~ Wednesday September 1st, 2010 ~ Hola amigos! Another entry from the Autry Museum. Surprise! This just happens to be the pistol and gunbelt that belongs to "Ned", a character played by Martin Short in the western comedy spoof "Three Amigos" released in 1986. Next to Ned's stuff were pistols from the other 2 amigos, but I wanted to show some detail and again, the three pistols would have just been too big. A little garish, but a fine looking rig that I would happily take home if they will give it to me. The glare is off the plexiglass case. Gene Autry Museum Fun Fact: Arvo Ojala made this rig. The following is from the Arvo Ojala website: "Movies from the 1950's "River of No Return", the "Big Country", and "Rio Bravo", all the way through more recent movies like "Rustler's Rhapsody", "Silverado", "Back to the Future III", and even "The Three Amigo's", all relied on (gun handling)coaching from Arvo, and used his holsters. If you saw in a movie a fast draw or twirling, you may not have realized it was not the star you were watching. They would zoom in for a close-up, and it was actually Arvo's hands doing their thing with the six-gun. You would probably have to look long and hard to find anyone in America who has not seen "Gunsmoke", the longest running series ever on TV. If you have seen this show, you have also seen Arvo. Remember the opening sequence of every show where Matt Dillon (James Arness) steps out on the street of Dodge City to face a gunslinger? That gunslinger was Arvo Ojala, and if you watched closely, he actually beat Matt to the draw." I have been to his shop which I think is now run by his son, and it is like Disneyland for somebody who cherishes fine gunleather.

~ Tuesday August 31st, 2010 ~ AWESOME Autry Museum display. This is one of the holsters that John Wayne used. This is the style of holster and gunbelt that "The Duke" used from the early 1950's until the year of his last most excellent movie called "The Shootist" that was released in 1976. It is part of a larger display (pictured in the top photo) showing some of the costumes he wore in his movies. I split the picture up because to post the entire gunbelt and holster close up would be HUGE. Gene Autry Museum Fun Fact: If you look at the bullets in his gunbelt on the left, you will see a larger shell. This is a 45/70 cartridge. It would act as a "marker" to let the character know when he had gone through half of his ammunition in a gunfight. You can see that practice reflected in the photo of John Wayne on the right. This is a "fact" that the museum did not cover, but as a John Wayne/western history/movie fan, it is almost common knowledge.

~ Monday August 30th, 2010 ~ More Autry History Museum. Doo-DAH! Behold the beauty that is the Clint Eastwood Costume (...and please ignore my flash). On the right is Clint's costume from "Pale Rider". And in the middle is his costume from "Unforgiven". On the left is a costume that is also sacred. It was worn by Steve McQueen in the movie "Tom Horn", a classic. !!! MOVIE SPOILER BELOW !!! The top photo shows a "screen used" sign that was over Ned's (Morgan Freeman) body/coffin from in "Unforgiven". It sent Clint/Will over the edge. "Any man don't wanna get killed better clear on out the back." And he wasn't kiddin either. Gene Autry Museum Fun Fact: As you can see in the photo I took, there are television monitors placed near many of the displays. When you press a button under the monitor a short vignette (if that's not too redundant) related to the display comes on. It really helps to understand some of what you are looking at.

~ Sunday August 29th, 2010 ~ Here are some props from the movie "Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson" made in 1976 and starring Paul Newman. The top photo is a sign from the movie and the photo below shows a gunbelt and some pistols worn by Paul Newman as he played William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. A lot of these photos were difficult to take as everything is behind plexiglass and it is relatively dark in there. But check out that gunbelt. That thing is HUGE. I don't know HOW those guys wore them thar things. Unfortunately, they didn't tell me the caliber or make of the pistols (at least, not that I can remember). Look at those silver buffalo heads on the holsters. Gene Autry Museum Fun Fact: The Autry Museum was built with an initial $54-million gift from the Autry Foundation. On display are more than 45,000 pieces of art and artifacts. Bonus Fact of the Day: Early in his acting career, Paul Newman was often mistaken for Marlon Brando. He claims to have signed around 500 autographs reading, "Best wishes, Marlon Brando."

~ Saturday August 28th, 2010 ~ Further into the Autry Museum is a recreation of a western movie set. All along the street there are windows and behind those windows are props and displays from western movies. At the end of the street is a small set with a blue screen where kids can sit on a saddle, look at a television monitor and be a part of a horse chase scene. Corny goodness. You can see the director, camera man and script girl up on the balcony ready to yell "Cut!", or "Action!". I'm not sure which. The photo below that shows a very cool prop from the movie Wyatt Earp starring Kevin Costner. It is a rubber pistol. I imagine this pistol was used during action scenes when an actual firearm would be at the risk of ruin and/or too cumbersome for the actor to carry, or maybe it was used to "buffalo" some guy. I love how they paint it to make it look shiny. I'm not convinced that this is a "Costner screen used prop", but it's cool anyway. Gene Autry Museum Fun Fact: I guess it was common practice for Wyatt Earp to conk (hit) a guy on the head with the butt of his pistol, knocking him unconscious by surprise to defuse a few sit-ee-a-tions. The guy could then say he had been "buffaloed" by Wyatt Earp.

