DEADWOOD BLOG

Justin played a great show at the Whisky-a-Go-Go
with his band HIDDEN WARRIORS.
Kenn and Catfish were there to show their support.

THANK YOU!

To Louie and Lori of the no.10 Saloon in Deadwood, SD
for your golden-hearted generosity!

TO ALL BACKGROUND:

We’ll be keeping this site going during “our” off-season, and it would be great if you all can keep us up-to-date with what’s happening with you until we meet again. Just send us updates and photos whenever you like and they’ll be posted here. Also, please click the link below and send your email address to the blog so we can reach you over the summer. 

EMAIL DEADWOOD BLOG

…and: send a photo of yourself so we can add it
to the others on the “WU ARE WE” page

…and, click here to check out the commemorative T designed by Rayne Davis.

In about a month, The Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival will take over the streets of Melody Ranch. (click on the poster to visit the Festival’s website) 

About the Festival (from the Festival’s Website)

In 1994, in the aftermath of the Northridge earthquake, the Santa Clarita Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival began its quest for a suitable location. At the time the owners of Melody Ranch, Renaud and Andre Veluzet agreed to host our first event and the tradition began.

This year marks the 13th Anniversary of the Festival. Still carrying the new name from last year, we will be offering the same high quality music, poetry, food and cowboy gear that patrons have enjoyed in the past.

Melody Ranch had been the location of may famous Western films since its beginnings and at present, is home to the highly acclaimed HBO series, Deadwood.

As you surf our website, we’re sure you’ll agree that there’s no better place to to experience the American West than The Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival. (edited)

Artist David DeVary’s “Hold on Tight” is the official Icon for the 2006 Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival.

The following is a list of Festival Events; click links for additional info.

Wednesday, April 26

Cowboy Couture - 7:00 p.m. ($20)
Canyon Theatre Guild Playhouse
Back by popular demand! Western designer fashions, vintage cowboy apparel, celebrity models and a wine reception make this event a great kick-off to the Festival

Thursday, April 27

The Art of the Chuckwagon - 6:00 p.m. ($35)
Heritage Junction, William S. Hart Park
A feast for the Western senses, featuring chuckwagon cooking demonstrations and dinner, with entertaining prairie lore, music and an art show/sale benefiting the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. No-host saloon.

Women Artists of the West - 6:00 p.m. (FREE)
Hart Hall, William S. Hart Park
Reception and Open mic for Cowboy Poets and Musicians 6:00 - 9:00 pm, kicked off with performances by the Lost Canyon Rangers, Cowboy Poet Joe Harrington, and Buck Corbett & The Boys from Triple J. For info e-mail kendrapage@sbcglobal.net.

Friday, April 28

Spaghetti Western Family Dinner Train - 7:00 p.m. (6:30 Boarding) ($50/$26/$6)
Fillmore and Western Railway Company
Fillmore and Western actors tell tall tales, sings songs of the Old West, interact with guests, and share history about train travel. All you can eat spaghetti dinner.
* For tickets please call Fillmore and Western Railway direct at (805) 524-2546

Walk of Western Stars Gala Dinner & Award Ceremony- 7:00 p.m. ($100)
Hyatt Valencia Grand Ballroom
Don’t miss this annual tribute to the Silver Spur heroes of the past and present while dining on catered cuisine and enjoying the talents of R. W. Hampton and the Quebe Sisters Band.

Oklahoma! - 8:00 p.m. ($17)
Canyon Theatre Guild Playhouse
A high spirited musical set in Western Indian Territory just after the turn of the century, Oklahoma! Will captivate the entire family.
* For tickets please call Canyon Theatre Guild Playhouse direct at (661) 799-2702

The Legacy of Violence in Western Song - 8:00 p.m. ($20 - Adults/$10 - Members)
Autry National Center
Join Don Edwards and other musicians in a unique performance as they explore the legacy of violence in Western Music with Byron Price, director of the University of Oklahoma’s Charles M. Russell Center. For info call: (323) 667-2000 ext. 27
*For tickets please call the Ticketweb at (866)468-3399 or www.ticketweb.com

Saturday, April 29

Behind the Scenes Tour or Melody Ranch - 8:30 a.m. ($30)
SOLD OUT
Take a walking tour of Melody Ranch and the set of Deadwood with local historian, John Boston. Hear tales of building the Ranch, learn about the Ranch’s film history and visit Melody Ranch Motion Picture Museum.
Includes Daily admission to Festival.

