Western legend Wild Bill Hickock was born in Troy Grove, Illinois about an hour and twenty minutes north of Bloomington-Normal. Actor Walt Willey grew up in nearby Ottawa, Illinois before making his career on the soap opera All My Children. Willey learned of the central Illinois connection to Hickok only later in life, and was entranced by James Butler Hickok when he was looking for a one man show to do. Here's an excerpt of that show coming to the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.
GLT's Charlie Schlenker talked with Willey who says the true story of Wild Bill is wilder than the myth, and the tall tales are pretty tall.
Walt Willey performs his one man show on Wild Bill Hickok at the BCPA on September 20th. There will be a q and a and meet and greet with Willey after the show.
