9/21/2009:
Actor and producer Gregory Peck visited Fargo during this week in 1974 as part of a tour promoting his newest production, The Dove. The film was Peck's third attempt at producing, and proved to be his last, although witnesses to the fanfare exhibited at the Hector Airport during his arrival would not have guessed as much.
Peck arrived on a flight from Minneapolis to a large group of waiting middle-aged women screaming, "We want Gregory!" The Forum reported that the terminal filled with over ninety fans, all of which were female and over the age of forty. Peck disappointed his diehard fan club, however, by circumventing the group and retiring to a reception vehicle. Many of the disappointed fans discussed rushing the terminal gates, but were dissuaded by an airport guard. Upon hearing that the guard had actually met the actor, the women swarmed him with questions instead. The fans were forced to glimpse Peck later in the week, when the producer gave television and radio interviews, as well as signed autographs at the downtown Herbst department store. Peck's visit was arranged through the Ambassadors branch of the Fargo Chamber of Commerce. The Ambassadors program worked to promote the city's public relations at the time, and arranging Peck's promotional stop served to highlight both the city of Fargo and the film.
Although The Dove did not win critics over, it did secure two Golden Globe nominations for Best Song and Most Promising Male Newcomer. Actor Joseph Bottoms ended up winning the Most Promising Globe for his performance in the film. Peck is most famously known today for his acting career, for which he won an Academy Award for his 1962 portrayal of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. He also became popular as a leading character in several Western films, as well as his reputation as a philanthropist. Peck received the Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1967 for his charitable work. The esteemed actor passed away in 2003 at the age of 87.
Dakota Datebook written by Jayme L. Job
Sources:
The Fargo Forum. Monday, September 16, 1974: p. 10.