A 60-year-old moose hunting trip in central Newfoundland is the focus of a new feature-length documentary to be filmed in the province this fall.
When Johnny Cash Got His Moose tells the story of the country music legend who came to Newfoundland to hunt moose in 1961 and how it led to Johnny and June.
It was during that trip, on October 10 at Gander Airport, that Cash shook hands with Canadian Saul Holiff, who would become Cash’s manager. That later led to the fortuitous meeting between Cash and June Carter.
The lasting romance between Johnny and June has gone down in the annals of music history.
Filming of a re-creation of the hunt is expected to take place beginning October 3, culminating with a Johnny Cash tribute and anniversary show in Gander on October 10th.
Holiff’s son Jonathan, the director of the documentary, says his father agreed to be Johnny’s manager if Cash agreed to work with a “girl singer.”
He says they agreed to hire country singer Rose Maddox, who quit midway through the Newfoundland trip because she reportedly felt “the guys were too wild.” That caused Saul to hire June Carter and the rest, as they say, is history.
Holiff has put a call out to NL’ers that if you remember the Johnny Cash moose hunt and tour — or know someone who does — they want to hear from you. Send an email at whenjohnnycashgothismoose@gmail.com.
