June 14, 1961.

A little saltwater pony struts down the main street of her Eastern Shore hometown to attend the premiere of the motion picture made about her fictionalized adventures and to, as every major star must, immortalize her hoofprints in the sidewalk in front of a theater. The crowd adores her. Speeches are made in her name. Even though such a commotion has not been seen in these parts since the movie was filmed here in Chincoteague, Virginia less than a year earlier, this kind of hoopla is not an uncommon occurrence for the celebrity at the center of all the attention.  

Her name is Misty and she’s been famous for years.  

The Daily Times (Salisbury)

MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE by Marguerite Henry (with art by Wesley Dennis), who would sign Misty’s name for her in the wet cement that day, was published in November 1947. Both a critical and popular success, the story was based on the local Beebe family and the foal the author fell in love with on a visit during the annual Assateague Island pony penning celebration hosted by Chincoteague’s volunteer fire department.

Misty and Marguerite Henry (mistysheaven.com)

MISTY, the movie, was directed for 20^th Century Fox by James B. Clark, who had experience working with animals in his previous films and TV work. The producer was Robert Radnitz (A DOG OF FLANDERS, SOUNDER), a graduate of the University of Virginia. Radnitz liked realism in his films and he liked to shoot on location. “Mix professional actors with native residents,” he told reporters, “and something of the natives rubs off on the actors – their talk, their dress, their mannerisms, their accent, it gives you a believable picture.” Sometimes, a unique storytelling locale like the Eastern Shore requires filmmakers to be embedded for at least a short time.

So it was that filming had begun Monday, August 22, 1960. A staff correspondent for the Baltimore Sun watched a take on Assateague get ruined by a rubber-necking motorboater. “Boats are like cars around here,” muttered Radnitz, while slapping at a bloodthirsty greenhead fly “excavating a hole in his chest.” Marguerite Henry was also there on location wearing “beaded blue jeans with scarlet patches and nail polish red cowboy boots.” Petite and cordial as ever, Henry could be almost childlike with her grayish blue eyes sparkling excitement. “I’m so thrilled,” she told the Sun reporter. “Aren’t you excited? Isn’t this exiting?”

There are four professional actors in MISTY – David Ladd (movie star Alan Ladd’s youngest son), Arthur O’Connell (CITIZEN KANE, ANATOMY OF A MURDER, THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE) Anne Seymour (ALL THE FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS, POLLYANNA; HOME FROM THE HILL starring Robert Mitchum, who was calling the Eastern Shore home at the time MISTY was made) and newcomer, young Pam Smith.

Every other character who appears onscreen was played by a local.

After MISTY was shot and edited, 20 or so Chincoteaguers ended up with speaking parts, while about 300 extras were used in the pony penning, carnival, and other scenes. Native and lead pony roundup man Wyle Maddox played himself, as did master decoy carver, terrapin farmer, wildlife authority, and “storehouse of island lore,” Miles Hancock. Various members of the Beebe family also appear on screen.  Misty, 14 at the time of filming, was too old to play herself. Three young fillies were used to portray Misty as a foal, a 6-month weanling, and a yearling.

That June evening back in 1961, inside Chincoteague’s Island Theatre, during the premiere presentation of MISTY, the ‘Teaguers sat in enthralled silence until one of their own came on the screen.

Then the audience would erupt into cheers and applause.

For about an hour and a half, the movie’s running time, Misty was able to graciously share her fame with her hometown neighbors.  

You can read the whole story about MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE in the award winning STARDUST BY THE BUSHEL: HOLLYWOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY’S EASTERN SHORE! Available online and at retail outlets all around Delmarva, including SUNDIAL BOOKS in Chincoteague!!