Tom Barnes's Blog: Tom's 'RocktheTower' Blog - Posts Tagged "john"
Turn Left at Fremont and Walk to the OK Corral
Researching a Legend Part 3
North on Fourth and left on Fremont
I paused at the corner of Fourth and Allen and took out my 1881 street map to refresh my memory just to get a better idea of how it looked then. Some of the prominent landmarks I’d read about were still there some were not.
Walking north toward Fremont Street Hafford’s Corner Saloon was first on my right with the Brown Hotel, Gun Shop and News Stand farther along.
On the left was an Assayer’s office, Zeckendorf Building, a vacant lot, the New Orleans Restaurant and Saloon with Keatney’s Drug Store near the end of the block.
As you approach Fremont the US Post Office is the last building on the right then as you turn left into Fremont the first building on your right is the Courthouse. Some of the other buildings along that side of Fremont Street are the Exchange Building, Law Offices and Addie Bourland’s Dress Shop. On the left was the Papago Cash Store, which was under construction at the time of the shootout. Bauer’s Butcher Shop, Buck Fly’s Boarding House and Photographic Studio and then the infamous vacant lot where the shootout took place.
Once I got to the location I stepped off the yardage space that the gunfight was confined to. My immediate thoughts then turned to -- who had the best view of the fight? Of course it would be the combatants, but three of them were dead and the others you’d expect to give an account favoring their side.
Onlooker witnesses were of course possible. There was a vacant house on one side of the combat area; Buck Fly’s buildings were on the other. As I surveyed the area where the fight took place, I thought about the people that might have been looking out the windows of either of those buildings and chuckled. I bet they would have moved like a jackrabbit taking cover when the first shot rang out. And nobody in his right mind would have stayed by the window to watch the fight.
Then I looked at my map again and turned toward the other side of the street. According to the map Addie Bourland’s Dress Shop was adjacent to Buck Fly’s Boarding House and possibly far enough away from the action that a potential witness would not have been too frightened to watch the gunfight.
But today nothing remained of the dress shop, only a vacant lot. I walked across the street and took a position where the front window was probably located. And when I looked toward the vacant lot I was amazed at the view an observer would have had, a front row seat at the gunfight of the century. Was Addie Bourland at her shop window when all hell broke loose?
That was a question I didn’t need to answer right away although I’d heard a local historian talk about Addie Bourland’s testimony during the Spicer hearing. For me though, I would put a memo in my briefcase with all my other Tombstone notes that would be sorted out and corroborated later.
I had several more questions to ask about Tombstone but I was getting restless and decided to put them off until another visit.
Next stop Griffin, Georgia.
(To be continued)
‘The Goring Collection’
‘Could I please have my painting back?’ A personal note from Miriam.
Click here
http://tinyurl.com/nlm5of
Prologue Part 3
Nothing was spelled out about Jacob’s transfer until a meeting with his regular KGB contact; a heavyset man named Alexei. They always met in a park at the end of a promontory overlooking the Baltic Sea. It was there during one a routine meeting when Alexei explained, in great detail, the KGB's plan for Jacob’s defection to the West. The escape would be timed to coincide with the 1960 Rome Olympics. Jacob was given a job as an assistant gymnastics instructor, and following a formal request Natalie was allowed to accompany her brother to the West.
The defection was set to take place during an Aeroflot charter flight in route from Potsdam to Rome. They faked a hijacking, and the charter flight made an emergency landing at London’s Heathrow Airport. The plane had no sooner parked on the tarmac when Jacob and Natalie made their exit and asked for political asylum in the United States. Then following extensive questioning by British authorities they were granted their wish and turned over to the American CIA.
Jacob and Natalie Heimann were granted political asylum, taken to the United States, and spent the next two months answering questions at the CIA facility located in Langley, Virginia. The agency looked into Jacob's background and determined that he was a possible KGB plant. However, the timing was right, they needed someone from the Eastern bloc to penetrate the inner circle of the Communist Party on the West Coast. And in spite of some reservations about his possible double agent status, Jacob was hired as a West Coast operative.
The CIA offered Natalie a job with the outfit, but she let them know that she was not interested. Following their stay at Langley, Jacob and Natalie traveled to San Francisco by train and rented an apartment on Clay Street.
Jacob’s KGB contact, code-name David, setup a series of meetings to introduce him to members of the West Coast Communist establishment. The CIA assigned him an agent, code name Luke, and while walking his double agent tight rope Jacob judiciously passed along a stream of dubious information to Luke regarding the communist underground in America.
Jacob spoke perfect English, but with a European accent. And with his German and Russian language skills he quickly became a popular guest at liberal functions. Jacob accepted all the invitations he could work into his schedule and in the early days listened to a diatribe of complaints from the hate America crowd. However, he listened patiently, taking his time, and then with the help of his KGB handlers drew on his credits from Rostock University, Jacob applied for and was offered a professor's seat at the College of California at Oakland.
During the early years in America Jacob’s work with the CIA and KGB, lectures and diplomatic functions took him all over the west with Hollywood recurring most frequently on his schedule. Those Hollywood meetings were the most contentious, and oftentimes he found himself in the middle of black list controversies. Although the House Un-American Activities Committee meetings had taken place in the late forties and early fifties the fall out from those hearings was still evident in Hollywood into the late sixties.
Over time Natalie accepted the American lifestyle and even decided to become a citizen. She begged her brother to join her in the Citizenship Program. Jacob argued, but Natalie was persuasive, and eventually talked her brother into going along.
It was during that period when Natalie met and fell in love with Morton Bromfield, a young intern working at San Francisco General Hospital. When their romance progressed toward a wedding, it was decided that the ceremony would be held at Santa Barbara, the groom's hometown
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook
Did you ever sit at the keyboard with a complete feeling of inadequacy? Maybe it’s borderline writers block and we all catch that bug every now and then.
So for all of you that suffer that affliction, from time to time, I thought I’d repeat of an earlier Writers Notebook post
.
You have committed to a project, finished the basic research and character prep work and you’re all set to begin writing. Suddenly you’re overcome with anxiety – you’ve got a knot the size of a baseball in your stomach. Stop!
You are not alone. It might give you some comfort to know that John Steinbeck experienced some of those same anxious moments. In one of his letters written in February 1936, which was included in his ‘A Life in Letters’ Steinbeck said, ‘I have to start [writing:] and am scared to death as usual – miserable sick feeling of inadequacy.’ Then in the very next sentence he said, ‘I’ll love it once I get down to work.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
www.TomsHurricanes.com
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone The Life and Times of John Henry Holliday
North on Fourth and left on Fremont
I paused at the corner of Fourth and Allen and took out my 1881 street map to refresh my memory just to get a better idea of how it looked then. Some of the prominent landmarks I’d read about were still there some were not.
Walking north toward Fremont Street Hafford’s Corner Saloon was first on my right with the Brown Hotel, Gun Shop and News Stand farther along.
On the left was an Assayer’s office, Zeckendorf Building, a vacant lot, the New Orleans Restaurant and Saloon with Keatney’s Drug Store near the end of the block.
