Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western

May 22 – Sept. 6, 2021

Premiering this summer at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western tells the dramatic story of the Hollywood Western of the late 1960s to the 1980s. Against a historical backdrop of social unrest, political turmoil, economic uncertainty, and generational change, competing cinematic visions of the Old West vied for Americans’ attention within the popular culture of the day. And as they did so, the Western remained as rich and entertaining as at any time in its history.

True Grit, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Wild Bunch, Little Big Man, and The Outlaw Josey Wales are just a few of the classic Western films highlighted in this exciting new exhibition. Featuring costumes, movie clips, and dozens of vintage movie posters, Still in the Saddle immerses visitors in the history and artistry of the Western, Hollywood’s greatest genre.

ABOUT THE GUEST CURATOR
Andrew Patrick Nelson is a historian of American cinema and culture, film programmer, museum curator, and media commentator. He is Chair of the Department of Film and Media Arts and Associate Professor of Film Studies at the University of Utah. He is the author and editor of numerous books and essays on Western cinema, including Still in the Saddle: The Hollywood Western, 1969-1980 and Contemporary Westerns: Film and Television since 1990. He’s appeared in television series on History Channel and Fox News Channel, cohosts the Western movie podcast How the West Was ‘Cast, and regularly lectures about Western movies and history at venues around the world. Nelson also serves on the Board of Directors of the John Wayne Birthplace and Museum.

Still in the Saddle is supported in part by Jessica Elliott Middleton, an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Exhibition Images