Calamity Jane

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 1:21 pm

Martha Canary, 1852-1903, ("Calamity Jane"), full-length portrait, seated with rifle as General Crook's scout c. 1895

rafter-7 · Post by **rafter-7** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 1:40 pm

and also did you know she was a "Lady of the evening" Must of did that when things got a little slow around Deadwood

She must of been quite a woman

^

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 2:18 pm

Neat old picture, thanks for posting

Doc Hudson · Post by **Doc Hudson** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 2:26 pm

I thought she was already in an asylum by 1895 from the effects of syphilis rotting her brain.

Yep a heck of a woman. Allegedly she could out-drink and out cuss any man in the Dakota Territory, and out-fignt most of them. She could skin a mule with whip or tongue along side the best (or worst as opinions vary).

But she was no "Lady of the Evening!" She might have beena a Sporting Girl but there was nothing ladylike about her.

GonnePhishin · Post by **GonnePhishin** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 2:35 pm

Wasn't she the woman who was with Wild Bill at the time of his demise?

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 2:43 pm

UncleBuck wrote:Wasn't she the woman who was with Wild Bill at the time of his demise?

She had a thing for him.....although he was married.
I tell ya one thing....she aint a looker

What was he thinking.....

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 2:58 pm

RIHMFIRE wrote:
UncleBuck wrote:Wasn't she the woman who was with Wild Bill at the time of his demise?

I tell ya one thing....she aint a looker
What was he thinking.....

Those could be some desperate days!

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:05 pm

Ellen Barkin was purtier...

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:12 pm

Buck Elliott wrote:Ellen Barkin was purtier...

Dang it Buck, you beat me to it!

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:22 pm

Is it a shadow or is that '73 cocked? Kinda looks like the hammer's back to the tang sight.

Yeah, she was a " 'beaut", alright. All around wild "woman".

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:27 pm

Mike D. wrote:Is it a shadow or is that '73 cocked? Kinda looks like the hammer's back to the tang sight.

Yeah, she was a " 'beaut", alright. All around wild "woman".

Mike, you're right, it's cocked.

Joe

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:37 pm

There are many pictures of Martha Jane Canary up here in Deadwood. She is buried right beside Wild Bill and I am of the firm Belief that is as close as she EVER got to him. They even lied about her date of death so it would match Wild Bill's. I suspect right now she probably doesn't look any worse for wear nor smell a bit worse than she did in the latter half of the 19TH century.
I will note here that she had a lot of guts and did not skeedaddle in the big epidemic in Deadwood that killed a lot of folks. She stayed and nursed lots of sick people. She may have had a face that would make a freight train take a dirt road but she was a standup woman in one hell of a tough place on the western frontier.
"....NOW I'VE SHOUTED FROM THE HIGHEST HILL,
EVEN TOLD THE GOLDEN DAFFODIL, THAT MY SECRET LOVE'S NO SECRET ANYMORE...."

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:51 pm

I suspect right now she probably doesn't look any worse for wear nor smell a bit worse than she did in the latter half of the 19TH century.

I promised myself I would not ask you how you're sure of this.......but?

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:57 pm

She is a dead ringer for a co-worker of mine.

Whit Spurzon · Post by **Whit Spurzon** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:37 pm

My favorite portrayal of Calamity Jane was done by Robin Weigert in series Deadwood.

Warning the flowery language is spiced up with a healthy dose of cuss words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKEZbgaqJWo

Doc Hudson · Post by **Doc Hudson** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:51 pm

BlaineG wrote:
I suspect right now she probably doesn't look any worse for wear nor smell a bit worse than she did in the latter half of the 19TH century.
I promised myself I would not ask you how you're sure of this.......but?

Hell, he bought her a drink the first time she rode into Deadwood.

Since she laready had the calamity all he ever did was drink and shoot with her.

Y'all know of course that after she lost what little mind she had Jane claimed to have een married to Wild Bill. I don't think anyone believed it.

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:56 pm

Doc Hudson wrote:
BlaineG wrote:
I suspect right now she probably doesn't look any worse for wear nor smell a bit worse than she did in the latter half of the 19TH century.
I promised myself I would not ask you how you're sure of this.......but?
Hell, he bought her a drink the first time she rode into Deadwood.

Since she laready had the calamity all he ever did was drink and shoot with her.

Y'all know of course that after she lost what little mind she had Jane claimed to have een married to Wild Bill. I don't think anyone believed it.

Especially Alice...

rafter-7 · Post by **rafter-7** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 7:00 pm

Doc Hudson wrote:I thought she was already in an asylum by 1895 from the effects of syphilis rotting her brain.

Yep a heck of a woman. Allegedly she could out-drink and out cuss any man in the Dakota Territory, and out-fignt most of them. She could skin a mule with whip or tongue along side the best (or worst as opinions vary).

But she was no "Lady of the Evening!" She might have beena a Sporting Girl but there was nothing ladylike about her.

OK you are right but I was afraid of Hobie deleteing me if I flat out called her a hooker!

But in her defence she was a whole lot more woman than most us could handle!!!!!

^

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:45 pm

Don't want to look. I like her description in the "J.T. Edson" series much better than real life!!!

