Back in 1959 (probably the previous year, I think) a call came out for extras. They were making a movie over in the Yakima Valley in Eastern Washington called "The Handing Tree." Gary Cooper, Maria Schell, Karl Malden, and George C. Scott, among others.

A bunch of people from these parts made the trip over and signed on. Apparently it was a pretty interesting experience, because it was quite the topic of conversation when they came back. Folk singer Walt Robertson was one of the extras, along with the Inimitable Wilma, and I don't remember who all else, except Bob Clark (former partner in The Chalet restaurant) who lost control of his horse, just about ran over Gary Cooper, and got thoroughly chewed out by the director. Bob sort of wondered why he chewed him out instead of the horse!

As it happened, I never had a chance to see the movie, but it would have been a snort to try to spot people. Hmm! Maybe NetFlix has it!

Don Firth