BISBEE — In the ’40s and ’50s, kids used to line the streets in front of their favorite theater Saturday morning to watch their favorite cowboy heroes on the big screen.

For 25 cents, you could get a a full morning of cowboy serials that took you from ranch house to campsite and even into the air with “Sky King.”

The matinees were chock-full of shoot-’em-up, bang-bang-type tales that always had the villain of the month stirrin’ up some trouble for the guys who just wanted to take care of their meal ticket — thousands of head of cattle.

There was a mind-set of the American Cowboy that kids used to emulate — be kind to the women folk, stand tall for your beliefs and use your horse sense.

These days, remembrance of the rough and ready pokes who traveled the open prairies and worked the herds high in the mountains is failing. Gone are the days of the campfires on the open range and the tall tales and songs of a lonely, wandering life.

Of course, here in Cochise County and in many places around the country, there are those times when cowboy songs, tales and poems come back to life — like on the stage at the annual Cochise County Poetry and Music Gathering.

But, since 2005 there has been more recognition of the American icon, the National Day of the Cowboy which was started by the late U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas. July 26 is designated as this year’s National Day of the Cowboy (and Cowgirl).

As stated on the official National Day of the Cowboy website, the mission is “to contribute to the preservation of America’s cowboy heritage so that the history and culture can be shared and perpetuated for the public good, through education, the arts, celebrations, gatherings and community activities.”

Though most of the celebrations will be held on or about July 26, The Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee will be holding a fundraiser for the National Day of the Cowboy Organization in September when the weather is cooler and the monsoons are gone.

Dan and Connie Finck, owners of the famous hotel, are proud to be bringing the tradition of the Old West to Bisbee’s City Park from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sept. 13.

“We want to support and acknowledge the cowboy heritage of this area and encourage more people to visit and share our history,” said Finck.

The Helldorado Mavericks from Tombstone are coming down for a staged gunfight, he added.

Bud Strom, cowboy poet extraordinaire, will act as the host of the show. There will be live music by local artists Nightlife, Terry Wolf, Pat Gahn and “Fiddle Jake” Wise, noted Finck.

Vendors with a speciality in something western also will show their wares. Plenty of food and beverages will be available.

Just having some entertainment, though, wasn’t enough for the Fincks. They want to include Bisbee’s youth in the day’s fun and are asking local children in the third, fourth and fifth grades to write an essay about Cochise County in the 1800s and early 1900s.

“Just have your essay back to us at the Copper Queen Hotel by Sept. 7,” added Finck.

The essays will be judged by a panel that will choose a winner and a runner-up. The winner will receive a $25 prize and the runner-up a $15 prize.

There is an $8 donation which will go the the National Day of the Cowboy nonprofit organization.

The funds are used in a variety of ways, including setting up Internet access for troops stationed in Afghanistan so they can more readily talk with their loved ones back home.

Contact Dan or Connie Finck at 508-1490.

For information on the National Day of the Cowboy, go to the Web site at: nationaldayofthecowboy.com.