A Word on Westerns

• Phil Proctor

  Our special guest who recalls a western with Bob Dylan and Brigitte Bardot written by a counter culture comedy troupe? What could go wrong? Well, according to Firesign Theatre's Philip Proctor, a lot could happen…and did. What was left was ZACHARIAH, a 1971 rock and roll cult western starring Broadway's PIPPIN, 25-year-old John Rubinstein, and 21-year-old Don Johnson, in only his 2nd film.  They were trippy cowboy pals in the psychedelic Old West. Very loosely based on Herman Hesse's SIDDHARTHA, the script by Joe Massot and the Firesign Theatre's Proctor, Davis Ossman, Peter Berman and Philip Austin, follows the two young wannabe gunslingers, one good and one bad, as they meet up with various outlaw musicians and odd balls, before having a final confrontation.   Even with an outlaw gang played by Country Joe and the Fish, a fast-draw drum-slinging bad guy, Elvin Jones, a soothsaying fiddler in black (the legendary Doug Kershaw), and a foot stomping rock number from Joe Walsh and the James Gang that opens the film, ZACHARIAH was a unique studio funded flop.   Find out what happened during development and during the filming south of the border from Proctor, who regales a packed house of western fans with hysterical drug fueled memories.   Phil blows the audience away with his memory of another acting gig with Fess Parker on the popular series DANIEL BOONE. That’s followed by the origin story behind the award winning Firesign Theatre.  It was a revolutionary group of brilliant comics, writers, voice artists, actors and...storytellers whose audio fantasies created over a dozen albums. The zany, hysterical LPs were bestsellers that created trippy storytelling for the psychedelic 60's and 70's. Learn how a Sunset Strip riot became the meeting place and inspiration of the thought provoking comedy troop of performers known as The Firesign Theatre. They were embraced on college campuses everywhere and became darlings of the media.   Following his cowboy misadventures, Proctor became a much in demand voice artist in animation (TOY STORY, MONSTERS, INC.) and video games (ASSASSIN'S CREED) racking up over 200 roles. Phil shared his amazing adventures with producer and host Rob Word for this special episode of A WORD ON WESTERN recorded at The Autry Museum, January 20, 2016.

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• Patrick Wayne & Claude Jarman Jr.

  Patrick Wayne & Claude Jarman, Jr recall the John Ford classic RIO GRANDE in a rare A WORD ON WESTERNS interview. Appearing together over 70 years ago in RIO GRANDE (1950), two young kids, Oscar winner Claude Jarman, Jr. and actor Patrick Wayne, reunited at the Lone Pine Film Festival, October 2021, for a screening, followed by a conversation with Rob Word about the timeless film. A WORD ON WESTERNS Podcast presents Patrick and Claude's informative and very fun remembrance. R.I.P. Claude Jarman, Jr. Sept 27, 1934-Jan 12, 2025.  Claude was only 15 years old when he portrayed the son of John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in John Ford’s classic, RIO GRANDE (1950). The young Academy Award winner for THE YEARLING (1946) got the casting call to meet with Ford and was soon out at Fat Jones’ Stable in the San Fernando valley learning to ride two horses at once…while standing! RIO GRANDE was part of Ford’s “Cavalry Trilogy,” the others being FORT APACHE and SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON. In this interview, Jarman and Patrick Wayne (who was 10 years old in the film) share delightful memories. It’s perhaps Ford’s most intensely romantic western and the first pairing of John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. RIO GRANDE is loaded with the unofficial Ford Stock Company of actors, including Ben Johnson, Harry Carey, Jr., Victor McLaglen, Grant Withers and the Sons of the Pioneers with Ford’s son-in-law, Ken Curtis. Shot in Moab, Utah, RIO GRANDE is filled with heart, humor and some fancy Roman riding. It was a wonderful experience, especially for the two youngsters who share memories in this special episode of A WORD ON WESTERNS Podcast.

