Bonnie & Clyde ride again
The public crowded around the FMB Legacy building under the noon sun on Saturday, ready for a dramatic retelling of the day Hollywood came to Pilot Point.
The reenactments, the first at noon and the second at 3, were part of the all-day entertainment of the 15th Annual Bonnie and Clyde Days festival.
'I'm just glad we were able to get back into the bank, honestly,' reenactment director Basil Gist said. 'Having to do it on the other side last year, we made the most of that situation, but I'm glad we were able to get back in and get the full effect.'
He also expressed appreciation for the sound crew for the performances.
'Every year, we try to make this thing just a little bit better,' Basil said. 'I think we did that again this year.'
Julie Holloway of Texas Re- public Bank said to reenactment producer and Holloway's coworker Emily Gist, 'I don't believe in bank robberies,' while telling her she was there to support the Gists.
Shelley Cowen, who has lived in Pilot Point for many years, said she loves seeing the event grow.
'It's huge now,' she said. 'The amount of people that come is really amazing. It's a good thing. I hope it keeps growing.'
Cowen was glad, too, to have the reenactment back on the Farmers and Merchants Bank steps.
'It's a good thing for the community, and I enjoy the antique cars,' she said. 'It's a neat thing.'
As she walked up Main Street toward the Square, she paused to examine the vehicles brought by the members of the Dallas Model A Ford Club, such as Cece Meinholdt, who has been bringing hers to Bonnie and Clyde Days for about 10 years.
'It's fun to get the Model A's out,' she said. 'I just live in Sadler, but this is the only big club around here. … This is a pretty good event. We always have our cars lined up and a lot of the members have cars in the reenactment. … And it's just a fun place to be.'
She loves her vehicle, saying driving it 'takes you back to the '20s when you're driving it,' Meinholdt said.
There were 71 additional cars on Main Street past between Pilot Point City Hall and Little Piglet inside the historic Ice House as part of the car show open to the public.
Vendors lined the center of the Pilot Point Square, including Don and Pat Paddock who were selling reproductions of the original wanted posters.
'I took all the information off the FBI website and took the pictures and reset all the type so you can actually read it,' Don said.
Yvonne Flippen of Humana also set up a vendor booth and started the day decked out in Bonnie and Clyde era garb but changed her mind and her clothes halfway through the day.
'I had the wool skirt with the sweater,' she said.
Having the chance to be part of Pilot Point's biggest annual event meant a lot to her.
'It's so awesome to see all these people turn out,' she said. 'And this a huge, huge gathering. This is bigger than last year, and I love it.'
Brian Glenn of ShelterBox USA worked with the Lake Ray Roberts Rotary Club to demonstrate the type of life-changing equipment the local club helps provide for people in need worldwide.
'People see Lake Ray Roberts Rotary Club and they know that they do projects around the community; they don't realize that they're also helping all around the world because they sponsor ShelterBox on a regular basis,' he said. 'And then it also lets people know some of the disasters that aren't making the news like the earthquake two days ago in The Philippines that we're going to or the flooding in Pakistan.'
The shelters can last up to six months, and the local club's $1,000 can help anywhere from one to 10 families per year.
Derek Gurley, who is running for Justice of the Peace against Vince Handler, came out to the festival.
'I love the movie,' he said. 'And … I can imagine what a big deal it was in Pilot Point, back … in the '60s when they're here filming a big movie.'
Main Street Director Wendy Adkins was pleased with how the event unfolded.
'We had two wonderful headliners that actually did all of their load-in and sound checks in the morning, which really helped things run smoothly,' she said of Wynn Williams and Jon Stork.
She, like Basil, expressed appreciation to Nathan and Shannon Brown for being able to bring the reenactment back to the steps of the FMB Legacy building.
'They were great partners to help bring that reenactment back to life, back to its original home at the Farmers and Merchants Bank,' Adkins said.
Photos hy Abigail Allen/The Post-Signal
