Robert and Marilynn had very graciously invited my husband Doug and me to be their houseguests for the weekend, along with another couple, JR and Linda. The company was wonderful and the conversation never stopped, a fact that made us slightly late to the Friday evening pre-Boot party at the Sportsmen's Lodge. The event was crowded, but we managed to find all the fans who had gathered from all over the country to help Robert celebrate his special weekend. The fans included: Patty, who won the "distance award" coming all the way from Pennsylvania; Marcella, from Tennessee; two Texans, Virginia and Jacque; from Colorado, Betty and Laura; and from California, Alinda, Cindy, Randy, and Bev! Everyone had a good time renewing old acquaintances and making new friends, and most certainly for some, getting to meet Robert for the first time was a highlight of their evening! The night did breakup early, since we were all aware of the "big day" on Saturday.

Our party met at the Hortons' front door about 5:00 PM Saturday evening. Robert had thoughtfully decided to transport us all via limousine. Talk about feeling special! As we arrived at the Sheraton, the photographers were all out in full force, asking Robert to turn this way and that for a picture. He was waylaid countless times for autographs and even a short interview before he even got into the Sheraton. 

The evening started with cocktails and a silent auction in one of the large banquet rooms. The auction, along with the sale of the tickets to the event, was to benefit the Motion Picture and Television Retirement Fund. While we were attending that, Robert was whisked away to the press room for more photos and interviews. 

From there, we all proceeded into the main hall for the main event! Doing an excellent job as Master of Ceremony was Ben Cooper. The Flag was carried by Peter Brown, and the Invocation was given by Cheryl Rogers-Barnett. Personally, I was impressed simply to be in the same room with such legends as Sydney Poitier, Fess Parker, Mickey Rooney, and Tom Selleck (my lord, is that man TALL). It was a rather heady evening for a little gal from Vermont. Robert Osborne, the host of the Turner Classic Movies and the official biographer of the Academy Awards, presented Robert's Golden Boot. This long overdue award was the highlight of the evening!

An account of the night would not be complete without recounting our rather funny trip home. The driver was having a small problem with the limousine - he could not get the right rear door to close. After much fiddling and fussing, JR gallantly offered to hold the door closed for the trip back to the Hortons'! Bravo, JR! We did eventually arrive safely back at Robert and Marilynn's beautiful home. We all were feeling the adrenaline of the evening, and we retreated to the bar to discuss the events in minute detail. To say a fun night was had by all would undoubtedly be the understatement of the weekend! 

Robert's Golden Boot Speech

Many thanks Bob O! Robert Osborne, one very fine fellow. Bob & I met at a small town in Illinois in 1968, a small town that boasted of an excellent regional theater. And they were equally proud of the industry the city was famous for: the Manure Capital of the World! Happily, the production we were involved with did not contribute to the city’s reputation or its atmosphere.

The year 2004 has proven to be a very special year in my life, full of special celebrations: One, I will soon celebrate being married to my beloved Marilynn for 45 years of wedded bliss, well maybe it wasn’t quite 45 years. Two, celebrating the final payment on our mortgage. George Montgomery built our house by the way, the scene of many happy years. Three, an ongoing celebration of my 80^th birthday, which took place a week ago.

And now tonight, being honored with a Golden Boot, joining the special fraternity of actors that I have admired and with whom I have shared the screen for the 62 years I have been a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

However, more important than this trophy, is knowing that you are forever inscribed in Hollywood history: that your contribution has been recognized and recorded and is part of the legacy of western films, a legacy the Golden Boot Society is dedicated to preserve, and what a fantastic legacy it is. During the last few years, I have attended many western film festivals, and I have learned just how important that legacy is to the people of our country.  And, what a meaningful and enduring 80^th birthday present. I’m very proud, I’m fulfilled, and I have a wonderful sense of completion.

Thank you, and good night.

    BETTY'S REPORT

                                                          
As most of the other ladies at the Golden Boot weekend know, (because I told them), I have had the deep pleasure and honor of knowing Bob and Marilynn for close to 40 wonderfully eventful years, beginning in 1966.  It was then that I was given the marvelous opportunity of attending their musical, Brigadoon, at a theatre in West Covina, California. 

