ANDY ADAMS
On this date back in 1859 Andy Adams, the author of The Log of a Cowboy was born. He’s considered one of the most authentic chroniclers of the Old West.
Andy was born in Indians and ran away from home when a teenager. Ending up in Texas, he became a cowboy during the golden era of the cowboy. When the cattle drives ended he went to Colorado looking for gold. Not able to find his fortune, he settled down in Colorado Springs.
Andy began writing stories of his experiences as a cowboy. He wrote and published four books in four years. He’s best known for The Log of a Cowboy. This book is a must for any person interested in the Old West cowboy.
LONE RANGER
OK folks. We’ve all heard about the Johnny Depp Lone Ranger movie. And you’ve probably wondered what Johnny is going to look like…Well, here it is.
He was inspired to update Native American Tonto’s look after seeing a painting by the artist Kirby Sattler.
According to Depp; “I looked at the face of this warrior and thought: That’s it. The stripes down the face and across the eyes . . . it seemed to me like you could almost see the separate sections of the individual, if you know what I mean.”
Sorry Johnny, I don’t know what you mean.
SILVER SCREEN COWBOY PROJECT
Boy was I taken back to the days of yesteryear as I attended the Silver Screen Project Show put on by Marvin O’Dell and friends.
This is a multi-media show about the heyday of the “B” and TV Westerns, with film clips, photos, l
ive songs and commentary. Everyone was covered from Tom Mix to Roy Rogers. Incidentally, Tom and Roy weren’t the first and last of the B-Western heroes, they’re just two of my favorites.
Incidentally, they take their show on the road. If you would be interested in their performing in your area, contact Marvin O’Dell at meoteo@aol.com.
I’m working on getting them up in the White Mountains of Arizona in August.
COWBOYS & PISTOLS
We’re going to add another element to the posts on Cowboy to Cowboy. And that is “Old West Myth and Fact.” As with anything that has happened in the past, even my exploits, when time gets between the event and the present, a lot of myth begins t
o surround the fact. And this is very true with the Old West.
So, we’re going to look at things that we accept as fact and see if it truly was fact. We’re asking you to put in your two cents, because we could be wrong. The desire is to discover the truth about how it really happened.
The first topic we’ll cover is cowboys and pistols. From everything I’ve been able to discover cowboys normally didn’t carry pistols. First, anytime they were working cattle, the pistol would get in the way. On a cattle drive a long gun was much more practical. Any pistols stayed in the chuck wagon.
Many a cowboy never buckled on a six-shooter because gunmen normally never bothered a man without a gun, and a man without a gun sure wasn’t going to bother a man with one.
In addition, most western towns wouldn’t allow guns to be carried within the city limits.
What do you say?
TIME ZONES
Have you ever wondered how time zones came about? Well, wonder no more. All you have to do is to click on the video 
link below and you’ll know the whole scoop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EKHRnnonxE
FESTIVAL OF THE WEST
A couple of weeks ago I said I had talked to Mary Brown, the head wrangler for Festival of the West and she said to keep an eye on th
eir web site because something exciting was going to happen.
Last night I talked to Jim Brown…Mary’s husband…and he told me to take a look at their web site.
So, when I got back home I did just that.
It seems they have put together some investors and the event is returning in March of 2013. Right now they’re looking at Scottsdale, Arizona’s WestWorld for the venue, but that may change.
They promise the 2013 event will be bigger than ever.
You may want to visit their web site yourself. It’s: www.festivalofthewest.com.
CELEBRATION OF COWBOY MUSIC
Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29, the Arizona Chapter of the Western Music Association is putting on a celebration of 
cowboy music at Old Tucson studios in Tucson, Arizona.
Throughout each day, in addition to Old Tucson’s signature shows and attractions, Western Music Association luminaries will perform on multiple stages. Scheduled artists include: The Sons of the Pioneers, The Bill Ganz Western Band, Miss Devon and The Outlaw, Jon Messenger, Bill Barwick, Keeter Stuart, Mountain Saddle Band, The Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Kristyn Harris, David Rychener and Call of the West!
For more information go to: www.OldTucson.com
Incidentally, the picture is of the Sons of the Pioneers.
THE VIRGINIAN
Today is the 78th birthday o
f James Drury, TVs Virginian. The Virginian was the first 90-minute color western TV series. It aired from 1962-1971, and was the third longest running western series in the history of television.
The TV show was an adaptation of the 1902 Owen Wister western novel, “The Virginian, A Horseman of the Plains.”
It’s interesting that in both Owen Wister’s novel and the TV show, the lead character was never given a name other than “Virginian.”
The fact that no one knew his real name added mystery to the character.
The two pictures are of James at the time of the Virginian’s 
TV series and today.
BAT MASTERSON
I find Bat Masterson one of the more intriguing men of the Old West. He is known as a gunfighter, but he was in very few gun fights.
