Those of you who have been following the Production Journal in recent months know that we’ve been very busy taking the film out into the world.  Since we debuted the film at NewFest in Manhattan, we’ve done a number of special event screenings, and have a series of events lined up that include air shows, museum showings, and the like.  We will also be premiering the film in Los Angeles on September 10, so please save the date.

One of the thrills about making a film like this one, is that Amanda Pope and I can introduce it to an audience, and tell them Pancho’s story in person.  But unfortunately, attending these events costs real money.  Hotel, rental car and air fare costs all add up, and while many of these events are intended as fund raisers for us, the hard truth is that they've been a mixed bag in terms of offsetting our costs.  Our production is already in the red, and while we’d hoped to use these screenings to raise additional monies, we’re now faced with a hard choice: either we need to cut back our screening schedule, or find sponsors who can absorb some of the costs of the road show.

We’re reaching out to you, for your help.  You can be a part of sustaining our effort to show the documentary to as many people as we can, at venues around the United States.  Your financial gift or sponsorship in support of these screenings is tax deductible, and can make an enormous difference.

To donate, click on the DONATE! link above. Or, to find out about sponsorship opportunities, contact us through the CONTACT US link.

Thanks to everyone who has attended our events, and the hundreds of people who have joined our email list.  With your continued support we know anything is possible.

One of the most charming, humorous and memorable moments in Pancho Barnes’ life, was when she re-christened the rather conventional-sounding Rancho Oro Verde the “Happy Bottom Riding Club”.   A luscious, suggestive name, “Happy Bottom Riding Club” was pure Pancho.  When the locals in nearby Lancaster heard about the switch, it must have confirmed to many what they’d always suspected -- that Pancho was running not a guest ranch, but a brothel.  That was almost certainly Pancho’s intent, since she would have understand the double-meaning implicit in the words.  She was one of those people who believed that bad publicity, and a lot of talk, was still good publicity.  But while it seemed quite racy, the actual origins of the moniker may have been terribly tame.  Then again, it might have involved famous actors and military heroes . . .

Let me back up a second.  When I first wrote an article about Pancho several years ago and saw one of the membership cards Pancho'd printed up (example at right) I was naturally curious about the origins of that rather, uh, unique name.  I asked several people about it, and one of the more knowledgeable ones informed me that in fact Medal of Honor winner Gen. Jimmy Doolittle had suggested it.  Apparently Doolittle had visited the ranch, gone on horseback, and told Pancho afterwords that he had “a happy bottom”.  That was the version of the story that ended up in my article, and later in our publicity trailer for the film.  But while it sounds great, it was probably not true.

The reason I can say that is, in the course of making the film, several other “creation myths” surfaced regarding the “Happy Bottom”.  One of the more intriguing ones, was that during World War II movie star Edward G. Robinson was asked to name a B-17.  He responded that he’d like to name it after his wife, Gladys.  That sounded harmless enough but then Robinson went on to explain that it should be called “Happy Bottom” because he called his wife “Glad-Ass!”  Whether or not that story is true, and whether or not Pancho may have heard about it and been inspired, is hard to say.  But there was a B-17 that flew combat missions in the 381st Bomb Group with that name, and Robinson did name it (photo at left).

Barbara Schultz, in her biography Pancho, notes that she’s heard at least four stories about the name.  One of them fits nicely in with what Pancho’s ranch manager Tony King told us.  “[Pancho] had a horse named Happy,” King explained.  “A black horse.  And [someone] was riding this horse and he came in from a ride and said, ‘Gee, my ass hurts.’  He was riding the horse called Happy and that’s where the ranch got its name, because this guy’s ass hurt.”  Pancho told a similar story to Don Kuhns, as related by Schultz in her book.  “It was named after a horse called Happy Bottom,” Pancho said to Kuhns.  “He was called this because he had such an easy gait.”

That may sound fairly definitive, but it turns out it may not be the end of the story.  As Schultz points out, Pancho told another tale during an interview with Barbara Little in 1962.  At that time she gave a lot of credit to Dr. Fred Reynolds, an eye surgeon who worked at Edwards AFB.  “Dr. Reynolds noticed that all newcomers hurt in some tender areas after their first ride,” Pancho said.  “So that they couldn’t even sit down to eat.  The old timers had happy bottoms because they were toughened from riding a lot.  Fred proposed naming the full-fledged members part of the Happy Bottom Riding Club.”  

That’s probably how it happened.  But, the fact that there is some confusion about how the name came into being, doesn’t surprise me in the least.  As many of you know, a few years ago I wrote a series of articles and later a short book (see it here) about the controversies surrounding the origins of “Murphy’s Law”, which was allegedly discovered at Edwards AFB.  In that instance I concluded we’d never be able to really know the truth definitively, and that’s likely the case here. 

Still, it’s a great name, and its muddled origins are a bit of a giggle. Perhaps Barbara Schultz put it best when she wrote in Pancho that “the original source [of the name] may have been lost through years of yarn-spinning, but much to the chagrin of those looking for a more erotic derivation, at least one horse story will have to do.”

Photo: Pancho Barnes and a black horse -- possibly named "Happy"?

