January 25th --

We now have available the latest flyer for the 2012 Memphis Film Festival with the most up-to-date information including our exciting new guest, Clint Walker!!

Feel free to download copies and print them out!

Help support the show by giving flyers to friends and family you believe will be interested in attending this exciting, fun-filled festival next summer!

MEMPHIS FILM FESTIVAL FLYER (JPG Format)

(Please note that one of these flyers is in PDF format. If you are unable to read it, it may be because your computer is not equipped with a PDF reader program. To download Adobe PDF reader free of charge, please take the following link.)

Download Free Adobe Reader

January 19th --

The Whispering Woods Hotel sold out some time back, and now the Fairfield Inn and Suites is getting close to that status.

There are a very limited number of rooms available at the latter, but they vary in size and price.  We recommend contacting the Fairfield immediately.  If it does not have the type of room you want, you will be directed to the Comfort Suites on Parkwood Drive which is less than four miles from the Whispering Woods.  Its basic room rate will be the same as the other two hotels.  There will also be a shuttle running between all three hotels, but the Comfort Suites will not make airport runs.

You can also be put on waiting lists at either the Whispering Woods or the Fairfield Inn should there be cancellations.

Important information about the Comfort Suites Hotel follows:

The number for the Comfort Suites is  662 / 892 - 4445.

Address:  6921 Parkwood Drive,  Olive Branch, Mississippi

Standard Features in all Rooms: Sofabed, refrigerator, microwave.
They also offer a free continental breakfast.

You can also make reservations and find out more information about the Comfort Suites online by using the link below:

Comfort Suites Hotel in Olive Branch

January 15th --

GREAT NEWS!!

This website erroneously reported the passing of Caren Marsh a few days ago.  She is not only still with us but she took the "news" of her passing with her great sense of humor.  She was laughing about it.  One obit said she was 5'7"....she laughed, "I wish".

We apologize for any confusion and rejoice in the correction!

Recently, we lost another past guest of the Memphis Film Festival - that being Bill McKinney who visited with us back in 1984.  He was 80 years old.

Perhaps Bill's most famous role was the sadistic mountain in Burt Reynolds' film, "Deliverance", but he also went on to appear in seven Clint Eastwood films, perhaps most notably as Union cavalry commander Captain "Redlegs" Terrill in "The Outlaw Josey Wales".

Bill earned a special footnote in western film history when he teamed with Richard Boone and this summer's MFF guest, Hugh O'Brian, as one of John Wayne's final on-screen adversaries in the climatic ending of his final film, "The Shootist".

Bill McKinney
(1931 - 2011)

It brings us sadness to announce the passing of a previous Memphis Film Festival guest - Robert Easton - who visited with us in 2006.  He passed away on December 16th at the age of 81.

Mr. Easton had a very successful acting career that started out in radio and moved on to TV and film appearances.  Included in that over 60+ year career were such notable films as "Paint Your Wagon", "Red Badge of Courage", "Comin' Round the Mountain" and "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea".  One of the more interesting roles of his career was that of Mangus, Chester's brother on Gunsmoke.  Mr. Easton played that role on both the radio and TV versions of the classic western.

Robert had a second career as well.  For decades he had been one of the leading dialecticians in the industry. He even earned the title "the Henry Higgins of Hollywood" because of his rich knowledge of regional dialects. During his Memphis visit, he gladly entertained attended with his expertise of dialects.

Robert Easton as he appeared in Memphis in 2006.

We have lost a true talent amongst us and are are left a little poorer for it.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Robert Easton
(1930 - 2011)

Perhaps the most anticpated event during each year's edition of the Memphis Film Festival is the Saturday night banquet.  Attendees get to enjoy an evening of fellowship with a grand meal and, see the guests accept a gift of honor from the festival.  They also enjoy an opportunity to see and hear a wonderful evening of entertainment as the favorite guests perform.

This year, the festival has once again brought together an outstanding line-up of entertainers to perform at this banquet.  Headlining the show will be the legendary Rex Allen, Jr!

Rex Allen, Jr. is an American country music singer who followed in the footsteps of his father, Rex Allen, a singing cowboy and the narrator of many Walt Disney films.

He has had over 50 hits with "Goodbye" (1974), "I'm Gettin Good At Missing You (Solitaire)" (1977), "Lonely Street" (1977), "Two Less Lonely People" (1977), "Lonely Street" (1978), "With Love" (1978)) and others.  He. was a regular on The Statler Brothers Show on The Nashville Network in the 1990s and he hosted the spin-off series, Yesteryear.  And now The Western Music Association is inducting Rex into their Hall Of Fame.

