THE ANNUAL
BONNIE & CLYDE FESTIVAL

GIBSLAND, LOUISIANA
Held on the closest weekend to May 23rd each year



It's been nearly 80 years since the ambush that took the lives of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker first occurred.
Festivities remembering that event have been held in Gibsland, Louisiana for more years than I can remember.
The legendary ambush of May 23, 1934 has been re-lived annually - thanks to many dedicated people, which includes
members of reenactment groups. "Reenactments ETC" (Early Thirties Crime) has time and again had their "posse"
fill the air in the Parish, with smoke and gunshots from their Browning Automatic Rifles and other assorted weapons
of that period and on the very spot where the wayward outlaw couple had met their demise. It's been a blessing to the
small town of Gibsland, Louisiana, which otherwise would have remained obscured from view and remain off the map.

I've seen huge crowds of enthusiasts regularly attending this event, sitting in at historian meetings held there. I've come
to know many of them, who shared with me their experiences at the festival and shared with the Hideout their many
snapshots of the event. I saw a good man named Ken Holmes Jr., bring life to the event with his extended knowledge of
Bonnie and Clyde, not to mention providing the "death car" he obtained from the 1967 Warner Bros. movie. Good ol'
Ken is no longer with us, as he passed away not too long ago. I've seen the surviving family members from the Parkers
and Barrows actually take an interest in this event, showing up, much to the pleasure of the people in attendance there.

How exciting it must have been for them to actually get to meet Clyde's sister, Marie Barrow and get to pose for pictures
with her! Then there was Rhea Leen (Bonnie's niece) who would show up to be a part of this annual event! Who could
ask for more, than to have "Boots" Hinton come on to the scene! Boots is the son of posseman Ted Hinton who played
a major roll in the Bonnie and Clyde story. Boots has been very dedicated in keeping the story alive with his year round
involvement at the Bonnie & Clyde Ambush Museum. He's a treasure trove of bonafide stories handed down to him from
his father. I'm thankful for the chance to see these family members stepping forward and sharing a part of their life with
us! I hope to see many more years of the Annual Bonnie and Clyde Festival take it's place in the very spot where the two
outlaws hid out, and eventually met their end on that lonely strip of Hwy 154 which remains today, as it was so long ago.



JIMMY GILLMAN - TED HINTON REENACTOR

Hideout friend, Jimmy Gillman poses at the actual ambush site. photo, courtesy of Jimmy Gillman



THE LATE MARIE BARROW (SCOMA)



Holding a Browning Automatic Rifle, the type of which her infamous brother favored!






TED HINTON'S SON
L. J. "Boots" Hinton is "The Man"




Boots is the passenger in the movie death car (shown above) photo courtesy of Phillip Young

Boots making a grand appearance at one of these annual events, travels around in
style, in the actual (movie) "death car" used by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.


Hideout friend, the late Ken M. Holmes Jr., owned this historical piece of cimema history
relating to the Bonnie and Clyde saga had been a regular there - and offered the showing of,
not only his famous movie car, but also fascinating displays relating to the outlaws!






BUDDY BARROW
Buddy is the nephew of Clyde Barrow






RHEA LEEN
Rhea Leen is the niece of Bonnie Parker






KEN M. HOLMES JR.
Now in God's good hands
May 16, 1952 - July 9, 2012

In memory of Ken






REENACTMENT WEAPONS DISPLAYED
AND READY!













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