As you approach Fremont the US Post Office is the last building on the right then as you turn left into Fremont the first building on your right is the Courthouse. Some of the other buildings along that side of Fremont Street are the Exchange Building, Law Offices and Addie Bourland’s Dress Shop. On the left was the Papago Cash Store, which was under construction at the time of the shootout. Bauer’s Butcher Shop, Buck Fly’s Boarding House and Photographic Studio and then the infamous vacant lot where the shootout took place.
Once I got to the location I stepped off the yardage space that the gunfight was confined to. My immediate thoughts then turned to -- who had the best view of the fight? Of course it would be the combatants, but three of them were dead and the others you’d expect to give an account favoring their side.
Onlooker witnesses were of course possible. There was a vacant house on one side of the combat area; Buck Fly’s buildings were on the other. As I surveyed the area where the fight took place, I thought about the people that might have been looking out the windows of either of those buildings and chuckled. I bet they would have moved like a jackrabbit taking cover when the first shot rang out. And nobody in his right mind would have stayed by the window to watch the fight.
Then I looked at my map again and turned toward the other side of the street. According to the map Addie Bourland’s Dress Shop was adjacent to Buck Fly’s Boarding House and possibly far enough away from the action that a potential witness would not have been too frightened to watch the gunfight.
But today nothing remained of the dress shop, only a vacant lot. I walked across the street and took a position where the front window was probably located. And when I looked toward the vacant lot I was amazed at the view an observer would have had, a front row seat at the gunfight of the century. Was Addie Bourland at her shop window when all hell broke loose?
That was a question I didn’t need to answer right away although I’d heard a local historian talk about Addie Bourland’s testimony during the Spicer hearing. For me though, I would put a memo in my briefcase with all my other Tombstone notes that would be sorted out and corroborated later.
I had several more questions to ask about Tombstone but I was getting restless and decided to put them off until another visit.
Next stop Griffin, Georgia.
(To be continued)
‘The Goring Collection’
‘Could I please have my painting back?’ A personal note from Miriam.
Click here
http://tinyurl.com/nlm5of
Prologue Part 3
Nothing was spelled out about Jacob’s transfer until a meeting with his regular KGB contact; a heavyset man named Alexei. They always met in a park at the end of a promontory overlooking the Baltic Sea. It was there during one a routine meeting when Alexei explained, in great detail, the KGB's plan for Jacob’s defection to the West. The escape would be timed to coincide with the 1960 Rome Olympics. Jacob was given a job as an assistant gymnastics instructor, and following a formal request Natalie was allowed to accompany her brother to the West.
The defection was set to take place during an Aeroflot charter flight in route from Potsdam to Rome. They faked a hijacking, and the charter flight made an emergency landing at London’s Heathrow Airport. The plane had no sooner parked on the tarmac when Jacob and Natalie made their exit and asked for political asylum in the United States. Then following extensive questioning by British authorities they were granted their wish and turned over to the American CIA.
Jacob and Natalie Heimann were granted political asylum, taken to the United States, and spent the next two months answering questions at the CIA facility located in Langley, Virginia. The agency looked into Jacob's background and determined that he was a possible KGB plant. However, the timing was right, they needed someone from the Eastern bloc to penetrate the inner circle of the Communist Party on the West Coast. And in spite of some reservations about his possible double agent status, Jacob was hired as a West Coast operative.
The CIA offered Natalie a job with the outfit, but she let them know that she was not interested. Following their stay at Langley, Jacob and Natalie traveled to San Francisco by train and rented an apartment on Clay Street.
Jacob’s KGB contact, code-name David, setup a series of meetings to introduce him to members of the West Coast Communist establishment. The CIA assigned him an agent, code name Luke, and while walking his double agent tight rope Jacob judiciously passed along a stream of dubious information to Luke regarding the communist underground in America.
Jacob spoke perfect English, but with a European accent. And with his German and Russian language skills he quickly became a popular guest at liberal functions. Jacob accepted all the invitations he could work into his schedule and in the early days listened to a diatribe of complaints from the hate America crowd. However, he listened patiently, taking his time, and then with the help of his KGB handlers drew on his credits from Rostock University, Jacob applied for and was offered a professor's seat at the College of California at Oakland.
During the early years in America Jacob’s work with the CIA and KGB, lectures and diplomatic functions took him all over the west with Hollywood recurring most frequently on his schedule. Those Hollywood meetings were the most contentious, and oftentimes he found himself in the middle of black list controversies. Although the House Un-American Activities Committee meetings had taken place in the late forties and early fifties the fall out from those hearings was still evident in Hollywood into the late sixties.
Over time Natalie accepted the American lifestyle and even decided to become a citizen. She begged her brother to join her in the Citizenship Program. Jacob argued, but Natalie was persuasive, and eventually talked her brother into going along.
It was during that period when Natalie met and fell in love with Morton Bromfield, a young intern working at San Francisco General Hospital. When their romance progressed toward a wedding, it was decided that the ceremony would be held at Santa Barbara, the groom's hometown
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook
Did you ever sit at the keyboard with a complete feeling of inadequacy? Maybe it’s borderline writers block and we all catch that bug every now and then.
So for all of you that suffer that affliction, from time to time, I thought I’d repeat of an earlier Writers Notebook post
.
You have committed to a project, finished the basic research and character prep work and you’re all set to begin writing. Suddenly you’re overcome with anxiety – you’ve got a knot the size of a baseball in your stomach. Stop!
You are not alone. It might give you some comfort to know that John Steinbeck experienced some of those same anxious moments. In one of his letters written in February 1936, which was included in his ‘A Life in Letters’ Steinbeck said, ‘I have to start [writing:] and am scared to death as usual – miserable sick feeling of inadequacy.’ Then in the very next sentence he said, ‘I’ll love it once I get down to work.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
www.TomsHurricanes.com
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone The Life and Times of John Henry Holliday
And Now The Rest of The Story
Researching a Legend Part 13
A phrase Paul Harvey made famous, 'the rest of the story' fits into the research and writing of 'Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone' and made it possible to tell all of the Doc Holliday story.'
It was a storytelling technique I hadn't considered until a New York editor suggested that I might write a story about the story. It made perfect sense once I thought about it. Now this part of the story would be pure fiction, which would be in another time and another place. However, the content of that part of the story would deal with the facts as they had actually happened years before.
Over a period of time I decided what kind of information the reader needed to make a connection between Doc Holliday's world in the 1800's and the current story about the story.
Doc's romantic interest Mattie Holliday, became a nun Sister Mary Melanie and lived until 1937. I had already determined that Sister Melanie and Margaret Mitchell were cousins as well as close friends. And during my research into the book 'Gone With the Wind' I became aware that Ms. Mitchell had used Sister Melanie's stories about hers and John Henry's life as background in establishing some of her characters in the book.
It would be great if I could sit down and talk to Margaret Mitchell, but that was impossible since she was killed in a tragic automobile accident in 1949.
Why not go to the source, Sister Mary Melanie? An interview or a series of interviews with Sister Melanie and a young reporter. The characters in my story about the story would now be an elderly journalist and a writer/producer researching the Doc Holliday story.
(To be continued)
2009 Horse Racing update:
There was no Triple Crown winner this year but there was still plenty of excitement about racing.
Birdstone, 2004 winner of the Belmont and Travers Stakes sired two of the 2009 racing stars Mine That Bird winner of the Kentucky Derby and Summer Bird winner of the same races his sire won in 2004, the Belmont and Travers.
