He might be best known as Corporal Agarn on the zany comedy show of the 1960s, F Troop, but Larry Storch was also a renowned character actor and the voice of Mr. Whoopee on the classic cartoon show, Tennessee Tuxedo. On F Troop, Storch portrayed the scheming and bumbling soldier who was always getting himself – and others around him – into trouble while stationed at Fort Courage. 

In recent years Storch, now 98, has had limited public appearances. In what has been announced as his last public appearance, Storch is coming to one of his favorite places to visit, Wild West City in Byram Township. Storch will be on hand on Sunday July 11. A tribute to Storch and his career will be held beginning at 12 noon. 

In honor of this tribute, Wild West City is being renamed “F Troop at Wild West City” for the day. Storch has become an annual regular at Wild West City over the years and even has a saloon there named after him!

The tribute will include Hackettstown-based Civil War reenactors forming an honor guard and resolutions from the town of Byram and state officials from the 24th District, which encompasses Sussex and Warren Counties.

On F Troop, he co-starred along with Ken Berry and Forrest Tucker. In addition to his work on F Troop Storch was seen on many other sitcoms, did a great deal of voiceover work, performed in movies, and appeared on stage.  He began his “career” as a standup comic and things blossomed from there. In 2013, Storch received the Barrymore Award for Lifetime Achievement in Film and TV from the Fort Lee Film Commission.

Wild West City has plenty to do any day of the season, with 22 live action shows a day, including interactive skits, educational displays in and around the “main street,” pony, train, and stagecoach rides, panning for gold, a barnyard zoo, and more.

Originally opened in the 1950s, Wild West City was conceived as a re-creation of 1880s Dodge City, Kansas. The city features a broad main street lined by hitching rails, old wooden sidewalks and storefronts, and exhibits that allow one to relive the old west. The park also includes an authentic one-room school house and a chapel that has often been used as a backdrop for real-life weddings.

Located conveniently from Routes 80, 206 and 46, visitors are invited to bring their own food and have an old fashioned family picnic or enjoy a variety of affordable food at the Golden Nugget Saloon. For ticket prices and more information about Wild West City, visit the website at www.wildwestcity.com or phone 973-347-8900.

Photos: Larry Storch on F Troop and from a previous appearance at Wild West City.