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• Lee Purcell

  Two-time Emmy nominee Lee Purcell got an early career break when she auditioned for Steve McQueen’s production company, Solar. Selected by McQueen, Lee landed the lead role opposite Michael Douglas in ADAM AT 6AM and was mentored by McQueen. Lee joins producer Rob Word for a career retrospective at The Autry Museum for A WORD ON WESTERNS.   Lee’s co-starring role with Richard Thomas in a BONAZA episode was her first western. Lee’s starring roles in two memorable western features include an amazing turn as a young prostitute in Hollywood legend Jack L. Warner’s last feature film, DIRTY LITTLE BILLY, the innovative story of Billy the Kid with Michael J. Pollard as the kid. Lee was surrounded by western icons in KID BLUE, a turn of the century western about a train robber, Dennis Hopper, trying to go straight. Portraying the wife of Warren Oates, her co-stars included Ben Johnson, Ralph Waite, Janice Rule, Peter Boyle, Clifton James, M. Emmett Walsh, and Howard Hesseman. As the female lead in the first of THE GAMBLER series, Lee recalls teaching star Kenny Rogers how to read a script. He was a very fast learner. It was also Lee's first film with longtime friend, Bruce Boxleitner. More recently, Lee co-starred with Jon Voight in the JL Ranch and portrayed “Miss Kitty Russell” in a GUNSMOKE radio show adaptation for her production company, Two Fat Dogs Entertainment, series of virtual shows, “Radio You Can See.”

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• Bruce Davison

  Bruce Davison shares Burt Lancaster's acting tips ULZANA'S RAID in this episode of A WORD ON WESTERNS PODCAST! Oscar nominated actor Bruce Davison's amazing career has given audiences hundreds of powerful performances. Early roles in films like LAST SUMMER, THE STRAWBERRY STATEMENT and WILLARD led him to a starring role with Burt Lancaster in the classic western, ULZANA'S RAID (1972). Bruce remembers embarrassing himself with director Robert Aldrich when he landed the role and being dazzled by, Lancaster and the lineup of top stunt men and women working on the film. Bruce also recalls the very strong alcoholic breath of Richard Boone while shooting a scene with the actor for an episode of Boone’s HEC RAMSEY.  More fun adventures followed on and off set. Find out who Bruce ran into while waiting in line for an unemployment check. Join us for this interview with Bruce done in a roomful of fans that included Clu Gulager and Bruce Boxleitner at The Autry Museum, Jan 20, 2016.

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• Nehemiah Persoff

  102-Year-Old Nehemiah Persoff (1919-2022) WORD ON WESTERNS Podcast Exclusive! Hollywood legends Wayne, Bogart, Brando, Poitier and more taught Nehemiah Persoff about the movie business. Nicky joins Rob and RJ Word for an exclusive Zoom interview recorded November 2021, shortly before the celebrated actor died at the age of 102. Coming from the stage and the Actor’s Studio, Nehemiah, was a fast learner and appeared in 100s of film and TV roles. We feel so fortunate to have done a zoom interview with him.   Nehemiah's memories of working with John Wayne in THE COMANCHEROS on acclaimed director Michael Curtiz’ last film are fascinating. It was a thrill to have him share so many stories of his career for his fans to enjoy on our weekly series of conversations with filmmakers. Born in Jerusalem, Nehemiah Persoff (Aug 2, 1919-April 5, 2022) came to America at the age of 10. He was one of the first to join the celebrated Actor’s Studio where he worked with Elia Kazan and met Marlon Brando, later appearing with “Bud” in Kazan’s celebrated ON THE WATERFRONT. Persoff’s first western feature was Delmar Daves’ THE BADLANDERS with Alan Ladd. The actors were quite different from those he had worked with in New York. On Humphrey Bogart’s last movie, THE HARDER THEY FALL, Nicky learned a big lesson in acting. His revealing memories of working with John Wayne as the heavy in THE COMANCHEROS caused him to rethink his approach to his interpretation of the villain. When Edward G. Robinson bailed on Billy Wilder in a key role in the now classic SOME LIKE IT HOT, Nicky replaced him and tells of the support he got from Wilder and the atmosphere on the set which made Persoff furious. Nehemiah was loaded with talent and versatility. His career was amazing; his life filled with love and adventure. Thanks to his cousin, author Jim Rosin, for helping arrange the interview. Nicky may have only been 5'7" tall but he was a GIANT on screen, leaving many powerful performances for generations to savor for years to come. May he Rest in Peace. Nicky was also a celebrated Plein Air artist and published his autobiography, “The Many Faces of Nehemiah,” in 2021. It is available through Amazon here: https://www.shorturl.at/bftPW

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