50 years later ‘Midnight Cowboy’ celebrated by Palm Springs audiences

Much has changed in a half decade, but Rancho Mirage resident and famed photographer Michael Childers remembers his time working on the Oscar-winning film ‘Midnight Cowboy,’ like it was yesterday.

“It was the best year of my life, living in New York City, working on this film. I learned more working, being an apprentice on a big Hollywood movie than I did five years at UCLA,” said Childers.

After being introduced to director John Schlesinger by the late Kaye Ballard, Childers became a production assistant on ‘Midnight Cowboy.’

“He gave me a rough rough script to read, and I said, ‘Oh my God, John! How are you going to make this?'” said Childers. “He said, ‘I’m going to make it, and I’m determined to make it. And he did!'”

Three Oscars later, Childers and Schlesinger went on to spend the next 37 years together, until Schlesinger’s death in 2003. His Oscar for Best Director polished once a month and showcased in Childers’ home.

Now Childers is bringing this piece of film history back to life. Executive director of the Palm Springs Cultural Center, Michael Green, said a screening of the film at the Camelot Theatres has been a year in the making.

“This is absolutely one of the best and most classic films ever made. The only X-rated film to win an Oscar. Of course, in today’s world I don’t know that it would have won an X-rating, but it’s still an amazing film,” said Green.

Attending means more than a film screening. An exhibit of Childers’ photos from the making of ‘Midnight Cowboy’ will be on display. For an exclusive behind the scenes look, Jon Voight’s audition for the role of Texas dishwasher, Joe Buck, will play before the film begins.

“The audiences love seeing a Hollywood screen test, and it’s very rarely shown,” said Childers.

If you are interested in attending this screening of ‘Midnight Cowboy,’ the event is Saturday, March 2. Tickets can be purchased by following this link: https://bit.ly/2VkfArt