The last gunfight he was in took place on this day back in 1881. It was to help out his brother Jim. Jim owned a business in Dodge City and was having trouble with Al Updegraff, a business partner. It had even involved gunfire.
I don’t know if Jim actually said the words, “I going to get my big brother and he’ll beat you up,” but Bat, in Tombstone at the time, heard about the conflict and jumped on a train to Dodge City.
Not a man to mince words, Bat immediately spotted Updegraff and brother-in-law Peacock and said, “I have come over a thousand miles to settle this. I know you are heeled, now fight!” All three men immediately drew their guns.
In the fracas Updegraff took a bullet in his right lung. The mayor and sheriff arrived with shotguns and stopped the shooting. No one was mortally injured in the shooting, and in accordance with Old West standards, the gunfight was fought fairly. So Masterson was fined $8. He paid the fine and took the next train out of Dodge City.
As an aside, had Bat not left Tombstone to help his brother, the chances are excellent he would have been around to help his friend Wyatt Earp in another gunfight…The one that took place at the OK Corral.
BUTCH CASSIDY
On this date back in 1866 Robert Leroy Parker was born in Beaver, Utah Territory. But we know him as Butch Cassidy.
Supposedly, he picked up the name “Butch” from the short period of time he worked in a Rock Springs, Wyoming butcher shop. The last name came from a minor criminal mentor by the name of Mike Cassidy…I also suspect he didn’t want to bring shame on his strict Mormon family by using Parker.
Although Butch’s organizational skills and personality were probably suited more for a legitimate business life, he assembled a group of ruffians known as the “wild bunch.” Even though they could be considered misfits, Butch was able to meld them into a sophisticated criminal operation.
By the 1900’s the wild days of the West were fading and law enforcement was becoming more effective. So Butch, The Sundance Kid and Etta place fled to Argentina.
Here’s where legend and fact get blurry. Some say Butch and the Sundance Kid were killed by Bolivian troops. However members of his family maintain Butch came back to the United States and died of old age under another name.
Just as an aside. There are more than a dozen Old West outlaws, including Billy the Kid, who were supposedly not really killed, and they lived a long life under an alias. Sometimes I wonder if any Old West outlaw was ever killed.
SILVER SCREEN PROJECT
There’s an interesting classic western movie event taking place on April 29. It’s The Silver Screen C
owboy Project Show “Live” highlighting the movie cowboys from the B-Westerns of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.
This will be a multi-media event as the attendees take a nostalgic ride back to the time of the B-Western cowboys.
The event takes place at Calvary Chapel in Casa Grand, Arizona. For tickets and more information, call 520/705-5901.
We’re planning on being there.
FESTIVAL OF THE WEST
I spoke to Mary Brown, the Head Wrangler for Festival of the West. For those of you who are not familiar with Festival of the West,
it’s one of the premier Old West events that usually takes place in Phoenix, Arizona.
Mary indicated the attempt to sell the event didn’t work out, and she has it back. Because of time constraints the event won’t be held this year.
However she’s still looking for someone to take over as producer of the event. And she said she may have something important to share in the near future.
I would advise anyone who wants to know when something happens, to periodically visit their web site. When Mary gets everything lined up, the web site will be activated again. The web address is: http://www.festivalofthewest.com
THE OLD WEST IN BRAZIL
I just picked up a new friend on Fac
ebook from Brazil. His name is Edivaldo Martins. He’s a part of a group of Old West enthusiasts. And do they ever have a great presence on the Internet.
Once again, I’m blown over by how people around the world are intrigued with the Old West. Edivaldo and fellow cowboys, keep up the good work.
Their sight is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CINECLUBE-DOS-AMIGOS-DO-WESTERN-CAW/155922034487917
THUNDER OVER THE PRAIRIE
It seems we’re going to be blessed with another western movie. Director Walter Hill is putting togethe
r an adaptation of the Chris Enss/Howard Kazanjian book Thunder Over The Prairie. Thunder Over The Prairie is the story of the greatest posse ever assembled…Charlie Bassett, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp and Bill Tilghman…that went after the killer of Dora Hand.
Incidentally, Walter Hill has also directed Broken Trail, the Long Riders and Geronimo. He should do a great job with Thunder.
We’ll keep you appraised of the progress of this movie.
PONY EXPRESS
On April 3, 1860, the first Pony Express mail riders, traveling by horse and rider relay teams, simultaneously left St. Joseph, Missouri, and
Sacramento, California. Ten days later, on April 13, the westbound rider and mail packet completed the approximately 1,800-mile journey and arrived in Sacramento, beating the eastbound packet’s arrival in St. Joseph by two days and setting a new standard for mail delivery.
Before the Pony Express a letter was delivered by ship or Butterfield Express, which could take from one to several months. So the ten day delivery was quite an improvement.
