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September 4,
2005
For more information contact:
Friends of High Chaparral
website:
www.thehighchaparral.com
TV
WESTERN STARS CONVERGE FOR HOLLYWOOD REUNION
Fans of The High Chaparral honor TV series pioneer, David
Dortort
STUDIO
CITY, CA --
Executive producer and TV series creator David Dortort, along with
the cast and crew of the highly-acclaimed NBC Western The High
Chaparral, gathered to meet on Aug. 21 with their long-loyal
fans in a reunion almost 35 years after the last episode was aired.
The
Reunion was unanimously declared a success by the guests who
attended. Cast members Don Collier, Bob Hoy, and Rudy Ramos were
among those who swapped stories with fans. Also in attendance were
guest stars Marie Gomez, Malachi Throne, Warren Stevens, Gregory
Walcott, BarBara Luna and Morgan Woodward. The production side of
the show was represented by production manager Kent McCray and his
wife, casting director Susan Sukman McCray, stuntmen Alex Sharp,
Jack
Williams and Neil Summers, cameramen Wallace Johnson and Don
Whaley, and soundman Bill Wistrom.
Organizers, cast members and fans from around the globe are looking
forward to the issue of the ground-breaking show on DVD, although a
release date has not yet been named. Fan-driven support to expedite
the release include an on-line petition and write-in campaign.
Dortort
received special honors for the occasion. California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzengger, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, and California State
Senators Sheila Kuehl and Jim Battin, all sent official certificates
and commendations recognizing the contributions Dortort has made to
the television industry .
Originally broadcast from 1968 to 1971, The High Chaparral
told the story of the Cannon family, carving out a life in the wild
Arizona Territory of the 1870s. Created and produced by Dortort of
the famed TV classic, Bonanza, the High Chaparral brought the
rich history of the Southwest to life.
He
reached out to under-represented communities by casting American
Indians to portray Indians, and Latinos to play Mexicans. Dortort
recognized the contributions of both American Indians and Mexicans
to the history of the American West, and for the first time in a
western televisions series, presented North American audiences with
more than a one-sided approach to these groups.
Dortort, a long-time resident of southern California with Rose, his
wife of sixty-five years, said,
we
can enjoy these wonderful Reunions many years in the future
The
High Chaparral alive in the hearts and souls of people all over the
world.
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