Course Description

Booth Museum's Historian, Jim Dunham, will get us up to speed on the early history of Western movies beginning with “The Great Train Robbery” of 1903. The movie is less than ten minutes long but it included most of the standard elements that defined Western movies for the next 100 plus years. He will profile stars like William S. Hart, who was unable to translate his silent performances to the age of “talkies,” and Tom Mix, who easily made the transition. Bill Pickett, Will Rogers through Gary Cooper’s 1929 starring role in “The Virginian” will also be highlighted. He will end the era by looking at the first Western to win Best Picture – “Cimarron” in 1931.

Course Cost: $ 10.00