From: "Jon Brooder, 58
My father was Vice President of the rodeo for many years. His primary function was to arrange for the Crows and Cheyennes to set up camp, etc. He once introduced Robert Taylor to me at lunch at the Elks Club, but I wasn't too sure who he was. Just as Bob W. has been compared to Jack Nicholson, I am often compared (also not favorably) to Gabby Hayes. Not as intellectual, though.Jon Brooder '58 Sharon replied: Well Jon, I met Robert Taylor at the Elks Club, with my dad, too. I'm sure you wondered why I didn't speak to you.....thought you were just another Gabby Hayes Wannabe. My brothers always told me I looked like a movie star, too.......Marjorie Main! That's probably why you didn't know me. Nobody ever asked me for my autograph either. Let's start a support group! Sharon Green '58

Jon: Hey Sharon, You were one of the cutest girls in our class. I know you're just fishing... Robert Taylor was one of the actors who named names in the trial of "The Hollywood Ten." Love, Gabby

Gabby: Thanks for the compliment, but, I wasn't fishing. My brothers really DID call me Marjorie Main. I didn't mind that, but, couldn't bear the thought of having twelve kids, and even worse, Percy Kilbride at the head of the dinner table, in his long underwear, tipping his hat and saying "much obliged". I never heard the gossip about Robert Taylor. I do remember being just mortified that my mom took his wife, Ursula(just name dropping), to J.C. PENNEY'S to buy sheets and towels. I don't know just what little "upscale" shop I thought she should have taken her to instead. Although Marjorie must have been a snob....I'm not. I only buy sheets and towels at Penneys if they're on sale!! Who were the "Hollywood Ten"? Can you enlighten us? Love, Marjorie "

 More on Robert Taylor. My dad was manager at Ernst's and Robert Taylor came into the store when he was in town. Dad, Ernie Ernst and several others had coffee every morning atÊthe coffee shop behind the P.O. News. They invited Mr Taylor to come and have coffee with them one dayÊand after that he made a point to make it in for coffee quite often.Ê When he went over to Spain to make the pictureon the Lippizoner horses, he wrote several letters to the coffee bunch. He complained about the coffee over there, so they sent him a pound of american coffee. He got quite a kick out of it. I stillÊhave some of his letters. The coffee bunch commissioned Bernard Thomas to paint a picture of the place he leased over by Buffalo. They and their famileys had a party out at Story at the old Ponderosa and presented the picture to him. Later he sent each one a photo of the picture over his mantel with he and his wife standying by it. I have dad's picture. He was a quiet man and very friendly with anyone and sure appreciated the fact that heÊcould walk around town and not be bothered by aÊlot of people. I think most people didn't even recognize him as he dressed and looked like any other local rancher. Don Huffaker "45

Bob Wakefield adds:Ê Not many people know that Robert Taylor's real name was Spangler Arlington Brough. I knew this when I interviewed him. But it just never dawned on me to ask about it. As for myself, I have often been compared with Jack NIcholson. And not very favorably, I might add. Bob Wakefield '57.

Beth Garbut, 1952 continues: I remember Robert Taylor coming into the Sheridan Inn for dinner. I was a waitress during the summers at the Inn and waited on him a few times. I was always so impressed that he didn't look like a "dude" - he dressed like a native. I was also conscious of not fussing over him so probably gave him poor service instead. He tipped us at any rate so maybe it was ok. Remember Slim Pickens too? Beth Garbutt '52

Mary Alice Gunderson, 1953 adds: The summer I worked at Totman's Frontier Shop, Slim PIckens came in, with a bunch of others visiting Eaton's Ranch. As I remember, he looked nothing like his screen roles as hayseed. He was very tall, wore expensive clothes and ring and watch, actually moved kind of elegantly--certainly without his old cowpuncher ways. I went into the back and told Bob Totman he was an actor-- at first he didn't believe me. They got to talking and bob learned it was so. I think he had been a rodeo rider and stunt man before they gave him bigger roles. We recently sent our son an old movie in which he has a part, along with the late Peter Sellars--"How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb." A Cold War film...Sellars plays 5 or 6 parts. Mary Alice Gunderson '53

From: "Paula Lenz" I remember going "to coffee" with my dad and friends at the Post Office Coffee Shop (on E. Loucks). Must have been the late 50s or really early 60s as I was not a teen yet I don't think. One of the "friends" was Robert Taylor. I was old enough to understand that he was a movie star and important----although I remember my dad and the others treating him as just another cowboy!

Ron Arnold, 1952 replies: A few years back, a few being 50 or so, My Mother as well as Ronnie Kelleys Mother, worked in the dining room at the Elks Club and I had the privledge of meeting Robert Taylor there while having lunch. As my memory fails me, as it sometimes does, I do not recall if Ronnie was there or not. I know at the time both he and I were attempting to change our city-slicker looks to the more accepted 'Cowboy" looks by dressing in Western clothing. He may deny this but I have a photo of the two of us in our country Garb, (talk about a couple "Dudes") Anyway, I was dressed accordingly at the time when I introduced to Mr. Taylor. Bolo Ties were very much part of the western attire in those days and not having such an item, I wore my multi-colored 'Gaudy' western cut shirt open at the collar. I remember admiring Mr. Taylors Sterling Silver and Turquoise Bolo Tie and made some comment to him about how nice it looked or words to that affect. Several days or so later, my Mother came home from work and handed me a Bolo Tie made from a deer antler and said that Robert Taylor had given it to her to give to the 'tie-less Cowboy.' I remember that there was a brand of some sort burnt into it but for the life of me, I can't remember what it was. I believe that somewhere I still have that tie but haven't seen it or thought of it for so many years that it may very well have gone to where all such items eventually wind up over the years, "LOST."

SLIM PICKENS:
Jane Rice wrote: Slim Pickens came to our ranch one summer. My family's John E. Rice & Sons ranch used to show our Polled Herefords at the North Montana State Fair at Great Falls, then Billings' Fair and so on. Slim Pickens entertained at Great Falls with his trick horse. Dad got to visiting with him at the Rainbow Hotel, where we always stayed, and invited him to lay over at our ranch, which he did. I was just a young girl, so my memory is piecemeal, but I remember Slim and his wife having breakfast with us, so they probably stayed in our home. They were young and fun. Slim gave us all a special demonstration of his horse's tricks there at the ranch. I have Mother's 16mm home movie of the event somewhere! He had quite a drawl! Jane Rice '56

Mary Alice Gunderson, 1953 writes: The summer I worked at Totman's Frontier Shop, Slim PIckens came in, with a bunch of others visiting Eaton's Ranch. As I remember, he looked nothing like his screen roles as hayseed. He was very tall, wore expensive clothes and ring and watch, actually moved kind of elegantly--certainly without his old cowpuncher ways. I went into the back and told Bob Totman he was an actor-- at first he didn't believe me. They got to talking and bob learned it was so. I think he had been a rodeo rider and stunt man before they gave him bigger roles. We recently sent our son an old movie in which he has a part, along with the late Peter Sellars--"How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb." A Cold War film...Sellars plays 5 or 6 parts.

Mary Alice Gunderson '53

Walter Bales writes: Hi Jane and all, I was working for the Rice Ranch when Slim Pickens visited there. He did stay all night and demonstrated his trick horse in the morning for me. He'd already performed for the Rice family but did it again for me. It was fantastic and I'll never forget it. He was a good hand! Walter Bales 42 __________________________________________________________________________________