Program Pawnee Bill's Original Wild West Show Chautauqua in the Park
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Vol. 49, No. 3 Published bimonthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, serving since 1893 May/June 2018 Pawnee Bill’s Original “History of World War II” program Wild West Show On Wednesday, June 6, the OHS Research Center will host a one-day program exploring the history of World War II from Celebrate the 30th anni- 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Historian Joe Todd will speak about versary of the re-creation of D-Day, women in World War II, the USS Oklahoma, and share Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild the story of “The Man Who Never Was.” West Show at the Pawnee Oklahoma native Joe Todd served in the armed forces in Viet- Bill Ranch by experiencing nam, and in Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. this piece of Oklahoma his- He has received numerous awards and honors including the tory. Shows will be held on Bronze Star, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart, Friday, June 8, and Satur- and the Vietnam Service and Presidential Unit Citation. Todd day, June 9, with preshow has worked at the Oklahoma Historical Society and the 45th entertainment beginning at Infantry Division Museum preserving documents and conduct- 7 p.m. and Wild West Shows ing oral histories. He currently volunteers at the Dwight D. beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eisenhower Library interviewing World War II veterans. Todd The 2018 show will feature has conducted more than 1,400 interviews to date. Todd is reenactments of acts from the author of USS Oklahoma, Remembrance of a Great Lady, the original Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Shows and new attractions Robert Huston: Oklahoma Rough Rider, and numerous articles. to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the show. Producers Preregistration for the “History of World War II” program is and directors have combined stage and script with historical required, so please call 405-522-5225 to reserve your seat. The preservation to ensure that the Wild West Show is the most cost is $45 per person and lunch is included. This program will historically accurate production to date. Kevin Webb portrays be held in the Musser Learning Lab inside the OHS Research Pawnee Bill for the 10th time. Webb, a long-time Wild West Center, located on the first floor of the Oklahoma History Cen- Show cast member and Pawnee Bill Ranch employee, is also a ter at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive in Oklahoma City. whip artist and chariot racer. Katrina Fenton will portray May Lillie, performing her shooting act on horseback. Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill also will make appearances at this year’s show. Trick rider and long-time show performer Windy Ratchford Chautauqua in the Park Lattin will perform some of the wildest stunts ever seen. Per- former Kalvin Cook, also known as “Kowboy Kal,” is in the The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) in Enid Guinness Book of World Records for the largest wedding ring will host its annual Chautauqua in the Park on June 12–16. roping loop at 100 feet. The Mike Pahsetopah Family will dance This year’s theme is “The Modern Age: Moving Forward from as the Dancing Eagles, demonstrating tributes to American World War I” with feature presentations by John Anderson as Indian culture with stunning Native dancing. The Cossacks Ernest Hemingway, Vanessa Adams-Harris as Josephine Bak- are returning this year to display their unbelievable and reck- er, Doug Mishler as John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing, Debra less feats of horsemanship and military maneuvers. Producers Conner as Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, and Michael Hughes invite past performers, show directors, and behind-the-scenes as Acee Blue Eagle. Each scholar’s feature presentation begins cast members to attend and join in celebrating the show’s 30th at 7:30 p.m., followed by a question and answer session. There year. will be local entertainment and dinner for purchase each eve- The museum and mansion will be open to the public on show ning preceding the feature presentations. days from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday, June 9, there will Workshops are held daily in the Humphrey Heritage Village be historically accurate entertainment such as blacksmithing, Church at 10:30 a.m. and noon. Each of the five scholars will gunfighters and sharp shooters, a medicine man show, and lead two workshops during the week. For a full schedule of musicians, all free and held continuously on the ranch grounds presentations and workshops, please visit www.facebook.com/ from 2 to 7 p.m. The cast will be available for a meet and greet enidchautauqua. Please call 580-237-1907 with any questions. with the audience on the museum grounds starting at 4 p.m. The CSRHC is located at 507 South Fourth Street in Enid. The Friends of the Pawnee Bill Ranch Association will serve a delicious barbecue meal in the big barn starting at 5 p.m. Ticket prices in advance are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors over age 65, $10 for children ages 10 and under, and free for children ages three and under. A group rate of $12 per ticket is available for groups of 20 or more people. On the day of the show ticket prices are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, $12 for children ages 10 and under, and free for children ages three and under. Specially priced packages are available for reserved seating with more information available at www.pawneebill- wildwest.com. Please call 918-762-2513 to purchase tickets or for more information. Online tickets are not available for this show. The Pawnee Bill Ranch is located at 1141 Pawnee Bill Road, which is a half-mile west of Pawnee on US Highway 64. Now we are witnessing another chapter New research guide of that history outside our windows here at the Oklahoma History Center. As I focuses on researching write this column, it is the seventh day of land in Oklahoma demonstrations around the State Capitol. From the headlines and newscasts, it The OHS is excited to announce that “A Director’s would seem that the demonstrations are Guide to Researching Land in Oklahoma column simply a demand for restoration of edu- at the Oklahoma Historical Society” by cation funding that has been lost over the Katie Bush is now available to purchase past decade. A secondary story from the in the OHS Research Center at the Okla- headlines is the overwhelming turnout of homa History Center. The guide provides teachers, students, and others who are information for researching land records expressing their views in historic num- and explains Oklahoma history by settle- bers. Not since the 1970s has Oklahoma ment region through the homestead and seen this kind of public protest. allotment processes. By Dr. Bob L. Blackburn The question that historians will con- Researchers and genealogists often visit Executive Director sider in the future is “why?” Why now the OHS Research Center seeking infor- and why such a sense of solidarity? mation about their ancestors’ land. This As a historian, I often look through the As a historian, I think the issue is not guide helps readers to understand legal lens of history to gain a deeper under- just underfunding for education, which land descriptions and how they relate to standing of what is happening around us has been a chronic problem in Oklahoma. present-day locations. Readers will learn today. Not even the 28 percent effective decrease about the homesteading process in Okla- This year, to gain a deeper understand- in funding over the past ten years, alone, homa Territory, and how to interpret ing of the roles women have played in our could generate such a sustained pub- legal land descriptions to find the amount history, the Oklahoma Historical Society lic outburst that cuts across economic, of land a homesteader received and the is sponsoring a series of events and publi- political, and geographical divisions. location of the homestead. The guide also cations to commemorate the centennial of Looking through the long lens of his- outlines the rules and regulations for the constitutional amendment that gave tory, I think a more plausible underlying homesteading in Oklahoma and how they women in Oklahoma the right to vote. cause of action stems from the frustra- differed for tribal allotment recipients. That is correct. Until a 1918 amendment tion of women responding to the rhetoric The author re-created historic maps to the Oklahoma Constitution, women in and public policies at the local, state, and for each settlement region. These maps Oklahoma could only vote in local school especially, the national levels. The glass provide a wealth of information including elections. In 1920 Oklahoma became the ceiling, although cracked in the 1970s, is present-day county boundaries, township 21st state to ratify the 19th Amendment still there and the level of frustration has and range, original county boundaries in to the United States Constitution. now found an outlet through the binding Oklahoma Territory, district and county Those achievements, the basic rights of issue of education. lines in Indian Territory, and tribal res- citizens to have their voice heard in pub- I have no facts to quote, but I have ervation boundaries. The maps of tribal lic affairs, were won by activists who were observed first hand that probably 90 per- nations also can be used to research willing to stand up, demand change, and cent of the protestors are women. The records in the OHS American Indian work together with a sense of solidarity. It men, although eager to show their sup- Archives Collection. had taken years, even decades, but their port for education in general and their “A Guide to Researching Land in Okla- voices were heard.