The High Chaparral Reunion 2007 & 40th Anniversary Celebration

Dear High Chaparral Fans:

It's time to celebrate spring fever, flowers and warm sunshine by planning your trip to The High Chaparral Reunion.

This issue contains several special treats.  Savor the up-close and personal interview with Henry Darrow. Bob Hoy shares photos from his personal collection and tells the story of his cowboy beginnings.  Get a glimpse into the colorful history of the Sportsmen's Lodge Hotel, home of the reunion for the third time.

The High Chaparral
  2007 Reunion
August 17-19, 2007
 Sportsmen's Lodge Hotel
 Studio City, California

High Chaparral News

Don Collier has just been cast in the film Jake's Corner.  The movie begins shooting on May 14th in the Arizona cities of Scottsdale, Phoenix and Payson. Directed and written by Jeff Santo, it will star Diane Ladd, Richard Tyson, and singer B.J. Thomas.

Now Hear This
The High Chaparral Promo
Recorded by Susan McCray especially for The High Chaparral Reunion.

High Chaparral on the Web

  The Official High Chaparral website

The High Chaparral Reunion website

Don Collier

Bob Hoy

Ted Markland

Susan McCray

Rudy Ramos

Out West Entertainment

2007 Reunion Fees

R eservations are $45, and your remaining balance will be $135. After July 1, fees will be $145.00 Registration closes  August 1.

Payments must be made in U.S. dollars and can be made by: personal check, money order, or Paypal to info@highchaparralnewsletter.com

(Note that full payment is due by July 31, 2007. Your registration is non-refundable. Cancellations made before July 1 will be refunded in full, and a 50% refund will be given to cancellations made after July 1. Unfortunately, no refunds after August 1.)

This issue continues with reminisces  from past Reunions. We asked Bob Hoy: What is your favorite Reunion memory?

I enjoyed everything about both reunions I attended. Hearing David Dortort talk about the show; that's something that stands out.  If I have to pick one memory, besides being with the cast and crew, it was seeing some of our great guest stars again. Morgan Woodward, Warren Stevens, Malachi Throne, BarBara Luna, Marie Gomez...that was very special.

Guess Who?

The winner of our "guess the cute cowboy" contest was Janice Coons, who was the first to guess that the cute little boy grew up to be handsome Bob Hoy. Janice won a personally autographed photo of Bob.

We asked Bob to tell us the story behind the photo.

I think I am about 12 years old in this picture. This is my first horse, Boots. The picture was taken at the Hidden Valley Dude Ranch, which was in upstate New York, close to the Canadian border. Because my father died when I was young and my mother traveled all the time for her job, I went to a boarding school in Plattsburgh, New York. Hidden Valley Dude Ranch was nearby. I worked and lived at the ranch in the summers, for about three or four years.  Cleaning out stalls every morning was part of the job, but I also learned to rope and ride, and took the "dudes" out on rides. I got pretty good at sizing up a person and knowing which horse would be best suited for them.  This is when I learned how important it was, for a good rider, to pay attention to everything that was going on around me, and anticipate how the horses might react to what was coming up.

World War II broke out during this time. All the other ranch hands, who were older than me, went off to enlist. Despite how young I was, I was put in charge of the ranch. But I still had to clean out the stalls.

I did more cowboying later. When I was discharged from the Marines I worked on a ranch in Nevada - but in that state, they called it buckerooing. After a year of that I gave up the ranch life to become a stuntman.

Sportsmen's Lodge - The Early Years

by Penny McQueen

If our spirits return to places we enjoyed in life, then the Sportsmen's Lodge Hotel echoes with voices of departed Hollywood legends.  Once a fishing retreat in the San Fernando Valley, the man-made lakes, stocked with trout, drew luminaries such as Tallulah Bankhead, Lena Horne, Bette Davis, and Joan Blondell, who baited hooks with liverwurst and drank martinis as waiters served dinner on white tablecloths. Fish from the lake supplied restaurants as far away as Las Vegas.

A small pier was adjacent to a restaurant that catered to celebrities and sports stars who worked in nearby studios. A chef prepared diners catch of the day, at a grill in the bar if requested. The pier was Clark Gable's favorite fishing spot, and Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were regulars.

