The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club
By Terry Miller
Published: Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Two special benefit screenings of The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club, a 64-minute feature documentary about the extraordinary life of Florence “Pancho” Barnes (1901-1975): adventurer, stunt pilot, bar owner, and one of the top female aviators of the 20th century. Born into one of Pasadena ’s most prominent families, Pancho was the granddaughter of Thaddeus Lowe, a famed Civil War balloonist, co-founder of CalTech and builder of the famed Mount Lowe Railway. Yet Florence refused to conform to Victorian high society and its rules. Her gender-bending antics broke all stereotypes. This Pasadena minister’s wife was once quoted as saying “Flying makes me feel like a sex maniac in a whorehouse with a stack of hundred dollar bills.” Her feats in aviation were no less exhilarating, from becoming Hollywood’s first woman stunt pilot, to breaking Amelia Earhart’s speed record in 1930, to hosting the best pilots in the world at her “Happy Bottom Riding Club” guest ranch in the 40’s and 50’s. A stunning force of nature, Pancho lived wildly, fully, and without an ounce of fear.
The film features interviews with astronaut Buzz Aldrin, test pilots Bob Cardenas, Bob Hoover and Chuck Yeager, and biographers Lauren Kessler and Barbara Schultz. Narrated by Tom Skerritt, with Kathy Bates as the voice of Pancho. Directed by Amanda Pope, and written and produced by Nick Spark. Produced in affiliation with KOCE-TV, PBS of Orange County California.
Reception: In conjunction with these screenings, there will be a reception beginning at 5:00 pm in Vroman’s Bookstore, adjacent to the theater, featuring an appearance by the filmmakers at 6:00 pm.
Thursday, February 25, 4:30 and 7:30 pm at Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 Theater,
673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
Tickets:
$15 – 4:30 pm Matinee Screening
$20 – 7:30 pm Evening Screening.
This event is expected to sell out, reserve your seats today.
Purchase tickets online at www.legendofpanchobarnes.com (click on the “Screenings” link and then click on the Pasadena Screening button to be directed to Paypal). Please note that a $1.00 surcharge per ticket will be added for online purchases.
For telephone reservations and information, please call Heritage Square Museum , at 323.225.2700, ext. 221, or Pasadena Museum of History at 626.577.1660, ext. 15.
All tickets (both online and telephone purchases) will be held at “Will Call” for pickup immediately prior to your selected screening.
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