Then we have the super filly Rachel Alexandra winner of the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Haskell and Woodward.
Say what you might about the individual races this years crop of three year olds is about as good as they get. Triple Crown winner notwithstanding.
If you go back and screen the classic races you'll see that even in his losses Mine that Bird, a come from behind kind of runner, could have won the Preakness and the Belmont but for racing luck and the possibility that his throat problem already existed, but didn't show up until later. It was a throat and breathing problem that led to an operation to correct an entrapped epiglottis and forced him to withdraw from the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
The excitement in this years racing is a combination of things, Rachel Alexandra being a big part of it, but between Mine that Bird and Summer Bird a lot happened in the area of breeding. It isn't every year that a Birdstone comes along, that sire has now matched Count Fleet the 1943 Triple Crown winner in American Classic Victories.
Of course the 2009 season is not over yet, presently though there's some R & R due for Trainer Chip Woolley to let that broken leg mend and get off his crutches. And Mine that Bird's rehab from surgery.
Following that rest period Chip Wolley and Mine that Bird will be heading to Santa Anita for a start in the Goodwood over the synthetic surface on October 10th and later the five million Breeders Cup classic over that same course in November.
Rachel Alexandra has opted out of races over the synthetic track called Pro-Ride Surface for that reason only. And that makes me wonder how Mine that Bird and Summer Bird will handle that synthetic track. For the answer we'll just have to wait and see.
Writers Notebook:
'Nobody ever mastered any skill except through intensive, persistent and intelligent practice.' Norman Vincent Peale. The quote is from his famous book 'The Power of Positive Thinking.'
John Steinbeck mentions practice a number of times in 'Steinbeck: A Life in Letters.'
Here's one of his quotes. '...I want to start on my long novel -- the one I've been practicing for all my life. It is the Salinas Valley one. I think that if I'm not ready to write it, I never will be.'
Steinbeck was referring to 'East of Eden.'
Those are common sense reminders that some writers seem to ignor. Look at it this way, assuming you have some writing talent, how much better your work could be if you actually practiced and worked on your craft?
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com
A phrase Paul Harvey made famous, 'the rest of the story' fits into the research and writing of 'Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone' and made it possible to tell all of the Doc Holliday story.'
It was a storytelling technique I hadn't considered until a New York editor suggested that I might write a story about the story. It made perfect sense once I thought about it. Now this part of the story would be pure fiction, which would be in another time and another place. However, the content of that part of the story would deal with the facts as they had actually happened years before.
Over a period of time I decided what kind of information the reader needed to make a connection between Doc Holliday's world in the 1800's and the current story about the story.
Doc's romantic interest Mattie Holliday, became a nun Sister Mary Melanie and lived until 1937. I had already determined that Sister Melanie and Margaret Mitchell were cousins as well as close friends. And during my research into the book 'Gone With the Wind' I became aware that Ms. Mitchell had used Sister Melanie's stories about hers and John Henry's life as background in establishing some of her characters in the book.
It would be great if I could sit down and talk to Margaret Mitchell, but that was impossible since she was killed in a tragic automobile accident in 1949.
Why not go to the source, Sister Mary Melanie? An interview or a series of interviews with Sister Melanie and a young reporter. The characters in my story about the story would now be an elderly journalist and a writer/producer researching the Doc Holliday story.
(To be continued)
2009 Horse Racing update:
There was no Triple Crown winner this year but there was still plenty of excitement about racing.
Birdstone, 2004 winner of the Belmont and Travers Stakes sired two of the 2009 racing stars Mine That Bird winner of the Kentucky Derby and Summer Bird winner of the same races his sire won in 2004, the Belmont and Travers.
Then we have the super filly Rachel Alexandra winner of the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Haskell and Woodward.
Say what you might about the individual races this years crop of three year olds is about as good as they get. Triple Crown winner notwithstanding.
If you go back and screen the classic races you'll see that even in his losses Mine that Bird, a come from behind kind of runner, could have won the Preakness and the Belmont but for racing luck and the possibility that his throat problem already existed, but didn't show up until later. It was a throat and breathing problem that led to an operation to correct an entrapped epiglottis and forced him to withdraw from the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
The excitement in this years racing is a combination of things, Rachel Alexandra being a big part of it, but between Mine that Bird and Summer Bird a lot happened in the area of breeding. It isn't every year that a Birdstone comes along, that sire has now matched Count Fleet the 1943 Triple Crown winner in American Classic Victories.
Of course the 2009 season is not over yet, presently though there's some R & R due for Trainer Chip Woolley to let that broken leg mend and get off his crutches. And Mine that Bird's rehab from surgery.
Following that rest period Chip Wolley and Mine that Bird will be heading to Santa Anita for a start in the Goodwood over the synthetic surface on October 10th and later the five million Breeders Cup classic over that same course in November.
Rachel Alexandra has opted out of races over the synthetic track called Pro-Ride Surface for that reason only. And that makes me wonder how Mine that Bird and Summer Bird will handle that synthetic track. For the answer we'll just have to wait and see.
Writers Notebook:
'Nobody ever mastered any skill except through intensive, persistent and intelligent practice.' Norman Vincent Peale. The quote is from his famous book 'The Power of Positive Thinking.'
John Steinbeck mentions practice a number of times in 'Steinbeck: A Life in Letters.'
Here's one of his quotes. '...I want to start on my long novel -- the one I've been practicing for all my life. It is the Salinas Valley one. I think that if I'm not ready to write it, I never will be.'
Steinbeck was referring to 'East of Eden.'
Those are common sense reminders that some writers seem to ignor. Look at it this way, assuming you have some writing talent, how much better your work could be if you actually practiced and worked on your craft?
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com
Jacob's Turn and the Tombstone Lawyers
'We hold these truths to be self evident...'
Excerpt from 'The Goring Collection'
Jacob Meyers, a short balding man in his early seventies sat, before his living room fireplace, waiting for the others to arrive. The apartment overlooked the East River and the living room was comfortably furnished with wall paintings; a soft leather couch, chairs, and a large coffee table made from the hatch cover of a World II Liberty ship. Jacob glanced out the window and saw a small sailboat flying a large American flag and tacking to the wind. That flag somehow reminded him of his turn and how it all came together. It must have been during that prescribed course in citizenship, which turned out to be nothing more than an appetizer. For when he finished those studies, he began reading biographies on the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Federalist papers. Jacob believed that the most profound difference in his thinking was provided by a short phrase written by Thomas Jefferson into the Declaration of Independence. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’
And while those words from the Declaration of Independence rang loud and clear, it seemed to Jacob that the words of Karl Marx were now sounding hollow and thin.' (To be continued)
Cochise County political ring Fight's Back.
The ring and their cowboy's lost a round at the OK Corral, but they were by no means ready to concede defeat.
Coroner H.M. Matthews called for an inquest to begin Friday, Oct. 28th.
At the same hour the coroner's jury was being impaneled, ring lawyers filed papers with the Cochise County Court demanding the arrest of Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday. Charging them with the wanton and willful killing of Frank McLowry, Tom McLowry and Billy Clanton.
