As Connie Burcham moves to a virtual editor ship, I want to thank her for her professionalism in editing these Ferguson Features. To date, I have researched and written approximately 150 Ferguson Features.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13, the Friends of the Ferguson Home will sponsor the annual Ferguson Tea at the First Baptist Church in Watonga. Elva Ferguson brought a measure of society and education to the women of pioneer/early state hood era Watonga and Oklahoma. A committee of Michelle Mendenhall, Janine Espy, Connie Burcham and Teresa Bryan planned the event whose theme is “Let’s All Go to the Movies.” Edna Ferber’s depiction of the Ferguson family has been made into two great movies (Cimarron, 1931 and 1960). Get your $12 tickets from Janine Espy 907-252 1866 or any table spon sor.
RKO studios produced the 1931 film from Edna Ferber’s novel “Cimarron.” Ferber developed the story dur ing her stay with Mrs. Ferguson in 1928 or 29. Mrs. Ferguson consulted on the print shop for the movie. This early “talkie” has an amazing and dan gerous scene for the land run. The film won three Academy Awards including best picture. “Twenty-eight camera men…were used to cap ture land run scenes of more than 5,000 cos tumed extras, covered wagons, buckboards, sur reys, and bicyclists.” Wikipedia Cimarron 1931
MGM produced the 1960 movie after they bought the rights from RKO studios for $100,000. The original director, Anthony Mann, planned to shoot on loca tion in Arizona using MGM Panavision process that produced a wide angle on the screen. This was key to the land run scene which used 1,000 extras, 700 horses and 500 wagons.
However, because of dust storms, the produc tion was moved back to California where a set was developed.
While a notable movie, the screen writer added and deleted characters and had Yancey (Glenn Ford) forfeit accepting the governorship. (T.B. Ferguson was a good governor of Oklahoma Territory). Maria Schell, a foreign actress, played the American-born main character (Sabra). Yancey’s death is changed to WWI while in fact, Ferguson’s son “Trad” died in WWI. Mrs. Ferber wanted to disassociate from the film. The best part of the 2.5-hour film is the first 30 minutes including the land run. Wikipedia Cimarron 1960
Just in: There will be a Flag Day Ceremony at 1 p.m. at the Ferguson on Sunday, June 14. It is especially important to honor the 250th anniver sary of our nation and flag.