Photo Coverage: THE HIGH CHAPARRAL Cast Converges for 2015 Reunion

The High Chaparral Reunion held its 2015 gathering from March 19th to March 22nd with celebrities Henry Darrow, Don Collier, Rudy Ramos, and Kent and Susan McCray in attendance. Penny McQueen, event producer, says the Reunion will return to Tucson, and will include a visit to Old Tucson Studios where the show was filmed. Check out shots from the evening below!

Other celebrities in attendance included Neil Summers, Stan Ivar, Mayf Nutter, Buck Montgomery, Boyd Magers, Steve DeFrance, Jackie Fuller, Jeff McCarroll and Marc Mitzell.

Attendees were treated to a concert by the Tucson Boys Chorus at the Sponsor's Dinner.

Darrow played the rascally Manolito Montoya; Collier, the loyal and tough ranch foreman Sam Butler; and Ramos portrayed the quiet-yet-confident half-Pawnee Indian, Wind, in the classic Western series that aired on NBC from 1967 to 1971. McCray was the production manager of the show and wife Susan did casting.

"The 2014 Reunion was the biggest one yet," says McQueen says, "and we're looking forward to an even bigger gathering in 2015. Registration is open now, and we invite all fans to join us for a gathering that many describe as fulfilling a lifetime dream."

Along with Darrow, Collier and Ramos, The High Chaparral starred Leif Erickson as Big John Cannon, Cameron Mitchell as Buck Cannon, Mark Slade as Blue Boy and Linda Cristal as Victoria. Other Cast members included Bob Hoy as Joe Butler, Rudólfo Acosta as Vaquero, Roberto Contreras as Pedro, Ted Markham as Reno and Jerry Summers as Ira Bean. Susan McCray's father, Oscar-winning composer Harry Sukman, orchestrated the show's music.

The historic show aired on NBC network from 1967 to 1971. The show is considered historic because it promoted Latino and other minority actors during the height of the Civil Rights movement, a time when many acting opportunities weren't open to them. The show is currently being shown in syndication on the INSP channel, which is opening up a new generation of fans.

Attending were Henry Darrow (Manolito Montoya) and wife Lauren Levian, Don Collier (Sam Butler), Rudy Ramos (Wind), Kent McCray (production manager) and wife/casting director Susan McCray, along with Stan Ivar (Little House on the Prairie: A New Beginning), Western author Boyd Magers (Western Clippings Magazine) and stuntman/author Neil Summers.

During the gathering, produced by Penny McQueen, cast, crew and fans participated in a steak dinner at the White Stallion Ranch; a casting call overseen by Susan McCray; a Sponsors Dinner including music from The Vinnie Falcone Trio in a tribute to composer Harry Sukman; a trip to Old Tucson Studios where the show was filmed, including a horse trail ride and live stunts; a trivia contest; and live premiers of Rudy Ramos' "Geronimo, Life on the Reservation," (written by Janelle Meraz-Hooper and directed by Steve Railsback); and Don Collier's "Confessions of an Acting Cowboy." The group also held question and answer panels and autograph/photograph sessions,

For more information, visit http://thehighchaparralreunion.com/, https://www.facebook.com/highchaparralreunion, or http://www.highchaparralnewsletter.com/.

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