Today, television episodes and moves are filmed around the waterfalls, lagoons, lily ponds, swans, and gazebos.  It's unexpected, finding a mountain chalet bar complete with massive stone fireplace, antique wooden snow-skis, log-beamed ceilings, and moose antlers here in the midst of strip malls and suburbia. But this is Hollywood's back yard, why not enjoy a hunting lodge right off Ventura Boulevard?   

When you visit The Sportsman's, you may see guests like Randy Travis, Billy Bob Thorton, and Tricia Yearwood. But listen for the sounds of Richard Burton having a few too many, or John Wayne teaching his children to fish.  Because with such an illustrious history, maybe a few stubborn ghosts linger on at The Sportsman's.

Henry Darrow: A License to Steal

by Jan Lucas

A 1960's fan magazine credited suave Henry Darrow with "bringing romance back to Hollywood" for his portrayal of tall, dark and amorous Manolito Montoya. Although Henry lent his own charisma to Manolito, he credits the character's enduring appeal to gentleness and humor. "He was filled with humor," Darrow said, describing Manolito as a "semi-comedic" mix of Shakespearian characters he played on stage. "I could be a little dark like Iago from Othello. Mercutio, Romeo's friend, was comedic and had a flair for words, so I combined a little bit of Mercutio with a little bit of Iago."  

His multifaceted character's love affairs sometimes ended badly, but the role "brought out the fun" in Henry Darrow. He recalled, "It was like all of a sudden I had a license to steal. I was on camera.  I was wearing a great outfit. A black hat. White pearl-handled gun." Adding enjoyment was a twenty-eight inch waist -- and friendship with others in the cast.

 "That was a wonderful part of the show, the relationship with all the guys off-camera. And then all of a sudden it just translates to on-camera," he said. Strong on-screen rapport with Cameron Mitchell resulted in exceptional episodes. According to Henry, after A Piece of Land and Friends and Partners a spin-off series was considered.

While camaraderie on the set translated well to the screen, poker know-how didn't. Manolito Montoya and Buck Cannon both played a mean hand, but not Henry Darrow and Cameron Mitchell.   

"He stunk at poker," Darrow said of Mitchell.  "So did I. He had a lot of bravado and he would tell people his hand. I was sort of chicken and conservative. It was like 'when Henry bets look out' and everyone would get out of the pot because I only bet with a good hand. Cam would say 'I've got a pair of deuces and I'm going to beat you' and they'd believe him and would raise and he would stay and of course he would lose. They couldn't wait for Cam to show up and play poker."   

Despite rapport on the set, Mitchell 'was a loner" and the two didn't socialize much. However, Darrow's friendship with Don Collier and Bob Hoy turned into a connection spanning forty years.    

Off-camera fellowship coupled with good professional relationships made High Chaparral a pleasure.  Henry Darrow speaks highly of his colleagues, recalling Rudy Ramos' musical talent and subtle acting style which was well-suited to the show.  Working with Frank Silvera was fun, Darrow said.  "It was good with him.  He was solid."  Most of all, he appreciated scenes with Linda Cristal, especially when called upon to improvise. "Whenever they were short a little bit time-wise they would say 'Linda, you and Henry add a little Spanish, will you?'  Stretch the scene a bit. They'd let us ad-lib in Spanish. She trusted me when we rehearsed something like that."   

After High Chaparral, Darrow had an active career in television, stage and film. These days, he and his wife, vivacious actress Lauren Levian, call Wilmington, North Carolina home.  "I moved there to retire," Darrow said, but it's a busy retirement of television parts, stage productions ( That Certain Cervantes), teaching at the state university and movie roles (most recently, Primo and From Bubba With Love).  

Henry Darrow with fan Vickie at the 2003 High Chaparral Reunion

When his schedule allows, Darrow loves attending fan events like the 2003 High Chaparral Reunion and Western festivals across the country.  The handsome silver-haired actor continues to captivate with his wit, genial manner, dimpled smile and silky voice.  And how does he like to be greeted by fans? "With a kiss and a hug!"  

Start lining up now.  Henry Darrow not only brought romance back to Hollywood, he takes it along wherever he goes.