Ray Bradbury and Charles Schultz. She wrote the Harbor Pointe Mystery Series, a fictionalized account of her own real-life cases. She’s also written two screen plays, both currently in production. Then she met Howard Keel...and the rest is history. Hank Williams (Crusaders of the Sagebrush, The Bob Baker Book, Those Wide Open Spaces)
This author writes about the B-Western stars, their careers, their films and their influence on Americans, and practices his love for the cowboy movies by playing The Ghost of Zorro at many a western event across the country. See further information on Hank Williams and a photo below under "Look-alikes." Sandy Grabman (Pat Buttram, the Rocking Chair Humorist) Sandra Grabman, formerly an author of articles for specialty magazines about  raising an autistic child, has been writing biographical books and articles about show-biz subjects for ten years. Her published books include Spotlights & Shadows: The Albert Salmi Story; Plain Beautiful: The Life of Peggy Ann Garner; No Retakes (actors' memories of live television); and our personal favorite, Pat Buttram, the Rocking Chair Humorist. As you may recall, Pat was Gene's sidekick in movies, radio, television, and personal appearances for many years. Grabman is currently researching the life of the late actor Lloyd Nolan for her next biography. She lives with her husband and two cats in Duncan, Oklahoma. Check out her website at www.sandragrabman.com. Judy Gail Krasnow (Rudolph, Frosty and Captain K angaroo: The Music Life of Hecky Krasnow--Producer of the World's Most Beloved Children's Songs)
Judy Gail Krasnow grew up in the recording studios of Columbia Records where her father, Hecky Krasnow, founded and directed the Children's Record Department and produced such classics as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman" and Captain Kangaroo's many songs and stories. In her book, Judy shares memories of her father, the celebrities he produced, the friendships he formed with the likes of Gene Autry and Rosemary Clooney, and her moments of enchantment as a child actress and backup singer. Celebrities & Other Characters Jeff Hildebrandt (The Western Channel)
Like a lot of folks who enjoy cowboy poetry, Jeff doesn't make his living in the saddle. But his unique rhymes transcend the traditional in a way that appeals to those who can only dream of cool nights under a big sky.
In 2006, Jeff performed for the first-ever Great American Cowboy China Tour, in 2004, he became only the second Cowboy Poet to perform at Carnegie Hall and is one of a select few to perform his poetry at the Golden Boot Awards in Los Angeles.
He has been honored repeatedly for his "significant contributions to preserve and promote the history, heritage, traditions and spirit of the American West.
He serves as Managing Producer at Encore Westerns television network and has appeared at the Gene Autry Oklahoma Film & Music Festival on several occasions. Celebrity MCs... John Bu ttram (Pat Buttram Sound-alike)
He's a nephew of Gene Autry sidekick Pat Buttram and has made a name for himself as an MC and personality who dresses and talks like his Uncle Pat and shares a wealth of "Buttramisms." Close your eyes and you'll think that Pat is still with us, as John helps us out with MC chores throughout the Film & Music Festival.
He's served as MC for such prestigious events as Gene Autry Days in Kenton, Ohio, the big Cowboy Poetry festival in Lubbock, Texas, The Fort Worth Stock Show, The Cowtown Gala fundraiser, the Cowboy Symposium in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the Hopalong Cassidy Festival in Cambridge, Ohio. He has received recognition at the California-based Golden Boot Awards ceremonies. At this summers 100th birthday of Gene Autry celebration, he was featured in many of the festivities presented by Gene Autry Entertainment. He's been with the Gene Autry Oklahoma Film & Music Festival for ten years now and we welcome John back for his eleventh year!
Rex Jenkins (Songwriter, Nashville Personality)
Rex is the writer of such country standards as "Country Bumpkin" and "Saginaw, Michigan," a long-time Nashville resident and has worked with many of the big names in traditional country music. Jo Hargrave (Radio Personality, Writer, Producer & Rancher)
This Oklahoma horse woman has been in the radio business for 27 years and is one of America's most celebrated cowboy radio personalities.
Her "Keepin' it Cowboy" show was syndicated by numerous stations all across the United States and in three foreign countries and several internet stations as well. Her "Christmas in Cowboy Country" (narrated by Clint Black) was featured on CMT for three years running. In 2003 she was named Top Western DJ by the Academy of  Western Artists, the first woman to win that honor.
In addition to her radio and related work, she's written for a variety of Western publications, has served as an event producer and gets a kick out of judging chili cook-offs and other food competitions! And if that's not enough, she's a horse woman, a rancher, a gardener and a baker...whose cinnamon rolls are to die for!
