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.

His later successes—including the 1927 Newbery Medal for Smoky the Cowhorse and its adaptation into three different films—grew from these experiences in the saddle and on set.

Presenting works from the Yellowstone Art Museum Virginia Snook Collection, Will James in Hollywood highlights this pivotal chapter in James’ career.