"The Pony Express – Echo of Hoof Beats" - A Travelogue Film Presentation
Author:
Summary:
Ride along with film maker Hal McClure as he follows the old trail through Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. Encounter historical figures and accompany present day Pony Express riders who annually gallop the same trail.
Published On:
1/25/2010Time: 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM
Location
Yuma Civic Center, 1440 W. Desert Hills Drive, Yuma, Arizona.
Description
Ride along with film maker Hal McClure as he follows the old trail through Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. Encounter historical figures Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill Hickok and accompany present day Pony Express riders who annually gallop the same difficult trail.
History's original Pony Express may have run less than two years, but its successor is still galloping strong.
And, like their predecessors, today's riders also carry the mail and ride day and night to make the 2,000 mile run between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento in only 10 days.
"We followed the riders with our cameras and were amazed at their dedication in keeping alive the spirit of the old Pony Express as they carried the special mail across eight states," said film maker Hal McClure, whose all-digital travel-adventure film, "Echo of Hoof Beats," documents the historical and modern Pony Express.
"Several of our great western figures were associated with the original Pony Express," said McClure. "Buffalo Bill Cody may have ridden for the Pony Express and Wild Bill Hickok was a stock handler for the company in Nebraska Territory. Badman Jack Slade was a division manager for the Express."
Historians agree that Buffalo Bill helped retain the spirit of the Pony Express "in our national memory by keeping a Pony Express rider in his Wild West shows for 33 years," the filmmaker said.
More than 500 riders, all members of the National Pony Express Association, make the trip every June. On even years, the riders leave Sacramento, bound for St. Joseph and on odd years they depart from Missouri to California.
History's Pony Express riders were mostly young and lightweight, riding a variety of mounts, including mustangs, thoroughbreds and even mules. A number of station keepers were killed by Indians, but only one rider was slain during the Pony's 18 month run.
The mail carrying Pony Express, contrary to popular belief, was not operated by the U.S. government, but a private company. It folded in October 1861 with the advent of the transcontinental telegraph.
"The Pony Express is well known in Europe and several foreigners participate in our rides each year," McClure said. "I interviewed one rider from the Czech Republic who came all the way to California to participate in the ride. He also helped stage Pony Express-type runs in Eastern Europe.
For More Information
For more information, contact the Yuma Civic Center.
Tickets & Admission
Admission is just $8. Persons 18 years of age and under are $4. All seating is general admission.
Tickets are available:
-
On-line from Ticket Sage for
this performance
OR
this season
(These links will take you to an external website that is not part of the City of Yuma official website.) - At the Yuma Art Center box office, the Yuma Civic Center box office or the Yuma Parks and Recreation customer service counter before the event.
- By calling Yuma Art Center box office, the Yuma Civic Center box office or the Yuma Parks and Recreation customer service counter to purchase via credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express)
- The night of the show from the venue box office provided the event has not sold out.
Tickets ordered by phone for Yuma Art Center and Yuma Civic Center events will not be mailed, but will be available for pick up at either location until the day of the event. All other tickets will be available as "Will Call" at the venue the evening of the event.
