August 2017 32 By Bob Roloff, “The Arizona Duuude” This is a quote from Frank James Outcalt from an interview in the Arizona Republic. “There wasn’t anything here I’d read about, I wanted to do something about it. People come here looking for the old west. They don’t find it”. We can relate to this by just looking around us today, but would you believe this quote was printed in the Arizona Republic in August 1970. Frank had just formed a western reenactment group in Scottsdale. Entertaining small parties at first but getting more well known and doing larger groups of people, and finally becoming “Guns For Hire Inc.” in 1968. Guns For Hire Inc, did a good business for over 30 years, performing western skits for local resorts, adding TV commercials, and movies along the way. The most popular place to see Guns For Hire shows was at Pinnacle Peak Patio (1957-2015) on weekends. This was years before Rawhide Western Town (1970-2005) was built on north Scottsdale Road. Guns For Hire was the first group to perform on Rawhide’s main street before they formed their own re-enactors group. The original crew of Guns For Hire, was Frank James Outcalt, Bill Krol, aka Paco, Ken McConnell, Randy Hill, and well known stuntman Spanky Spangler. Many more would come onboard over the years, myself included, Bob Roloff, now “The Arizona Duuude”. From 1969 thru today, I have many good memories of those times, working with Frank, Bill, Ken, Spanky, then Skip Dillon, & Don Burger. Also working with Walt Ryerson who would go on to become the first “Old Prospecter”, at Pinnacle Peak Patio. His son Kevin would go on to become a spiritual guide for the Hollywood actress Shirley McLane. Those were good times leaving me with good memories. So my hats off to everyone of you, reenacting the history of the old west. To anyone that promotes that Spirit of the old west, thank you. Tourists still come here from all over the world, looking for the American Old West, and some will find it because of you. As I traveled around Arizona for the Wild West Gazette I met many re-enactment groups and people from all walks of life, promoting the old west. So my answer to, is the old west leaving Arizona? NO, there are more western re-enactors groups now than ever. Not much on tv except the Westerns channel, but the old west comes alive on 200 radio stations nation wide, that carry “The Chronicle of the Old West”, by Sunny & Dakota Livesay. Magazines represent the old west like True West by Bob Boze Bell, just to mention two of my favorites. Festivals like the annual Festival of the West, hosted by Mary Brown and her loyal volunteers. Charlie LeSueur, AZ Official Western Movie Historian. Charlie has interviewed many western stars of the silver screen. You can see him as a regular speaker at the Museum of the West in Scottsdale, AZ. So after this last year of looking for the old west I can say, it’s still out there, you just can’t see it from the road. So thanks again to you all that come looking for the American West, and then smile as someone snaps a picture to take back home as proof that they found it. There are far too many people and places I would like to list here. “The Spirit of the Old West Alive”, was founded by LeeAnn Sharpe with the purpose of collecting oral histories. Her program honors people who have impacted our western experience. So remember, keep “The Spirit of the Old West Alive”. You can follow Bob Roloff on Facebook. IS THE OLD WEST LEAVING ARIZONA? Top Left: The most popular place to see Guns For Hire was at Pinnacle Peak Patio from 1957 to 2015 on the weekends. Bottom Left: Apacheland Movie Ranch, November 12, 1969. Left to right: Steve Yarborough, Rory Calhoun, and our author, Bob Roloff. Our author with Slim Pickens