Announcement, Western Writers of America

 

I am very proud to announce that I have been accepted as an Associate member of the Western Writers of America. I feel very humbled and will continue to work to preserve our history through reenacting and writing. These are two things that have been my true north for over 30 years.

-Gene Stevens

Editor of the CSL&OH.A.

The Greatest Western Movies Made; The Magnificent Seven 1960

 

     Photo is in the public domain 

The Timeless Charm of "The Magnificent Seven"

Introduction

In 1960, Hollywood delivered an enduring classic with "The Magnificent Seven," a Western that has captivated audiences for over six decades. Directed by John Sturges, this film is an American adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1954 Japanese samurai epic, "Seven Samurai." Here, we delve into the making, impact, and legacy of "The Magnificent Seven."

Plot Overview

"The Magnificent Seven" follows the story of a small Mexican village oppressed by the bandit Calvera (played by Eli Wallach) and his gang. Desperate for help, the villagers seek out mercenaries to defend them. They find Chris Adams (Yul Brynner), a seasoned gunslinger, who agrees to help for a price. Chris then recruits six more men, each with unique skills but all with personal demons, forming an unlikely team to protect the village.

The Cast and Characters

• Yul Brynner as Chris Adams, the stoic leader with a moral compass.
• Steve McQueen as Vin Tanner, a charming drifter with sharpshooting skills.
• Charles Bronson as Bernardo O'Reilly, an aging, thoughtful gunman with a tragic past.
• Robert Vaughn as Lee, a nervous, refined gunslinger with a secret.
• Brad Dexter as Harry Luck, the mercenary driven by greed.
• James Coburn as Britt, the laconic, deadly knife-thrower.
• Horst Buchholz as Chico, the hot-headed young man seeking to prove himself.

Each actor brought a unique flavor to their role, contributing to the film's rich tapestry of personalities, which mirrored the original dynamics in "Seven Samurai."

Production and Direction

John Sturges' direction was pivotal in translating the essence of Kurosawa's film into a Western setting. The film was shot in Cuernavaca, Mexico, providing an authentic backdrop that enhanced the movie's atmosphere. The cinematography by Charles Lang captured the rugged beauty of the Mexican landscape, making the setting a character in itself. Elmer Bernstein's score became iconic, defining the sound of Westerns for generations with its rousing main theme.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

"The Magnificent Seven" was not just a commercial success but also critically acclaimed, earning nominations for several awards, including two Academy Award nominations for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, and Best Costume Design, Black-and-White.

The film's influence extends beyond its immediate success:

• Cultural Impact: It inspired numerous remakes, adaptations, and homages, including a direct sequel, TV series, and a 2016 remake directed by Antoine Fuqua.
• Genre Influence: It helped define the "gunslinger team-up" trope in Westerns, which has been echoed in countless films and series.
• Music: The theme has become synonymous with Western genre music, often parodied or homaged in other works.

On a deeper level, "The Magnificent Seven" explores themes of courage, redemption, and the fight for justice against overwhelming odds. It showcases the transformation of mercenaries into protectors, highlighting personal growth and the human spirit's resilience. The film also subtly comments on the nature of heroism, questioning whether true heroism is found in the act or in the aftermath of the deed.

"The Magnificent Seven" remains a landmark in cinema, not just for its genre but for storytelling. Its blend of action, character development, and moral questioning continues to resonate with new generations. The film's legacy is not only in its direct influences but in how it exemplifies the power of cinema to transcend cultural and temporal boundaries, making it a magnificent watch even today.
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Buffalo Bill's Legacy, By Matthew Kerns

 

 Photo and article courtesy of Matthew Kerns. 

On January 10, 1917, 108 years ago today, died.  The shadow his life and legacy cast over the popular understanding of the American West is immense. Westerns aren't set in the American West; they're set in Buffalo Bill's Wild West.

Cody’s life took him from message delivery boy for the parent company of the Pony Express to jayhawker, Union soldier, hotel owner, buffalo hunter, and scout. He was the fictional hero of a series of dime novels written by Ned Buntline, who convinced Cody and his friend and fellow scout John "Texas Jack" Omohundro to join him on a stage tour called "The Scouts of the Prairie" in the winter of 1872.  From the moment he rose to prominence in 1869 until his death nearly fifty years later, Bill Cody exemplified and embodied the American West.

Though initially referred to as a melodrama or a "blood and thunder" production, his initial play with Texas Jack was the very first Western, the antecedent of the many plays, movies, and shows that would follow. The following season, Cody and Omohundro parted ways with Ned Buntline and added to their dramatic company their mutual friend James "Wild Bill" Hickok, though his refusal to take his dramatic career as seriously as his friends did led to his departure from the stage before the end of a full season. Cody and Omohundro spent the next several years touring together in the winter and hunting together in the summer before General Custer's death at the Little Bighorn sent both men to Montana to once again serve as scouts under the auspices of the United States Army. They parted dramatic ways after their tour of 1876 but remained friends until Texas Jack's death in Leadville, Colorado, in 1880.

