Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War: What Did They Get Right?
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- Опубліковано 24 гру 2024
- Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War: What Did They Get Right? What Did They Leave Out? And Why is My Name On It?
Bob Boze Bell is known as America's Western Storyteller. He is an artist, author, writer and serves as executive editor of True West magazine. Bell is a popular, sought-after figure in television documentaries about the Old West, appearing as an expert in dozens of Wild West history shows. Bell won an Emmy Award as Executive Producer of the PBS special, Outrageous Arizona, a zany look at the state's centennial, that he also wrote and helped direct. As an author, Bell has brought to life Billy the Kid, Geronimo, Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok in his best-selling Illustrated Life and Times series. His books Classic Gunfights I, II and III are must-reads about the most important Old West gunfights. Bell’s Bad Men is now in its fourth printing, while his illustrated autobiography, The 66 Kid: Raised on the Mother Road, gives personal insight into the passions that have driven him on his lifelong quest to interpret the history of the American West for audiences around the world.
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Bob, NOBODY explains the old west in the detail like you do. Not to take away from the friends you mentioned, but YOU have it on a platform we can all appreciate. Thanks for that.
I graduated from high school in 1996 and my graduation present was a trip I went on to Arizona to visit Tombstone. I was already a huge fan of the movies Tombstone and Wyatt Earp and I wanted to learn everything I could about the actual people involved. I had already purchased Bob Boze Bell's books on Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp and Billy the Kid.
The day before my visit, my then grandfather's girlfriend, called Mr Bell and informed him that I was a young amateur historian fascinated by these men & their history and was also a huge fan of Mr Bell's work.
Within about an hour, Mr Bell called me back and spent about two hours answering every question that I could think. He really knows his stuff and I'll never forget that day he gave a goofy, 18 year old kid hours of his time to answer whatever I asked. And yes, even back then, Mr Bell went on about the importance of period accurate hats. LOL
Am a 30 year veteran retired police officer of the Fayetteville NC PD and came across your show and very glad I did. You cover alot of western history that I've always been very interested in. You bring it all back to life. Your narration is excellent! Am in the process of watching all of your work. Thank you sir from covering all this great history!
You bring back my childhood memories. I love historical accuracy!
I’m right beside you on authenticity. It grinds my gears when they don’t do their homework. It’s the little things… paying attention to detail of the historical period is so essential to the time frame you are trying to re-create.
UA 1970-1971 ‘Bare down’
This is a 👍👍 video!
Great to see you back on youtube Bob
Bob, you are the true west maniac numero uno. Love your insight, your knowledge, and your engaging style. Thanks!
Publish more content Bob. Youre one of the last true story tellers of the old west
Mr. Bell, thank you so much for your video and "mixed message." I enjoyed it. I have a friend in Egypt, an Egyptologist, who was once consulted by the National Geographic regarding a King Tut program they were producing. They wanted a review for historical accuracy. They didn't have much right, even the relationships to King Tut were incorrect. After he submitted his numerous comments, they thanked him for his effort and replied "it is not a classroom...it is more docutainment." Every since then, I remember that response and I take all documentaries and dramatizations (based upon the life of...) very lightly. For people that are "crazy" about accuracy, it must make one's life a never ending challenge. Thank you for True West Magazine, I subscribe and read it often and my guests enjoy it as well. I just wish some of the "facts" were referenced so that we also can separate them from "interpretations" of the west. Great job, and thanks again for your enthusiasm and effort.
I share your passion for" getting it right" it is hard to watch some of the westerns without having a coronary event. I have enjoyed your wit and wisdom from radio days and now the great magazine you pilot like a deranged pirate! What were you thinking when offering a LIFETIME subscription for $99?😂 Man, I couldn't get the credit card out quick enough. I have been thoroughly enjoying TrueWest ever since! You are a legend in your own time sir! I am super glad you are still entertaining us so splendidly.Stay healthy!
I am a person who loves history.... books, documentaries, everything, and not one criticism of this series had anything to do with important historical facts about the event. Who really gives a rats ass about the wardrobe? Whether Ike Clanton was a "mob boss" or not, every thing that I have read or watched, had him as the leader of the Cowboys at this time. I think that this series did a great job of going beyond the feud, and bringing in the local and national politics of the time. Bad hats or not, this was an informative program.
I live in the Scottish Borders, and love fact and fiction on the old west,you help connect me to that time .
