The Oklahoma Historical Society, OKPOP and 46 Star Records have released the limited edition, 180 gram vinyl album  titled "Let's Play, Boys!: Rediscovered Songs from Bob Wills' Personal Transcriptions." The vinyl is now available for purchase online for $29.95.  Click here to visit the Oklahoma History Center online store. 

The original transcriptions came from Bob Wills' personal collection and were recorded in January 1949. Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys recorded songs for a radio series sponsored by the Crosley Automobile Company. 

These songs were digitally restored and remastered by Grammy-nominated musician/engineer Steve Ripley.

During the 1960s more than 100 sixteen-inch aluminum acetates were given to former Playboys drummer Casey Dickens for safe keeping by Bob and his wife, Betty Wills. Drawing from influences such as folk, blues, Dixieland, traditional Mexican and jazz, the music represents the Western swing style Bob is so famous for helping to create.

In 2010 Dickens gave the Bob Wills Master Transcription Collection to the Bob Wills Heritage Foundation. The following year the foundation donated the collection to the OKPOP Museum. The OHS then hired Grammy-nominated musician/engineer Steve Ripley to digitally restore and remaster these songs.

46 Star Records, a new endeavor of the Oklahoma Historical Society, will produce and release albums related to the history and culture of the Sooner State. "Let's Play, Boys!" is its inaugural release. In conjunction with OKPOP, 46 Star Records will release more historically important records from Oklahoma artists and other historical recordings from the OHS collections.

The Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City will host Pioneer Kids summer activities every Wednesday in June and July. In its second year, this summer program is intended for fourth through sixth graders. Beginning on Wednesday, June 3, from 1 to 4 p.m., museum staff and volunteers will offer a number of fun activities for children. There will be crafts and games, with weekly themes that revolve around the pioneer spirit. The Pioneer Kids program will continue every Wednesday afternoon through July 29. The cost is $5 per child, which includes all supplies and a snack. Preregistration is encouraged but not required, unless bringing a large group. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults will receive free admission to the museum. Please call 580-765-6108 for more information or to make a reservation.

The historic Pawnee Bill Ranch will host Pawnee Bill's Original Wild West Show on June 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. Stagecoaches will roll amid thundering horse hooves while the lightning of gunfire explodes around Pawnee Bill and his cohorts as the talented cast thrill and amaze audiences at the 2015 Wild West Show. The show will feature acts from the original Pawnee Bill's Wild West Shows. Producers and directors have combined stage and script with historical preservation to ensure that the Wild West Show is one of the most historically accurate productions to date. Kevin Webb portrays Pawnee Bill for the seventh time. Webb, a long-time Wild West Show cast member and Pawnee Bill Ranch employee, is also a whip artist and chariot racer.

The museum and mansion will be open to the public on show days from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. In addition there will be historically accurate entertainment, such as blacksmithing, gunfighters and sharp shooters, a medicine man show, and musicians, all free and held continuously on the ranch grounds from 2-7 p.m. The cast will be available for a meet and greet with the audience on the museum grounds from 5-6:30 p.m. The Friends of the Pawnee Bill Ranch Association will serve a barbecue meal in the big barn starting at 5 p.m.

Ticket prices in advance are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (over age sixty-five), $8 for children ages ten and under, and ages three and under are free. A group rate of $10 per ticket is available for groups of ten or more people. On the day of the show ticket prices are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors (over age sixty-five), $10 for children ages ten and under, and ages three and under are free. Special price package bundles are available for reserved seating and that information can be found at  www.pawneebillranch.com or by calling 918-762-2513. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 918-762-2513. Online tickets are not available for this show.