Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Icing Jugs Launches Kingman Kid Into Damned History Career

July 28, 2020
   Time to get to work on my third book (revised and updated) on the outlaw who launched me on a thirty year career. That would be this guy.


Daily Whip Out:
"Billy the Kid Walks The Deadliest Street
In America"

      And, yes, that would be Lincoln, New Mexico.



Daily Whip Out:
"Billy the Kid: Death at His Elbow"


   The true beginning of my career can be traced back to this specific driveway.


Al Bell's Flying A, on Route 66, at Hilltop,
just outside Kingman, Arizona.

   When I was eleven-years-old, my first job at Al Bell's Flying A was to ice those jugs—as the sign clearly says—for free! I actually made $11 in tips that first summer and bought a book, "The Biographical Album of Western Gunfighters" out of True West magazine. Little did I know a career was about to be born, thanks to those wonderful jugs!


Rough sketch for "66 Chicks"

      In addition to chicks, the 66 Kid had other passions and they revolved around Old West outlaws, especially the Kid.


Daily Whip Out:
"Billy the Kid Launches Himself Into Eternity"

   Plus, I just dig old photos, like this.


   Samuel Kilborn posted this great photo of a border family, circa 1900. I could stare at this for days. I guess that is another reason I got into the history game. Well, that, and this:

"All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly alone in a room."
—Blaise Pascal



2 comments:

  1. The old B&W photo you've got is amazing. I'm like you, I can sit and stare at them, and wonder what the story is. Did they all live in that tent? Where are they from, where are they going, how did they end up here?

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  2. Bob B. Bell I have been involved with the County Historical Commission for the County I live in for several years. I have a question, Simply... Did Jesse James, John Ringold and William Bonney meet at a Hot Spring where the three sat around a couple weeks, until William and John rode west together. If this is true can I get a copy to this event.

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