October 9, 2026
There are no known photos of Josephine "Sadie" Marcus Earp in her prime. Bat Masterson claimed she was a dead ringer for the actress Jeffreys Lewis.
Beyond that, our imaginations have tried to fill in the gaps.
Daily Whip Out: "Tombstone Temptress"
A Fantasy-Bogus Image of Sadie Foisted On
An Unsuspecting Public by Glenn Boyer
True, there are several maybe-wanna-be photos that rabid Old West collectors try to pass off as her, like this one:
Maybe SadieMeanwhile, the movies have had their run at her early likeness as well. . .
Dana Delaney, Tombstone, 1993
"I want one."
(on spying her first Earp)
I Married Wyatt Earp, 1983
And, certain cartoonists from Kingman have made their run at her as well.
“Time may be a great healer, but she’s a lousy beautician.”
—Old Vaquero Saying
It's so interesting how much our collective imagination fills in the gaps when there's a lack of actual historical imagery. I've always pictured Sadie a certain way, probably influenced by the films. It's a shame there are no real photos of her as a young Snow rider
ReplyDelete, but the different artistic interpretations are fascinating to see.
Very interesting as usual.
ReplyDeleteShe said that her and Wyatt's trunks had been stored in San Francisco and were lost in the 1906 fire, along with most of her family's photos and possessions.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion at seeing the real Sadie in her later days, she could have been a head turner!😊👍🏼
ReplyDelete