Word leaked out regarding the ring's intentions and the would-be defendants began making plans of their own. Bogus charges or not, they had to be legally countered. Wyatt's personal attorney, Tom Fitch, hired their defense team. He selected Judge T. J. Drum to work with him in the courtroom and the law firm of Howard and Street agreed to do the legal research. That firm would also coordinate the day-to-day legwork of rounding up and interviewing potential witnesses.
Col. William Herring, a staunch supporter of law and order volunteered to work with the defense team on their overall strategy.
Doc and Wyatt attended a Saturday breakfast meeting with their lawyers at the Melrose Restaurant on Fremont Street. The group had just assembled in a small banquet room when Tom Fitch gestured for everyone to take a seat. He removed a letter sized paper from his pocket, cleared his throat, smiled and began to read, "Goodrich and Goodrich, Campbell and Robinson, Smith and Colby, J.M. Murphy, District Attorney Lyttleton Price, his chief assistant Earl Smith and that's just the ones on record."
“What's that suppose to mean, Tom?" Wyatt drawled.
"That's the group of attorneys the ring hired to prosecute a case called -- Arizona Territory Vs Earps and Holliday."
"Good God Almighty ... they do mean business,” Doc declared." Then he frowned and sipped his coffee. But he was heartened when he looked around the table and realized that there was not the slightest sign of intimidation on the faces of their lawyers.
Col. Herring leaned in and talked in a manner that would exclude the walls from hearing. "There is no way in hell that Ike Clanton could finance that gaggle of legal talent. It appears to me that the Cochise County political ring is still backing their cowboys.”
A good part of the meeting was taken up with Doc and Wyatt giving their accounts of the shoot-out. Doc did not volunteer that his shot to Billy Clanton's wrist might have been the opening round.
Col. Herring made it clear to the defendants that the prosecution would likely try and have them arrested.
T.J. Drum gave a report he had gotten from the coroner's inquest. And how the bias was running against the Earps and Holliday. However, the coroner was not swayed by politics and refused to add inflammatory language to his report. Dr. Matthews simply stated that Tom and Frank McLowry and Billy Clanton died from gunshot wounds. (To be continued)
Santa Anita and the Breeders Cup
Not since the days of Seabuscuit has more attention been focused on the Santa Anita race track and it's not really so much about horses as the track surface the horses will run over.
My idea to do a pro and con post on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride racing surface didn't pan out. Why? Because the only real opposition to the synthetic surface to go on record is Jess Jackson, a co owner of Rachel Alexandra. He has indicated that the only reason the super filly won't be running during the Breeders Cup series is because of the track surface.
Most racing fans, including myself, would like to see the filly run in the Breeders Cup, but apparently that is not to be.
However, at the present time we have two of the top 3 year olds Mine that Bird and Summer Bird (half brothers) that are expected to square off against each other in the 5 million dollar classic.And don't forget the added competition coming in from Europe. They'll give you handicappers a few anxious moments, but like they say, that's horse racing.
In the meantime I'll pass along what ever tid bits of information I come across regarding the run up to the Breeders Cup.
Writers Notebook:
You have committed to a project, finished the basic research and character prep work and you’re all set to begin writing. Suddenly you’re overcome with anxiety – you’ve got a knot the size of a baseball in your stomach. Stop!
You are not alone. It might give you some comfort to know that John Steinbeck experienced some of those same anxious moments. In one of his letters written in February 1936, which was included in his ‘A Life in Letters’ Steinbeck said, ‘I have to start [writing:] and am scared to death as usual – miserable sick feeling of inadequacy.’ Then in the very next sentence he said, ‘I’ll love it once I get down to work.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter. Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com
Excerpt from 'The Goring Collection'
Jacob Meyers, a short balding man in his early seventies sat, before his living room fireplace, waiting for the others to arrive. The apartment overlooked the East River and the living room was comfortably furnished with wall paintings; a soft leather couch, chairs, and a large coffee table made from the hatch cover of a World II Liberty ship. Jacob glanced out the window and saw a small sailboat flying a large American flag and tacking to the wind. That flag somehow reminded him of his turn and how it all came together. It must have been during that prescribed course in citizenship, which turned out to be nothing more than an appetizer. For when he finished those studies, he began reading biographies on the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Federalist papers. Jacob believed that the most profound difference in his thinking was provided by a short phrase written by Thomas Jefferson into the Declaration of Independence. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’
And while those words from the Declaration of Independence rang loud and clear, it seemed to Jacob that the words of Karl Marx were now sounding hollow and thin.' (To be continued)
Cochise County political ring Fight's Back.
The ring and their cowboy's lost a round at the OK Corral, but they were by no means ready to concede defeat.
Coroner H.M. Matthews called for an inquest to begin Friday, Oct. 28th.
At the same hour the coroner's jury was being impaneled, ring lawyers filed papers with the Cochise County Court demanding the arrest of Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday. Charging them with the wanton and willful killing of Frank McLowry, Tom McLowry and Billy Clanton.
Word leaked out regarding the ring's intentions and the would-be defendants began making plans of their own. Bogus charges or not, they had to be legally countered. Wyatt's personal attorney, Tom Fitch, hired their defense team. He selected Judge T. J. Drum to work with him in the courtroom and the law firm of Howard and Street agreed to do the legal research. That firm would also coordinate the day-to-day legwork of rounding up and interviewing potential witnesses.
Col. William Herring, a staunch supporter of law and order volunteered to work with the defense team on their overall strategy.
Doc and Wyatt attended a Saturday breakfast meeting with their lawyers at the Melrose Restaurant on Fremont Street. The group had just assembled in a small banquet room when Tom Fitch gestured for everyone to take a seat. He removed a letter sized paper from his pocket, cleared his throat, smiled and began to read, "Goodrich and Goodrich, Campbell and Robinson, Smith and Colby, J.M. Murphy, District Attorney Lyttleton Price, his chief assistant Earl Smith and that's just the ones on record."
“What's that suppose to mean, Tom?" Wyatt drawled.
"That's the group of attorneys the ring hired to prosecute a case called -- Arizona Territory Vs Earps and Holliday."
"Good God Almighty ... they do mean business,” Doc declared." Then he frowned and sipped his coffee. But he was heartened when he looked around the table and realized that there was not the slightest sign of intimidation on the faces of their lawyers.
Col. Herring leaned in and talked in a manner that would exclude the walls from hearing. "There is no way in hell that Ike Clanton could finance that gaggle of legal talent. It appears to me that the Cochise County political ring is still backing their cowboys.”
A good part of the meeting was taken up with Doc and Wyatt giving their accounts of the shoot-out. Doc did not volunteer that his shot to Billy Clanton's wrist might have been the opening round.
Col. Herring made it clear to the defendants that the prosecution would likely try and have them arrested.
T.J. Drum gave a report he had gotten from the coroner's inquest. And how the bias was running against the Earps and Holliday. However, the coroner was not swayed by politics and refused to add inflammatory language to his report. Dr. Matthews simply stated that Tom and Frank McLowry and Billy Clanton died from gunshot wounds. (To be continued)
Santa Anita and the Breeders Cup
Not since the days of Seabuscuit has more attention been focused on the Santa Anita race track and it's not really so much about horses as the track surface the horses will run over.
My idea to do a pro and con post on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride racing surface didn't pan out. Why? Because the only real opposition to the synthetic surface to go on record is Jess Jackson, a co owner of Rachel Alexandra. He has indicated that the only reason the super filly won't be running during the Breeders Cup series is because of the track surface.
