I have read with interest the blogs and comments on cowboy film stars. But not much on the early film cowboys who comprised the serial genre as when I was a small boy.

The one that sticks most in my mind ( other than Roy Rogers and Gene Autry) is William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy. I remeber watching re-runs of his films on our small 10 inch black and white TV back in the early 50's.

And most of all I remeber my folks taking me to Hoppy Land ( that's right ! ) in what is now the Marina Del Rey area of southern California. What an adventure ! I wasn't more than 6 or 7 years old at the time but in my mind's eye I can clearly see the drive there from Westchester California just down the highway from the apartment complex from where we lived at the time.

I can still see the dirt streets and wooden buildings and smell the horses and I looked everywhere for Hoppy. But alas to no avail . He wasn't there that day. But there were pony rides and carnival type rides so the day was still magical to that long ago small boy.

Do whatever you can to create magical moments for your children. Real memories last a lifetime.

Happy trails.

Oldcowboy