Birdman · Post by **Birdman** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:04 pm

There is plenty of stories bouncing around about the ol gal. Who ever, or what ever she was, she sure led an interesting life.

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 2:09 am

rafter-7 wrote:But in her defence she was a whole lot more woman than most us could handle!!!!!

Ugh. That's a revolting thought.

Personally, I'm happy that modern society breeds a prettier stock of womenfolk.

Even then, I find many women not worth the effort of "handling".

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 8:53 am

learn stuff here every day. off to wikopedia I went. amazing what you can learn here.

HATCHETTJACK · Post by **HATCHETTJACK** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:05 am

i wouldnt kick her out of bed

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:14 am

I stand with Wiedner on this one.

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:33 pm

Her great-grand-niece hangs around Cody in the summer-time, telling her story...

Ellen Barkin was purtier...

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 3:48 pm

Now that I think about it, she reminds me of TERRY...with breasts.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 3:58 pm

Buck Elliott wrote:Her great-grand-niece hangs around Cody in the summer-time, telling her story...

Ellen Barkin was purtier...

Well of those who have portrayed her in film, Doris Day was by far the prettiest. While her version had nothing to do with reality, it did star Doris, and that's always a plus in my book.

Gun Smith · Post by **Gun Smith** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 6:36 pm

I love the "deadwood" TV series. The stilted Victorian language is fun to decipher. The terrible language I could do without.

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 6:51 pm

Terry Murbach wrote:She may have had a face that would make a freight train take a dirt road .....

LMAO!

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 6:53 pm

Doc Hudson wrote:
BlaineG wrote:
I suspect right now she probably doesn't look any worse for wear nor smell a bit worse than she did in the latter half of the 19TH century.
I promised myself I would not ask you how you're sure of this.......but?
Hell, he bought her a drink the first time she rode into Deadwood.

That's why you don't buy an unattractive woman a drink; you'll have to move in the middle of the night to get rid of her.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 7:43 pm

BlaineG wrote:Now that I think about it, she reminds me of TERRY...with breasts.

BLAINE!!! That was a mental picture I DID NOT NEED!!!

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 8:30 pm

I have NEVER gone to bed with an ugly woman.

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 8:40 pm

How many have you woken up with?

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 8:41 pm

mescalero1 wrote:I have NEVER gone to bed with an ugly woman.

How many have you woken up with?

Doc Hudson · Post by **Doc Hudson** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 9:10 pm

Travis Morgan wrote:
mescalero1 wrote:I have NEVER gone to bed with an ugly woman.
How many have you woken up with?

you beat me to it Travis!!

I was going to ask the same question! LOL

Doc Hudson · Post by **Doc Hudson** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 9:12 pm

Travis Morgan wrote:
Doc Hudson wrote:
BlaineG wrote:
I suspect right now she probably doesn't look any worse for wear nor smell a bit worse than she did in the latter half of the 19TH century.
I promised myself I would not ask you how you're sure of this.......but?
Hell, he bought her a drink the first time she rode into Deadwood.

That's why you don't buy an unattractive woman a drink; you'll have to move in the middle of the night to get rid of her.

Well, Terry did move off to Rapid City on pretty short notice. :O:

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 9:23 pm

I wish to invoke my fifth amendment rights, and refuse to answer that question on the grounds that it may
tend to incrimanate me.

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 9:33 pm

Doc Hudson wrote:
Travis Morgan wrote:
mescalero1 wrote:I have NEVER gone to bed with an ugly woman.
How many have you woken up with?

you beat me to it Travis!!

I was going to ask the same question! LOL

It was bound to be a horserace; I was typing as fast as I could!

Pisgah · Post by **Pisgah** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 9:53 pm

There's a novel about Calamity called "Buffalo Gals", I believe, and I'm pretty sure (but not positive) that Larry McMurtry wrote it. It is written from Calamity Jane's perspective. I found it a very entertaining read about someone who, whatever else she was, was an extraordinary person. Much to admire, and much that was very, very odd.

piller · Post by **piller** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:39 pm

She was a product of her times. I wouldn't mind having her as a backup on a dangerous hunt as she was reputed to be a very good shot and practically fearless. Besides, with her backing me up, I wouldn't have to look at her.

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 6:46 am

She might not have been the prettiest gal in town and she might have really stretched the meaning of the word "lady", but if she was as loyal as they made her out to be why wouldn't you want her on your side.
Seems to me, from some of the old pics I've seen, that not many women in those days were what we would class as "comely" today.
Hard women for a hard life, and besides, rotgut whiskey and lousy oil lamps would have hidden many a flaw at bedtime back then.

Doc Hudson · Post by **Doc Hudson** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 3:48 pm

You got that right! Some of those women loast several fights wit someone using an ugly stick.

Fact is Josephine Marcus Earp was one of the few women of the era I've seen who'd pass as a real beauty by today's standard.

bigbore442001 · Post by **bigbore442001** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:05 pm

The first trip I took out West I met a tour guide who showed me her grave. That was when I learned something that wasn't in the history books as to why she was called "Calamity". Yup. She was a product of a rougher time in our society.