Wednesday, October 02, 2024

Until The Cows Come Home: Seven Sisters Sunset, What's In A Name Part II, The Marlow Brothers Part III, Wyatt Earp And The Cowboy War Part IV

 October 2, 2024

   Had a dilly of a sunset last night.

Seven Sisters Sunset

   Someone asked me how long I intend to do what I am doing now and I replied: "Until the cows come home." Well, if this photo is any indication, that event is closer than it appears in the rearview mirror.

Cow riding, vaquero style
"Homeward bound"


Part II: What's In A Name?

   Everything.

Given name: Hugh Krampe

Stage Name: Hugh O'Brian


The Marlow Brothers In Three Parts

Marlow Brothers, first pass

Marlow Brothers, second pass

Marlow Brothers, third pass

An Immediate Marlow Brothers Correction

   "A comment on the painting, they were shackled by the ankles, not the wrists, but that wouldn't show in the painting - I know all about artistic license, just teasing. The Marlow story is a great one, and not well known by many today, except for us serious western history folks.  Looking forward to your coming blogs.
—Jim Pettengill
Ridgway, Colorado

'Appointment With Destiny' On The Exact Spot

   One of the cool things about the David Wolper documentary, "Showdown at O.K Corral" (1972) is they filmed on the exact spot, taking out the big wall that encloses and shields the property from Highway 80, i.e. Fremont Street in Tombstone, Arizona.


The dirt demarcation line just in front of the Earps is where the wall was, and is today.


   The only problem here is the actual space where the Earps & Clantons fought is only 18 feet wide because there is a missing house on the current property, which was next to the Harwood house on the corner. So, even though they went to all the trouble to film on the actual spot, the spacing is wrong and would have been much tighter. This is why today when you visit you will see an iron fence closing down the space to show how tight it was in the original fight. Sigh.

   And, so it goes.

"Nothing changes more than the past."

—Old Vaqueo Saying

Tuesday, October 01, 2024

Phil Spangenberger Has Passed

 October 1, 2024

   We have lost another of our True West pards.

Phil Spangenberger

(1940-2024)

Ride Cowboy, Ride!

   On September 26, 2024, True West’s 2022 True Westerner of the Year and beloved Firearms Editor Phil Spangenberger died suddenly during a heart procedure. Phil was considered one of the most noted experts on 19th- and early 20th - century American firearms. He was a contributor to True West for over 20 years, and for four decades the black powder firearms editor for Guns & Ammo. A highly regarded film and television firearms consultant and coach, Phil was the founder of Red River Western Wear and Old West Gun Holsters. Many likened him to a modern Buffalo Bill, who inspired generations of men and women to become reenactors, to collect and wear correct period Western clothing, and become participants in Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association and the Single Action Shooting Society. He was an inspiration to thousands around the world, a renowned horseman, reenactor and Western entertainer. Phil, a native of Florida, is survived by his beloved wife, Linda J. Spangenberger, of Chino Valley, Arizona. He was 84 years old.

   True West will publish Phil’s final column and review in the January-February 2025 issue with an extended memorial of his life and career.

—Stuart Rosebrook

What's In A Name?

 October 1, 2024

   Time to come clean.

What's In A Name?

   Everything.

Given name: Margarita Carmen Cansino

Stage name: Rita Hayworth

Given name: Robert Zimmerman

Stage name: Bob Dylan

Given Name: Marion Morrison
Stage Name: John Wayne


Given name: Henry McCarty

Outlaw name: Billy the Kid


Given name: Harry Longabaugh
Outlaw name: The Sundance Kid


Given name: Robert Allen Bell

Cartoonist name: Bob Boze Bell


"One of the great parts of show business is that you can't come back with the same show."

—Lorne Michaels, on the eve of SNL's 50th season