After a few more years touring stages, Cody began what he came to call his Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World. Touring the nation by train, Cody brought the West to all of America, planting his version of the American frontier indelibly into the minds of citizens in the more than 1,400 cities the show visited. 

Traveling to Europe, Cody became the first American superstar and perhaps the most well-known man in the world by the end of his life. Throughout this time, he extolled and showed to the world the virtues of the cowboy, first popularized by his old friend Texas Jack and now acted out on the world stage by the cadre of entertainers in Buffalo Bill’s entourage.

In late 1916, Cody traveled to Glenwood Springs to recuperate from a bronchial infection. Realizing that his health was not improving, Cody boarded a train to Denver to return to his family.  On the return ride home, he made a stop at the Leadville station on January 6th, 1917. 

As the train pulled in, he told his daughter and his nurse about his old friend Texas Jack, buried across town.  Thirty-seven years after his best friend's death, Buffalo Bill Cody still teared up talking about Texas Jack. Not well enough to leave the train due to his declining health, Cody was unable to walk across town to Evergreen Cemetery and the grave he had generously erected for his friend. As the train pulled out of the station, Cody waved goodbye for the last time to the people of Leadville and to his old pard Texas Jack.

Four days later, Buffalo Bill was dead.

If you have never taken the opportunity, I urge you to visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, and the Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum on Lookout Mountain, Colorado. The lasting legacy of the man is immense.  There really is an American West—prairies and plains and canyons and deserts—but the version of it in John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies, in Louis L’amour and Johnny Boggs books, in shows like Bonanza and the Lone Ranger is the one William F. Cody created—Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.

This is the last picture of William F. Cody, known to the world as Buffalo Bill, taken as he left Glenwood Springs the week before his death.

-Matthew Kerns 

For more information,  the reader can visit https://www.facebook.com/jbomohundro?mibextid=ZbWKwL

The Wild West in Iowa: Where Pioneers Met Cowboys, By G.C. Stevens

 

When one conjures images of the Wild West, the vast plains of Iowa might not be the first place that comes to mind. Yet, Iowa's history during the 19th century paints a picture of a frontier state with its own unique slice of Wild West lore, where the echoes of cattle drives, gunfights, and Native American encounters resonate through its history.

The Frontier Era
Iowa's transformation from Native American lands to a state teeming with settlers began in earnest in the 1830s. Before statehood, the area was home to several tribes including the Sauk, Meskwaki, and Sioux, whose presence and interactions with early settlers set the stage for frontier life. By 1846, when Iowa was admitted to the Union, the landscape was already changing with the influx of pioneers looking for land, opportunity, and adventure.

Cowboys and Cattle in Iowa
While Iowa might not be synonymous with cattle drives like Texas or Wyoming, the state had its own share of cowboy culture, particularly in the western regions. Towns like Sioux City and Council Bluffs, situated close to the Missouri River, were influenced by the trails that passed through or near them, including the Mormon Trail and later, the Pony Express. These areas saw a mix of frontier life, where the cowboy ethos was not just about herding cattle but also about the lifestyle of the time—tough, independent, and ready for the unexpected.

• Sioux City: Known for its wild reputation, Sioux City had its moments of lawlessness, highlighted by gunfights, including one where a pastor attempted to enforce prohibition laws, leading to a shootout. The town's history aligns more closely with the frontier dynamics of South Dakota and Nebraska, giving it a uniquely "western" flavor within Iowa.

• Council Bluffs: Acting as a starting point for the Union Pacific Railroad and a stop on the Mormon Trail, this city was a gateway to the West, embodying the spirit of exploration and the rugged individualism associated with the Wild West.


Native American Influence
The narrative of Iowa's Wild West also includes the complex relationship between Native Americans and settlers. The state's history is marked by treaties, conflicts, and the eventual displacement of indigenous peoples. The Black Hawk War, involving the Sauk and Meskwaki, was one of the significant events that shaped early Iowa, leading to land cessions and the movement of these tribes westward.

Cultural and Economic Life
The economy of frontier Iowa was tied to agriculture, but the spirit of the Wild West was also evident in its burgeoning towns, where saloons, gambling, and the occasional lawlessness were part of the daily life. The arrival of railroads in the 1860s further connected Iowa to the broader American West, facilitating the flow of goods, people, and ideas, which included the cowboy culture from further west.