Most racing fans, including myself, would like to see the filly run in the Breeders Cup, but apparently that is not to be.
However, at the present time we have two of the top 3 year olds Mine that Bird and Summer Bird (half brothers) that are expected to square off against each other in the 5 million dollar classic.And don't forget the added competition coming in from Europe. They'll give you handicappers a few anxious moments, but like they say, that's horse racing.
In the meantime I'll pass along what ever tid bits of information I come across regarding the run up to the Breeders Cup.
Writers Notebook:
You have committed to a project, finished the basic research and character prep work and you’re all set to begin writing. Suddenly you’re overcome with anxiety – you’ve got a knot the size of a baseball in your stomach. Stop!
You are not alone. It might give you some comfort to know that John Steinbeck experienced some of those same anxious moments. In one of his letters written in February 1936, which was included in his ‘A Life in Letters’ Steinbeck said, ‘I have to start [writing:] and am scared to death as usual – miserable sick feeling of inadequacy.’ Then in the very next sentence he said, ‘I’ll love it once I get down to work.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter. Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com
D.W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation
This Week:
Let's Go to the Movies
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone – Excerpt Doc confronts his lawyer.
Writers Notebook: John Steinbeck – Anxious moments.
Let's Go to the Movies
Hollywood Silents 1914-1929 Part 5
D.W. Griffith's broad story concept for Birth of a Nation was not the only new innovation he had planned for the film. Working with his long time cameraman Billy Bitzer they started from day one of the production to implement film making concepts never used before. Camera angles, jump cuts, closeups, fades, lighting effects, and many other technical effects that were unheard of then, but common place today.
Griffith had hired a large cast that was about as talented and versatile as any cast you'll ever find in motion picture history.
The names given star billing in Variety's review were Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Mae Marsh, Lillian Gish, Donald Crisp and Raoul Walsh. The cast list is long and here are a few more names that would become familiar to the public in the next few years, some in front of the camera, others back of the camera. Wallace Reid, Monte Blue, Josephine Crowell, John Ford, William Freeman, Howard Gaye, Joseph Henaberry, Jennifer Lee, Elmo Lincoln, Walter Long, Bessie Love and Erich Von Stroheim among them.
The shooting schedule took up the last half of 1914 and the costs mounted to more than $112,000.00 – Variety reported it to be $300,000.00.
Any producer today will tell you that the pockets never run deep enough to satisfy everyone and so it was with Birth of a Nation.
The original financing was put up by the Mutual Company, but as weeks ran into months without an end in sight and costs continuing to rise the Mutual directors instructed their president Harry Aitken to cancel the companies participation or assume the investment himself. Aitken did the latter, and he along with Griffith and the Reverend Dixon, the writer of the book, formed the Epoch Producing Company to handle this one exceptional film. It was no easy task and the group had to scramble to round up money in order to make payroll.
But they did complete the picture and once the editing was finished and titles set in place they had a print made and began showing the film to selected audiences in order to get feedback. There was some grumbling about the length, and others had political questions about some of the scenes depicting the post Civil War Reconstruction period. However, that being said, there was an overwhelming majority of positive feedback and enthusiasm for the film.
Griffith had an unprecedented film in size and scope and that alone set up a problem. The picture took up twelve reels and that begged the question for distribution, who could they get to distribute the film? The picture wouldn't fit into any of the regular channels of distribution. How could anyone put up front money at risk to pay the kind of rent they would have to charge?
To solve the short term problem their company Epoch would have to take charge. They rented Clune's Auditorium a 2,600 seat house in Los Angeles. And on the night of February 3, 1915 D.W. Griffith's film Birth of a Nation had its World Premiere.
The audience went crazy over the film and from that opening night Birth of A Nation took on a life of its own.
The show business magazine Variety reviewed the film after its New York opening at the Liberty Theater on March 3, 1915 and their reviewer pronounced Birth of a Nation as the last word in picture making.
'...The story involves: The Camerons of the south and the Stonemans of the north and Silas Lynch, the mulatto Lieutenant-Governor; the opening and finish of the Civil War; the scenes attendant upon the assassination of Abraham Lincoln; the period of carpet-bagging days and Union reconstruction following Lee's surrender; and the terrorizing of the Southern whites by the newly freed blacks and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan . All these including some wonderfully well staged battle scenes taken at night are realistically; graphically and most superbly depicted by the camera.'
'...The battle scenes are wonderfully conceived, the departure of the soldiers splendidly arranged, and the death of the famous martyred president deftly and ably handled. Henry Walthall makes a manly, straightforward character of the 'Little Colonel' and handles his big scenes most effectively. Mae Marsh as the pet sister does some remarkable work as the little girl who loves the South and loves her brother. Ralph Lewis is splendid as the leader of the House who helps Silas Lynch rise to power. George Siegmann gets all there can be gotten out of the despicable character of Lynch. Walter Long makes Gus, the renegade negro, a hated much despised type, his acting and makeup being complete.'
'The Birth of a Nation is said to have cost $300.000.00.'
(To be continued)
'Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone' Excerpt:
'Doc was alert to everything that was going on in the courtroom and after one week of testimony he was not pleased with what he had seen. Some of the facts were coming out, but they were being shaped by the prosecution. He felt that the defense team needed to take a more aggressive stance. And as they were leaving the courthouse Doc collared T. J. Drum and said, "I need to talk to you, T. J."
The chubby lawyer gave Doc a questioning look. "Why not stop someplace and have a cup of coffee."
Doc rolled a cigarette, lit it and said, "No, I can say what's on my mind while we walk to the hotel."
"All right," T. J. shook his head. "Sounds ominous."
"No, but it is important. At least it is to Wyatt and his brothers and me," Doc drawled. "It's something that I believe is missing in our defense."
T.J. Drum scratched his head. "I don't understand."
"That's exactly what I'm getting at." Doc grinned at his own thought; maybe T.J’s word "ominous" was a fair assessment. Then he said anxiously, "They are about to hang us -- and from what I can see in the courtroom, you and Tom Fitch are either sleepwalking or you are just not taking this hearing seriously.”
"Now, Doc, that isn't fair," T. J., sputtered.
"I didn't say it to be fair. The prosecution is not being fair. They have a lineup of witnesses that are not only obscuring the facts, but about half of their testimony has been outright lies. And it seems to me, that you and Tom are willing to let those lies stand as truth." Doc hesitated, and then lashed out, "When, in God's name, do you plan to challenge them?"
T. J. was visibly shaken, but took some time thinking over his position before saying, "Well, our strategy is to round up strong witnesses and mount our main defense based on their testimony." They walked some distance in silence before T. J. continued, "You know something, Doc. You have given me an idea. Maybe we should be treating this hearing like a trial and be more aggressive.”
Doc took a deep breath. "Sounds good to me, T. J."
"Doc, if your plan was to stoke up the fire," the lawyer said jovially, "then by golly you might have just succeeded."
They smiled, shook hands and walked into the hotel where they joined Wyatt and his older brother James, Tom Fitch and Colonel Herring in Virgil Earp's room. The defense strategy meeting was already in progress.
Virgil, propped himself up on one elbow and said with some anxiety, "We just found out a brother of the McLowry's got into town last night and it sounds like he's gonna cause some trouble."