Melody Ranch™ Festival Grounds - 10:00 a.m. thru 6:00 p.m. ($15/$10) 

                        - Melody Ranch Main Stage (see schedule)
                        - California Music Stage (see schedule)
                        - Dodge House Stage(see schedule)
                        - Pecos Bill Stage (see schedule)
                        - Cowboy Corner Stage (see schedule)
                        - Melody Ranch™ Motion Picture Museum
                        - Street Shows/Art, Gear, & Dry Goods Show/Gold Rush Food Court

An Afternoon with the Earps - 2:00 p.m. ($35)
William S. Hart Mansion at William S. Hart Park
Learn about Wyatt Earp, his brothers and the OK Corral shootout from the grandchildren of Wyatt in the living room of William S. Hart.

An Evening at Hart Mansion with the Sons of the San Joaquin - 7:00 p.m. ($75)
SOLD OUT  William S. Hart Mansion at William S. Hart Park
An enchanting evening in the living room of silent film star Bill Hart featuring The Sons of the San Joaquin in an intimate setting surrounded with paintings by Russell and Remington.

Melody Ranch Swing Dance with The Lucky Stars - 9:00 p.m. ($10)
Melody Ranch Main Stage
The dance is back again at Melody Ranch! Bring your dancing partner and two-step to the sounds of The Lucky Stars under cover of the Melody Stage Tent.

Sunday, April 30

Cowboy Church - 8:00 a.m. (FREE)
Masters College
For information call: (661) 268-8863

Carousel Ranch Benefit Trail Ride & Lunch - 8:00 a.m. thru Noon ($50/$20)
Atlasta Ranch
Ride through beautiful Placerita Canyon as you head to Melody Ranch. After a ride in the ranch, return for lunch. Proceeds help Carousel Ranch provide therapeutic riding for children Limited stalls available. BRING YOUR HORSE. For stabling information please call 661-268-8010.

Behind the Scenes Tour or Melody Ranch - 8:30 a.m. ($30)
SOLD OUT
Take a walking tour of Melody Ranch and the set of Deadwood with local historian, John Boston. Hear tales of building the Ranch, learn about the Ranch’s film history and visit Melody Ranch Motion Picture Museum.
Includes Daily admission to Festival.

Melody Ranch™ Festival Grounds - 10:00 a.m. thru 6:00 p.m. ($15/$10) 

                        - Melody Ranch Main Stage (see schedule)
                        - California Music Stage (see schedule)
                        - Dodge House Stage (see schedule)
                        - Pecos Bill Stage (see schedule)
                        - Cowboy Corner Stage (see schedule)
                        - Melody Ranch™ Motion Picture Museum
                        - Street Shows/Art, Gear, & Dry Goods Show/Gold Rush Food Court

http://www.cowboyfestival.org/

Take a guy who can control his bodily functions at will, a world-class whistler, add classical music, and you’ve got…

Schitz & Giggles

For the past few months, we’ve been amazed by the outrageous talent (and control) of Carl Virden (Giggles) and Mark McCaw (Schitz) who offer a rendition of Rossini’s “William Tell Overture” that blows your mind–or maybe just blows! Combing two highly respected forms of entertainment, Italian opera and pull-my-finger humor, Schitz & Giggles are a sure fire hit–providing no one lights a match. We’re hoping to get a video of the duo performing and we’ll post a link when we get it. But the current buzz around work is that they’re rehearsing additional material to expand their road act: An Evening with Schitz & Giggles. Given the strenuous nature of their act and schedule, we recently caught-up with the rising star, Schitz, and asked him how he and Giggles are preparing for the road. Below is his reply (please don’t try this at home):

Giggles has been drinking a new concoction that he is making himself.  I think it contains part grapefruit juice and a little bit of dark chocolate and about a tablespoon of extra hot and spicy horseradish.  To finish it off he adds just about two tablespoons of A1 steak sauce, with just a pinch of fresh ground black pepper.  He says this cocktail gives him just the right distortion in his vocal cords that help him to exhale those outstanding whistles.  He also coats his lips with a small amount of preparation H ointment.  He finds that this enables his lips to shrink just enough to give him the ability to blow those whistles in more precise tones. 

As for me, I am still working to improve and experiment with different types of foods that help me to expel in a loud and gastric fashion.  I find that a mixture of brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli mixed with about one dozen fresh strawberries, help to excite the muscle of the intestinal canal.  After this has been digested, an extra large beef and been burrito swimming in a plate of hot taco sauce is consumed.  Followed immediately by two ears of fresh picked corn, and a quart of ice cold chocolate milk.  This total inhalement is allowed to settle for about thirty minutes and then after that, stand back and let the thunder begin.  I mean stand way back (and for god’s sake, no smoking).  The hardest part is retaining the ability to release just the right amount of air on a given moment to coincide with giggles whistles. I have been doing my daily butt cheek exercises which has dramatically improved the way I can control the sounds with much more precision.

We are always practicing and working on improving our act.  Who knows down the road, maybe “Letterman,” “Leno,” “Oprah,” “Comedy Central”? 

