Edmee CR Hasler
Contributing writer
It all started with a Science Fiction Convention called Roanoke Valley Conventions for Fantasy and Science Fiction. It was started by organizer Carol Webster’s father, Fred Eichelman, his wife and a few other people. Over the years it has evolved into the Happy Trails Film & Festival. “They felt like they were called to do something more faith based,” said Webster of the first few festivals. Then in 2005 or so they became involved with a Western festival in Winston-Salem. Over the years, relationships with stars developed and when the Western festival folded, there was a void left to fill.
This year’s festival featured panels, workshops, movie screenings and autographs from stars.
“The first thing they did was to bring back celebrities from 25-30 years of working with them,” said Webster. It was more of a reunion and it was at the Holiday Inn. Many people asked for a convention back in Roanoke and that’s when Eichelman and Webster and many celebrities and volunteers started the Happy Trails Film Festival. “He (Eichelman) collected autographs and was a teacher, he would play movies in the classroom and ask those actors to write letters to the students, or sometimes they would do phone calls,” Webster added. That was back in the 70s way before the Happy Trails convention. It has been through the meeting of stars at other festivals and conventions and word of mouth that brings the stars to Happy Trails year after year.
The festival’s Happy Trails name was adopted about eight years ago. The name was changed when Dody Rogers, the daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, had come to a convention and was well received. The people “absolutely loved Dody and of course they loved Roy Rogers, and what her parents stood for, family and faith,” Webster said.
Rebecca Holden, star of shows such as “Magnum P.I” and “Knight Rider” was on hand to meet greet fans. Holden said that it is a wonderful time meeting the fans and has been coming for about five years. “We are all working in the industry, so we only see the same gang when we are at this particular event. This is a smaller event, and you have time to really visit with people that you’ve made friends with, and we have more time to interact with the fans. It makes it like family affair,” Holden said.
It was the first time for Judd Lormand, star of the television show “Seal Team.” “Everyone is so nice and I mean that legit. I’ll be back just to see these people,” Lormand said. “Everyone can just relax and have fun and say hi and talk, it’s awesome,” he added.
Actress Kathy Garver from “Family Affair” and the voice of Firestar from “Spiderman and His Amazing Friends,” has been coming to the festival for a few years. ”It’s especially important to me now to have festival that celebrates family oriented entertainment and tries to show films that exhibit this quality,” she said. Garver’s movie “The Empty Church” premiered at Happy Trails.
Attendee Lee Seiden is from Queens, New York and his wife comes down to the festival every year. “My wife and I come for the love of Roy Rogers, a love of Dr. Fred, a love of his late wife… Joan and I have made so many friends through this association. We will drive 250 miles to see our friends, pure and simple,” Seiden affirmed. “Just keep doing what you’re doing,” said Seiden to Webster, “And you’ll always have us here.”
All the money raised from the proceeds goes to cancer research.
