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One of the villains James Hampton played in his long career was in Roy Rogers’ last movie. That’s what Roy’s daughter, Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, said during an interview at the 3rd Annual Cap Gun and Vintage Toy Show held Saturday at the Azle Community Center.
Rogers said Hampton also played a corporal on the 1960s comedy “F Troop” – although Hampton disagreed with her on the rank.
His character, the bungling Hannibal Dobbs, “never got above buck private!” he laughed. Hampton, Rogers-Barnett and Don Reynolds of 1940s TV “Little Beaver” fame were guests at the toy show hosted annually by Azle’s Wild West Toys. Several hundred people came out to meet the stars and take a look at the goodies brought in by more than 50 classic toy vendors. “It was a good show,” host Bob Terry said. “We’re already planning for next year.”
The Terrys’ annual special guest list didn’t disappoint. Hampton, 73, has a resumé that spans over 40 years – including “F Troop” and a variety of movie and television roles. He’s been a guest star on TV classics like “Gunsmoke” and “Rawhide”, and he won acclaim for his role as Caretaker in the 1974 movie The Longest Yard. He also had roles in Teen Wolf, starring Michael J. Fox and the Academy Award winning Slingblade, starring Billy Bob Thornton, in 1996, and his directing career includes quality shows like the popular early ‘90s comedy “Evening Shade” which starred his Longest Yar buddy Bert Reynolds. Hampton said he is “retired” but continues to work, just finishing up a TV movie with starring Kevin Sorbo. His wife, Mary Deese, who accompanied him on his Azle visit, is an actor too. A graduate of Arlington Heights High School, she has enjoyed a long career in commercials and television including the daytime drama “General Hospital.” Deese said she felt right at home in Azle. She and Hampton – who is from Dallas – are on a crusade right now to get Texas Legislature to reduce a tax that is crippling the state’s film industry, keeping film crews away. “We have the actors and the locations,” she said. “We just need to make filmmaking affordable.” Hampton said back in 1965, when he first took the role as the F Troop bugler, he got a call from a lady in the musicians’ union, upset that he hadn’t joined. “I told her to tune in the next [show] and after hearing me play, if she still wanted me to join, I would. I played as good as I could – but I never heard another word from her.” Terry said he was “amazed” at the actor’s down-to-earth personality and his Christian faith. He has tried to follow that faith when viewing Hollywood’s often salty scripts. “He said he’s never said a cuss word on any movie,” Terry said. “If there was one in there, he just read right past it.” Just like last year, Bob and Johnie Terry also secured plenty of western-style musical talent for the day. “Ms. Jessy and the Outlaws” performed a variety of old west ballads as did Buck “The Big Man” Helton, while more than 50 vendors peddled everything from vintage cap guns to lunchboxes, western apparel and autographed merchandise. Robert Reid of Azle was happy to show off his “Paladin” card – a replica of the one used by gunfighter Richard Boone in the ‘60s western series “Have Gun, Will Travel.” A collector of military toys, Reid wore a T-shirt of a Johnny Seven model gun – the ultimate toy weapon of the 1960s – that broke down into seven different weapons. “This is wonderful,” he said as he eyed the western toy guns on display. Terry enjoyed the crowds, relishing his role as one of the last western toymakers left in the United States. The annual toy show brings attention to the important role the Azle toy store plays in preserving America’s old west heritage. Hampton understood. Looking around at the variety of vendors – watching older men handle cap guns – Hampton was impressed. “It’s fantastic,” he said. “It’s like a family reunion. It’s not just toys – it’s memories.” |
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