Cheyenne Goes Hollywood: A Look Back at the World Premiere of “Cheyenne”

The recent success of Wyoming based movies "The Good Dinosaur" and "The Hateful 8", along with the upcoming release of "Forsaken", has renewed Hollywood's interest in the Cowboy State.

Years ago, Wyoming was a popular setting for many films, especially the westerns that fascinated movie goers in the 1940s and '50s.

Among the most popular movies ever based in the Cowboy State was the 1947 flick "Cheyenne".

The film starred veteran actor Dennis Morgan and future Academy Award winner Jane Wyman, who, at the time, was married to future United States President Ronald Reagan.

For one night, nearly 70 years ago, the stars came out for one of the most heralded events in Wyoming history.

In August of '47, Hollywood dignitaries and local citizens alike flocked to the historic Lincoln Theater for the world premiere of "Cheyenne". Morgan, Wyman, Reagan and famed director Raoul Walsh were among the many celebrities in attendance that evening.

The movie opened nationwide on December 5, 1947. While "Cheyenne" wasn't well received by most critics, it performed well at the box office. The movie's success inspired the popular television series, which originally ran from 1955 through 1963 and can still be seen in syndication.

Next time you see a movie at the Lincoln Theater, make sure to grab a good seat. Who knows, you might even be sitting in the same seat future President Ronald Reagan sat in nearly seven decades ago.