Book Review: Screen Greats Vol IV, Hollywood COWBOY HEROES: By G.C. Stevens

        Subtitle: Authors big find at the local Salvation Army

 Resale Store, a very nice Dietz Kerosene Lantern

 and a copy of "Hollywood Cowboy Heros, Screen Greats Vol IV."

                              

The front cover of "Screen Greats Vol IV, Hollywood 

"COWBOY HEROES"

It was Hollywood and T.V. that introduced my generation to the western genre, we learned American history by T.V. osmosis.                  

 -G.C. Stevens

Screen Greats Vol IV was originally published in 1981 by Starlog Press Inc. Which was a publishing company better known for their sci-fi mags, but Starlog went out of business in 2009 along with many of our other beloved magazines from that time period that disappeared when the internet started taking over media. I did an immediate search for information on "Cowboy Heros" I found that there are still some copies that can be found on sale. This magazine contains forty different chapters covering subjects from silent movie period, early serial period, big screen movies and television. It contains actors from "Bronco Billy Anderson to John Wayne and just about every cowboy actor in between" 

The is booklet is 82 pages long, it's packed from cover to cover with many photos. Each page contains multiple vignettes in alphabetical order. The booklet is in black & white, (except for inside covers photos which are in color.) and the pages show some age. The paper it is printed on does not appear to be acid free paper, so there is some discoloration. The book starts out with one of these authors favorite movies "The Great Train Robbery" filmed in 1903, to a complete list of John Wayne's filmography from 1929 to 1976. Cowboys Heros is a direct reflection of what we saw at on T.V. and at the movies. It was Hollywood and T.V. that introduced my generation to the western genre, we learned American history by T.V. osmosis. Our entertainment was a good western and six-guns blazing and the local theater. As I turned the pages in this book, I could smell buttered popcorn in the air, and the crack and pop of the film projector in the background. I'm glad I was able to add "Hollywood Cowboy Heros" to my collection.

 

 

 

  My new Dietz #76, which was a very popular 

Lantern introduced in 1976 a great find.

A very dashing Gary Cooper, well mounted and handsome.

A list of early silent westerns.