Tuesday, June 13, 2017

It was a GREAT Howard Days!

Photo by Ben Friberg

Before the memories fade, we'd like to thank some folks for helping to make Howard Days 2017 a memorable event!

First, many thanks go to Project Pride of Cross Plains, Watchers of the Howard House and the most wonderful hosts anyone could ever have. The docents were at the House ready to go both days, the yard and grounds sparkled in the Texas sun and we were all treated like royalty! A big shout-out goes to Arlene and Tom Stephenson and Era Lee Hanke for all their dedication and hard work year after year. Howard Days would not happen with them.

Also, the Robert E. Howard Foundation is a big supporter of Howard Days, as are the members of the REHupa, the Robert E. Howard United Press Association. REHupa members act as Howard Ambassadors all weekend and always help newbies with any questions.

And of course, many thanks to all who attended this year! We met some new friends and welcomed them into our big Howard family reunion. Many promises to return in 2018 were heard and will be looking then for the folks who we missed this year.

One of the best things about this year was moving the panels to the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church in Cross Plains. Spacious and cool, it featured wonderful electronics for all presentations and the audio was great! Many thanks to all who helped there!

So, after a few months respite, we'll start planning for 2018. The dates are set for the second full weekend in June, on the 8th and 9th. As it's never too early to start planning (we know events come and go so quickly!), think about joining us to support the legacy of Robert E. Howard and join in the fun and fellowship of our little family reunion! See you next year!

Monday, June 5, 2017

Howard Days is (Just About) Here!



The Robert E. Howard Museum stands shining in the Texas sun, anticipating the arrival of hundreds of visitors later this week for the annual Robert E. Howard Days!

Under the direction and sponsorship of Project Pride of ?Cross Plains, The Robert E. Howard Foundation and REHupa, the Robert E. Howard United Press Association, months of planning are ready to take shape on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 8-9-10.

People from all over the world and all walks of life are gathering in the bustling metropolis of Cross Plains, Texas to celebrate the life, legacy and work of a true Texas original, Robert E. Howard -Author and Poet.

The "theme" this year is The Howard Detectives, where we'll honor a number folks who have done an amazing amount of work digging up all sorts of information, typescripts, court records, newspaper notices, original photographs, hard-to-find books and magazines - all directly related to Robert E. Howard. Fortunately, most of these folks will be on hand at Howard Days to participate in panel discussions and to display some of the rarer items found in the world of REH.

Plus, we're continuing our tradition of The Best Two Days in Howard Fandom, with tours of his house, a  Bus Tours of Cross Plains and surrounding environs, a Howard Swap Meet, a Celebration Banquet with a Silent Auction, a special Postal Cancellation available only in Cross Plains, a Poetry Reading right from Howard's porch, plus a hot dog lunch and a Saturday old fashioned chuck wagon BBQ!

Of course, the best part of Howard Days is the fellowship brought forth and shown by all the attendees, new and old alike. Howard Days anymore is like an extended Howard Family Reunion, where like-minded people gather to support and enjoy the legacy of Robert E. Howard.

Now, with the exception of the Banquet (where a $15 bill gets you a great Texas meal amidst your new family) ALL of the events at Howard Days are FREE! You won't find a better deal all summer.
Now, there may be a few seats left at the Banquet of you show up on Friday, but that's the deal - you have to show up! It's Texas - there's plenty of room! So, Y'all Come!

Here's the schedule of event for the weekend:

2017 HOWARD DAYS SCHEDULE

THURSDAY JUNE 8

The Robert E. Howard House and Museum is open to the public from 2 to 4 pm. There are no docents on duty but the Gift Shop will be open.

FRIDAY JUNE 9

8:30 – 9 am: Coffee and donuts at the Pavilion, compliments of Project Pride

9 am – 4 pm: Robert E. Howard House Museum open to the public. The adjacent Alla Ray Morris Pavilion will be open from Thursday to Sunday.

9 am – 4 pm: REH Postal Cancellation at Cross Plains Post Office. Friday Only.

9 am – 11 am: Bus Tour of Cross Plains & Surrounding Areas. Friday Only.

10:00 am to 4 pm: Pavilion available for REH items Swap Meet

10 am – 5 pm: Cross Plains Public Library open. Original Robert E. Howard typescripts available for viewing. The Conan Board Game and the Conan Role-playing Game will be presented also.

11:00: PANEL: The Glenn Lord Collection. Come hear the story of the Original Howard Detective and how he assembled the world's number one collection of Howard typescripts, pulps and memorabilia. Panelists: Paul Herman, Rob Roehm, Patrice Louinet.

Noon: Lunch hosted by Project Pride at the Pavilion.

1:30 pm: PANEL:  Collecting REH: What makes for a core Howard collection? How can you assemble one? We'll also discuss the good Howard collections in the world. Panelists: Jeff Shanks, Lee Breakiron, Patrice Louinet, Bobby Derie

2:30 pm: PANEL: Travels with Ol' Two-Gun. Panelists Rob Roehm, Bob Roehm and Todd Vick will discuss the detective travels they've made in the name of Howard history, genealogy and minutia.

Following this panel will be the presentations of the 2016 Robert E. Howard Foundation Awards.

5:30 – 6:30: Silent Auction items available for viewing & bidding at Banquet site

6:30: Robert E. Howard Celebration Banquet & Silent Auction at the Cross Plains Community Center. Speaker: Paul Herman.

9:00 pm PANEL: Fists at the Ice House (behind the old Texas Taxidermy building on Main St.) Mark Finn, Chris Gruber, and Jeff Shanks discuss Howard's pugilistic prose in this perennial favorite.

Afterward there will be Howard Fellowship at the Pavilion


SATURDAY JUNE 10

9 am – 4 pm: Robert E. Howard House Museum open to the public. The adjacent Alla Ray Morris Pavilion will be open from Thursday to Sunday.

9 am – 4 pm: BARBARIAN FESTIVAL at Treadway Park, 3 blocks west of REH House

10 am – 3 pm: Cross Plains Public Library open. Original Robert E. Howard typescripts available for viewing. The Conan Board Game and the Conan Role-playing Game will be presented also.

10 a.m. to 4 pm: Pavilion available for REH items Swap Meet

11 a.m. PANEL: Paul Herman 2017 Guest of Honor. Mark Finn will conduct an interview style panel with our shy and retiring Guest of Honor.

Lunch & Festival Activities at your leisure during the day

1:30 pm PANEL: Pictures of Howard. For a long time we only had 29 photos of Bob Howard. Come and see what photo detective work has produced in the last 12 years! Panelists: Rusty Burke, Paul Herman, Patrice Louinet.

2:30 pm PANEL: The Second Annual Glenn Lord Symposium. Howard scholars will present papers discussing the life and works of Robert E. Howard. Panelists: To Be Announced.

5:00 to 8:00 pm: Sunset BBQ at the Pavilion

There will be some extemporaneous panel-like events this year: Special Announcements at the Pavilion prior to the BBQ, Conan Board Game and Role-playing game demonstrations and participation at the Library and Poetry Readings on Howard's Porch.

Afterward there will be Howard Fellowship at the Pavilion.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL PANELS LAST ONE HOUR AND WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 1000 N. MAIN ST. IN CROSS PLAINS.