Julie Lence's Blog - Posts Tagged "stagecoaches"
Stagecoaches
For years, Hollywood has had a love for westerns. John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Maureen O'Hara; the movies glamorized the cowboy, the outlaw and the women who loved them. It is from those movies, shown on Sunday afternoon tv when I was young, that my passion for life in the 1800's developed; hard and relentless, yet pure and honest. Much hasn't changed since then. My fascination for that era remains strong to this day.
Not far from where I live is a western museum. It's basically a small-sized warehouse, with benches inside to sit, look around and fantasize. The north and west walls hold false-fronted buildings. Some are open to step inside and others are roped off; each housing tools, fashion and furniture. At the south end are my two absolute favorite things--Stagecoaches.
Ever since I saw John Wayne in STAGECOACH, I've wanted to climb aboard and take a ride. Sadly, these two beauties, polished to a shine, are also roped off, but their doors are wide open for a peak inside.
The first thing which struck me about the stagecoach--the swaying box on wheels is much smaller than I had imagined. People were stuffed into those small compartments worse than sardines in their tin cans. And with the bench seat in the middle, leg room was non-existant.
Still, I'd love to take a ride. Not the harrowing, hold-your-breath as we barrell around this mountain pass, but a slow, easy gait. Body swaying, foot tapping on the floor, the breeze blowing in through the windows; I'd feel right at home, like a queen on her throne. And if a tall, handsome cowboy with a soft drawl were on board, I'd swear I'd been transported back in time to when STAGECOACH was originally filmed.
And when the ride ended, I'd have to insepct the rest of the stagecoach. From the harness for the horses to the driver's box and the lattice work at the back, even the roof and the luggage rail would hold my attention. I'd be a kid again scrambling over a jungle gym tying to see and touch everything there is. Thank goodness I have a camera to remember it all when I get home.
I'm thinking the next time to rodeo comes to town I'm going to have to mosey on over there and see if I can't worm my way into a ride--they have a stagecoach and it's driven around the outer perimeter of the arena at least once during the show. Until then, I have my heroes and heroines and will have to live through their escapdes with stagecoaches to fulfill my dreams.
See ya'll next week.
Not far from where I live is a western museum. It's basically a small-sized warehouse, with benches inside to sit, look around and fantasize. The north and west walls hold false-fronted buildings. Some are open to step inside and others are roped off; each housing tools, fashion and furniture. At the south end are my two absolute favorite things--Stagecoaches.
Ever since I saw John Wayne in STAGECOACH, I've wanted to climb aboard and take a ride. Sadly, these two beauties, polished to a shine, are also roped off, but their doors are wide open for a peak inside.
The first thing which struck me about the stagecoach--the swaying box on wheels is much smaller than I had imagined. People were stuffed into those small compartments worse than sardines in their tin cans. And with the bench seat in the middle, leg room was non-existant.
Still, I'd love to take a ride. Not the harrowing, hold-your-breath as we barrell around this mountain pass, but a slow, easy gait. Body swaying, foot tapping on the floor, the breeze blowing in through the windows; I'd feel right at home, like a queen on her throne. And if a tall, handsome cowboy with a soft drawl were on board, I'd swear I'd been transported back in time to when STAGECOACH was originally filmed.
And when the ride ended, I'd have to insepct the rest of the stagecoach. From the harness for the horses to the driver's box and the lattice work at the back, even the roof and the luggage rail would hold my attention. I'd be a kid again scrambling over a jungle gym tying to see and touch everything there is. Thank goodness I have a camera to remember it all when I get home.
I'm thinking the next time to rodeo comes to town I'm going to have to mosey on over there and see if I can't worm my way into a ride--they have a stagecoach and it's driven around the outer perimeter of the arena at least once during the show. Until then, I have my heroes and heroines and will have to live through their escapdes with stagecoaches to fulfill my dreams.
See ya'll next week.
