b'THE ARIZONA DUUUDESPIRIT OF THE OLD WEST LIVES ONBy Bob Roloff, The Arizona DuuudeYou can follow Bob Roloff on Facebook.T wo years ago I wrote, Is theManchester, where it stayed for old west leaving Arizona? ve months. In 1889, Cody would This is a quote from Franktour Europe, meeting the Pope James Outcalt, from an interview in the Arizona Republic.on March 8, 1890. Cody set up There wasnt anything here that I\'d read about. I wantedan independent exhibition near to do something about it people come here looking forthe Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893, the Old West. They don\'t nd it. We can relate to this bywhich greatly contributed to his just looking around us today. But would you believe thispopularity in the United States. quote was printed in the Arizona Republic in August 1970?It vexed the promoters of the fair Frank had just formed a re-enactment group in Scottsdale.who had rejected his request to Entertaining small groups at rst but getting more wellparticipate.known and attracting corporate party business.Guns ForHire Inc. began in 1968 and did a good business for over 30Buffalo Bill\'s shows would years performing western skits at local resorts, adding T.V.influence many 20th century commercials and movies along the way.portrayals of the west in cinemaand literature. Cody died January Many more western re-enactment groups would start up10, 1917.After legal questions of around Arizona and the entire west. Tourists still come tothe burial site were settled, CodyC-Bar Productions are Arizona, looking for that American born Old West."was buried on Lookout Mountain, in Golden, Coloradoshooting their 3rd lm west of Denver, on June 3, 1917. On June 9, 1917 his showin a series. Producer and But lets go back, way back. In 1883, in the area of Northwas sold to Archer Banker of Salinas, Kansas for $105,000.director Mark Baugher Platte, Nebraska, Cody founded Buffalo Bill\'s Wild West"wrote this compelling a circus-like attraction that toured annually. In 1893, CodyAlthough this was the end of the large scale Wild Westwestern story in seven volumes. Go to YouTube or better changed the name to Buffalo Bill\'s Wild West and Congressshows, the western life stories would move on to a newyet Amazon.com/Prime-Video to enjoy the talents of of Rough Riders of the World." The show began with ageneration. Books by Zane Grey, Louis L\'Amour and othersPatrick Ball and Aaron Newton both graduates of Ball State parade on horseback, with participants from horse-culturewould appear on stage, screen, and in TV series whenwith honors in cinematography. They have a great future so groups that included US and other cowboys, Americantelevision took hold in the early fties. Television westernsbe sure to follow C-Bar. Indians, and performers from all over the world in theirpopularity would last from the early fties to the seventies, best attire. Visitors would see main events, feats of skill,with the long-running Gunsmoke, starring James ArnessBethany Braley, chairwoman of National Day of the staged races, and sideshows. Many historical western guresand Amanda Blake followed by Bonanza, Cheyenne, HaveCowboy is well on her way of getting each state to designate participated in the show. Sitting Bull appeared with a bandGun Will Travel, The Big Valley, 26 Men, and High Chaparral,the third Saturday of July as the official National Day of of 20 of his braves. to name only a few. The seventies would see a lot of thesethe Cowboy. See her article in this month\'s Arizona Realcanceled. To see why check out Charlie LeSueur\'s articlesCountry Magazine. These were not re-enactors playing a part. Cody\'s headlineeach month here in Arizona Real Country Magazine. Charlieperformers were well known in their own right. Annieis Arizona\'s official western movie historian, with a wealth ofTourists come here from all over the world looking for Oakley and her husband Frank Butler were sharpshooters.information and books on the subject. America\'s Old West, and they nd many re-enactment Another was Calamity Jane as a storyteller in 1893. groups that can bring them back to that once upon a time Performers re-enacted the riding of the Pony Express,Western movies too would enjoy a new beginning within the Old West moment. I mentioned the group Guns Indian attacks on wagon trains, and stagecoach robberies.Stage Coach in 1939. That movie is considered JohnFor Hire" because I was a member back in the late 1960s The show was said to end with a re-enactment of Custer\'sWayne\'s breakout role putting him on the path of westernand 1970s. In the years since then, as I traveled Arizona, Last Stand, in which Cody played Custer. But this is morestardom well into the sixties. The sixties would usher in aI met many groups ranging from those in Yuma at the legend than fact.new kind of western dubbed the spaghetti western thatterritorial prison to the OK Corral in Tombstone. Then, ofwas produced and directed by Clint Eastwood.Westerncourse, there was Old Tucson, where John Wayne lmed In 1887, Cody took the show to Great Britain in celebrationmovies also saw a slowdown but now in the 21st century,many of his westerns. In Prescott, the 1st territorial capital, of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It played inwe are seeing a comeback and we are viewing them inthe Prescott Regulators bring the London, and then in Birmingham and Safford neara whole new way. Netflix, AmazonOld West alive to visitors along Prime, and internet streaming allow usWhiskey Row. to take our westerns with us. I wonderwhat Buffalo Bill, Tim McCoy, HopOne of the most well-traveled Along Cassidy, or even Sitting Bullwestern groups is Dr. Buck would think of all this.Montgomery\'s Wild Bunch. His troupe is usually the headliner Locally here in Arizona we have manyat events throughout Arizona doing their part in keeping the Spirit ofand beyond. Dr. Bucks history the Old West alive. True West magazinegoes back to his time as a sign located in Cave Creek, published by Bobpainter, video and pinball Boze Bell enjoys a worldwide readership.artist, Disney animator, and Bob\'s great historical research andfreelance commercial artist, publication staff do an outstanding job ofplus Hollywood stuntman. He bringing you the Old West in print, withDr. Buck Montgomery\'s Wild Bunch then went on to be the general celebrated illustrations by Bob.manager of the Ponderosa Ranch of Bonanza TV fame, home of the Cartwrights, for Jim and Opal Brown of Western Destinations bringalmost 12 years. As general manager, Buck directed all of you a dude ranch experience to remember and theirthe gunghts and stunt work. He was also involved in event Tombstone Vigilantes Flying E Dude Ranch in Wickenburg is adding a biggerplanning, advertising, and media coordination.He always entertainment venue with a taste and feel of the Old West. was and still is a busy man. 8 September 2019'