We are also excited to announce that fan favorite, Johnny Western will be returning to the festival next year!

Inspired by Gene Autry when he was a child, Johnny got a guitar and was performing professionally a year later.  He went to later perform with Gene Autry, Johnny Cash and many western music stars.

A member of the Western Music Hall of Fame, Johnny's voice is perhaps most familiar as the composer and singer of "The Ballad of Paladin", the theme song of "Have Gun - Will Travel".  He also co-wrote the theme to the TV series, "The Rebel", with Johnny Cash.

Johnny has appeared at the festival a few times before - most recently in 2010 - and has always been a hit with the fans with his exciting performances.

It wouldn't be an Memphis Film Festival if we didn't enjoy the comedy of John Buttram as our banquet emcee!

John is the nephew of Pat Buttram, star of "Green Acres" and sidekick to Gene Autry.  Apparently Pat's comic style and homespun humor is a family trait because John has it "down to an art".  Past attendees have come to realize that John's appearance as the banquet just brings the event together like a neatly wrapped package.  And be sure to meet John in the autograph area during the festival - he loves to visit with the fans!

If the guests, panel discussions, films and other activities of the Memphis Film Festival haven't already prompted you to decide to attand, surely this amazing line-up for the banquet will convince you!

The Memphis Film Festival will be THE fan event of 2012!!

October 31st --

The 2012 Memphis Film Festival is shaping up to be an enormous success!  That is evidenced by the fact that the host facility, the Whispering Woods Conference Center, has sold out their available rooms over the festival dates!

But don't fret! The festival has made arrangements for another block of rooms at the neighboring Fairfield Inn - within walking distance of the Whispering Woods facility.   The Fairfield Inn will also be honoring the same great festival rate set up for the Memphis Film Festival.  Just be sure you mention you will be attending the festival to be able to get that rate!

You can make reservations at the Fairfield Inn by calling 662-892-4469 or you can do so online by clicking on the photo above. If you have any problems with the reservation, please contact Karla Caudill at 662-895-2941.

The Fairfield is ready to welcome you to Memphis!

October 30th --

Bill Hale , the brother of singing cowboy Monte Hale, passed away from cancer on October 29th.  Bill made his mark on the western genre after appearing in several Republic, Monogram and Columbia westerns.  He then went on to appear in many 50s and 60s western TV series.

We had the pleasure of hosting Bill's appearance at the 2007 film festival when we celebrated a tribute to Monte Hale.  Other guests that appeared that year had appeared in his films or worked with Monte in some way. It was a pleasure for Bill to meet so many fans that year.

Bill will be missed.  Our thoughts and prayers go out t  That is evidenced by o his friends and family.

October 17th --

MIchael Dante, a guest at last year's Memphis Film Festival, was recently honored by having a street named after him in his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut. The award winning actor was present when the street was dedicated in his name, ‘Michael Dante Way’ on Friday Oct. 7, 2011.

The street is in the middle of the city and runs ¼ mile, the full length of Prospect Street, going from Prospect and Hoyt Street to Prospect and Walton Street. The dedication was officiated by City Mayor Michael Pavia and attended by family, friends and city officials. Oct. 7 was named Michael Dante Day in Stamford, Connecticut.

Our heartfelt thanks to all those who supported Michael with character reference letters, signed petitions supporting the street naming, submitions of all of Michael’s career press releases and awards information given to the City of Stamford for the Board of Representatives approval, the making of the signs, the Proclamation and the Resolution.

The naming of a city street for Michael Dante will live in perpetuity as a testament to his life and dedication resulting in his consequent successes in signing a major league baseball contract, 30 motion pictures, 150 television shows, many prestigious awards and 12 years hosting his own celebrity radio show, as one who is most deserving of this once-in-a-lifetime honor.

One of the biggest highlights of the 2012 Memphis Film Festival will be the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the classic western, The Virginian!  The festival was already hosting the largest reunion of stars from the series ever assembled at a single festival.  But we are not resting on that distinction!

The Memphis Film Festival is excited to announce yet another Virginian star (the eighth) who will be joining us to help celebrate the anniversary - L.Q. Jones!