If you've read the Production Journal entry from February of last year, you may remember that our friend Barbara Rowland shared a wonderful story about Pancho when we interviewed her two years ago.  Namely, that she accompanied Pancho on a trip to Long Beach, California, to meet up with Howard Hughes.  At that time, Hughes was considering donating his HK-1 super plane -- known as the "Spruce Goose" -- to an aviation museum.  Pancho'd apparently heard about his plans, and decided to lobby him on behalf of the fledgling Antelope Valley Aero Museum.  According to Rowland, Howard Hughes actually took them to see the aircraft in its hangar.  "I had no idea who Howard Hughes was," Rowland admitted to us with a laugh.  "I had no idea!"  She could be pardoned her ignorance, as she was a young woman at the time.  But few people nowadays, in the wake of The Aviator, could claim they'd never heard of the man or his amazing plane.  

Now, we have the pleasure to announce that something really special is in the works!   On Saturday, July 11th, Amanda Pope and I will be in McMinnville, Oregon, home of the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum and ... drum roll please ... the Spruce Goose.  We'll be showing The Legend of Pancho Barnes in the IMAX Theater, and hopefully getting the grand tour of one of history's great aircraft.  We know it won't be as amazing a tour as the one Barbara Rowland had, but probably still very memorable!!

If you are in the vicinity, then you must attend this screening.  With a little luck, and I'm not going to jinx it, we will have a very special guest in attendance.

Tickets are available through the Museum's special events department.  Simply call (503) 434-4023, or email events(AT)sprucegoose.org   You can also download a flier via the Museum's website here.

On Saturday, July 11th at 4 p.m., a special fund raising screening of The Legend of Pancho Barnes will take place at the IMAX Theater at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum outside Portland, Oregon.  The Evergreen Museum is known worldwide as the home of the amazing HK-1 "Spruce Goose" aircraft -- built by Pancho's friend Howard Hughes.  Tickets are available through the Museum's special events department.  Simply call (503) 434-4023, or email events(AT)sprucegoose.org   

This just in, The Legend of Pancho Barnes will be screened at the Arlington, Washington Fly In.  This prestigious aviation event is one of the nation's biggest and best, featuring an air show and ground displays that are second to none.  During the evening hours, visitors and campers alike enjoy the "Runway Theater", and that's where Pancho will be screening on Friday, July 10th.  Things should get started after 9:30 p.m. or thereabouts.  Come one, come all, and bring your umbrella or at least a hat -- this is the Pacific NW after all.  Make sure to bring a friend or two -- or three!  For more information and directions, visit the official website here.  

This coming Saturday, June 27, in case you missed it, the film will be screening in Tucson, Arizona (see previous issue of the Production Journal).  And with that said, it's time to recap the amazing "Celebration of Women's Aviation" event that we attended this past weekend in Denver.  Hosted by aviation artist and impresario Joe Jones, the Celebration featured a dazzling array of women aviators including Emily Howell Warner, the first woman pilot to be hired by a major U.S. airline.  Many of the competitors in the all women's Air Race Classic were in attendance, including author / pilot Gene Nora Jessen.  Gene Nora, who is the author of the definitive history of the 1929 women's air race, Powder Puff Derby of 1929, gave a stirring speech connecting the '29 race with the '09 model.  It was one of many amazing moments.  (Incidentally, not all of the attention went to the ladies.  Several original Tuskeegee Airmen were in attendance, and they all dazzled with their modesty.  Their personal stories of accomplishment against the odds, and unparalleled bravery in combat were something to hear first hand.)  

 Photo: Emily Howell Warner (l) and Gene Nora Jessen (second from l) are honored at the Celebration of Women's Aviation.  Photo courtesy Paul Gordon.

 While I sit here typing away, it strikes my mind that the Air Race Classic officially gets underway tomorrow the 23rd.  So as I write this I imagine that the pilots are going over their check lists, looking over their maps, and trying to clear their minds and get one last full night of sleep before getting underway.  Oh to be in their shoes -- it's going to be quite an exciting race!  Not only will there be a terrific competition, but the comraderie of the participants is absolutely real.  I honestly wish the race was being covered by ESPN or one of the other networks -- Oxygen where are you when we need you?  By definition it's going to be an exciting race, and the personalities, interests, and spirit of these competitors is without equal.  Every single one of them whom we spoke with, had a terrific story about how they ended up in the cockpit, and a few had touching stories about what inspired them to enter the race.  Check out the official website for more information here, or if you're interested in a closer-in view, follow the race from "Team Wild Mama's" perspective in their blog here.  May all the fliers have safe journeys, and as Marvel Crosson says a bit of historic newsreel footage from 1929 that we used in our film, "May your landings all be low and slow."

Special thanks for an amazing day at a mile high, are owed to Joe Jones, International Jet Aviation, the Centennial Airport and the dozens of volunteers who made the event a reality.  Thanks also to our friend Russ McDaniel, who came all the way from Indiana just to be there.  Yes it was a long way, but I know Russ came away feeling like we all did at the end of the day-- it was worth the trip!

 Photo: Race fan Janine Conklin joins director Amanda Pope, Pancho Barnes, and Nick Spark at the Celebration of Women's Aviation.