Modern Echoes of the Wild West
Today, while Iowa is primarily known for its agriculture and modern cities, traces of its Wild West past can still be felt:

• Cultural Events: Rodeos and historical reenactments in places like Albert City, Fort Dodge and particularly Winterset Iowa, which is also the Birthplace of The most famous American Cowboy figure, John Wayne, helps to keep the cowboy spirit alive.
• Historical Sites: The Jordan House in West Des Moines, now a historical society,  Jordan was a cattle farmer from Virginia, although the area is now in West Virginia, who settled in central Iowa in 1846. As a businessman he organized the State Bank of Des Moines and was involved in bringing the railroad to Des Moines. He platted Valley Junction and raised $70,000 to create a railhead there, which was also near his cattle operation.

• Wildlife: The state has preserved areas where one can still experience the wildness of Iowa's past, with wildlife management areas providing a habitat for species like bison, elk, and various birds, echoing the natural aspect of the frontier.


The Wild West in Iowa might not match the scale of the more famous western states, but it holds its own charm and historical significance. It was a land where the cultures of the Midwest and the West blended, where the pioneer spirit met the cowboy ethos, creating a unique chapter in America's story of westward expansion. As Iowa continues to evolve, the echoes of its Wild West days remind us of a time when the state was indeed a frontier, full of promise, peril, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Old West Show 2025, National Congress Of Old West Shootists

 Just passing this on from Bear Tooth Bill ( John Hoker). The National Congress of Old West Shootists is putt'n on an Old West Show & Sale! It's over by the Mississippi river in Davenport Iowa. See the flyer below, or check out their website at NCOWS.COM.

Gene Stevens 

CSL&OH.A.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 Merry Christmas  and Happy New Year From the Central States Lawman and Outlaws Historic Assn.

 (c) CSLOHA

 All photos are in the public domain

The John Wayne Birthplace and Museum

 I'm proud to  be a new member of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum!

 

Billy The Kid, The Controversies Live On.

Card From the Authors collection.  Produced by the LL Cook Co.

The L.L. Cook Company was founded in 1921 and was one of the two largest postcard publishing companies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin up to the 1960s,

 This is my first-ever article on Billy The Kid. I've written quite a bit about the intrigue in Tombstone  AZ in the 1880s, and the gut wrenching story of Jesse and Frank James and their unfortunate but adventurous lives. But the story of Billy The Kid, is very different, unlike the stories of Wyatt Earp and Tombstone, which was in many ways, like a game of chess, and the Story of Jesse and Frank James was a matter of family bloodlines and the civil war. Billy's story is almost melancholy in nature, and one can find an easy connection to Henry and his circumstances, because he was a young guy caught up in a bad situation. 

BILLY THE KID

 Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty, is one of the most notorious outlaws of the American Old West, whose life story has been romanticized through countless books, films, and songs. Known for his youth, charm, and deadly gun skills, Billy's legend outgrew the young man himself, making him an enduring figure in American folklore.

He was born in New York City around 1859, Henry McCarty’s life was marked by hardship from the start. After his father's death (or disappearance), he moved with his mother, Catherine, to Indianapolis, then to Wichita, Kansas, and eventually to Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory. After his mother died of tuberculosis in 1874, he was left to fend for himself, leading him into a life of petty crime. Adopting the alias "William H. Bonney" or "Kid Antrim," he quickly escalated from small thefts to horse thievery and murder. His transformation into "Billy the Kid" was sealed during the Lincoln County War (1878-1879), a conflict that involved rival factions in New Mexico fighting for economic control. Billy sided with the Regulators, a group formed to counter the corruption of the "House" faction. His involvement in the war included the killing of Billy's fame grew not just from his criminal activities but from his daring escapes. After the conflict, he was captured but managed an audacious escape from jail in Lincoln, New Mexico, where he killed two deputies. This escape, among others, contributed to his legend as both cunning and dangerous.

Pat Garrett, a former friend turned lawman, was determined to capture Billy. In 1880, Garrett managed to arrest him, but Billy escaped yet again. However, his freedom was short-lived. On July 14, 1881, Garrett shot and killed Billy at Fort Sumner, ending the life of the 21-year-old (or possibly 19, as his exact age is debated) outlaw. 

Billy the Kid's death might have ended his physical existence, but his legend was just beginning. Over the years, his image has transformed from a simple outlaw to a symbol of the Wild West's untamed spirit:

Billy has been the subject of numerous films, including "The Left Handed Gun" and "Young Guns." His story also inspired countless novels, songs, and even video games.

 There are numerous myths surrounding Billy, including claims that he was left-handed (debunked by photo analysis showing his gun belt on his left side, indicating he was right-handed) and tales of surviving his reported death. Some claim that Billy faked his death, leading to sightings and stories well into the 20th century. His grave in Fort Sumner remains a tourist attraction, symbolizing his undying legend.

