Distinctly Montana Magazine

52 D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 4 in questions of appearance. Such acute attention to detail made Dennis a nat- ural on set. He wanted everything to look right and feel right. He's been inten- tional about this most of his life, since the mid-1950s, when he first saw Fess Parker put on a coonskin cap in Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier. "After seeing that show I just ate up that era," said Dennis. "I read every his- torical book at my age level I could get my hands on. I'm still a real sucker for history books, especially first-hand accounts. Journals are the best." Dennis' interest in the frontier has never waned, nor has his love for sharing it. Since the age of 16 he's been involved in reenactments, starting with the 6th U.S. Infantry Company E (North Dakota) and leading to many more, including the Fort Union Muzzleloaders, the now-defunct Snowy Mountain Muzzleloaders in Lewistown and running Montana History Alive out in Bannack (with Mark Brown and his wife Sharon). On the Into the Wild Frontier set, Dennis was a tremendous resource, helping out in a multitude of ways, be it showing people how to tie rope or using some of his own equip- ment, a wool backrest for a teepee or one of his own flintlocks. Dennis also brought his own clothing, which he said was ap- propriate to the era (from Lewis and Clark up to the 1840s) por- trayed in the film. The clothing manager had other suggestions, and–even though Dennis didn't always agree with them–he re- lented, saying "They're running the show." Dennis wasn't the only one, as Mark and Sharon Brown are also particular on costuming (Sharon to a larger extent, as she is a seamstress who has several shirts, pants and blouse coats ranging from the 1810s to the 1890s). When it comes to getting it right, Dennis is a perfectionist, as his wife, Mary, can attest. "We'll be watching a movie and she'll say, 'Dennis, don't say what's wrong with this one,'" he said. "I'm not trying to be a critic–I just notice things that are inaccurate–be it the way someone is holding a firearm or the way someone is dressed." As far as Into the Wild Frontier is concerned, Dennis said he thought the cast and crew did a phenomenal job. "Generally speaking, I thought it was very good and I'm really happy I was involved with the first season. One thing I appreciated about the series is that it tells the story of the Native Americans respectfully." Dennis said he was thrilled to be a part of Into the Wild Frontier. He made many friends on set and got a sense of what the movie industry is like. But as delighted as he was to be part of the series, when asked if he wanted to return as armorer for season three (filmed west of Missoula), he re- Dennis in Bannack City during a recent Montana History Alive reenactment The producer and director would watch what was being filmed through a monitor. As armorer, much of Dennis' time on set revolved around fixing and cleaning firearms

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