L.Q. Jones will be honored for his recurring character, ranch hand Andy Belden, on The Virginian. But his association with classic TV westerns and films goes far, far beyond that role.  His list of appearances in western series and films is one of the most impressive in Hollywood!

His appearance at next year's MFF will bring an added excitement to all who attend!

For more information concerning the Virginian celebration or our latest guest, please check out our Guest Page now!

August 18th --

The Memphis Film Festival is pleased to announce that Bobby Clark will also be appearing at the 2012 festival!

Bobby appeared in the 1958 syndicated series, "Casey Jones", which followed the adventures of the western railroad engineer played by Alan Hale, Jr.  Also appearing on that series regularly was Dub Taylor and Eddy Waller.

This will be Bobby Clark's first-ever appearance at a film festival! And the Memphis Film Festival is pleased to help make this special occasion happen!

For more information concerning the Casey Jones TV series or our new guest, Bobby Clark, please check out our Guest Page now!

July 27th --

The Memphis Film Festival is excited to announce its latest addition to our guest list - and it is a great one - Robert Loggia!

Mr. Loggia has had an incredible career in Hollywood starting in the early days of TV and continuing on to his highly respected list of feature films from his Oscar-nominated role in "Jagged Edge" to his audience-pleasing appearance in "Big" (remember the uplifting scene of Robert dancing on a giant keyboard with Tom Hanks?)

We will honoring Mr. Loggia for his memorable title role on "The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca", one of the recurring western mini-series that appeared on "Walt Disney Presents".  This was the breakout role that launched Mr. Loggia on his incredible career.

This is a very rare public appearance for this versatile charactor actor and you won't want to miss it! Check out more information our Guest Page now!

June 26th --

Attendees are in for a special treat at "A Gathering of Guns 4--A TV Western Reunion" at the Memphis Film Festival May 31-June 2, 2012. "Love Letters", the Pulitzer Prize for Drama nominated play by A. R. Gurney, will be presented by Will Hutchins and Roberta Shore.

For those of you unfamiliar with the outstanding 90 minute play, it centers on just two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. Using the epistolary form sometimes found in novels, they sit side by side at tables and read the notes, letters and cards--in which over nearly 50 years they discuss their loves, hopes, ambitions, dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats--that have passed between them throughout their often separated lives.

It was first performed in 1988 at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT. It soon went to Broadway. Over the years it has been presented thousands of times all over the world by name actors such as Charlton Heston, Carol Burnett, Robert Wagner, Elizabeth Taylor, Julie Harris, William Hurt, George Segal, Jason Robards, Polly Bergen, Robert Vaughn, Timothy Hutton, Cliff Robertson and many more. Both Will and Roberta have performed the play separately, but never together, so "A Gathering of Guns" attendees are in for a very special presentation of this beautiful play.

We look forward to presenting this unique experience.

June 22nd --

The 2011 festival was an astonding success and brought many wonderful, fun memories for attendees and guests alike.  The staff of the Memphis Film thanks you for your participation and hopes to see all of you return next year forthe 2012 festival.

And, next year's event is already shaping up to be the best yet!  Just look at one of the highlights set up for next year --

The 2011 festival hosted the greatest reunion of stars of "The Virginian" ever.  But we are are not simply resting on our accomplishment - we plan to make it even BIGGER!

2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the long-running classic western and to honor that special occasion, we will have all of the Virginian stars return next year! But, more than that, we will be having two more stars from that series join us!

Sara Lane, who played Elizabeth Grainger on the series, will be appearing at the festival. At the last festival, she graciously was available for a phone interview during The Virginian panel discussions.  But, next year she will be attending the festival in person!

We are also pleased to announce that Diane Roter will be appearing with her Virginian co-stars next summer.  We had the pleasure of watching Ms. Roter portray Jennifer Sommers alongside her Virginian costars and now, we will have the opportunity to meet and visit with her!

This is, however, just the beginning.  Please visit the Guests page for a more in-depth review of these guests and all the others who will be appearing next year!

May 27th --

There have been many, many guests who have appeared at the Memphis festival over the past 35 years.  In fact, there have been over 300 guests making over 450 appearances.

Want to relive some memories of those shows?

Or, if you haven't been attending these shows for long, you may want to be surprised by the very impressive list of guests the festival has hosted over the years?

You can do that now - by checking out our new "Past Guests" page.  You can review the list of past guests by festival date or by an alphabetic last name.

Check out this page here - you will be impressed!