The 75th Anniversary celebration of Republic Pictures will be held this Saturday from 11a-5p at the CBS Studio Center (it's original site) at 4024 Radford Ave. in Studio City, CA. This FREE day of fun is sponsored by The Cultural Affairs Committee of the Studio City Neighborhood Council and the Museum of the San Fernando Valley. Leonard Maltin will be the official emcee of some of the festivities.

According to their website:

Festivities include screenings of Republic films, serials and trailers, live performances of swing and western music, entertainment by gun spinners, rope twirlers, trick horses, cowboy poets, and a diverse collection of memorabilia. In addition, a speakers forum with prominent industry experts and Republic celebrities will discuss a range of topics from creating sci-fi special effects to tales of working at Republic Pictures. A special Republic Pictures stamp cancellation ceremony of the U.S. Postal Service’s Cowboys of the Silver Screen postage stamps will take place and be available for purchase.

Republic Picture’s former stars Theodore Bikel, Adrian Booth, Michael Chapin, Ben Cooper, Robert Easton, Coleen Gray, Eilene Janssen, Anne Jeffreys, Dick Jones, Jane Kean, Joan Leslie, Marjorie Lord, Jimmy Lydon, Hugh O’Brian, Peggy Stewart, Jane Withers and others are slated to attend this very special event.

Founded in 1935 by Herbert J. Yates, Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities. Republic exploded into national prominence with its focus in westerns, movie serials and B-films emphasizing mystery and action, the staples of Saturday afternoon matinees. The studio launched the careers of John Wayne, Gene Autry, Rex Allen, Roy Rogers, and rocketed serials like The Adventures of Captain Marvel and Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe into the public imagination. Notable Republic Pictures include Under Western Stars (1938), Flying Tigers (1942), Macbeth (1948), Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), The Red Pony (1949), The Quiet Man (1952) and Johnny Guitar (1954).

I plan on visiting this FREE event, soaking in Republic Pictures rich history. I’ll also have Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History to share with the patrons. My paperback features some of the actors who worked their craft at Republic including Ward Bond and John Carradine. This should be a worthwhile day of fun.