So, Dave, Jay, and/or - uh - Oprah, send us an email and we’ll get you in touch with the boys so you can enjoy a little Schitz & Giggles for yourself!

So what are you thinking this post is about? 

A grunge band from Gettysburg?

Maybe an essay to compare and contrast the social relevance of U2 and The Hutchinson Family Singers? 

                                                                       (BTW: Frustrated by the faulty ideals of Brook Farm and encouraged by Horace Greeley to “Go West,” the Hutchinson Family Singers founded my hometown of Hutchinson, Minnesota in the mid 1850’s, and their frist city charter included a woman’s right to vote in all city elections.)

Nope! It’s about our fellow BP, Bill Locey, who is a Union Army Sergeant in Civil War Reenactments, a Rock ‘n’ Roll critic for the Ventura County Star Newspaper, a Teacher, and happens to hold a Masters Degree in U.S. History from UCLA.

As a First Sergeant of the The Iron Brigade - 6th Wisconsin, Co. B, Bill and his Union Army brothers (and their Confederate Army adversaries) reenact Civil War battles once a month thoughout California. If you’re interested in finding out more about the reenactments, scheduled events, or even joining the fight, here’s a link to the 6th Wisconsin, Co. B website.

And as a journalist, Bill has covered everything from major concerts to the local band scene. His column at the VCS offers entertainment news, reviews and interviews from Southern California. 

Click Here for Bill’s weekly Rock ‘n’ Roll article in the Ventura County Star.

With only about 12 weeks or so before the New Seasons of “DEADWOOD” and “ENTOURAGE” take over Sunday nights on HBO, NOW is the time to start easing back into that Sunday Night Habit with both ”THE SOPRANOS” New Season and HBO’s Brand New Series “BIG LOVE” beginning tomorrow.

A message to all of the Deadwood Background from Sheri at Bill Dance Casting:

THE DEADWOOD THANK YOU LIST

• Thank you all for your hard work and your patience this season.

• Thank you for all the times that you didn’t feel like going out to the Melody Ranch and you did it to help me out.

• Thank you for all the times that I kept you on hold for probably what felt like hours.

• Thank you for all the times that you kept calling and then got the voice mail but you persisted and called back.

• Most of all I want to thank you for your enthusiasm and your dedication to the 3rd season of DEADWOOD. You made my job great and I hope you all had as much fun as I did!

-Sheri      

4/01/06

DIRECTED BY DAVID ALAN NEWLAND

MUSIC DIRECTED BY MR. KEN BAUER

APRIL 7th & 8th, 2006

7pm at Los Angeles Lutheran HS

13570 Eldridge Ave., Sylmar, CA

Reserved seats are $10.00

Make checks payable to: LALHS Music Boosters

Mail to: LALHS Music Dept.
13570 Eldridge Ave.
Sylmar, CA 91342. 
Be sure to include your Name, Phone #, number of tickets and
which evening (Friday 4/7/06 or Saturday 4/8/06) you prefer.

The performances are a month away and you have time to send for tickets. We’ll post additional notices as the shows get closer. As many of you know, David has been working very hard on this production, and he is so very proud and impressed with the exceptional singing and acting talents of all those involved with it.

Thank you for your support!

The Complete Second Season DVD of HBO’s DEADWOOD is scheduled to be released on May 23rd, 2006.

The Real Deadwood 1877, which looks at what life was really like in Deadwood, South Dakota.
Trusting the Process, an intimate portrait of series’ creator David Milch’s creative process.
Mr. Wu Proves Out, a compelling anatomy of the making of one of the most crucial scenes in the season finale.
The Wedding Celebration, a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the complex, multi-layered event that marked the culmination of Deadwood’s second season.

 

Additional Info: TV SHOWS ON DVD

Earl Brown and Sacred Cowboys will be at the Knitting Factory (7021 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood) tonight starting at 8pm. They’ll be sharing the stage with 50 Cent Haircut and the Deadwood Dicks.

John Hawkes and King Straggler will be playing at Molly Malone’s tonight. This is the last time King Straggler will be playing in LA for several months; they’ll be back in the studio working on the second album.

Who: King Straggler and The Asylum Street Spankers
When? Saturday, March 4th. Show begins promptly at 9:00 PM.(We mean it)
Where? Molly Malone’s 575 S. Fairfax Ave

See Y’all there…

King Straggler
http://www.kingstraggler.com/

…and Thank You to Everyone, Everywhere who helped us reach 10,000 hits

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THANK YOU!

We’ve included Alta Vista’s Language Translation service (Bable Fish) on the site’s sidebar, which will translate this page into eight different languages.

Just click on the flag of your choice: Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean, French, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese.