LOS ANGELES, California�February 11, 2004�The theme for this year�s Friends of the Autry Fashion Show and Luncheon is Weddings of the West. Step back in time to the 1800s and discover how couples in the West united in matrimony.

With fascinating replicas provided by the Costume Designer�s Guild of Hollywood, American Costume Company, Costume Rental Corporation, Western Costume Company, and Warner Brothers Costumes, men and women will parade down the runway depicting the various cultures of the West. Among the wedding styles featured will be frontier, charro, Victorian, Chinese, Native American, Jewish, military, and contemporary Western, as well as �soiled doves� (courtesans who married), and mail-order brides. Explanations of each style and the customs that accompany them will be presented, including the diverse dating rituals of each culture.

The fashion show�s master of ceremonies is the charismatic Reverend Michael Bamberger, pastor of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Sierra Madre, California. A silent auction will take place, and tickets will be sold for the option of winning various great prizes.

The fashion show and luncheon take place at the Museum of the American West (formerly the Autry Museum) in Griffith Park. Admission is $70 per person. For more information, call 323.667.2000, ext. 326.

Museum of the American West The Museum of the American West explores the interwoven histories and myths of the American West and its diverse peoples. The museum enhances our understanding of the present by collecting, preserving, and interpreting objects and art, making connections between people today and those who have shaped the past. It is located in Griffith Park.

About Friends of the Autry Friends of the Autry is a support group organized to raise funds for the Museum of the American West�s many educational programs and exhibitions.