The Frontier Times Museum will honor longtime supporter and local music advocate Mary Schenk during its 4th Sunday Jamboree on April 26.
Friends and local musicians will gather on the museum grounds for a tribute session celebrating Schenk’s life and contributions to Bandera’s music community. Lew Pewterbaugh will host the event, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m. and is free to the public.
Originally from Wisconsin, Schenk developed an early connection to western culture while living in Colorado, where her family owned a dude ranch. She grew up riding horses and spent time dancing at local halls.
Her path to Bandera began years later while she was living in Florida. Rodeo clown and friend Scooter Culberson invited her to partner in purchasing the Cabaret, a Bandera dancehall. Drawn by her fondness for Texas, Schenk agreed and relocated to the Cowboy Capital of the World.
In Bandera, she met Harold “Hoot” Gibson, a well-known local figure who became her partner in life and travel. Together, the two embarked on a trail ride from Bandera to Calgary, Canada — a journey Schenk later chronicled under the pen name Mary Allyce in her book, “Riders on the Storm: The True Story of the Eye Reckon Trail Ride.”
Schenk became a fixture in Bandera’s music scene through her work at the Cabaret, where she developed a deep appreciation for local musicians. She later played a key role in supporting the Bandera Music Hall of Fame, which recognizes artists who contribute to the town’s musical heritage.
The museum’s monthly Cowboy Jamboree features a traditional pickers circle, with musicians performing a mix of instruments, including guitars and fiddles.
Organizers encourage the public to attend the tribute and celebrate Schenk’s lasting impact on Bandera’s cultural and musical life.
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