WILLIAMSBURG 2009 fans and have attended many festivals.
By Bobby Copeland Plans are already underway for the 2010 event
The 2009 Williamsburg Film Festival was a rip- when the festival will offer a tribute to the TV show,
snorting success. It was the 13th year for the event. "Gunsmoke." So far, Morgan Woodward and Greg
The promoters reported a record amount of revenue Palmer have accepted invitations.
from registrations, and a record was set for the number Bill Sasser, Ray Smith, Larry Floyd, Gene Blotter,
of dealers' table sold. The hotel for the event was full Bill Ruehlmann, and all the rest of the Williamsburg
on Friday and Saturday causing some fans to have to committee, are to be congratulated for continuing to
seek rooms elsewhere. provide the fans with fun-filled festivals.
In addition to the many states represented Colin TOCPS recommends to all our readers to check out
Momber, publisher of Wrangler's Roost, came all the Bill Sasser’s videos.
way from England. The star panels are most interesting. Lots of fun.
Most dealers seemed fairly satisfied with sales, and
their business may have been much greater except for
the close-out bargains offered by the family of de-
ceased dealer Sonny Raley.
The guest stars were friendly, accessible, and did
brisk business selling autographs.
The highlight for western film fans was another op-
portunity to visit with Peggy Stewart and Dick Jones -
two of the finest guest stars to ever grace a festi-
val. Both appeared to be in excellent health and fit
enough to saddle-up for a few rides. This
was probably the last time Peggy and Dick will attend
festivals outside of California.
Ron Harper, Jacqueline White, Peggy Stewart, Dick Jones
Steve Stevens, Dwight Moody, Leonard Thomas, Bobbi Beard
Larry Maurice, Joe Canutt, George Hamilton IV, Steve Ka-
naly, Ed Beard, Mr. Khurram Kiani
Dick Jones—Peggy Stewart—Jacqueline White.
Other stars in attendance were Steve Kanaly, Joe
Canutt, Ron Harper, Loren James, Steve Stevens,
Jacqueline White, and country music legend George
Hamilton IV. Hamilton, although not an actor, was a
pure delight and a Christian gentleman. In addition to
entertaining at the Saturday night banquet, he stayed
over to sing, read scripture, and give his testimony at a
nearby church on Sunday.
The only celebrity no-show was Bo Hopkins.
The event's annual Edward A. Wall Award was
given to Iowa's John Sents (for 2008). Sents was una-
ble to attend the past two years. The 2009 award went
to Indiana's Jim Kocher. Both men are long time
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