The so-called "Wild West Era" lasted for just 30 years, from 1865 to 1895. "Cowboys" were actually young boys hired by Ranchers to keep herds of cattle together. Barbed wire put them out of a job. Cowhands loaded their Six-Shooters with only 5 rounds, keeping an empty chamber under the hammer for safety. "Quick-Draw" duels were very rare. Bank robberies occurred only for a year's time, in Dayton, Ohio, never "out west". 25% of cowhands were Black, and were used to break in new horses and to help insetting up camps. Poker was seldom played in the Saloons, instead the regular game was "Faro". It was fairly common to have same-sex partners among the cowhands. In most Western towns, visitors were required to leave their firearms in the custody of the Sheriff while in town. Thus, Hollywood is far from accurate in depicting the Wild West! Hal
The James gang conducted most of their "business" in Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, and Arkansas. For a short time, Jesse and Frank went into hiding in Texas but their activities are not documented there. I sometimes wonder how the Jameses and three of the Youngers escaped Northfield Minnesota after the botched bank job there. At least two -- some writers say three -- gang members lay in the street, both ends of which were blocked by buckboards and citizens with shootin' irons. One Hollywood version has the five crashing thru a plate glass window and out the back but I can't imagine a horse being forced to do that. But escape they sure did. Later in a grove of trees the Youngers decided to stay there and be captured as at least one was shot up badly. Jesse and Frank were unscratched and rode off into the sunset for more adventures.
But without the good ole drive-in movies of the 50's, what would we have done without John Wayne, Randolph Scott, and...... Why would we go, have the popcorn, speakers on the window, and (excuse me) the good ole "necking, etc, " of our girlfriends? Those were the days. I wish they were back again. Come to think of it, maybe with all the social distancing, maybe they will.
Anyone really interested in this needs to visit THE WESTERN HERITAGE Museum in Oklahoma for a day then top it off with a day or 2 in Claremore Okla at the gun museum there cane see it in 1 day to big, you will never forget them or I sure did not. 1800 period firearms still new in the original boxes, Colt 1911 rubber band pistol all steel. New in box. Also the Marlin room with items still in original boxes also. The real clothing was very interesting also, an employee was cleaning an exibt I was reading and looking at and asked for some help for a minute and said could you hold this, the holster used in Richard Boone's Have gun will travel series the ORIGINAL sure was very well used looking.
Were those shootin' irons used in films actually capable of firing live ammo or was there a bar in the barrel? I too loved the TV/movie westerns 1940s-60s but was irritated when seeing no kickback from the guns. You'd think that an actor would be able to fake a recoil. I mean those 19th century Colt 44 and 45s had a mean recoil. Same with the Winchesters.
I can attest to the recoil of a 6-shooter using .45 caliber Long Colt cartridges! Here's mine, a Colt replica by Ruger:
NOTHING Hollywood produces is real, but people lap it up as though everything is documentary-accurate.
There is a bar in the middle of my gun barrel and it is used for "re-enactments" of the gunfights of The Old West. It is a 6-shooter, displayed on a wall plaque. Also have fake, but very real looking, bullets displayed next to it. It shoots a round-plastic cap that is attached to each empty shell that came with the gun. I bought the fake bullets separately. I also bought a replica of Matt Dillon's "Gunsmoke" U.S. Marshall Badge that is glued to the wall plaque also. On my replica, there is a part that flips out and the chamber rotates. The hammer can be cocked and trigger works. But, if a person looks down the barrel, they will see the steel block in the middle. Wife and I are both very, very big fans of not only the old Western TV shows and movies, and have some DVD's, but are big fans of the Real Old West. I remember watching a tv program, narrated by Kenny Rogers (now deceased) called The Real West.
We have been to both, the Western Heritage Museum, just west of Deadwood, S.D. and the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming. Both excellent museums about The Old West. A documentary, by PBS, on DVD, we have is..........America's Wild West. Tells the true stories of Annie Oakley, Billy The Kid, Buffalo Bill, Kit Carson, Wyatt Earp and others. I also have part of a wall dedicated to The Old West, of which I have pictures of: Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill, Cheyenne-Sioux Chiefs, Wild Bill Hickock and others.
Back in the late 80's, I was at a Celebrity Rodeo in Gardena, California. I met: Dan Haggerty (Grizzly Adams), Doug McClure and James Drury (The Virginian). Also on a horse was Richard Roundtree (Shaft fame). At another rodeo (PRCA sanctioned), I seen Linda Blair (The Exorcist) riding a horse and Team Penning. When my wife and I lived in So California, we went to an event called End of Trail in Norco, California. It was a wonderful experience! Authentic weapons, clothes/costumes on hangers, people walking around wearing them and an arena where they had a act of stagecoach get robbed and and another act of Indians attacking it. Horseback shooting skills also shown. Jane Seymour was also in the bleachers of the arena watching with her husband. Remember her? She was in Live and Let Die (James Bond movie) and played a doctor in Dr. Quinn-Medicine Woman.
Sorry, for the three replies in a row, but The Old West, whether it's real or not so real.............wife and I love! Finally, a topic I know a whole lot about!