Wyatt asked, "What kind of trouble, Virg?"
"Will McLowry is a lawyer. Came all the way out from Ft. Worth and he's done huddled with Ike Clanton's attorneys." Virg looked at Wyatt with a pained expression. "From what we know, he's slick. First thing he wants to do is revoke the bail on you and Doc."
"Can he do that?" Doc asked.
Col. Herring scratched his head. "Don't make any bets either way."
During that meeting the decision was also made that Virgil and Wyatt would testify, Doc and Morg would not. Doc was sure that he would make a good witness. But on the other hand he was aware that the prosecution could make mincemeat out of the gossip and rumors that his reputation was built on.'
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
You have committed to a project, finished the basic research and character prep work and you’re all set to begin writing. Suddenly you’re overcome with anxiety – you’ve got a knot the size of a baseball in your stomach. Stop!
You are not alone. It might give you some comfort to know that John Steinbeck experienced some of those same anxious moments. In one of his letters written in February 1936, which was included in his ‘A Life in Letters’ Steinbeck said, ‘I have to start [writing:] and am scared to death as usual – miserable sick feeling of inadequacy.’ Then in the very next sentence he said, ‘I’ll love it once I get down to work.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com
Let's Go to the Movies
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone – Excerpt Doc confronts his lawyer.
Writers Notebook: John Steinbeck – Anxious moments.
Let's Go to the Movies
Hollywood Silents 1914-1929 Part 5
D.W. Griffith's broad story concept for Birth of a Nation was not the only new innovation he had planned for the film. Working with his long time cameraman Billy Bitzer they started from day one of the production to implement film making concepts never used before. Camera angles, jump cuts, closeups, fades, lighting effects, and many other technical effects that were unheard of then, but common place today.
Griffith had hired a large cast that was about as talented and versatile as any cast you'll ever find in motion picture history.
The names given star billing in Variety's review were Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Mae Marsh, Lillian Gish, Donald Crisp and Raoul Walsh. The cast list is long and here are a few more names that would become familiar to the public in the next few years, some in front of the camera, others back of the camera. Wallace Reid, Monte Blue, Josephine Crowell, John Ford, William Freeman, Howard Gaye, Joseph Henaberry, Jennifer Lee, Elmo Lincoln, Walter Long, Bessie Love and Erich Von Stroheim among them.
The shooting schedule took up the last half of 1914 and the costs mounted to more than $112,000.00 – Variety reported it to be $300,000.00.
Any producer today will tell you that the pockets never run deep enough to satisfy everyone and so it was with Birth of a Nation.
The original financing was put up by the Mutual Company, but as weeks ran into months without an end in sight and costs continuing to rise the Mutual directors instructed their president Harry Aitken to cancel the companies participation or assume the investment himself. Aitken did the latter, and he along with Griffith and the Reverend Dixon, the writer of the book, formed the Epoch Producing Company to handle this one exceptional film. It was no easy task and the group had to scramble to round up money in order to make payroll.
But they did complete the picture and once the editing was finished and titles set in place they had a print made and began showing the film to selected audiences in order to get feedback. There was some grumbling about the length, and others had political questions about some of the scenes depicting the post Civil War Reconstruction period. However, that being said, there was an overwhelming majority of positive feedback and enthusiasm for the film.
Griffith had an unprecedented film in size and scope and that alone set up a problem. The picture took up twelve reels and that begged the question for distribution, who could they get to distribute the film? The picture wouldn't fit into any of the regular channels of distribution. How could anyone put up front money at risk to pay the kind of rent they would have to charge?
To solve the short term problem their company Epoch would have to take charge. They rented Clune's Auditorium a 2,600 seat house in Los Angeles. And on the night of February 3, 1915 D.W. Griffith's film Birth of a Nation had its World Premiere.
The audience went crazy over the film and from that opening night Birth of A Nation took on a life of its own.
The show business magazine Variety reviewed the film after its New York opening at the Liberty Theater on March 3, 1915 and their reviewer pronounced Birth of a Nation as the last word in picture making.
'...The story involves: The Camerons of the south and the Stonemans of the north and Silas Lynch, the mulatto Lieutenant-Governor; the opening and finish of the Civil War; the scenes attendant upon the assassination of Abraham Lincoln; the period of carpet-bagging days and Union reconstruction following Lee's surrender; and the terrorizing of the Southern whites by the newly freed blacks and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan . All these including some wonderfully well staged battle scenes taken at night are realistically; graphically and most superbly depicted by the camera.'
'...The battle scenes are wonderfully conceived, the departure of the soldiers splendidly arranged, and the death of the famous martyred president deftly and ably handled. Henry Walthall makes a manly, straightforward character of the 'Little Colonel' and handles his big scenes most effectively. Mae Marsh as the pet sister does some remarkable work as the little girl who loves the South and loves her brother. Ralph Lewis is splendid as the leader of the House who helps Silas Lynch rise to power. George Siegmann gets all there can be gotten out of the despicable character of Lynch. Walter Long makes Gus, the renegade negro, a hated much despised type, his acting and makeup being complete.'
'The Birth of a Nation is said to have cost $300.000.00.'
(To be continued)
'Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone' Excerpt:
'Doc was alert to everything that was going on in the courtroom and after one week of testimony he was not pleased with what he had seen. Some of the facts were coming out, but they were being shaped by the prosecution. He felt that the defense team needed to take a more aggressive stance. And as they were leaving the courthouse Doc collared T. J. Drum and said, "I need to talk to you, T. J."
The chubby lawyer gave Doc a questioning look. "Why not stop someplace and have a cup of coffee."
Doc rolled a cigarette, lit it and said, "No, I can say what's on my mind while we walk to the hotel."
"All right," T. J. shook his head. "Sounds ominous."
"No, but it is important. At least it is to Wyatt and his brothers and me," Doc drawled. "It's something that I believe is missing in our defense."
T.J. Drum scratched his head. "I don't understand."
"That's exactly what I'm getting at." Doc grinned at his own thought; maybe T.J’s word "ominous" was a fair assessment. Then he said anxiously, "They are about to hang us -- and from what I can see in the courtroom, you and Tom Fitch are either sleepwalking or you are just not taking this hearing seriously.”
"Now, Doc, that isn't fair," T. J., sputtered.
"I didn't say it to be fair. The prosecution is not being fair. They have a lineup of witnesses that are not only obscuring the facts, but about half of their testimony has been outright lies. And it seems to me, that you and Tom are willing to let those lies stand as truth." Doc hesitated, and then lashed out, "When, in God's name, do you plan to challenge them?"
T. J. was visibly shaken, but took some time thinking over his position before saying, "Well, our strategy is to round up strong witnesses and mount our main defense based on their testimony." They walked some distance in silence before T. J. continued, "You know something, Doc. You have given me an idea. Maybe we should be treating this hearing like a trial and be more aggressive.”
Doc took a deep breath. "Sounds good to me, T. J."
"Doc, if your plan was to stoke up the fire," the lawyer said jovially, "then by golly you might have just succeeded."
They smiled, shook hands and walked into the hotel where they joined Wyatt and his older brother James, Tom Fitch and Colonel Herring in Virgil Earp's room. The defense strategy meeting was already in progress.
