Program looks at Western writer Dorothy Johnson

The Northwest Montana Posse of Westerners hosts a program by Whitefish’s Bob Brown titled “Story of Dorothy Johnson: Montana’s Fictional Feminist” Monday, Nov. 20.

Brown will talk about the Whitefish author, instructor and researcher who started her career as a stringer for the Daily Inter Lake, and went on to become one of the all-time greatest writers of Western American fiction. She also served as the news editor for the Whitefish Pilot.

Three of her short stories were made into block buster movies: “The Hanging Tree” (1959, starring Montana native Gary Cooper, along with George C. Scott), “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” (1962, starring Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne and Lee Marvin), and “A Man Called Horse” (1970, with British actor Richard Harris).

Competing in a man’s world of Western writers, and by grit and determination, Johnson rose to the top of her literary profession.

Brown is a historian, educator and elected public office holder for 30 years, including serving as president of the Montana Senate. He is the past president and current trustee of the Montana Historical Society.

The meeting will be held at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell, starting at 5:30 p.m. with a grab ’n’ greet session and book signings by local authors. Dinner is at 6:15 p.m. Reservations are required and the cost is $19, which includes the presentation. The presentation is at 7 p.m., which is free for members, youths under 16, and nonmembers with dinner reservations. Nonmembers may also attend at a cost of $5, which does not include the dinner. For a dinner reservation, call 752-9642 (leave a message with names and phone number) or send an email to kbrittonrn@gmail.com with the same information.