~ Friday August 27th, 2010 ~ Once you walk through the entrance and the foyer of the Gene Autry Museum, take a look down and you will see a really big mural. The mural is entitled "Spirits of the West" and covers three walls and 138 feet. It features images of both fictional and non-fictional figures from Western history. Anybody who knows me will know what my favorite part of the mural is. Gene Autry Museum Fun Fact: The mural was painted by Guy Deel (1933-2005). He also worked for Disney and has paintings featured at the American Pavilion at EPCOT in Florida. In 1993 he did work on "The Lion King," and later he did visual development work on "Pocahontas," "Fantasia 2OOO," and "Tarzan".

~ Thursday August 26th, 2010 ~ This is the (by now) world famous bronze statue of Gene Autry and his Wonder Horse Champion. If you search the Internet you will find hundreds of pictures of people with this statue. I'm not sure who made the statue as I have only made a half hearted attempt to find out. This statue is impressive and is usually one of the first sights at the museum. Gene Autry Museum Fun Fact: Gene Autry is the only entertainer to have all five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one each for Radio, Recording, Motion Pictures, Television, and Live Theatre/performance. If you know nothing of Gene Autry, this will be interesting. If you are an Autry fan, this will be old news. And did you know that Gene co-wrote "Here Comes Santa Claus"?

~ Wednesday August 25th, 2010 ~ Woo hoo Gene Autry! Yesterday's Pic Of The Day showed the signage over the entrance to the museum courtyard. The top photo in today's Pic Of The Day shows the hallway directly under that signage. The hallway leads out to the main courtyard shown in the bottom photo. That's the famous statue of Gene Autry and his Wonder Horse Champion in front of the Wells Fargo Theater. The museum entrance is to the left and the Golden Spur Cafe and the gift shop would be to the right. Gene Autry Museum Fun Fact: The Wells Fargo Theater seats 215 people and has hosted many people, from Riders In The Sky to Joni Mitchell (Joni Mitchell?!?!). You may visit the Golden Spur Cafe and/or the gift shop without paying admission to the museum.

~ Tuesday August 24th, 2010 ~ I went to the Autry National Center/Autry Museum of Western Heritage (I don't know WHAT it's called anymore, they keep changing it) in Griffith Park, California. It's directly across from the Los Angeles Zoo. It was 103 degrees out there, but cold inside the museum. Anyway, like it or not, you can bet that I will be posting some photos of the museum here soon. I was able to get a few inside. I've been to the museum I think about 6 times and I usually spend about 5 or 6 hours in there. And 5 or 6 hours is not enough, let me tell ya. Gene Autry Museum Fun Fact: In 1988 Gene Autry realized a dream by building, in his own words, "a museum which would exhibit and interpret the heritage of the West, and show how it has influenced America and the world." (From a museum brochure... Your Guide to "Gene Autry, America's Favorite Singing Cowboy")

~ Monday August 2nd, 2010 ~ In the last few months I had the opportunity to see Debbie Reynolds in her one woman stage show. If you don't know who Debbie Reynolds is, you are A) young, B) not into movies or entertainment in general, C) did I mention young? Or D) possibly not from the United States. Her show is beyond great. Especially if you are into Hollywood's Golden(est) Era. She was gracious enough to let us take photos at any time. My favorite part of her show was when she played back on a screen special parts of her movies like Singin' in the Rain and softly sang along while giving us anecdotes about the folks she worked with and the making of the movies featured. I was able to meet with her briefly after the show and she signed my program. If you like Debbie Reynolds and ever get the chance to see her, you should not pass it up.

~ Monday July 19th, 2010 ~ Yes, I realize that I already had a picture posted today, but how about a break from sunflowers with another SNAKE. This time a rattlesnake who found his way onto our driveway. And yes, he was "dispatched" by the person on the other end of the rake. Unfortunately you cannot take the chance that once you go into the house that they won't just crawl up to your doorway and wait for you to come out.

~ Monday July 19th, 2010 ~ Well I'll be HORNSWAGGLED. I think I've got mutant sunflowers. The dang things are less than 2 feet tall (some shorter) and they are blooming. It makes no sense to me. However, there is no reason to fret. Mutant or not, they seem friendly.

~ Tuesday June 1st, 2010 ~ I was driving down the driveway to go into town the other day and I saw this snake coming out onto the road. I stopped to take his picture and he was gracious enough to hold still for me for quite some time. I don't know what kind of snake he is, I just know he's not a rattlesnake.

~ Tuesday May 4th, 2010 ~ Just another beautiful day in Southern California at a Home Depot store.

~ Tuesday April 26th, 2010 ~ Yep, this was the beautiful pastel colored carton of Easter Bunny eggs that I was saving to eat on............ Easter. And I did save them, but actually I ate them a week of so after Easter. And I KNOW what you are thinking... about how they look. By the photograph I would be thinking the same thing. But they were good. REALLY good. Marshmallow wrapped in cheap chocolate. They worked for me. I will buy them again next year iff'n the bunny don't bring 'em to me first (which ain't likely to happen).

~ Monday April 12th, 2010 ~ So there you are, having a little fun browsing one of your favorite thrift shops... When suddenly you feel a little bit of resistance on your purse, you hear something sliding and KA-RASH! So there you are, and you aren't having any fun browsing one of your favorite little thrift shops.

What exactly is Trish-Marie's Picture of the Day, Week, Month or Whatever? Well, I have photographs that I have taken either in the present or the past that just don't fit anyplace else. These are pictures that I want to put on my website for the most part temporarily. They could be here for a day or a week or a month depending on when the mood strikes me to change them. It is just lots of fun to be able to show you things that I like, places I have been or etc etc etc. That's about it I guess.