‘F-Troop’ star ridens into area for Cowboy Day

In Central Virginia we have been known to celebrate films and books and photographs, presidents, steeplechases and fine wines.

Saturday, however, Buckingham is staging a first: An homage to the Old West. Saturday is Historic Buckingham’s first (and organizers hope it will be an annual) Cowboy Day.

With help from the local Chamber of Commerce and Tom Mix Rangers, the all-day festival will feature a cowboy camp, live music, a train ride and a few familiar faces from Hollywood’s Western genre.

Headlining the afternoon is Larry Storch, who will be on hand for the train ride (complete with bad guys and good guys) and at the village along with Peter Boone. Boone is the son of Richard Boone who starred as Paladin in the 1950-60s hit TV western, “Have Gun Will Travel.”

It is the broad-grinned Storch who many TV fans will remember at Forrest Tucker’s bumbling sidekick in the cowboy comedy “F-Troop.” The now 86-year-old actor was nominated for an Emmy in 1967 as best actor for his role as Corp. Randolph Agarn.

Born in New York, Storch’s acting career has spanned more than half a century. He went to school with Don Knotts and was in the Navy with Tony Curtis - and remained lifelong friends with both future actors. Later Storch would act alongside Curtis in eight films. His big screen resume includes 25 movies, ranging from “Sex and the Single Girl” to “Oliver Twist.”

He also made guest appearances in more in than 100 television shows, including “Married With Children,” and added voiceovers to an equal amount of cartoons. He was Phineas J. Whoopee in “Tennessee Tuxedo.” Younger audiences would have heard him in “Scooby Doo.”

But it was the stage where Storch recently celebrated 50 years of performing on and off Broadway. “Porgy and Bess” has been called one of his favorites, while his more recent outings include “Annie Get Your Gun” with Reba McEntire and “Sly Fox” with Richard Dreyfus.

Saturday, he is going to set up camp in Buckingham at the Historic Village at Lee Wayside.

Several cowboy look-alikes also will be in town, along with Terry Von Hightower and Michael Lair. Von Hightower (who appeared in “Two Weeks Notice”) will be dressed as the legendary black cowboy Nat Love, and Lair (“Hannibal”) will be playing the Hyco Kid.

Book lovers won’t be forgotten. Authors Greg Overcash (“Alias the Hyco Kid”) and Joe Lively (“Our Forgotten Folk Heritage”) are scheduled to be among Saturday’s guests in Buckingham.

The village, which opened in 2007, used to be a stagecoach stop, where the story goes, that Robert E. Lee camped after surrendering at Appomattox. The site now includes a tobacco barn, general store, school house and a post office.

The Andersonville Post Office also will be open Saturday to cancel letters with a special stamp made just for the day.

Pony Express riders are scheduled to ride by to pick up the mail.

The folks in Buckingham also have planned for a chuck wagon, an Old Dominion Fast Draw and children’s games. There will be a contest for the best little wrangler costume, so grab your six-shooter and mozie on down the road. If your hat turns up in front, well, Col. Agarn might be pretty proud.

DETAILS

Cowboy Day

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

Historic Village at Lee Wayside

$3, $35 for train ride

983-2372

http://www.leewaysidevillage.com