Known for her warm, folksy style, Jo will do some MC duties, moderating and will likely show up on a panel or two about Western music at this year's festival. Cowboy Look-Alikes Bob Seiber (John Wayne)
Bob looks and acts so much like John Wayne that most folks who know him call him "Duke." He's a long-time member of the Gene Autry Oklahoma Film & Music Festival cast (and a variety of other theme festivals across the country, as well).
He's portrayed The Duke for more than 25 years now and has appeared at festivals, churches, music shows, festivals, schools and on TV shows, both in his local area (Tennessee) and in Colorado for a national pilot with Rex Allen, Jr. He's looked up to the actor since he first saw him in Red River, back in the 1940s. As far as Bob is concerned, John Wayne is one of America's greatest heroes, right up there with Gene Autry. Alan Bye (Gabby Hayes)
Well-known cowboy sidekick Gabby Hayes  comes to life when Alan Bye says "Yur Durn-tootin'!" He's a long-time Gene Autry Film & Music Festival favorite and says it's a life-long dream-come-true to portray this comic hero.
It all started when a friend at the Will Rogers Festival in Ohio talked him into playing a cowboy character...and the first year he did so, he won the costume competition. Everybody thought he was a comedian, because when he attempted to twirl his gun, it flew out of his hand, and attempted to stick the gun back into his holster, the entire gun belt slid down to his ankle. That's all it took. He won the contest and he was hooked.
One of Alan's most fond memories of his years as a Gabby Hayes look-alike is the time he got to ride with other look-alikes in the NFL Football Hall of Fame Grand Parade held in Canton, Ohio, in 1998 in front of 250,000 football and cowboy fans.
He's been participating in the Gene Autry Oklahoma Film & Music Festival since 1997. Watch for Alan and the other look-alikes at the front door (as they greet guests), during a special panel discussion about their experiences and around the grounds throughout the weekend. Bob Wallace (Lash LaRue)
Bob Wallace from Maryland is an im personator of Western star Lash LaRue, known as "The King of the Bullwhip." He rode the Silver Screen from the mid-40s to the early 1950s, dressed totally in black, riding on his trusty steed "Black Diamond." Lash LaRue was a true B-Western legend and Bob enjoys portraying him at festivals and events across the United States for fans of Western films and music.
Bob is a long-time participant at Gene Autry Days in Kenton, Ohio, and we're looking forward to his first-time appearance at the Gene Autry Oklahoma Festival. Don Cagle (The Lone Ranger) & John Phipps (Tonto)
Don, from Ohio, and John, from Indiana, have been portraying these favorite characters for several years now, both individually and together, at festivals and events across the country. A fiery horse, a cloud of dust and a hearty "Hi-Yo Silver!" And The Lone Ranger rides again! From the early radio days to the television serials of the late 1950s, many of us loved this introduction. Though many actors portrayed The Lone Ranger through the years, many of us remember John Hart and Clayton Moore as the most recent. Bob Wallace has made an avocation of portraying this exciting TV hero for Western fans for several years now.
Many people have portrayed Tonto, the Lone Ranger's faithful companion, through the years, but the best-known is Jay Silverheels. Part Cherokee himself, John Phipps has been portraying Tonto for a little more than two years now. He had a special appreciation for the character and the good values imparted in the popular Lone Ranger TV series. He had been thinking about the Tonto gig for several years when he met fellow Vietnam vet Don Cagle, who had played the Lone Ranger for several years. With Don's encouragement, soon John became Tonto, and the rest is history. Dean Baker (Gene Autry)
 Dean hails from North Carolina and has portrayed Mr. Autry at Western film festivals and theme parks in a number of states since he began this adventure in 1996. He appears regularly at the Newberry Opera House in South Carolina, where he and others showcase the cowboys of the Silver Screen. He's even appeared in an independent film about the singing cowboys at a more mature age than their movie appearances.
Dean and the other Cowboy Look-alikes will be greeters during the festival and will take part in a variety of other activities...and they're always happy to have their photo taken with B-Western fans. Hank Williams (The Ghost of Zorro)
Williams grew up in a small Kentucky town and counts as his biggest thrill as a child to have been allowed to spend his Saturday afternoons at the local theatre with his cowboy heroes. Hoppy, Roy and Trigger, Smiley and Gene, Rocky and Tex were his best friends during those early years. Now, in addition to playing "The Ghost of Zorro," Hank is an author of several books about the B-Western stars.
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