The Real Wild West: The 101 Ranch and the Creation of the American West

by Michael Wallis

Winner of the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America, the Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Oklahoma Book Award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book.

Founded in Oklahoma in 1893, the 101 Ranch created one of the most exciting and influential traveling rodeo shows ever to tour the country. Featuring countless cowboys and cowgirls, including such Western legends as Buffalo Bill, Geronimo, and Bill Picket, it was only a matter of time before it caught the glittering eye of Hollywood.

From the legendary cattle drives along the Chisholm Trail to the origins of the mass entertainment industry, Michael Wallis masterfully tells the enthralling history of not only the 101 ranch, but the last days of the American Frontier.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History

672 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1999

About the author

Michael Wallis is the bestselling author of Route 66, Billy the Kid, Pretty Boy, and David Crockett. He hosts the PBS series American Roads. He voiced The Sheriff in the animated Pixar feature Cars. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Reviews

[Diane Helentjaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and am thankful Michael Wallis took the time to research and write it. It is a long book. Wallis includes many bit characters and details which is nice if you want to know about them which I did. It started out slowl as the author laid the foundation. The sheer breadth of the family’s influence, actions, and doings is amazing and what is more surprising is that they are little discussed today. A must-read for students of the West and the early history of American film.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got bogged down in minutia sometimes, but the broad coverage of the origins of our fascination with the American West and the Cowboy image was interesting. Little is known, in general, of this Oklahoma ranch that was part of the great cattle drives, the wild west shows that toured the world, and the making of early Western movies. Interesting.

[Olivier Lepetit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very long book, on a very specific, arcane subject. Nonetheless, good insight on this huge ranch which defined the 'cowboy' way of life and made it popular through road shows and the first western movies.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating insight into a rugged lifestyle and even more rugged people!

Michael Wallis, The Real Wild West: The 101 Ranch and the Creation of the American West (New York: St Martin's Press, 1999), 452.

“Trail's End.”
“Everything has an end.” - Masai saying