Long before Pitt, Clooney and DiCaprio, Tom Mix, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers were the stars of the "B" Western movie era. These low-budget movies were tacked on to high-profile films that were extremely popular between 1903 and the mid-1950s.
To take a trip down memory lane, The Tempe History Museum will be hosting its Third Thursday Night Café tonight with film historian Charlie LeSueur.
LeSueur, a native Arizonan, wrote Riding the Hollywood Trail: Tales of the Silver Screen Cowboys.
The book is a nostalgic look "B" Western movie era and is based on research and interviews with the idols that made these films hits.
LeSueur, who has worked as an actor, director and country singer, will be signing his book, as well as leading a discussion at the Museum and playing themes from some of the more famous Westerns.
To see some of the stars LeSueur will be discussing in action, check out some trailers of their classic flicks:
Roy Rogers in Son of the Pioneers:
Tom Mix in Miracle Rider:
Gene Autry in Riders in the Sky:
Ken Maynard in Tombstone Canyon:
LeSueur will take to the stage on September 15 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit the Tempe History Museum's event page.
