A famous face will grace the 2011 Escalante Days parade Aug. 13 Father Silvester Valez de Escalante.
Escalante, played by local Dolores resident Tony Reyes, will be the parades grand marshal.
There are many things with the name Escalante. There is Escalante Ruins in Dolores, the town of Escalante, Utah, the Escalante River that runs through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and of course Escalante Days, a local community celebration in Dolores Aug. 12 and 13.
Father Escalante was a Spanish explorer, and in 1776 he set out to find a northern route to the mission in Monterey, Calif., from Santa Fe. The party of 14 left Mexico and made their way into Dolores on Aug. 13. They named the Dolores River, camped and explored.
They were the first explorers to reach this humble valley, and a marker in Flanders Park shows the partys possible campsite.
Can you imagine coming through on foot with burros and donkeys? Reyes said.
Reyes talked with The Star from his home outside Dolores recently as he prepared for his role as Escalante, something he has done once before.
I enjoy it and wave at the people I know, Reyes said.
Reyes is no stranger to the spotlight.
On the walls of his small farmhouse hang pictures of him as a younger actor, dancer and musician.
He has rubbed elbows with the likes of Debbie Reynolds, Rita Hayworth, Chuck Connors, Dorothy Malone and Elizabeth Taylor.
Reyes was well known in Los Angeles for his dancing and playing music. He appeared in some movies, such as La Bamba, but only as an extra.
I never made it big in acting, but I did in dancing and music, he said.
Reyes plays the violin, accordion, banjo and piano. Shelves in his house are filled with sheet music and recordings of his songs. He says he memorizes all the songs for his performances.
You have to have all the songs up here, he said, pointing to his head.
That way, you can play and smile at the audience, he added, flashing a brilliant Hollywood smile.
He also paints. His basement is piled high with paintings.
Every day I paint, he said. Somebody said never stop creating, and I have never stopped.
Just dont ask Reyes how old he is. This reporter was told 68 then 81 then 82 and then a, Most definitely 68.
It seems a bit of Hollywood still lives in Reyes because doesnt everyone lie about their age in Hollywood?