Thank you so much for mentioning that mostly forgotten fact about people and hats and how they were worn and used before the turn of the century, but really up until the WW2.The reality is that people did not take baths or showers as much as we all do now, and especially did not have as clean as hair as we do now (or even as short as many men now wear). And people spent a whole lot more time outside than we do now. So for both those reasons (and probably more), people in olden times (that is anytime before anyone saying that was born), wore some kind of head covering practically all the time while outside. So many movies today, treat the characters as if they are from our time, and were somehow transported back in time, and have them act, speak, wear clothes, etc. as if they were living in current times. Just takes something out of the movies to watch so many anachronisms being thrust forward.
I watched the show last week and was a bit dissapointed in it. I lived in Cochise Co in the 70s and worked in Tombstone from 1973-75 at the Silver Burron Indian Jewelry Shop. I dug into the history and researched a ton. Your thoughts square with mine (although I don't know a lot about hats!). The settings were odd. Why couldn't they film the ride where it happened in the Whetstones? Also the areas around Charleston Rd would have been acceptable. Thank you for making me feel like I still have some things right! Also, I'm the one that restored the 1870 Goodnight Barn in Pueblo, CO. You need to do a story on it!
Thanks Bob ! Awesome.
Everything out of " Hollywood " demands a large dose of salt for proper digestion, and the western magazines and Louis Lamour were part of my history plus whatever historical content I can find. Including this video. Thx. Much enjoyed. 👍
That's great but when you mentioned Netflix many of us have boycotted Netflix for political reasons it could never be more important than it is now to stand your ground .🇺🇸🤠
So true when you see stuff that out and out wrong and when you see it it draws your eye every time. Thanks for doing this keep doing your chats on here
I'm a Yuma boy
Wild west history is in my DNA
Bob, history gets embellished and distorted over time. I greatly appreciate the real history that you bring us. I love history and especially that of the American west. I am lucky to be retired now, traveling on the road in my RV full time so I can visit these sites. Thanks for what you do.
Loved this!
BBB... Thanks for the explanation.
I could see the BS while watching and was shocked to see your name in the credits. I get it now and wished you were included in the commentary during the show.
Looking forward to the upcoming issue re: Earp & Hollywood.
DAS (fellow True West Maniac)
I’ve waited so long for this upload!
What cracks me up is the term ‘huckleberry’. My grandmother was born in 1881. She talked to me about one of my great-uncles getting into a fight with a guy for saying something about his father. He kicked the guy’s butt and she said, “He sure was a huckleberry!” She passed in 1979.
Great episode!
Bob, I remember that show, "Appointment with Destiny." It was pretty good.
The best Earp documentary ever!
Its here on UA-cam
Great stuff Mr. B 👍👍
If you wish to learn AZ history Bob and Marshall Trimble are your go to people. Been reading or listening to them for 40 years.
When you stop, I stop. Keep it going Mr, good job.
The historical inaccuracies drive me insane. We want truth because the true story creates awe. Hollywood ruins so many stories.
Wow. you made to the end. I can only watch it 5 - 10 minutes before switching it off. Even with the experts, whom I can imagine during the re-enactments looking sidelong at the screen and doing a facepalm. Once I saw the Buntline Special I knew they were in trouble.
Lol, I almost didn't make it past the 1st episode because of the music they chose, however I was really bored that day and kept watching. The hat was one of the 1st things I noticed. Great video thanks and stuff.
good critic Bob, I'm glad you brought up those points. After I read Casey Tifertiller book, and saw him on History documentary's I actually ran into him at a restaurant and he was nice enough to take a photo with me. Someday, I'll hope to get one with you to.,
I just started watching the show and the first thing I noticed was that hat. I thought I was being to particular. Looks like I am in good company. Thanks for all the videos. I sure would like to see much,much more.
..nothing will EVER top Tombstone!!
Bob big fan of the Magazine and your work. It was the choice of firearms in the show that was driving me nuts. A couple of calls, hell a trip to bill's trading post and they could have had the proper, er, props.
Louis L'Amour had a large collection of Old West documents, newspapers, and diaries. What happen to all his researches?
Great Job outstanding i enjoyed watching your channel Tombstone is one of my favorite movies, i could watched over and over again it doesn’t get old i wish they re make it again! I think that the guy that played Waytt Earp should play Jhonny Ringo in the re make
Glad you brought up Maddie Blaylock
Me and Santee don't have to worry about stepping into historical doodoo.
We have enough trouble with modern doodoo.
It amazes me how many interpretations of the gunfight went down
on the very day.
Nice work, Bob.
Good morning you Zany Zonies 😂❤
Woo! New BBB!
