Hollywood actor to take ‘stage' at Wild West City

BYRAM — Actor Daniel Roebuck will take the "stage" at Wild West City on Saturday, Aug. 6 as a guest star. As a youngster growing up in Bethlehem, Pa., Roebuck always enjoyed it when the family made treks to Wild West City in Byram. A theme park with all the flavor of Dodge City, Wild West City has stagecoach rides, and features a host of shows and stunts as scenes from the old west, such as the shootout at the O.K. Corral, and horse riding exploits, are played out. "We went to Wild West City a number of times," recalled Roebuck, who has appeared in a number of TV shows. "I always wanted to take part in the shows." On Saturday, Aug. 6, Roebuck will get to realize that dream when he "guest stars" at Wild West City and takes part in several shows throughout the day. Roebuck will also be available to sign autographs from 12 noon to 3 p.m. "This is the fulfillment of a dream I've had since childhood," Roebuck said. When Roebuck is not in front of the cameras, behind the cameras or on stage, he enjoys his large collection of classic "monster" toys and memorabilia. He writes for numerous publications on the subject of horror movies and loves taking his children to amusement parks. Born and raised in Bethlehem, Pa., Roebuck graduated from Bethlehem Catholic High School. His wife Kelly is also from Bethlehem. They have lived in Southern California for several years now and have two children, Grace and Buster. However, they still have family and friends in the area and frequently come east to visit. Opening in the 1950s, Wild West City was a re-creation of the infamous Dodge City. Today, the city stands as one of the last examples of post-war tourist culture in the Skylands region, and perhaps the most unchanged. Each season the site presents its program developed in the 1960s with the same vitality as if it were for the very first time. Twenty-two continuous live shows are presented each day; the stage runs approximately every fifteen minutes. The 1950s miniature train "Old 97" smakes its regular trips through "Arapaho Territory," and the Earps and Doc Holliday, along with a score of banditos, good guys and bad guys, still square off in recreations of the West's most famous episodes. The buildings which line the street contain various shops and museums, each with a character all its own where there is the informal feeling that the visitor has just stumbled upon a relative's attic full of past time treasures. At the "Golden Nugget Saloon" is a full service bar. Food is available here, as well as at the "Silver Dollar" down the street. There is a candy shop, a general store, a collection of Native American artifacts, a working blacksmith shop, pony corral rides for young guests, and a petting zoo. Non-denominational chapel services are conducted each Sunday morning at 10:40 a.m. In 1997, the site launched a new frontier education program for schools and special groups. This was the first alteration of the regular street schedule in over 30 years. School classes are treated to narrative programs about the historical cowboy and western lawman, their clothing, gear and their horses. Selected topics—exploring the California Gold Rush, telegraphy (featuring a working 1880's model), horsemanship and horse lore—are offered by special arrangement. An interpretation of the 1830s "mountain men" tells of the free trappers who explored the early West. Domestic skills of pioneer women are demonstrated at the camp located adjacent to the park's entrance. And then there is the arrival of the stagecoach, or a rider vaulting into the saddle to bring the mail for the Pony Express. For more information about Wild West City, call 973-347-8900 or log onto www.wildwestcity.com.