After the show, Bob graciously granted my request for an interview for a proposed magazine article. Only a month later, I also attended their star-studded performance of Oklahoma at the Muni Opera House in St. Louis, MO. Three years later I had the privilege of attending another of their musicals, Kismet, at the Muni Opera House, where Marilynn and I met after the show, and they invited me to have dinner with them.  This cemented our long-time friendship, which I have treasured close in my heart over these many years.   

 I was able to attend these performances because I was lucky enough to have a mother living in California and a dad in St. Louis at the times I visited them in '66.  Also I had a wonderful husband who watched our kids when I made those trips.  Through the years, Bob, Marilynn, and I saw each other several other times while I was in the Los Angeles area  on business, when they so very kindly invited me to spend a couple of evenings with them in their lovely home and came to my hotels and took me to dinner and luncheons with them on numerous occasions.

The reason I wrote the above paragraphs is to explain that having known Bob so many years, when I learned that he was to receive the Golden Boot Award, I just had to attend that great occasion for him, which has been delayed for far too many years. In fact, one of those times we were together, I told Bob that I thoroughly believed that one day he would win an award for his long-time performances in movies, television, theatre, and nightclubs. and that when that day came, I would  try to be there to watch him receive it.  So since that award was forthcoming on the evening of August 7th, I had a great desire to keep my promise to share that evening with him.

When I asked my daughter, Laura, if she would like to go with me to the Award weekend, her reply was enthusiastic, saying, "I've heard about Robert Horton and Wagon Train since I was a little girl.  Of course, I would love to go and meet him and his wife after all this time."  So after visiting my son and wife in Seattle and sister and family in San Diego, Laura and I arrived at the Sheraton Universal Hotel on August 6th just in time to attend the Pre-Boot party that evening.

I'll have to say that 'It Was A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening' for me since it just happened to be my 78th birthday. We were delighted to meet other ladies who had traveled from other areas of the U.S. and California, which made our stay at the hotel and get-togethers, as a group, and with Bob and Marilynn especially fun and exciting.  Laura and I made so many friends over the weekend, all of whom we will always remember and keep in touch.

 Since other ladies have already written their reports of this marvelous weekend, I won't repeat what they have said in great description, except to say that being in attendance on Bob's Award night was a dream come true for me, and being with him and Marilynn at the Pre-Boot Party and at the Brunch gave all of us the opportunity to have chats with both of them when they exchanged places at the two tables, which I thought was a great idea, so everyone was able to have one-on-one talks with them.  Through their gracious patience, all of us were also able to snap some great pictures during and after the meal.

 Praises and deep appreciation must go to Alicia Williams, who has created the fabulous website for Bob on the Internet, and who was instrumental in arranging and providing for the ladies' marvelous opportunity to visit with Bob and Marilynn (some for the very first time) and for seeing to it that we all had such a great time together over the never-to-be forgotten weekend.

Betty

Marcella’s Journal

            On occasion, I can be struck speechless.  My recent weekend in Los Angeles, however, is NOT one of those occasions!

            By way of preamble, the first six months of this year were rather rough for me.  Alicia knew this and campaigned (read practically bullied) for me to attend the Golden Boot Awards.  I admit that, once I agreed to be there, the thought of the Golden Boot weekend quite literally shimmered invitingly through a job change, a new location, and the upheaval of trying to buy a house.  It was indeed a wonderful incentive to keep on.

            By the time I arrived at the Sheraton Universal on Friday, I was tired (up at 3:30 AM to catch a 6:00 AM flight) and ravenous (airlines no longer feel the need to feed their passengers!).  Once in the room I was to share with Virginia, I ordered room service.  And promptly had heart failure at the cost!  No matter.  I would have eaten anything if it had stood still long enough!  The meal, a brief rest, and a shower refreshed me, and it was off to meet the girls in the hotel lobby.  Okay, okay.  It was off to meet, for the first time, the man I’ve adored since I was 10 years old – Robert Horton!

            Patty kept saying how nervous she was.  I was amazingly calm and told her that I found myself quite equal to the occasion.  I have no idea why I was so at ease.  Perhaps I unconsciously applied my mantra since my birthday last year: “I’m old enough to know better and just too durned old to care anymore.”

