The Western Trail Historical Society will offer a unique opportunity to see excerpts from a silent movie The Daughter of Dawn that was filmed in southwest Oklahoma, at its Annual Meeting on Thursday, April 26th at 7 PM at the old Plaza Theater (now the home of the Altus Christian Fellowship) on the west side of the square in Altus.

The Oklahoma Historical Society is restoring a copy of this silent movie that was filmed in 1919 in the Wichita Mountains starring White Parker, one of Quannah Parker’s sons, and supported by a cast of Comanche and Kiowa Indians from the area. The story is part legend and part fiction and includes all the major aspects of Indian life that form today’s image of the old days, including a buffalo hunt, dancing, a brawl, and, of course, a love story involving a test of courage. You will see the Indians’ way of dressing, their style of conversing (lots of sign language), and, above all, their style of horse riding – no saddles, no bridles. It is an impressive film!

At this meeting, Dr. Bob Blackburn, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, will screen excerpts from the film and provide background information about the acquisition and restoration of the film. This program will be preceded by the Annual Meeting of the Western Trail Historical Society which will include brief reports on the society’s activities over the last year and an election of new board members.

The Annual Meeting is to opportunity to renew memberships in the Western Trail Historical Society. Membership provides free admission to the museum, a 10% discount in the Museum Gift Shop, and advance notice of all historical society and museum activities. Membership dues allow WTHS to host events such as the Grand Reopening, list local historical sites on the National Register of Historic Places, mark the Western Trail, provide educational programming, and support the museum.

Mark your calendars now for April 26. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the development of a silent movie filmed in Southwest Oklahoma. The program is free and open to the public.