Nefarious Villains to Visit Colorado State University this Summer During American West Program

Scoundrels, scofflaws, a lady bandit, train robbers and other nefarious rascals and villains will run wild during the 24th American West Program this summer at Colorado State University.

A film festival and a visit by Belle Starr, the infamous "Bandit Queen" of the West as portrayed by VanAnn Moore, a performance artist from New Mexico, will highlight the series this year on July 24.

"The theme of this year’s program, ‘The Outlaw,’ will interest aficionados of Western history as well as those who’d just like to hear more about Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Jesse James and other villains," said Harry Rosenberg, history professor and coordinator of the American West series.

The three-day film festival June 5-7 will feature silent film classics with accompaniment by Emeritus Professor Robert Cavarra on the mighty Wurlitzer organ. A screening of the 1929 classic, "The Virginian," will be presented with commentary by English Professor James Work.

Clark Secrest from the Colorado Historical Society will kick off the lecture series June 12 with a talk on "Scoundrels and Scofflaws: Early Crime in Colorado."

Following is a schedule of events for the American West Program. All talks begin at 7:30 p.m. in Room C146 Plant Sciences Building except for the films and the July 24 program, which take place in the Lory Student Center Theatre. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, call Rosenberg at 491-5230.

  • June 5-7, film festival, 7:30 p.m., Lory Student Center:
  • June 5: "The Great Train Robbery" and William S. Hart’s "The Narrow Trail," silent film classics with musical accompaniment by Robert Cavarra on the mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ.
  • June 6: "The Virginian," 1929 film starring Gary Cooper. Commentary provided by English Professor James Work.
  • June 7: "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid," 1973.
  • June 12 – "Scoundrels and Scofflaws: Early Crime in Colorado," Clark Secrest, Colorado Historical Society, Denver.
  • June 19 – "Jesse James Was My Neighbor," Gary Chilcote, St. Joseph, Mo.
  • June 26 – "Wild and Wooly Colorado," Roger McGrath, professor of American studies, Pepperdine and California State University-Channel Islands.
  • July 3 – "The Cultural Borders of the Outlaw," John-Michael Rivera, English department, University of Colorado-Boulder.
  • July 10 – "Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp: What Did They Actually Do to Deserve Their Fame?" Bob Boze Bell, Cave Creek, Ariz.
  • July 17 – "An Ear in His Pocket – The Life of Jack Slade," Kenneth Jessen, Loveland, Colo.
  • July 24 – "Belle Starr, the Lady Bandit," VanAnn Moore, Belen, N.M., accompanied by Mark Zwillig, Denver. The performance takes place in the Lory Student Center Theatre.
  • July 31 – "No God West of Fort Smith: The Outlaws of the Indian Territory," Garrick Bailey, Department of Anthropology, University of Tulsa, Okla.