As Connie Burcham moves to a virtual editorship, I want to thank her for her professionalism in editing these Ferguson Features.  To date, I have researched and written approximately 150 Ferguson Features. Every writer needs a good editor. She is also an important part of the planning for the 2026 Ferguson Tea with the Theme of Movies.

Ferguson Tea with theme of Movies

This Saturday, June 13 at 2 PM, the Friends of the Ferguson Home sponsor the annual Ferguson Tea at the 1^st Baptist Church in Watonga.   Elva Ferguson brought a measure of society and education to the women of pioneer/early statehood era Watonga and Oklahoma.  A committee of Michelle Mendenhall, Janine Espy, Connie Burcham and Teresa Bryan planned the event whose theme is “Movies”.  Edna Ferber’s depiction of the Ferguson family has been made into two great movies (Cimarron, 1931 and 1960).  Get your $12 tickets from Janine Espy 907-252-1866 or any table sponsor.

Edna Ferber’s “Cimarron” is Awarded 1931 Best Movie

RKO studios produced the 1931 film from Edna Ferber’s novel “Cimarron”.  Ferber developed the story during her stay with Mrs. Ferguson in 1928 or 29.  Mrs. Ferguson consulted on the print shop for the movie.  This early “talkie” has an amazing and dangerous scene for the land run.  The film won three Academy awards including best picture.  “Twenty-eight cameramen…were used to capture land run scenes of more than 5,000 costumed extras, covered wagons, buckboards, surreys, and bicyclists.”  Wikipedia Cimarron 1931

1960 remake of Cimarron

MGM produced the 1960 movie after they bought the rights from RKO studios for $100,000.  The original director, Anthony Mann, planned to shoot on location in Arizona using MGM Panavision process that produced a wide angle on the screen.  This was key to the land run scene which used 1000 extras, 700 horses and 500 wagons.  However, because of dust storms, the production was moved back to California where a set was developed. 

First 30 minutes is best part

While a notable movie, the screen writer added and deleted characters and had Yancey (Glenn Ford) forfeit accepting the governorship. (T.B. Ferguson was a good governor of Oklahoma Territory).  Maria Schell, a foreign actress, played the American-born main character (Sabra).  Yancey’s death is changed to WW1 while in fact, Ferguson’s son “Trad” died in WW1.  Mrs. Ferber wanted to disassociate from the film.  The best part of the 2.5-hour film is the first 30 minutes including the land run.  Wikipedia Cimarron 1960

Flag Day Sunday June 14

Just in:  There will be a Flag Day Ceremony at the Ferguson Home Museum on Sunday, June 14 at 1 PM.  It is especially important to honor the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence from England.