Roosters by the several dozen participate in True Gritapalooza

 

Fort Smith National Historic Site officials said at least 447 people gathered at the site an unusually warm Tuesday (Dec. 21) to participate in a “Roosters by the Dozen” event coordinated by the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Based on the official count, it was more like Roosters by the almost 38 dozen who participated in what Jennifer Boulden hopes will be used by Paramount to promote the movie remake of “True Grit” and, in turn, promote the tourism heritage of Fort Smith.

The bestselling novel by Arkansas author Charles Portis was the basis for a 1969 Western starring John Wayne and a new film adaptation released nationwide Dec. 22, 2010 starring Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin, and directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen.

Real Fort Smith history inspired Portis’ novel, and True Grit is set in Fort Smith and Eastern Oklahoma. The area, portrayed as late 1870s Fort Smith and Indian Territory, is featured prominently in the new film although filming was in Texas and New Mexico.

Boulden, communications manager for the Fort Smith CVB, has taken the lead in pushing “True Gritapalooza,” a grassroots campaign celebrating the Fort Smith connection to True Grit. The campaign, which includes this Facebook page, called for movie and book fans to gather at the Fort Smith National Historic Site at noon on Tuesday. The first 500 to attend were given eye-patches and Marshals badges “to turn everyone, regardless of age or gender, into instant Rooster Cogburns,” noted a CVB statement.

During the event, the crowd of Roosters, led by “Chief Rooster,” Mayor-elect Sandy Sanders, were taunted by “Lucky Ned Pepper” — played at the Fort Smith event by Denny Flynn — on horseback. The Roosters and Ned then bantered with the following exchange from the movie:
ROOSTER COGBURN (CROWD): I mean to see you killed in one minute, Ned, or see you hanged in Fort Smith at Judge Parker’s convenience! Which will you have?

LUCKY NED PEPPER: I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man!

ROOSTER COGBURN (CROWD): Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!

Branchout Designs & Video was contracted by Paramount Studios to film the event for possible promotional footage, Boulden said. The footage is being overnighted to Paramount, with the hopes that its use will directly connect the hype and interest in the movie with Fort Smith and the real history that inspired the fictional account of True Grit.

Also, the Fort Smith CVB plans to submit an application to the Guinness Book of World Records for the official world record for the World’s Largest Gathering of Rooster Cogburns.

“This turnout is wonderful,” said Park Superintendent Bill Black. “True Grit is ultimately tied to the history of Fort Smith. … It’s so great to see so many people from Fort Smith and the surrounding area show up for this.”

One of the attendees was Candyce Hinkle, a Fort Smith native who has a role in the movie remake. Hinkle, who graduated from Northside High School in Fort Smith in 1965 and now lives in Little Rock, is Mrs. Floyd in the “True Grit” remake. In that role, she is the landlady of a boarding house in which Mattie Ross stays while in Fort Smith.

Wednesday (Dec. 22) is the release date of the “True Grit” remake. Beginning at 6 p.m.,  in the Malco Cinema 12 lobby a Mattie Ross lookalike contest will be held and then a Rooster Cogburn lookalike contest. Both are open to anyone, any age, with no entry fee. Winners will receive a $50 gift certificate to Bedford’s Camera and Video in Fort Smith and other prizes.

According to the CVB: “The True Grit Opening Night event will also include live entertainment, dozens of re-enactors and enthusiasts in costume, drawings for prizes, promotional True Grit-themed giveaways, donations taken for/ information given about the U.S. Marshals Museum project; and other fun. The event is free, regardless of whether you are attending the film or not; tickets to the film will be general admission and are subject to availability.”