Alias Soapy Smith

I have been working with my friend, Jeff Smith, to create a short video advertising his new book titled, "Alias Soapy Smith." Jeff is the great grandson of the infamous bunco artist known as Soapy Smith who lived and died in the late 1800's. I have a preliminary version done, but cannot yet show it as we have not yet received permission from all of the artists involved in displaying their wrok.

In the meantime, if you are a fan of old west history, you can order a copy of the book from www.klondikeresearch.com or www.soapysmith.net . I am up to Chapter 10 and I have to say it is one of the most detailed biographies you will ever read and it includes a lot of familiar names from the time period. Did you know that Bat Masterson helped to rig an election in Denver?

Check it out.

BB

Old West Social

I have just returned from Norco, CA where I attended a session of the Old West Social Gathering. Also there were Terry Ike Clanton and Jeff Soapy Smith. Ike, the EmCee, continued the theme of paranormal events in Tombstone started on his most recent episode of the Haunted Saloon. I spoke a bit about the possibility of Doc Holliday being buried in Griffin, Georgia rather than in Colorado as is widely believed. Soapy passed out a few of his books about J. R. Smith II, but there were no $50.00 bills inside as he promised. :)

Next week it is on to the Dragoon Mountains and then Tombstone for Clanton Days. See y'all there.

Sutter Mill Millionaire

I just put up another video. This one is about Sam Brannon, the man who started the 49er gold rush and then got rich selling supplies to the miners. I went to the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park up in Coloma to tape the old sawmill and ran into Ed Allen, a volunteer at the park, who told a few tales. This is one of them.

If you ever wondered where the notion of community property came from, watch this 5:38 video:

Sutter Mill Millionaire

Doc Holliday video is online.

My video of Holliday cousin Bill Dunn hosting a brief tour of the highlights in his Doc Holliday Museum is now online. I really enjoyed visiting with Bill who spent the entire day showing me around. He even took me to the gravesite where he is certain Doc and his father are actually buried there in Griffin. Check it out: Holliday Museum

I am about ready to start my next trip. I will be attending the monthly Old West Social Gathering in Norco, CA. Jeff Smith and Ike Clanton should be there. Then it's off to a weekend in Mesa, AZ for Old West Days and finally on to Tombstone for Clanton Days.

Have camera, will travel.

Doodle bug video is on line ...

You can now watch the doodle bug video at:

Doodle Bugs

Thanks, Jerry and Dixie.

New videos

As I am finally caught up on all my obligations, I now have time to work on all the video episodes that I have been putting aside for so long. I am nearly complete with Bungalo Bill's visit to Georgia, which includes a brief visit to Stone Mountain to view its enormous bas-relief of three Confederate heros, and a tour of the Doc Holliday Museum in Griffin. Many thanks to Bill Dunn, owner and curator of the museum who spent his whole day chatting with me and showing me around. He has a surprise or two for old west historians.

Also in the works is an old video of my friends Jerry and Dixie Brewer out at the Ringo grave site where Jerry shows me how to find a lion ant, or "doodle bug" in the dirt near the grave. I will have them both on YouTube shortly.

Meals on Wheels - wine country style

I went on another mini-adventure yesterday, this time with the wife along. We rode the Napa Valley Wine Train from Napa to St. Helena through the middle of California's wine country. We enjoyed a great four course meal and fabulous scenic views through the panoramic windows of the Vista Dome coach. A wonderful "three hour tour" that didn't leave us stranded on a desert island.

During the meal, I overheard a conversation from the next booth where a young lady described her encounter with vice president Joe Biden. Her words - "The whole time we were talking he kept looking down my blouse. He was a complete ass."

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