HOW THE WEST WAS SUNG : MODERN-DAY COWBOYS, COWGIRLS FLOCK TO FESTIVAL.Byline: Laurence Darmiento Daily News Staff Writer The people who visited the Melody Ranch Movie Studio on Saturday for Santa Clarita's Third Annual Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival Santa didn't seem to notice - or care - that the faded, clapboard clapboard (klăb`ərd), board used for the exterior finish of a wood-framed building and attached horizontally to the wood studs. The word, in its original and strict use, refers to a product of New England; boards of similar type made elsewhere buildings along Main Street didn't have interiors. They had walked into the past, and the 20th century intrusions were lost in the romance of the set's dusty Main Street, where the Old West atmosphere was thicker than the smoke from the chuck wagon's barbecued tri-tip. ``I feel like I'm in ``Little House on the Prairie'' - this is cool,'' said Julie Watson, a 28-year-old Hollywood resident who was wearing the outfit of the day - denim, boots and a cowboy hat. Watson was among thousands who attended the Placerita Canyon event, which city officials claim is now the second-largest cowboy festival in the nation, featuring more than 30 poets, singers and groups. The festival began Friday evening with a western swing dance. Saturday, the ranch was packed as thousands of visitors milled about under blue skies cooled by a stiff breeze. Vendors from across the West sold boots, vests, paintings, riding gear and an assortment of other items, while several bands performed in store fronts. The festival drew visitors from far and wide. ``We came from Chicago,'' said Millie Gunn, 70, who was accompanied by her husband. ``My son lives in Bishop and came the first two years. He said we had to go. ``We were at the show last night and it was wonderful. It's just fun to be walking around here. I have an acquaintance whose friend came in from New Jersey. This is growing.'' Saturday afternoon, Craig Chambers, a western swing singer, performed in the main concert hall. An Arcadia resident whose band played five years in the original Broadway production of ``The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,'' Chambers said he performs at about a dozen cowboy poetry festivals each year. He said the Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, festival has quickly distinguished itself from about 90 that have sprung up around the nation over the last several years. ``It has top talent. This is one of the good ones, first class, one of the top three or four,'' said Chambers, as he waited backstage to perform. ``A lot of them are held in civic auditoriums Civic Auditorium is a name commonly used for a city's auditorium and/or arena. Canada
``The atmosphere of Melody Ranch lends itself to the kind of historical music we are doing.'' City officials have estimated that as many as 20,000 people could attend this year's festival, which wraps up today with three performances, including one by Herb Jeffries, an African-American cowboy singing star. General admission tickets to the ranch are $3, and must be purchased at Hart High School Hart High School may refer to:
Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Theater hall performances are scheduled at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and concert tickets range from $7 to $20. Western-style food is available at a concession area. For more information, call 287-9811. CAPTION(S): 4 Photos Photo: (1--color) Visitors to the Third Annual Cowboy Po etry and Music Festival seemed to gravitate grav·i·tate intr.v. grav·i·tat·ed, grav·i·tat·ing, grav·i·tates 1. To move in response to the force of gravity. 2. To move downward. 3. to the western facades at the Melody Ranch Movie Studio. (2--color) Frank Tooste of Fresno strokes his big, handlebar mustache handlebar mustache n. A long curved mustache resembling the curved ends of a handlebar. . (3) Dusty Sills Sills , Beverly Originally Belle Silverman. Born 1929. American operatic soprano and manager who joined the New York City Opera in 1953 and was its general director from 1980 to 1989. Noun 1. , 3, of Yorba Linda Yorba Linda (yôr`bə lĭn`də), city (1990 pop. 52,422), Orange co., S Calif., in a region of citrus fruit; inc. 1967. The city has grown tremendously along with the southern California area; its population increased fivefold between hangs out in a hotel front while he takes in the events at Melody Ranch. (4) Benny Martinez of Perris, near Riverside, twirls a lasso lasso (lăs`ō, lăs  `), light, strong rope, usually with a smooth, hard finish, made of a fine quality of hemp or nylon. atop his 17-year-old mustang mustang [Sp. mesteño=a stray], small feral horse of the W United States. Mustangs are descended from escaped Native American horses, which in turn were descended from horses of North African blood, brought to the New World by the Spanish c.1500. , Napoleon. John Lazar/Special to the Daily News |
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