BBB? FJB 👍
Thanks, Bob! I have been watching the show, so it’s good to hear your perspective. I have noticed some things that I questioned so I am glad you have substantiated one of my questions, that of the modern looking hats.
Just found out you are on UA-cam from the nov/dec True West magazine. Thanks for being our voice. It would have taken so little additional effort and cost to do it right!!! Typical of modern life.
Besides, the hats. Smaller complaint was Wyatt Earp toting a Buntline Special which is disputed as ever having existed.
Love your videos bob . Haven't seen one up here for a while
Thanks.
.
66 bars !!! That definitely explains alot !
Good to see you back Bob, Miss seeing you at Wickenburg and Pioneer Village.
El Mirage, Arizona
I'm a fellow history nerd.... great vid.
Hi Bob, love your channel and your stories. I have lived in Las Vegas, NV since 1957 and have studied the history of the state and this crazy city since childhood, elementary school, all the way through my university days. I do not know if you are aware of Las Vegas's history but it is a story that rivals any Hollywood western; the heroine, Helen Stewart, is married to a ranch owner, Archie Stewart, who has to temporarily leave the ranch to take care of his cartage business in San Bernardino, CA. She takes over the duties of running the ranch and when payday rolls around, distributes the salaries to the hands. One employee is unhappy and begins to verbally abuse Mrs. Stewart. When Archie returns and hears about it, he rides over to Kyle Ranch where the ranch hand is now working, to defend his wife's honor. What follows is a story of revenge and a widow and her children's survival instincts that leads to the founding of Las Vegas. I do not know if a decent book has been written about this historical event but it sounds like something that is right up your alley.
Ike Clanton a Caporegime? That's funny. Every rendition I ever read has Ike as a loud mouth drunken braggart. It's always Curly Bill. But I get the hook of the Mafia to try and pull people in. Not necessary, as this is always, no matter who tells it ,such a compelling story. I hope I have the guy's name right Barra? His book explained how each succeeding generation sees Wyatt Earp and it tells you more about the people viewing the events, than it does Wyatt and the people in the events. Bob you are great as always.
Bob, I'm glad you brought this up. As I have read some many books including yours on Wyatt Earp and his time in tombstone, this version really is told inaccurate. The attire is slightly off, Morgan and Virgil are missing their hats. The ok corral gunfight scene...sooo inaccurate. But the tombstone Vendetta scene that's what is based off is the historical record, including your historical work. You could have done it better. 🎩
This netflix needs adjustment. This is not fake it's history that happened and this version of Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy war which should be the Tombstone Vendetta needs serious fixing.
The scene with Curly Bill laying flat on his back after the Iron Springs shootout ... wearing modern boots with TREAD. 🤨
Thank you.
VERY VERY VERY VERY GOOD VIDEO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DID I SAY VERY ?
Excellent critique. It amazes me the expertise that people like yourself have obtained on subjects. As per the docuseries, I was wondering if you had any perspective on the JP Morgan aspect. I've read a couple of biographies of Morgan and neither mentioned anything about the Cowboy Wars and, in fact, until JP Morgan's father's death in 1890, JP did not run any deals or lead any projects without his father being heavily involved. I have no idea beyond this whether that aspect of the docuseries is correct or not but it did not ring true per my limited knowledge of the subject.
Very enjoyable video. Despite your constructive criticism, it’s evident you have a sense of humor about all this which is refreshing and lighthearted. I feel like you do when they get the guns wrong. Such as when they have actors shooting Winchester model 92‘s when the picture is set in the 1870s. There’s many examples, and more broadly, the biggest offender is the six shooter that fires 24 shots.
I'm like you, I appreciate historical accuracy
I just finished watching this show and very much appreciate your commentary! I knew that many of the reinactments were not going to be accurate because they simply didn't have the budget to get every detail right and even with a budget it's difficult to recreate historical events with actors and costumes ect. But, I thought overall it was a pretty decent, informative show, aside from as you say, making too much of Ike Clanton's role. I paid more attention to the commentary from the historians in the show and that always seemed pretty good.
Thanks for the analysis. History is my passion as well as historical accuracy. I liked the series but I did notice the absence of Johnny Ringo (ironically, that sounds like a Hollywood name) and Matty. They also did not name the two cowboys who ran away when the gunfight started, one of whom I assume was William Claiborne if I remember my STAR TREK, and they inexplicably depicted Chester Alan Arthur as clean shaven! His whiskers were his trademark
Bob, I understand you are a writer as well as the aforementioned (in your video) authors, and I am surprised no one has mentioned Mary Doria Russell and her books "Doc" and "Epitaph." They were an historical fiction novel, however the friendships and politics in Tombstone at the time were pretty historically accurate in her books. I remember her stating on her website that she had a whole, long shelf of research material she gathered to write the two books. After reading her two books, I better understood the politics in Tombstone driving the opposing forces during the early 1880s'.