Virgil, propped himself up on one elbow and said with some anxiety, "We just found out a brother of the McLowry's got into town last night and it sounds like he's gonna cause some trouble."
Wyatt asked, "What kind of trouble, Virg?"
"Will McLowry is a lawyer. Came all the way out from Ft. Worth and he's done huddled with Ike Clanton's attorneys." Virg looked at Wyatt with a pained expression. "From what we know, he's slick. First thing he wants to do is revoke the bail on you and Doc."
"Can he do that?" Doc asked.
Col. Herring scratched his head. "Don't make any bets either way."
During that meeting the decision was also made that Virgil and Wyatt would testify, Doc and Morg would not. Doc was sure that he would make a good witness. But on the other hand he was aware that the prosecution could make mincemeat out of the gossip and rumors that his reputation was built on.'
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
You have committed to a project, finished the basic research and character prep work and you’re all set to begin writing. Suddenly you’re overcome with anxiety – you’ve got a knot the size of a baseball in your stomach. Stop!
You are not alone. It might give you some comfort to know that John Steinbeck experienced some of those same anxious moments. In one of his letters written in February 1936, which was included in his ‘A Life in Letters’ Steinbeck said, ‘I have to start [writing:] and am scared to death as usual – miserable sick feeling of inadequacy.’ Then in the very next sentence he said, ‘I’ll love it once I get down to work.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com
Hollywood Studios, Top Film Writers and Doc Holliday
This Week
Let's Go to the Movies: Universal and John Ford
Spicer Hearing Excerpt: Ike Clanton lies
Writers Notebook: William Faulkner
Let's go to the Movies
Hollywood Silents 1914 to 1929 (Part 8)
Universal Pictures got its start in 1913 when a small group of movie producers headed by Carl Leammle purchased 235 acres of land in the southeast corner of the San Fernando Valley. Leammle had missed the chance of landing a big star, Mary Pickford, for his company back in New York. But Carl Leammle had a touch of P.T. Barnham in his makeup and decided to open Universal Studios with a big show. He advertised the studio opening as The Worlds Only Movie City, and thousands of people attended the outdoor ceremony if only to see some of the legends of the time that included Buffalo Bill Cody and Thomas Edison. And following that grand opening Carl Leammle announced to the movie industry that Universal City was open for business.
A good number of independents joined Universal in order to use their facilities, but their main client on the lot was John Ford. Ford became a permanent resident and turned out dozens of films with his partner Harry Carey, generally using a western theme.
A snippet from Variety's review of a Ford film called 'Hell Bent' tells the story. '...Hell Bent was Ford's 14th film and his ninth feature. Its leading player was Harry Cary and Ford's most frequent star and collaborator. Here Carey again plays his laconic Cheyenne Harry protagonist.'
In the early years of Hollywood movie making scores of motion picture companies launched a business only to fold after making a few films or in some cases without making a single picture. The important film studios during those early teen years were Selig Polyscope, William Fox Films, Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, William Ince Studios, Lasky Feature Play Company, D.W. Griffith's Fine Arts Studio and Carl Laemmle's Universal Studios.
The only production companies to survive with their names intact were Fox Films and Universal Studios. The Lasky Feature Play Company and D.W. Griffith's Fine Arts Studio became part of Paramount Studios the largest production company at the time.
Adolph Zukor headed Paramount, which included Jesse Lasky, Arthur Friend, C.B. DeMille, Sam Goldwyn and a bit later D.W. Griffith.
Even as the Hollywood movie industry moved away from the independent single picture company operation toward a studio system they were still, in a broad sense nothing more than storytellers. You could have the best directors, actors, cameramen, technicians and producers, but without a screenwriter to shape a story for the screen, you can't make a picture. Of course some of the producers and directors like D.W. Griffith and C.B. DeMille were also good writers. But for the most part you needed a good screenwriter to bring a story to life. And during those early days the top screenwriters were Frances Marion, June Mathis and Anita Loos, all female and over the years they compiled some fascinating resumes.
Frances Marion was born in San Francisco, and the talented youngster grew up writing, painting and acting. Frances became interested in Hollywood at an early age and through a family friend, Adela Rogers St. Johns, was introduced to Lois Weber who took her to Bosworth Studios and gave her a chance to put some of her skills to work. Frances did everything from acting, writing and editing to working in the publicity department. While at the studio she met actor Owen Moore who introduced her to his wife Mary Pickford. Frances Marion and Mary Pickford hit it off from the beginning, became great friends and through the years they worked on a number of film projects together.
June Mathis came from Leadville, Colorado and got her stage experience in San Francisco. At some point in her life she was drawn to and influenced by the movies to become a screen writer. She went to New York and studied screenwriting and entered a competition, and even though she didn't win her submission impressed some of the right people and she got job offers from it. Her first assignment was 'House of Tears,' directed by Edwin Carewe, and that led to a job at Metro Films, the company that would later become MGM.
Anita Loos was born in Sissions, California. Her father was a theater producer and Anita grew up on the stage. She was a good actress but didn't aspire to an acting career. She was interested in movies and saw a lot of silent films. Eventually Anita realized that she wanted to become a film writer. Anita Loos was a natural born writer and on a whim she wrote a story, 'The New York Hat' and sent it along to Thomas Daugherty at the American Biograph Company. They accepted the story and it was adapted for the screen by D.W. Griffith for Mary Pickford to play the lead role. D.W. Griffith recognized Anita's talent and later on she wrote several scripts for the famous director.
(To be continued)
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Excerpt from Spicer Hearing.
Ike Clanton had been on the witness stand for several sessions and Doc and Wyatt were boiling at some of his outrageous lies.
Tom Fitch’s cross-examination of Ike Clanton continued through Monday and late into Tuesday. The questions covered Ike’s activities on the morning of the shoot out and his testimony regarding the cowboy’s visit to the gun-shop was absurd. And before the cross-examination was over, the defense attorney had made it clear to the court that the Clanton's and McLowry's had purchased weapons and ammunition in George Spangenberg's Gun Shop just prior to the shoot-out.
Ike’s testimony leading up to the shoot-out and the shoot-out itself was time consuming and tedious. And in the end all of his words were rendered meaningless for the simple reason that Ike ran away from the scene before the first shot was fired.
Tom Fitch changed the subject and asked Ike, "About what time did you hear of the killing of Philpot and Holliday's participation in it?"
"I heard of it the night it was done, but I did not hear of Doc Holliday's being implicated in it until several days afterwards."
"Did you rely upon the information which you received, in reference to Doc Holliday's participation in the said killing?"
"Well, I believed it."
Tom Fitch turned toward Judge Spicer and said, "I have no further questions for this witness at this time."
Price stood and said, "Prosecution rests, Your Honor."
Judge Spicer squinted over his spectacles. "I expect you on the defense side to have your people ready to testify. Defendants are remanded to custody and court is adjourned until tomorrow morning at nine o'clock.”
The established routine was followed; bailiff escorted Doc and Wyatt to the conference room. Doc was fit to be tied and Tom Fitch said, “Doc, I know that you and Wyatt have every right to be mad as hell. Ike ‘s blatant lies about Wyatt’s piping off coin and you, Doc personally shooting Philpot were outrageous.” Then Tom smiled. “I’m sure Judge Spicer is aware that you were not involved in the robbery or killing, all that came out at the hearing back in the summer.”
