The "Fort Worth Five Photograph" shows, left to right, the Sundance Kid, Tall Texan, and Butch Cassidy sitting, with News Carver and Kid Curry standing. The photo was taken in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1900.
The Sweetwater County Museum Foundation is hosting a special fundraising event to commemorate the 55th Anniversary of the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" on September 21. The event will be held at the Broadway Theater in Rock Springs and will feature special guests, a catered dinner, and movie showing.
Bill Betenson, Butch Cassidy's great-nephew, will reflect on the making of the movie and provide commentary regarding its historical accuracy. Betenson's great-grandmother, Lula Parker Betenson, was Cassidy's sister and served as a consultant to actors Robert Redford and Paul Newman during the filming of the movie. Betenson is a noted historian and author of "Butch Cassidy, My Uncle" and "Butch Cassidy: The Wyoming Years."
Whether in fact or fiction, many of Cassidy's and Sundance's adventures took place in Sweetwater County, at places like Tipton, Rock Springs, the Currant Creek Ranch, and elsewhere. It is said that Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy, got his nickname "Butch" when he was working as a butcher in a meat market in Rock Springs. It is also well known that Sweetwater County lawyer Douglas Preston represented Butch, Matt Warner, and other members of the Wild Bunch in several legal cases. Some historic accounts tell of Cassidy meeting Preston at Boars Tusk for counsel and to pay legal fees.
"An Evening with Butch & Sundance" will begin at 6 p.m. with a cash bar, dinner, and Betenson's presentation and will conclude with showing the movie. Tickets for the dinner and entire program may be purchased for $80 per person or $560 for an 8-person table. Tickets for the movie only may be purchased for $20 and doors will open at 7:15 p.m. for movie-only participants. Tickets went on sale on September 4 and may be purchased online at https://www.broadwayrs.com/2024/09/21/216950/an-evening-with-butch-sundance/ . Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the door.
Proceeds from this event will support efforts to refurbish exhibits in the museum's galleries and at venues across Sweetwater County. For more information, contact the Sweetwater County Historical Museum at (307) 872-6435.
Reader Comments(0)