On a related note, are you going to critique Kevin Costner's new series "Horizon!" I like you have issues with anachronisms, for example after Hayes Ellison's (Kevin Costner) first gunfight, he is shown ejecting spent cartridges from his revolver. Considering if I am not mistaken, it was mentioned that the American Civil War was still being fought back east. If that be the case, there were not yet any cartridge revolvers in common use. The Richards Mason conversion was still several years away. Most people out west were still using percussion handguns. The rifles they had were mostly correct. The sharps rifle was in use however during the civil war period, they were breech loaders utilizing paper cartridges (i.e. Berdan's Sharpshooters). Two exceptions were the Volcanic Arms Co. Henry Rifle using a 41 cal. rimfire cartridge, and the Spencer Carbine, both of which were used mainly by the Union Army.
I really enjoy your channel and commentary.
So true- when I saw that hat, I instantly knew this show was bogus.
I'm right there with you on details. I noticed the hat right away. The tack is all wrong, too.
I cowboyed for over 40 years and when I see crap like that it ruins the entire show for me.
One of the neat things about cowboy movies that I discovered as a kid, when they were a mainstay on daytime TV ... you can estimate when the movie was made by the costumes. It's one area western movies are more historical than they seem at first. Not for the era they depict, but for the era they were made. Looking at how real cowboys dressed in authentic pictures, they look funny, because they're so unlike the cowboys of Hollywood.
Annie Oakley was faithful to her husband Frank until the day she died. He was the only man she ever loved. It grieves me to see Gene Autry showing her fooling around with some guy named Lofty Craig.
Thank you! I can't afford Netflix and don't miss it.
That hat thing killed it for me quite a bit too! Anachronisms frustrated me greatly, it makes it so hard to take anything seriously.
I haven't seen the show, but that Clanton hat is a stench in the nostrils of the righteous. It would look just fine in "Yellowstone", though. I was fortunate to meet Ben Johnson once, and I will always kick myself for not asking him whether he had a "hat approval" clause in his contracts. They weren't always period correct (okay, maybe never, because of Hollywood), but Ben never had a bad hat.
I remember that "Appointment With Destiny" show, especially Doc trying to psych the cameraman out. I only saw it once, but now I'm hunting it up for a rewatch.
Some say the Earps and Holiday went to the OK Corral to murder the Cowboys who were near there. If true, the first person that would have been shot would have been Ike Clanton.
Wyatt disliked Ike, and Holiday hated him. And yet Ike was the only one who was not shot, probably because he was not armed.
I wondered about that show and figured it wouldn't be worth watching I will check it out , thank you.
Bob, if it's not consistent with documentable historical facts, I'm not interested. As a Tombstone-afile, who has read everything there is on the subject, and its characters, and visited more than a half-dozen times, relocating to AZ four-years ago, only FACTS are truly interesting.
I'm no expert, but I got the impression they were trying to do a discount version of Westworld in terms of the clothing styles at least, rather then anything historical.. Plus bringing in Ed Harris as the narrator, who is pretty prominent in Westworld.
Hollywood ruins most historic stories when the truth is awesome enough. Tombstone will always rule. Thanks Kurt.
I've watched the trailer 3 or 4 times trying to get myself to watch the show but I can't. I really WANTED to watch it, but I cannot.
Hi Bob ,Great video ! I'll probably never see this new movie ,because I'm not going to support Netflix. However maybe you should make a movie about the Earps and Toomstone. You could get other historian friends to help. Thanks Bob. 😊
Besides the hats and clothing, the some of the firearms used were horrible. Wyatt continually is shown with a Buntline Special, and at one point you can see a Webley.
Hi Bob watched that documentary. And yes that hat of Ike's bother me. And the Arizona rangers I thought were founded in 1901.
Mostly, I'm a pre-gunpowder warfare nut. But the one story out of the Old West that always intrigued me, and got me to research it, was about the Earp's and the Cowboys. So, I know how you feel about cringing over a hat, making something almost unwatchable. Like the crossbow in the Gladiator II trailer (I won't even go into the gladiator riding a rhino): In Asia, that crossbow is about 500 years into the future, and in Europe it's about 800 years off. Now, the Romans (3rd-4th c. AD) did have a belly-bow, which is similar, but, no... Long story short, I feel your pain!
