Them on Us: Movies, mags and Mountunes

Thursday, April 02, 2009

By Jake Nichols

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Moviegoers are collectively gasping nightly at the Movieworks Plaza. I Love You, Man, starring Paul Rudd, features a subplot involving former Hulk star Lou Ferrigno and his attempt to sell his Southern California home.

“Why is he selling his house?” someone asks Rudd in the movie.
“Because he bought a place in Jackson Hole,” Rudd responds.

It’s seems as natural as the answer to “Why did the chicken cross the road,” but hearing it confirmed on the big screen, that California millionaires are flocking to JH, really brings it home, man.

On the subject of The Incredible Hulk and Jackson ties, a few old-timers may recall when Wilfred Bailey Bixby organized shows in Jackson Hole through the mid-1950s. By 1959, “Bill” Bixby was discovered and his acting career was off and running. Perhaps Bixby’s most notable TV role was as Ferrigno’s lighter side – Dr. Bruce Banner.
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Two Big Horn elementary school students were able to do what many couldn’t during the recently wrapped Wyoming Legislature – they pushed a bill through the House. The so-called “butterfly bill” (Senate File 16) identifies the Sheridan green hairstreak as the official state butterfly. It was twice presented to House committees by fourth graders Tanner Warder and Lydia Mayer, with the help of University of Wyoming professor Scott Shaw.

The bill passed the House on a 51-9 vote. Gov. Dave Freudenthal is expected to sign the bill within a few weeks.

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Heeb Magazine recapped the recent Heeb Hundred exhibit held at Lyndsay McCandless Gallery in Jackson. Their web site features a three-minute video taken from the evening. Heeb’s business director, Adam Baruchowitz, called it the most fun Heeb 100 opening to date. The Brooklyn-based mag couldn’t contain their surprise that Wyoming would be receptive to such a shindig, saying: “Our Heeb Hundred Portrait Exhibition traveled to the Lyndsay McCandless Gallery in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (yes, Wyoming!) this month.”

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Susan Woodward’s Mountunes may be the latest local small business to fall victim to the souring economy. And now the world knows it. Woodward gave her two cents to a Bloomberg News story that was picked up by the Dallas Morning News, among others. Woodward said she wouldn’t be renewing the lease on her music boutique and Internet cafe after nine years because of skyrocketing interest rates on her credit cards.
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News that nearly 500 people submitted applications for seven affordable homes in Wilson played big across the state and regionally. The Housing Authority closed the application process on March 25 and will announce the lucky winners April 14.

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Montana’s KTVQ-TV reported that last weekend’s Hill Climb was down slightly compared to last year. Lodging numbers reflected a 10-percent to 15-percent decrease from the typical 97-percent occupancy rate reported by the Chamber of Commerce. Attendance was estimated as down some 10 percent, with sled fans drinking less – beer sales were reported down 10-percent to 15-percent across the board.

Still, EXPN was digging the action. The ESPN division for extreme sports covered the 34th Annual Hill Climb and the Saturday night stunt special at the fairgrounds.
Excerpt: “What isn’t there to love about the legendary Jackson Hole Hill Climb? Nothing. Because it is the very embodiment of pure awesomeness.”  PJH


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Them on Us: Movies, mags and Mountunes | Planet JH News Article: General News

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