Billy the Kid represents the duality of the American frontier: a place where lawlessness could coexist with the pursuit of freedom. His story questions the nature of heroism, villainy, and the thin line between the two in the lawless landscapes of the Old West. Whether seen as a cold-blooded killer or a victim of circumstance, Billy the Kid's legacy continues to captivate the imagination, embodying the untamed spirit of an era long gone but forever etched in history.

Vignette's of The Civil War, A Tale of Christmas in the 1860s By O.J. Fargo

 Civil War Christmas

 Drawing by Thomas Nast

"Thomas Nast built upon this 19th-century persona when he began drawing Santa for Harper’s Weekly. He published his initial illustration of Santa Claus in his first year with the magazine. His January 3, 1863 cover depicted Santa Claus handing out presents to Union soldiers."

Wikipedia

According to Mary Elizabeth Massey's Ersatz in the Confederacy, tree decorations were often homemade and many people used the patriotic motif. Some substitute the customary star at the top of the tree with the Stars and Bars and pictures of General Lee. A Richmond family decorated their tree with tails and ears from the slaughter of hogs. The tails were decorated with ruffled paper while the ears held the light-wood candles. Strings of popcorn were used. Gifts were usually handmade, and many children got nothing because many in the Confederacy could not obtain or afford even simple things. In an effort to explain to children why Santa had "forgotten them" stories and poems were printed in papers and magazines. Dr. Massey writes that the most widely circulated was the poem by Mary McCrimmon called "Santa Claus." 

"I'm sorry to write,

Our ports are blockaded, and Santa, tonight,

Will hardly get down here; for if he should start,

The Yankees would get him unless he was smart,

They beat all the men in creation to run,

And if they could get him, they'd think it fine fun

To put him in prison and steal the nice toys

He started to bring to our girls and boys.

But try not to mind it - tell over your jokes - 

Be gay and be cheerful, like other good folks;

For if you remember to be good and kind,

Old Santa next Christmas will bear it in mind."

-From the collection of

 O.J. Fargo.

The Most Interesting Man In Tombstone Arizona, John Clum. By G.C. Stevens

 

 Photo from John Clums book "It All Happened in Tombstone "

John Clum: The Crusading Mayor of Tombstone

Early Life and Career

John Philip Clum was born on September 1, 1851, near Claverack, New York, into a family of German and Dutch descent. His early life was marked by education at Rutgers University, though financial difficulties led him to leave before graduation. His journey west began when he joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps and was assigned to Santa Fe, New Mexico, as a weather observer. This was the start of an adventurous life that would lead him to become one of the most notable figures in the Old West.


Apache Agent and Capture of Geronimo

In 1874, Clum was appointed as an Indian agent for the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona, a role where he introduced innovative governance methods including the establishment of an Apache police force and court system. His most famous act during this tenure was the peaceful capture of the Apache leader Geronimo in 1877, making him the only agent to achieve this feat without bloodshed. This period of his life showcased his ability to negotiate and manage complex intercultural relations.


The Tombstone Epitaph and Mayoral Position 

The discovery of silver in Tombstone, Arizona, in 1877, attracted Clum, who saw an opportunity to start a newspaper. On May 1, 1880, he launched "The Tombstone Epitaph," which quickly became a voice for law and order in the turbulent town. Clum's involvement in local politics led to his election as Mayor of Tombstone in 1881, under a new city charter. His administration was characterized by efforts to combat lawlessness and corruption, aligning himself with the town's reformist elements.


Friendship with Wyatt Earp and the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

Clum's tenure as mayor coincided with one of Tombstone's most infamous events: the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881. As a supporter of the Earp brothers, Clum's newspaper defended the actions of Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan Earp, along with Doc Holliday, in the shootout against the Clanton and McLaury brothers. His editorial stance made him a target of those who opposed the Earps, leading to an alleged assassination attempt on him in December 1881 when his stagecoach was attacked.

Later Years and Legacy

After leaving Tombstone in 1882, Clum's career took him to various postal service roles across the U.S., including a significant stint in Alaska where he helped expand postal services during the gold rush. He also worked as a lecturer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, sharing stories of his adventures in the West. His later years were spent in California, where he passed away on May 2, 1932. Clum's legacy is not only in his administrative and journalistic contributions but also in his portrayal in numerous films and TV series, reflecting his colorful life in the Wild West.


John Clum's story is one of courage, reform, and the spirit of the American frontier. His efforts in Tombstone to instill law and order during a time of chaos, his friendship with key historical figures, and his dedication to public service across different roles highlight a life lived with both adventure and purpose. His contributions to the narrative of the Old West remain a testament to his enduring impact on American history.