Will James in Hollywood
Earl E. Snook Family Gallery
May 8, 2026 – May 6, 2028
Before he became the celebrated author of Smoky the Cowhorse, Billings-based artist and writer Will James (1892 – 1942) brought his skills as a working cowboy to early Hollywood.
In 1916, as Western films were rising in popularity, James worked as a horse stuntman, capturing, training, and riding wild horses for the screen. His firsthand knowledge of ranch life lent authenticity to a genre that was shaping the nation’s image of the American West. Through dangerous stunt work and expert horsemanship, James helped translate the realities of the range into cinematic myth.
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401 N 27th St Billings, MT 59101 At this address
