America's icon celebrated with movies, rodeos & Hall of Fame

By Judith Pannebaker

This weekend is shaping up to be a humdinger of a hommage to that most iconic of all American icons – the cowboy.

As part of celebrations surrounding Bandera’s National Day of the American Cowboy, the folks at the Longhorn Saloon, 1307 Main Street, will present “The Return of the Outlaws” – aka “Mexican Gold” – Saturday, July 25.

The production company, Lionsgate, released “Return of the Outlaws” on DVD in March. The full-length feature was shot at The Alamo Village in Brackettville.

The evening’s festivities start at 6 pm at the saloon with cocktails and a meet and greet with the stars of “The Return of the Outlaws.” Dinner will be served at 7 pm, and the movie screening is slated for 8 pm, on the banks of the Medina River.

The evening concludes with dancing to the music of the Black Brothers – Kevin and Brian – as well the Toman Brothers.

The entire package costs $35 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the Longhorn. For more information, call 830-796-3600.

The cast of “Return of the Outlaws” includes actors and actresses familiar to aficionados of daytime television. According to Black, actors winging their way from Hollywood to attend the premier include John Castellano of “The Young and The Restless” and “Miami Vice;” Corbin Timbrook of “The Bold and The Beautiful” and “Air America;” Michael Gregory of “Robocop,” “General Hospital” and “Total Recall;” J. Eddie Peck, of “All My Children” and – drum roll please – “Dallas;” and Samantha Lockwood of “One Step Beyond” and “Shoot the Hero.”

Offering a synopsis of the plot of “Return of the Outlaws,” the Net Flix website stated: “After skipping out on his scheduled execution, outlaw Jack Barnett (John Castellanos) persuades a corrupt judge, (Michael Gregory), a beautiful barmaid and an old partner to pull off a very big heist. Sheriff Link (Corbin Timbrook), however, is eager to foil Barnett’s plans.”

Also playing pivotal roles in writer-director Chuck Walker’s edgy western are Texas natives Mark Hayter and “Cowboy” Bill Sallas. Additionally, Longhorn owners, Brian Black and Charlotte Browning, have small roles in the film.

“The actors flying in from Hollywood for the premier will be in town until Monday morning,” Black said. “You’ll see them riding horses through town from The Longhorn, singing with the bands and checking out locations in and around Bandera to film upcoming westerns.”

Black and Browning extended an invitation to everyone to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event. “Come to Bandera and meet everyone and have a great time with us this weekend,” Black added. “Hope to see ya'll soon.”