When The Cowboys premiered in 1972, it was one of the biggest hits of the year. It is best remembered for launching the careers of several young actors, as well as being one of only a small handful of movies in which John Wayne’s character dies.
The 50th anniversary celebration of The Cowboys will feature three days of events, including two outdoor screenings of the movie, from June 24-26. It will bring together several stars from the film, including Robert Carradine, A Martinez, Mike Pyeatt, Nicolas Beauvy, Al Barker, Sam O’Brien Bass, Stephen Hudis, Sean Kelly and Steve Benedict Austin.
The Cowboys follows Rancher Wil Andersen (Wayne), who is forced to hire inexperienced schoolboys as cowhands to get his herd to market on time. The 400-mile trek is rough and full of dangers – and a notorious gang of cattle rustlers is trailing Andersen’s crew.
On Friday, June 24 at 8:15 p.m., The Cowboys will be shown on the Livestock Exchange Building Lawn in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Red Iron Push will perform before the screening. On Saturday, June 25, Aurora Bleu will perform before a special VIP meet and greet with the cast at 7:30 p.m. The movie will be screened at 8:15 p.m. on the Livestock Exchange Building Lawn.
Sunday, June 26, brings a reception with the cast of The Cowboys at John Wayne: An American Experience at 4 p.m. At 6 p.m. the cast will sit for a panel discussion led by Ethan Wayne at The Cowboy Channel Studio. This discussion will be aired live on The Cowboy Channel.
For those unable to attend, the panel will be live-streamed on RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel, which is the title sponsor for the weekend, and later shared on The John Wayne Gritcast, the inspiring new podcast hosted by Ethan Wayne and available on Apple Podcasts and on Spotify.
Sprawling over 10,000 square feet, the John Wayne: An American Experience exhibit is structured to give guests an intimate tour of the life of John Wayne. Starting with his early childhood and career, each room highlights an aspect of The Duke’s legacy. For film aficionados, an extensive gallery called “Life on Screen” highlights the most iconic film props and costumes. In the “America, Why I Love Her” gallery, guests can immerse themselves in patriotism through Grammy-nominated original poems, recited by John Wayne.
Patrons of the exhibit have exclusive access to never-before-seen family photos and correspondences that have been thoughtfully curated by the Wayne family order to give guests a holistic view of the icon, whose values translate both on the silver screen and off.
EVENT DETAILS:
- Feature: The Cowboys (1972) 50th Anniversary
- About: Directed by Mark Rydell, “The Cowboys” is a gritty coming of age Western telling the story of Rancher Wil Anderson (played by John Wayne) who was forced to hire schoolboys (aged 9-15) as cattle drivers to get his herd to market over 400 miles away with a gang of cattle rustlers trailing them.
- Movie Length: 2 hr. 15 min.
- Rating: PG
- Location: Livestock Exchange Building Lawn – 130 E. Exchange Ave Fort Worth, TX 76164
- Time: Gates 6:30PM / Band til 7:30PM / Movie 8:15PM
- MC: Ethan Wayne (John Wayne’s youngest son)
- Live Music: Friday Night – Red Iron Push / Saturday Night – Aurora Bleu
- Food: On-site food trucks and bar will be available to purchase food and drinks.
- Tickets: Available HERE
– General Admission Adults – $20
– General Admission Children (6-12) – $10
– Children 5 and under are FREE
– 7:30PM VIP Meet & Greet with the cast from “The Cowboys” (Saturday only) – $100 per person. (Limited to 40 tickets) - Seating: First come, first serve. Low chairs only, which sit max. 6″ off the ground.
- Parking: Fort Worth Stockyards street, public and paid parking available.
John Wayne Enterprises’ mission is to preserve and protect the name, image and likeness of John Wayne by associating the John Wayne brand with quality and timeless products and experiences that embody the spirit of John Wayne and give back to the community. To further its mission, John Wayne Enterprises enters into selective licensing or partnership agreements in merchandising, cancer research, treatment and education as well as public facilities, institutions and agencies. www.johnwayne.com