Universal Studios’ Smokey and The Bandit Celebrates 40th Anniversary SNOWMAN: Hey Bandit, me and Fred’s got a question. BANDIT: What do you and Fred want? SNOWMAN: How come we’re doing this? BANDIT: Well why not? SNOWMAN: Well they said it couldn’t be done. BANDIT: That’s the reason son. SNOWMAN: That’s good with Fred. We’re clear. It’s been 40 years since that iconic conversation took place between Bandit “Bo” Darville and Cledus “Snowman” Snow in the classic movie Smokey and the Bandit. 40 years since they did what they said couldn’t be done and made the run from Texarkana to Atlanta in 28 hours hauling a load of illegal Coors Beer. Universal Studios recently celebrated what was their second largest grossing movie of 1977 by having a limited release of the movie at select theaters across the country. And this year, YOU can become part of a historic celebration of that milestone and become part of Smokey and the Bandit history by joining in on the 2017 Bandit Run. This 40th anniversary Run will be a once in a lifetime experience. The event’s timeline is packed with events that have never been done before and likely will never happen again. For the first time ever in the history of the Bandit Run, the Bandit himself, Burt Reynolds will join the Runners for a question and answer session before the screening of the movie Smokey and the Bandit. Alongside Burt will be Ellyn Needham, the widow of Hal Needham, world famous stuntman and the director of Smokey and the Bandit. In addition, Burt will be reunited at the Q & A with one of his co-stars, Susie Ewing, who played Hot Pants Hilliard in the movie. The two castmates have not seen each other since the movie premiere 40 years ago! The Bandit Run, brought to you by RESTORE a MUSCLE CAR in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a week-long traveling car event that will let you get your classic cars out on the open road. Because while Burt Reynolds and Jerry Reed were the human stars in the movie, playing just as important a role was the 1977 Special Edition Black and Gold Pontiac Trans Am. Just imagine paying tribute to the all-time classic movie by loosely retracing the journey taken by the Bandit himself along with hundreds of your best friends in beautiful Pontiac Trans Ams of all years and colors. And also in the Run will be the “Snowman’s Dream” truck, a replica of the big rig driven in the movie by Jerry Reed. And it’s not unusual to see Buford T. Justice “tail-grabbin’” a Runner or two in...
Read More
SMOKEY & THE BANDIT 40TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TO BE HELD INJONESBORO, GEORGIA JONESBORO, GA – 40 years ago, Smokey and the Bandit was the second largest grossing movie of 1977 – which most movie fans know. What many fans don’t know, is that the run that took Jerry Reed as the Snowman and Burt Reynolds as the Bandit from Atlanta to Texarkana, Texas and back again in 28 hours, was largely filmed in and around the city of Jonesboro, Georgia. This June, the Bandit is coming back! To honor and celebrate the movie’s big milestone, Jonesboro is hosting the official 40th Year Anniversary Celebration. The City has partnered with the Burt Reynolds Institute, Restore a Muscle Car, The Bandit Run & the Snowman’s Run to Benefit Wounded Veterans to deliver THE biggest commemorative Smokey and the Bandit celebration over a two-day event, Friday, June 23rd and Saturday,June 24th. As part of the celebration, the 11th annual Bandit Run, sponsored by Restore a Muscle Car of Lincoln, Nebraska, will be driving in from Texarkana with more than 250 cars– primarily Pontiac Trans Ams. Wednesday June 21st they will meet up in Franklin, Georgia with the Snowman’s Run coming in from Tallahassee, Florida. The entire group will then roll into Jonesboro about 3:30pm Wednesday to kick off the 40th anniversary event. The following is a list of other events that will take place in Jonesboro: Friday, June 23, 2017 at 12:00 noon – Reenactment of Coors Scene in Downtown Jonesboro. Those Media personnel wishing to attend, must obtain credentials by contactingCity Hall at 770-478-3800. Those persons without credentials will not be allowed on the street. Friday, June 23, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Street BBQ for Bandit Runners. Meal tickets are $10 and can be obtained by contacting City Hall. Friday, June 23, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. – Question & Answer Session with Burt Reynolds and fellow cast member Susie Ewing who played Hot Pants Hilliard in the movie. The two cast mates have not seen each other since the movie’s premiere in 1977. (Lee Street Park) Friday, June 23, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. – Official showing of the Smokey & the Bandit Movie on the lawn of Lee Street Park located at 155 Lee Street. Saturday, June 24, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Smokey & the Bandit festival featuring live sound stage, performances, car show, a Bandit look-alike contest judged byHot Pants Hilliard Susie Ewing and much more. Jonesboro Mayor Joy Day said, “I’m excited about this event! What better way to commemorate such an amazing movie than with the star himself,Burt Reynolds.”...
Read More
Download the latest version of the BANDIT RUN APP, available in your APP/PLAY Store! Must be a registered runner. If you are a passenger, please send us your name, your drivers name and email you would like to use to info@restoreamusclecar.com! APPLE USERS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bandit-run/id982961486?ls=1&mt=8 ANDROID USERS: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.agilx.banditrun ...