"Well, that may or may not be true," Doc said darkly, "but that won't buy you a nickels worth of public support. And in my way of thinking public opinion on Allen Street is where we’re going to win or lose our case -- not in the courtroom.”
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
We’ve talked about how important the subconscious mind is to our writing experience. Shakespeare, Twain and Hemingway used that part of the brain in their creative writing. Here’s another example by William Faulkner. Now he doesn’t mention the subconscious, but he points us in that direction when he tells about his method of writing a novel. ‘It begins with a character, and once he stands on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com
Let's Go to the Movies: Universal and John Ford
Spicer Hearing Excerpt: Ike Clanton lies
Writers Notebook: William Faulkner
Let's go to the Movies
Hollywood Silents 1914 to 1929 (Part 8)
Universal Pictures got its start in 1913 when a small group of movie producers headed by Carl Leammle purchased 235 acres of land in the southeast corner of the San Fernando Valley. Leammle had missed the chance of landing a big star, Mary Pickford, for his company back in New York. But Carl Leammle had a touch of P.T. Barnham in his makeup and decided to open Universal Studios with a big show. He advertised the studio opening as The Worlds Only Movie City, and thousands of people attended the outdoor ceremony if only to see some of the legends of the time that included Buffalo Bill Cody and Thomas Edison. And following that grand opening Carl Leammle announced to the movie industry that Universal City was open for business.
A good number of independents joined Universal in order to use their facilities, but their main client on the lot was John Ford. Ford became a permanent resident and turned out dozens of films with his partner Harry Carey, generally using a western theme.
A snippet from Variety's review of a Ford film called 'Hell Bent' tells the story. '...Hell Bent was Ford's 14th film and his ninth feature. Its leading player was Harry Cary and Ford's most frequent star and collaborator. Here Carey again plays his laconic Cheyenne Harry protagonist.'
In the early years of Hollywood movie making scores of motion picture companies launched a business only to fold after making a few films or in some cases without making a single picture. The important film studios during those early teen years were Selig Polyscope, William Fox Films, Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, William Ince Studios, Lasky Feature Play Company, D.W. Griffith's Fine Arts Studio and Carl Laemmle's Universal Studios.
The only production companies to survive with their names intact were Fox Films and Universal Studios. The Lasky Feature Play Company and D.W. Griffith's Fine Arts Studio became part of Paramount Studios the largest production company at the time.
Adolph Zukor headed Paramount, which included Jesse Lasky, Arthur Friend, C.B. DeMille, Sam Goldwyn and a bit later D.W. Griffith.
Even as the Hollywood movie industry moved away from the independent single picture company operation toward a studio system they were still, in a broad sense nothing more than storytellers. You could have the best directors, actors, cameramen, technicians and producers, but without a screenwriter to shape a story for the screen, you can't make a picture. Of course some of the producers and directors like D.W. Griffith and C.B. DeMille were also good writers. But for the most part you needed a good screenwriter to bring a story to life. And during those early days the top screenwriters were Frances Marion, June Mathis and Anita Loos, all female and over the years they compiled some fascinating resumes.
Frances Marion was born in San Francisco, and the talented youngster grew up writing, painting and acting. Frances became interested in Hollywood at an early age and through a family friend, Adela Rogers St. Johns, was introduced to Lois Weber who took her to Bosworth Studios and gave her a chance to put some of her skills to work. Frances did everything from acting, writing and editing to working in the publicity department. While at the studio she met actor Owen Moore who introduced her to his wife Mary Pickford. Frances Marion and Mary Pickford hit it off from the beginning, became great friends and through the years they worked on a number of film projects together.
June Mathis came from Leadville, Colorado and got her stage experience in San Francisco. At some point in her life she was drawn to and influenced by the movies to become a screen writer. She went to New York and studied screenwriting and entered a competition, and even though she didn't win her submission impressed some of the right people and she got job offers from it. Her first assignment was 'House of Tears,' directed by Edwin Carewe, and that led to a job at Metro Films, the company that would later become MGM.
Anita Loos was born in Sissions, California. Her father was a theater producer and Anita grew up on the stage. She was a good actress but didn't aspire to an acting career. She was interested in movies and saw a lot of silent films. Eventually Anita realized that she wanted to become a film writer. Anita Loos was a natural born writer and on a whim she wrote a story, 'The New York Hat' and sent it along to Thomas Daugherty at the American Biograph Company. They accepted the story and it was adapted for the screen by D.W. Griffith for Mary Pickford to play the lead role. D.W. Griffith recognized Anita's talent and later on she wrote several scripts for the famous director.
(To be continued)
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Excerpt from Spicer Hearing.
Ike Clanton had been on the witness stand for several sessions and Doc and Wyatt were boiling at some of his outrageous lies.
Tom Fitch’s cross-examination of Ike Clanton continued through Monday and late into Tuesday. The questions covered Ike’s activities on the morning of the shoot out and his testimony regarding the cowboy’s visit to the gun-shop was absurd. And before the cross-examination was over, the defense attorney had made it clear to the court that the Clanton's and McLowry's had purchased weapons and ammunition in George Spangenberg's Gun Shop just prior to the shoot-out.
Ike’s testimony leading up to the shoot-out and the shoot-out itself was time consuming and tedious. And in the end all of his words were rendered meaningless for the simple reason that Ike ran away from the scene before the first shot was fired.
Tom Fitch changed the subject and asked Ike, "About what time did you hear of the killing of Philpot and Holliday's participation in it?"
"I heard of it the night it was done, but I did not hear of Doc Holliday's being implicated in it until several days afterwards."
"Did you rely upon the information which you received, in reference to Doc Holliday's participation in the said killing?"
"Well, I believed it."
Tom Fitch turned toward Judge Spicer and said, "I have no further questions for this witness at this time."
Price stood and said, "Prosecution rests, Your Honor."
Judge Spicer squinted over his spectacles. "I expect you on the defense side to have your people ready to testify. Defendants are remanded to custody and court is adjourned until tomorrow morning at nine o'clock.”
The established routine was followed; bailiff escorted Doc and Wyatt to the conference room. Doc was fit to be tied and Tom Fitch said, “Doc, I know that you and Wyatt have every right to be mad as hell. Ike ‘s blatant lies about Wyatt’s piping off coin and you, Doc personally shooting Philpot were outrageous.” Then Tom smiled. “I’m sure Judge Spicer is aware that you were not involved in the robbery or killing, all that came out at the hearing back in the summer.”
"Well, that may or may not be true," Doc said darkly, "but that won't buy you a nickels worth of public support. And in my way of thinking public opinion on Allen Street is where we’re going to win or lose our case -- not in the courtroom.”
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
We’ve talked about how important the subconscious mind is to our writing experience. Shakespeare, Twain and Hemingway used that part of the brain in their creative writing. Here’s another example by William Faulkner. Now he doesn’t mention the subconscious, but he points us in that direction when he tells about his method of writing a novel. ‘It begins with a character, and once he stands on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com
Tom's 'RocktheTower' Blog
I do a variety blog and post every Wednesday. I am an actor, writer and hurricane hunter and my subjects are generally written about those fields. During Hurricane Season I do at least one story every
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