Olaf Wieghorst – “Dean of Western Painters”

[Melvin Graf]

I like the movie “El Dorado” quite a lot and just noticed that the paintings of Olaf Wieghorst are featured during the beginning credits and theme song.  He also had a small role in the movie playing Swede Larsen and he put on an exaggerated Swedish accent that I found quite amusing. 

Wieghorst was born in Denmark in 1899 and came to the U. S. in 1918.  He served in the U. S. Cavalry and later worked as a cowboy in New Mexico and Arizona.  He also served as a mounted policeman in the NYPD.  He lived in El Cajon, CA, from 1944 until his death in 1988. 

http://www.wieghorstmuseum.org/About-Olaf/about-olaf.html

http://www.olafwieghorst.com/

[Sue Cauhape]

El Dorado is also one of my favorite westerns and the beginning titles featuring Wieghorst's paintings is a big reason why this movie stands out for me. His work is spectacular. So alive and dynamic with movement. Thanks for spotlighting him here.