Unfortunately, as the Pony Express riders were riding east and west, they would come across men putting poles in the ground and stringing wire for the first transcontinental telegraph, which was completed in October 1861. With the transcontinental telegraph, there was no need for the Pony Express, and it ceased operations.
OLD TUCSON STUDIOS II
One of the p
erformers at Old Tucson Studios was our friend Rob Doudell, who’s the spitin’ image of Gabby Hayes.
Although we’ve been there before to do interviews for our radio show and attend a Western Music Association event, this is the first time I’ve spent any time there…at least not three days.
Old Tucson Studios is a fun place to go, even if you aren’t a tenderfoot. As a bonus, everyone who works there is always friendly and helpful.
OLD TUCSON STUDIOS
We’re presently at Tucson, Arizona attending the Old Tucson Studios Wild West Weekend.
There are gunfights…right next to our booth…stagecoach rides and about everything else Old West.
Right across from us is a donkey and mule. They not only add to the visual ambiance, they also provide the aroma of the Old West.
Incidentally, Sourdough Slim is our own personal entertainment.
Do stop by if you’re in the area
WILD WEST DAYS
We’re packing to head down to Tucson, Arizona and Old Tucson Studios for Tucson Studios’ Wild West Days. At one time they were the location of several John Wayne movies and High Chaparral. Here’s how they describe the event:
“Get ready for a rip r
oarin’ good time as Old Tucson presents Wild West Days – a salute to southwestern History, Heritage and Culture on Friday, March 30 thru Sunday, April 1, 2012! If you’re looking for an experience to remember, don’t miss the 3rd Annual Wild West Days! This three-day festival celebrates Old Tucson’s emergence as Southern Arizona’s destination for showcasing local History, Culture and Heritage in the western tradition. This exciting event pleases all ages with an array of daily educational presentations as well as exciting entertainment and activities.”
If you’re going to be in the area stop by and say HI!
Here’s a link to their web site: www.oldtucson.com
GOLIAD
We all know of the Texan’s battle cry of “Remember the Alamo” during their battle with Mexico. But there was a second part to that battle cry.
On this date back in 1836 Santa Anna’s army defeated a group of Texans at Goliad. When they surrendered he took 417 revolutionaries out and executed them.
His thinking was that an inexplicable act such as this would break the rebel’s spirit. Instead it inspired them, and the battle cry became “Remember the Alamo and Goliad!”
Less than a month later, Texan forces under General Sam Houston dealt a stunning blow to Santa Anna’s army in the Battle of San Jacinto, and Texas won its independence.
GOOD SAM RALLY
I spent the weekend in Pho
enix at the Good Sam National Rally. I did three presentations to the attendees. At each presentation all the chairs in the tent were filled. There were about a thousand people in total who heard the presentations.
I did one presentation on what it was like to be a pioneer in 1845 coming out west. The other two were about what a wrangler experienced on an 1869 cattle drive from Texas to Kansas.
It always amazes and excites me how people enjoy the history of our American West…as you do.
NATIONAL DAY OF THE COWBOY
Once again congratulations are in store for Bethany Braley and the National Day of the Cowboy.
Both Missouri and California have passed a resolution to celebrate the 4th Saturday in July as the National Day of the Cowboy. And the great thing is the resolution was passed in perpetuity. For simple people like me, that means for ever and ever.
Incidentally, their web site is: www.nationaldayofthecowboy.org
WYATT’S BIRTHDAY
Boy, did I goof up. B
ack on the 19th I posted several special events that took place this week back in the Old West. And I left out an event that took place on that very day back in 1848. It was an event that’s particularly important to fans of the OK Corral Shootout.
And I heard about it from several people too.
What was the event? It was the birth of Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp, or just Wyatt Earp to all his close friends.
Sorry Wyatt.
HAUNTED SALOON
Well folks, right now we’re in Tombstone, Arizona Territory…The town too tough to die.
We’ll here doing some work on our upcoming Tombstone Ultimate Package..
While having dinner at the Chrystal Palace we ran into Terry “Ike” Clanton. And he invited us to join him on his Tuesday night Internet TV show called The Haunted Saloon.
To see the show go to:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/21250876
When you view the show, the set looks rather sophisticated. But like most TV and film sets, as you can tell by this picture, much of the sophistication is an illusion.
IMPORTANT WEEK IN OLD WEST
This is an important week in the Old West. The following events took place:
1823 – Dime
novelist Ned Buntline was born.
1834 – Explorer John Wesley Powell was born.
1852 – Wells Fargo was established.
1864 – Artist Charlie Russell was born.
1882 – The first cowboy movie star “Bronco Billy” Anderson was born.
1908 – Writer Louis L’Amour was born.
Incidentally, the picture is of Ned Buntline.
