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In the 'western' world, this has been a busy 2 months. Mid February found High Noon setting a modern western collectible auction record with over $2.0 million in sales. Included in the sale was the Roy Rogers family collection accounting for almost a million dollars itself, and the remaining items also set notches for coming sales.

Relating to the same boomer bubble, we saw Heritage Comics (www.heritagecomics.com) reach $2.6 million in sales for an amazing modern day record as well. Included in the items were vintage Dale Evans (#5), Dick Ayers artwork (Rawhide Kid cover art), and other western related books. Astoundingly enough, Superman, Batman, Detective 27, and Marvel Mystery #1 were also sold at record prices. The boomer money is coming out of the woodwork!

We have also seen the death of early action director William Witney, aged 86. William Witney directed cliffhanger serials between 1937 and 1946, producing classics such as "The Lone Ranger", "Spy Smasher", "Captain Marvel", "Dick Tracy", and the "Perils of Nyoka". He also went on to direct 27 Roy Rogers features and changed the focus from music to story.

"He just knew how to put things together for the screen-the fights, the wagon wrecks, the falls on the cliffs, whatever they were, they were expertly done," Boyd Magers said.

He was born in 1915 and his family moved to California. There, in 1933, he made a trip to Hollywood and never looked back. He started his career as an office boy at Mascot, then quickly moved to script clerk, then film editor and finally, director. His first project was "The Painted Stallion". His frequent directing partner was John English, who excelled at interior scenes, while William handled the action.

His approach to action scenes was borrowed from Busby Berkeley, who directed dance scenes movement by movement. He began filming action scenes in small segments, adding close ups and different camera angles for more impact. Yakima Cannutt, was one of his favourite collaborators and stunt innovators.

He moved on to direct Rex Allen in 9 features, and on to television where he was a frequent director on the early series.

His influence will be missed.

Adding to this month of 'action', the Roy Rogers world has seen much. To start things off, as reported in Variety, Producers Lawrence Bender and Kevin Brown have made a deal with Dusty Rogers and Jeffrey Kramer to produce TV shows and films that will depict the Rogers pioneering spirit. "We're not going back to the Old West, but we will incorporate the values and morals that Roy and Dale were know for, and though we began negotiating this long before September 11, there seems to be an appetite for that kind of thing," said Brown.

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