Read More
LIVE AND ONLINE AUCTION December 11th & 12th, 2014 The Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas Dear fans, collectors and friends, My career has enabled me unforgettable memories spanning more than 50 years. I can truly say that I was honored to work beside some of the greatest producers, directors, and actors in the industry. Many became close friends that I shall forever cherish. I’ve enjoyed collecting many types of artistry and memorabilia during my career. But the fact of the matter is that you run out of space to put things after this many years. Regardless of whether it is a drawing from James Cagney, a painting by Henry Fonda, or just a piece of art that happened to catch my eye, they truly are my personal treasures. My sincerest wish is that you experience the same joy, laughter and love that my collection has given me for so many years. I hope my pieces find new homes where they can be cared for and appreciated. I have been blessed throughout my journey with fans steadfast in their loyalty and support. Thank you. I hold your friendship close to my heart and look forward to sharing my joy of acting for as long as I am allowed. Sincerely, Burt Reynolds Go to the following link to register to view the full catalog of items and for Online bidding! http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2014/burt-reynolds/icatalog-accept.html...
Read More
Still on The Run: It’s Smokey and the Bandits — a bunch of them By Larry Printz Imagine a day at the beach, followed by a night on the town. You’re tired and ready for a peaceful night’s sleep. You pull into the parking lot of your hotel only to find that most parking spaces have been taken by black 1977-78 Pontiac Trans Ams. Another handful are consumed by Snowman’s tractor-trailer. Have you stepped onto a movie set? Did you imbibe too much? No. You’ve stumbled onto The Bandit Run. “It’s fun because we take over hotels, restaurants, and gas stations,” said Dave Hall, creator of the event and owner of Restore A Muscle Car, a car restoration business in Lincoln, Nebraska. Hall and shop customer David Hersey created The Bandit Run in 2006 as a way to commemorate the following year the 30th anniversary of the film “Smokey and the Bandit.” Hall had the group traverse the same route as the movie, driving from Texarkana, Texas, to Atlanta. That that initial run attracted more than 100 car owners speaks to the film’s enduring appeal. A similar number joined the run this year. And while the film’s stars Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason and Jerry Reed brought charisma to the big screen, there’s no denying that the picture’s greatest star didn’t receive any billing at all: the black 1977 Pontiac Trans Am accented in gold pinstripes with a screaming chicken decal on its hood and driven by Reynolds. For a generation of adolescent boys with Farah Fawcett posters on their bedroom walls, the Pontiac’s brash nature was the height of high school cool. Every boy wanted one. Now, those who have them pay a $90 entry fee to run them in the annual event. For that amount, the drivers get hotel discounts, vehicle decals, a grab bag of goodies and a support truck, not to mention a week of driving through the United States. But you don’t have to be a disco-decade aficionado to participate; any make or model of car can partake in the event. “We do not discriminate by any means,” said Hall. “Perhaps over 90 percent of the cars are going to be Trans Ams, but we have some Corvettes, some Camaros, we’ve had GTOS, Chargers, a little bit of everything. We even have a couple pickups.” This year’s run started at the GM Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and finished in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We checked in with the group as it arrived in Portsmouth, Virginia. Hall already is working on next year’s route. Unlike the film that it commemorates, the Run’s speeds are...
Read More
July 3, 2014 at 1:00 am ‘Smokey’ fans keep Bandit Run alive 1977 Trans Ams make same trek from Texas to Atlanta as in movie by Larry Printz The ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ film’s star was the black 1977 Pontiac Trans Am with gold stripes and a thunder chicken decal on its hood. (MCT) Virginia Beach, Va.— To a generation of adolescent boys with Farrah Fawcett posters on their bedroom walls, the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am nature was every bit as sexy as the iconic blonde, an image burnished by the 1977 film “Smokey and the Bandit.” For those of you who haven’t seen it — and there may be some — the movie concerns a truck driver named Snowman and his efforts to haul an illegal load of Coors beer from Texarkana, Texas, to Atlanta. At the time, Coors couldn’t legally be sold east of the Mississippi River. Snowman’s advance man, Bandit, plays the decoy for police to allow Snowman to slip by undetected. And while actors Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason and Jerry Reed add much to the proceedings, the picture’s greatest star didn’t receive any billing: the black 1977 Pontiac Trans Am decorated in gold stripes with a thunder chicken decal on its hood, and driven by Reynolds. “It came out the same week that ‘Star Wars’ was released,” remembers Dave Hall of Lincoln, Neb. “If I wasn’t seeing ‘Star Wars,’ I was seeing ‘Smokey and the Bandit.’ It is definitely one of my favorite movies for sure.” So much so that in 2006, Hall, the owner of Restore A Muscle Car restoration shop hatched a plan over dinner with one of his customers, David Hershey. They would recreate the movie’s chase from Texas to Georgia in commemoration of the film’s 30th anniversary. And so was launched The Bandit Run in 2007. Now in its eighth year, the event still attracts more than 100 cars and their owners on an annual trek somewhere in the United States. This year, the Run finished Thursday in Myrtle Beach, S.C., having started at the GM Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on June 20. The tour stopped in Virginia Beach for two days earlier this week. “You know, it’s all about having fun and being on the road,” said Hall, standing near a recreation of Snowman’s tractor-trailer. “I have people here from Florida and Texas who took several days just to get up to our starting point up in Carlisle. And they drove them the whole way.” For some, such passion is hard to imagine for a movie that was unanimously panned by critics upon its release. So it’s worth considering...
Read More