            Alicia kindly did the honors.  When Robert walked into the lobby of the Lodge, she introduced us: “Robert, this is Marcella.”  And it seemed quite the natural thing to pull him in for a hug and kiss.  (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, I beat you to it, Patty!)  I had dreamed of this moment for 45 years, but the reality was better!

            When we moved into the pool area, Patty said, “Okay, show me somebody famous.”  I said, “Peter Brown, dead ahead on the right,” my first of many sightings, earning me the nickname “Hawkeye.”  As I was still hungry, I moved straight to the buffet.  Huge burgers with all the fixin’s, southwestern corn, baked beans, and a quite good slaw.  I sat at table with Randy and had a pleasant conversation with her, meeting William Smith and his wife Jan.  Others of the Harem drifted over, and then came Robert himself.

            I now confess to a bit of shameless, self-serving maneuvering.  My return flight on Sunday left at noon, so I would miss the brunch.  I admit to muscling Patty aside so I could sit next to Robert!  (Patty kindly accepted my apology on Saturday.)

            Oh, how I enjoyed that chat!  To Alicia, Robert refers to me as “the smart one” or “professor.”  We got tickled, admitting what awful students we were in freshman comp (I got C’s).  The conversation moved easily around the table, with lots of fun and laughter.

            At one point, I looked at Robert and smiled.  He smiled back (Oh, Flint!), then he raised his hand and patted my cheek.  Well, it was too good to pass up.  I held his hand against my cheek, laid my head on his shoulder, and said, “Flint touched my cheek!”  Amid the hoots of laughter that followed, Patty asked, “Which one?”  Robert swatted me on the butt and said, “That one!”

            “The Sister Rita Story” was wonderful, as was the nightclub act (on loan for the evening to the Golden Group only).  I’d often told Alicia that Robert could sing me to sleep anytime, and at last he did (aided by my being up for 24 hours straight)!  What a rich and wonderful voice!

            Saturday morning, Jacque, Virginia, Patty and her son Brian, and I went to breakfast.  Our waiters were adorable and took good care of us.  Patty asked them to forgive me for calling them “darlin’” and “honey” (I’m a Southern girl, so I know everybody’s name—“honey,” “darlin’,” “sugar”), but they loved it.  One warned us: If we didn’t clean our plates, he’d make us ride the bull.  Since the portions were easily large enough for an army, we all failed!  He found a gauche-looking, zebra-striped cowboy hat, inflated the mat, and I went first, followed by Patty and Virginia.  Be it known: He was under pain of death if he started that thing moving!  (A stroll through City Walk followed, with yet another photo op for me.  I stepped into the “headless Raider” outside the Silver and Black shop.  It wasn’t my Tennessee Titans honey, Frank Wycheck (#89), but, ya know…..)

            At the Golden Boot Awards.  “Hawkeye” resurfaced, spotting Bruce Boxleitner, Peter Mark Richman and his wife Helen, William Sanderson, Mickey Rooney, Pat Hingle, et al, before dinner.  Dinner was one impression after another.  Singing the Wyatt Earp theme to Hugh O’Brien.  Presentation of the colors by Peter Brown and the Buffalo Soldiers.  An emotional tribute to President Reagan.  Being called a liar by Val Kilmer (I do too know what a huckleberry is!).  Scott Glenn’s moving “Semper Fi” to our men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Spotting Tom Selleck on stage before Patty did.  Getting Bruce Boxleitner’s autograph for my mother (a gift for her 82^nd birthday on 8/23).  Giving Robert a much deserved, long overdue, well earned standing ovation as he accepted his award.  A flurry of last minute hugs and goodbyes.  What a night!

Fond farewells to Randy and Bev, Patty and Brian, Jacque, Betty and her daughter Laura, Alinda, and Cindy.  Next morning, Virginia and I said our goodbyes as we checked out.  A very LONG and tiring flight back to Memphis (add to that last intense jealousy for everyone else being at the brunch).

Thanks to Alicia for getting us all together.  To Randy for arranging the fan table.  And to the Golden Boot committee for giving us a lovely excuse to honor our favorite cowboy, Mr. Robert Horton.

 Affectionately yours,

Marcella (“Hawkeye”)