Bob, when I was growing up my dad had a subscrition to Old WEst Magazine Loved it, Anyway, I grew up in Southern New Mexico. Are you familier with Eugene Rhodes' book "Tularosa?' There is some interesting stories there including the disappearance of Albert Fountain and son. There's enough in that book to make several movies . lol
I noticed that in the flashback scene of young Wyatt Earp practicing shooting BEFORE the Civil War, he is shooting a Colt 1873 SAA, that didn’t exist at the time.
Watching it, I kept laughing at them adding in a scene from Brisco County Jr.
I’m with you. Hats, it’s the main thing I Pay attention to when I watch a western. I collect hats. They would have been better putting Ike in a bowler than that hat. They put Billy the kid in a French connection pork pie hat in that new series. Goes against everything I have read about his sartorial preferences.
I figured the cowboys wore red sashes because they were huge fans of "The Cult" and saw Ian Astbury wear one😊
i remember true west magazine
I saw the show. It was entertaining, but some of it was a little hard to swallow.
Bob, thanks for the review. Just finished the series and in addition to what you mentioned I was disappointed in things related to where significant events were filmed and how some of these were represented, such as the killing of Curly Bill at Cottonwood Springs (which you did a great video on previously.) I can't see how finding a more historically accurate filming location( or filming at the actual site ) and an accurate representation of what actually happened there would have detrimentally affected the story.
Does this show have anything to do with the ''Cowboy War in Kansas - Feb 1887''? Wichita County Museum has published a photo of the key players in that Cowboy War. The photo includes Luke Short, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Bill Tilghman, Red Loomis, Jim Masterson, and Pat and Mike Sughrue. The Sughrue twins were my grandmothers uncles. They were lawmen. BTW, everyone in the photo had a hat.
I caught on to the lack of Sheriff Behan at the OK Coral fight. If I’m not mistaken doesn’t Behan approach the Earps before the gunfight and claim to have disarmed them? Then after the fight attempt an arrest and is told he mislead them? Or did that not happen that way? I couldn’t believe it wasn’t in there.
This was easier than cutting travelers fan belts
Thank you sir, the first thing I told my son was Ike was never a mob boss...far from it
I grew up in Queens in the 1950's. Other than watching westerns on TV (Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Range Rider etc) I have no western knowledge. Although I have lived in Oregon for 45 years I am still a city boy at heart. I thought that Ike Clanton's hat was very neat it did seemed to be much too modern for the 1880's and would have tit in with the TV westerns.that I grew up with
Bob isn’t Casey’s last name actually “Terfertiller”?
I have his book in my bookshelf downstairs and I’ll look for it to check for sure!
Also, I would add Allen Barra to your list of great Earp writers.
And of course the great Marshall Trimble!
Thanks!
Walt
No, it's Tefertiller. -BBB
I agree Bob, i hate when they wear or do something thats not true. It really bugs me.
Thanks for the rundown. I enjoyed the series and learned a lot. This is a dumb question I guess, but what kind of hat was the Johnny Megan character wearing?
Way off. Sheriff Behan.
Where was JOHNNY RINGO??
Documentary was interesting, but I missed anything about Ringo
Yes, good eye. -BBB
Hi Bob I’ve just watched the series on Netflix and as a keen aficionado of the old west there were just too many inaccuracies for me to fully enjoy it so I liked it but didn’t love it. Very best wishes. Jim Harrison. North Wales. UK.
Great video, BBB! Your moustache is looking swell, too. But what’s this graphic novel of the GOKC?! How did I miss this?
I think there's a photo in the book Frontier Marshall that shows Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson at a faro table. Wyatt is dealing and Bat is sitting to his right in the referee chair. Probably at his saloon in Tombstone. It's in my first edition copy. Have you seen it ? The caption mentions nothing about it being them but I swear it looks just like them. The hat Wyatt is wearing is the same type hat he's seen wearing in other photos. Check it out in case you haven't yet done so.
Your problem with the hats was much the same as my problem with the hats. I watched this also recently and right out of the chute there was an issue. I always have a problem watching many of the modern Western seeing wardrobe that is modern or hats that look like they were run over by a herd of cattle. Guns that don't match the time period. Saddles and tack that are modern and the list goes on. Having said that I think the show was pretty good putting the action in context with the National and local politics. Human nature hasn't changed much since then just clothing, weapons and transportation.