APPEARANCES
Ben's personal appearances at Film Festivals and Organised Events.
TØnsberg Fair, Norway 1972
In 1972 Ben attended the TØnsberg Fair in Norway. 25,000 people attended.
The following photographs and articles have been provided by Aud-Torill Corneliussen who contacted the event manager and obtained his permission to share these photos and articles here. Aud-Torill has also provided a few of the photos she took on the day. One other photo from an unknown source is included.
He was interviewed at the fair by Eric Bye
Ben arrived at the event on horseback. You can just see him on the right of this photograph.
A press conference was held at the local Hotel Klubben
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Ben had a fast draw competition with a boy named Øyvind.
Note the gun in Ben's back pocket.
Did Øyvind fire first?
'Ben visited a school for children with physical disabilities.
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Ben Murphy teaching Gunnar Karlson how to ‘draw’ during his visit to Linde.'
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One fan tried to teach him a few words of Norwegian
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Ben also met.....the Mayor's Niece (Almost Kid Curry's 'daughter of the Mayor ')
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Some young women had cycled a long way to see Ben
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Ben was also taken to see an historic monument by the event manager
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He hasn't changed much has he?
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Norwegian Television Video
A video from Norwegian Television has been found by fans showing Ben arriving at the fair and taking part in a mock contest with a female 'sheriff'.
Screen captures from the video are shown here
Ben arrived being chased by a 'sheriff'
A stand off ensues
Looks like Erik Bye stops the gunfight and recommends different types of 'shoot out'.
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Marion, Illinois, USA 1972 Ben attended an event run by a local company. One lucky fan who was there has kindly shared these photos with us
Reel to reel, USA february 2006
Utopia: Outlawed The Netherlands, 2006
Hollywood Collectors Show, Burbank, CA 2006
Hollywood Collectors Show Burbank, CA, 2007
Chiller Theater Expo Parsippany, NJ, 2007
Lone Pine Film Festival Lone Pine, CA, 2007
Silver Spur Awards Los Angeles, CA, 2012
Ben presented an award to Tom Laughlin, writer, director and star of the Billy Jack movies, at the Silver Spur Awards ceremony in 2012.
Here is a transcript of Ben's presentation:
"When I was a young actor, Tom Laughlin used to invite me to his home to play tennis, which he did for a lot of us. And after a day of tennis, we would watch films in his home - he was very gracious that way. And he seems to me to represent that great mythic western cowboy. The man who comes into town, quiet, but if you push him into a corner, he will fight. And he will protect those weaker than himself. Part of that western lore. Tom mentally created that in his role as Billy Jack. But as a filmmaker, he was an inspiration to a lot of us because he did it his way. He bucked the system. He made the picture with his money, his way, and he proved them wrong. He got it done. It's my honor: Tom Laughlin."
