Classic True West Poll

 March 6, 2026

   I got some very interesting feedback on whether to keep Classic True West, or not. I consider the comments—en toto—a signal fire.

Daily Whip Out: "The Signal Fire"

   Here, for your amusement, are just a few of the comments I have received, so far, riffing off of Mark Lee Gardner's comment that he never reads Classic True West because it's old and seems like filler:

"I believe Mark's point has some validity especially given the online presence of True West past issues. If, however, the article is drawn from an issue that isn't online, then I think as from the archives is great and provides context for the magazine's history."

—John Langellier 

"I don't agree. These classic articles must be put out there, both for old and new readers.  Obviously, the new and younger readers will likely have never seen them before.  If Mark was right, why would anyone read the Wyatt Earp Anthology?  The whole books consists of classic articles.  And now the book is an instant classic."  

—John Boessenecker

"I love the archive features—J. Frank Dobie on the Alamo, who doesn't think that is a classic. I'm more concerned with the use of AI in TW—its obvious in travel. But whatever is necessary to keep TW going is ok with me."

—Paul Andrew Hutton

"Some are filler, some are not.  I've been a proponent of updating them—correcting them where needed so that people don't get the mistaken impression that we're printing false information (and some readers will do that, skipping over the explanation at the top).  But that takes up more space."

—Mark Boardman

"It is wasted space that could be given to a new article that brings fresh info to the table."

—James B. Mills

"It has been an affordable and interesting way to provide readers a look back in our history and our great contributors."

—Stuart Rosebrook

"I love the Classic True West articles.  I just finished the Alamo story last night.  In fact, I think the magazine under utilizes one of its biggest assets: your deep library."

—Dennis Corderman

"Those old articles are now part of history. Sometimes it's good to see what a historian wrote decades ago and figure out what has changed, been debunked, etc. Besides, when I see J. Frank Dobie's byline in a magazine that I write for, I figure I've made the big time."

—Johnny D. Boggs

"For some it might be but you have many 
long time members who remembered and subscribed to the old True West over decades.  I would think that they enjoy the trip down memory lane.  And they do not have to read the materials. I don't read every article either, it is my choice but I like the variety."

—Lynda Sanchez

"Keep running Classic True West. I never read the original.  These are all new to me." 

—Paul Hoylen

"I disagree strongly with Mark Lee Gardner's assessment. I love True West's history, and I enjoy reading the classic articles. When I started reading TW, it was in the 1960s, and when the family was on vacation out west I'd snap up all the True Wests and Old Wests and competitors that I could find. And, in my early years working for you, I would often buy magazine lots on eBay, because I particularly liked stories written by people who remembered the events that they wrote about, rather than researching them. In fact, my suggestion to you would be, when you're selecting a Classic, to look for first-person pieces. I haven't got my old copies here in New York, but I'm thinking about the "I was a deputy for Judge Parker" sort of pieces. I just love those."

—Henry Parke

   Thanks for all the great feedback. The takeaway for me is we need to be selective on what we choose to run and if possible feature those old first person accounts, like Henry has referenced, above. So, Classic True West is safe for now, but who knows what will happen next January when one of these radicals (probably in the motley crew, above) take the helm and throw everything out, including my bathwater!

"Nothing changes more than the past."

—Old Vaquero Saying