OT-The real Capt. W.F Call, Gus, and Deets - Lonesome Dove.

[rangerider7]

The 20th anniversary of Lonesome Dove was just on AMC this weekend. I had to watch it again. This is probably the 20th time. I thought some of you might want to see this photo made in San Antonio at the "Old Time Trail Driver's Assn." meeting. He is third from the left with the white beard. Capt. Charles Goodnight (Capt. Woodrow F. Call). Here's a good web-site to read. http://www.ejlanham.com/TheRealLonesomeDove.html



Oliver Loving (Capt. Augustus McCrae)



Bose Ikard (Joshua Deets)

[DixieBoy]

Rangerider - I watched it again too. During one of the little breaks they had in the showing it was mentioned that Goodnight was the inspiration for the cattle driving theme.

They sure don't make them like that any more. I loved seeing it on the air again. - DixieBoy

[Buck Elliott]

That's Capt. Woodrow F. CALL... And Capt. Augustus McCrae, &c...

Honestly.

[rangerider7]

Thanks for calling that to my eye. I was in to much of a hurry. My neighbor called me to come kill a big snake out back of their house. I just got back.

[mescalero1]

Why did your neighbor call you?

[rangerider7]

His eyes are bad and it was hard for him to see where the snake went after he went in to get his shotgun. He is 87 years old. We didn't find him so far.

[Buck Elliott]

The interesting thing about LONESOME DOVE is that it may be the best-plagiarized work of fiction ever co-opted...

Many parts of it are verbatim quoted from Goodnight's diaries, as found in David Dary's COWBOY CULTURE

Nothing else that McMurtry wrote rings so true as LD... When the story and plot development are left up to him, he falls flat on his face. (IMNSHO...)

[mescalero1]

Snake hunting and bad eyesight could go badly for the protaganist, it was good of you to help.

[deerwhacker444]

Good movie..! Did anybody else notice that the pigs had ear notches.?

[RIHMFIRE]

I too.. watched it for the umpteenth time...
Probably one of the best westerns ever made....

He looks pretty old and tired....
Probably from kick'n butt all his life...

I think The Searches is the best western ever..

[rangerider7]

It would be hard to pick between "Lonesome Dove" and "The Searchers". They are by far my favorites. Lonesome dove is quite a bit more authentic in it's guns and wearing attire through.

[JerryB]

Thanks for the picture and history. My wife and I think that the man second from the left looks like Gus sitting there.

[Hobie]

I am surprised that it has been 20 years since the series came out.

[rangerider7]

JerryB, that is George W. Saunders the head of "The Old Time Trail Drivers Assn."; Sorry, I am unable to remember who the other cattlemen were. I will see If I can find out. They should be recognized for their contributions to the cattle industry.

[flb]

We need more threads like this, can't get enough of the old west and it's lore. Those were some tough hombres, huh! In my childhood I listened to an old timer(ex sheriff) tell tale tales that I assumed were pure bs but found out late he was one tough sheriff in the old Colorado mining says. John McKissic was his name.

[1886]

I am surprised that it has been 20 years since the series came out.

20 years. My Lord, where does the time go? Thanks for the pics. 1886.

[AJMD429]

I am surprised that it has been 20 years since the series came out.

20 years. My Lord, where does the time go? Thanks for the pics. 1886.

I'm sad now.
That means them purty young gals ain't so young any more...

(...course I ain't either... )

[Pathfinder09]

Lonsome Dove is one of my favorites of all time!! Thanks Rangerider, great stuff.

[Streetstar]

Lonsome Dove is one of my favorites of all time!! Thanks Rangerider, great stuff.

x2 --- i've worked my way through most of the sequels and prequels now too. Streets of LAredo is the only one missing from my collection ------ the original is the best though so far

[66GTO]

Count me as a "Lonesome Dove" fan also. This post got me to digging around on the internet about Goodnight and Loving and I came across a mention of Tom Blasingame, who worked on Goodnight's JA ranch. Here is the link: http://www.ranches.org/tom_blasingame.htm and here is his picture:

A few quotes by the old cowboy:

"I went to school two or three winters. It was a country school way out. We had to walk about a mile and a half. I quit after a few years because I just couldn't study. Too many windows to look out and see covered wagons and people moving cattle through the country."

"I've read lots of books. Read the Bible a lot. I believe what the Bible says, but I don't reckon I'm religious. Even if I was, I couldn't go to church because I've got too much work to do."

"We lived outside all the time. We had our bedrolls rolled up in a tarp. If it was raining, we'd just cover up with our tarps and sit there. We'd bathe in the river. It was pretty cold sometimes. We lived on beef and pinto beans. The meat kept fine outdoors. It was a lot better than this Frigidaire meat, you bet."

"I left the JA after two years to go to Arizona. I wanted to get to wilder country. Everybody wore six-shooters out there. I didn't. I was just a kid. I never did see any gunfights, but I heard of 'em. They robbed a train while I was there and had a big shoot-out with the deputy sheriffs. One outlaw got his arm tore plum off with a high-powered Winchester. I seen him later at a dance. He'd dance with one arm."

The Texas outfits paid $30 a month and the Arizona outfits paid $50. If I'd a had any sense, I could have been rich today, if I'd saved my wages. I always spent it or loaned it to some renegade that never did aim to pay it back. They'd drink it up and gamble it away. But heck, you were working with them, and you didn't think nothin' about it much."

"There aren't too many young men who want to do this kind of work anymore. They want a good house, electricity and things like that. They think cowboyin' is a big hat and a rope and a party on Saturday night. There's not many left like me. I'll stay out here as long as I'm able to work. I don't know, though, I may try another ranch one of these days, a place where they have a little more cow work. That's all I'm fit for is roping cattle."

On December 27, 1989,after working for the JA for 73 years, Thomas Everett Blasingame climbed off his horse Ruidosa, stretched out on the grass, folded his arms across his chest and died.

That reminded me of the last verse of "Old Paint":

When I die, take my saddle from the wall
Place it on my old pony, lead him from his stall
Tie my bones to my saddle and turn our faces to the West
And we'll ride the prairie we love the best

[Buck Elliott]

Old Tom was truly one of the rare breed. Even Ian Tyson wrote a song about him...

It's a real pity there aren't a lot more like him in this world.

My hat's off to you, Tom.

[Travis Morgan]

I watched it too; couldn't get the fact that McMurtry also wrote "Brokeback Mountain". I switched to "Dharma and Greg", or something.

[20cows]

David Dary's COWBOY CULTURE

Another one I needed to know about. I just ordered an old library copy of the the first hardcover edition for less than $6, shipped! (ABE Books)

Thanks!

[Ysabel Kid]