Let’s revisit those beginning scenes in Dances With Wolves, when Lt. Dunbar (Kevin Costner) is lying, bootless, with an injured right foot in the...
Sawbones, Literally
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Inside History
Did cowboys on the trail prefer to smoke cigarettes, pipes or cigars?
Did cowboys on the trail prefer to smoke cigarettes, pipes or cigars? Chris Tramel Liberty, Tennessee Cigarettes. The real demand for tobacco came...
What is the Bascom Affair?
What is the Bascom Affair? David Salge Queen Creek, Arizona The Bascom Affair is a great example of arrogance, miscalculation and underestimating...
An old man who died in San Diego in 1948 claimed on his deathbed to be gunman “Buckskin” Frank Leslie.
An old man who died in San Diego in 1948 claimed on his deathbed to be gunman “Buckskin” Frank Leslie. Was he telling the truth? Tom Dancik...
Why did Gene Autry wear a double buscadero rig with only one holster?
Why did Gene Autry wear a double buscadero rig with only one holster? P. J. Williams Worcestershire, England Jim Dunham, director of special...
When did regular bathing become the norm in the Old West?
When did regular bathing become the norm in the Old West? Mike Franklin Poteet, Texas Good hygiene is a fairly recent concern. The mid-20th century...
Did Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders include any outlaws or lawmen?
Did Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders include any outlaws or lawmen? Jari Teilas Kotka, Finland The legendary captain of Company A, William O. “Buckey”...
The Original Boot Hill
In the streets of a Kansas prairie town on an evening in mid-1872, a familiar pattern unfolded-a crowd gathered, somebody fired a gun and somebody...
An Insane Treatment
A 1967 ABC episode of The Big Valley illustrated the institutional horrors faced by mentally ill persons and those “undesirables of troublemakers”...
How did people stay cool in the heat of the Old West?
How did people stay cool in the heat of the the Old West? Justin Loughman Rancho Santa Margarita, California Before air conditioning and backyard...
Were there Indian cowboys or gunmen in the Southwest?
Were there Indian cowboys or gunmen in the Southwest? Ron Thomas Phoenix, Arizona Yes, especially among the Apache. Their lands at San Carlos and...
How long did it take a letter to be delivered via Pony Express?
How long did it take a letter to be delivered via Pony Express? Stace Webb Wenatchee, Washington The Pony Express—which celebrates its 150th...