Book Recommendations nostalgia Four Things I Miss From the Golden Age of Paperbacks Do you ever get nostalgic for the magical time when mass-market paperbacks ruled the shelves? By James Davis Nicoll | Published on March 15‚ 2024 Photo: Manel &; Sean [via Unsplash] icon-comment 10 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed Photo: Manel &; Sean [via Unsplash] A fair number of my ongoing review projects involve works from the era when mass-market paperbacks ruled the shelves. Consequently‚ I find myself handling increasingly vintage artifacts. As with every media transition‚ the evolution away from MMPB towards a market dominated by formats on which publishers actually make a profit has‚ as a side effect‚ the loss of certain features. The adult thing to do would be to gracefully accept change. I‚ on the other hand‚ would prefer to moan interminably reminisce about elements I miss in the trade‚ hardcover‚ and ebook-dominated world in which we are living. I am sorry to report that these boil down to four elements‚ rather than my preferred five. Ubiquity Under the market conditions present prior to the wave of distributor consolidations in the 1990s‚ print runs were huge. Book outlets could offer an array of books that modern-day outlets would find hard to rival. There were also more outlets: as well as conventional bookstores‚ convenience stores‚ department stores‚ and grocery stores also offered books‚ sometimes in extensive displays. Critics will doubtless point out that today books are far more ubiquitous than they were half a century ago. Rather than being dependent on the vagaries of book distribution‚ one can go online for immediate gratification (if ebook) or slightly deferred gratification (if real book).1 Portability As might be guessed from the fact that one publisher literally called itself Pocket Books‚ mass-market paperbacks were small enough that in many cases they would fit in the pockets of men’s clothing.2 Even if readers couldn’t carry a dedicated book bag‚ a determined young reader could hide on their person at least one more book3 than pesky adults could locate and confiscate on the usual absurd pretexts4. Nowadays ebooks are even more portable and even easier to hide than mass-market paperbacks. With e-readers‚ phones‚ USB sticks‚ and even cutting-edge neurological implants whose side-effects aren’t fatal (probably)‚ it’s trivial to conceal whole libraries on one’s person. Cover Art I cannot overstate how often my choice of book to read was influenced by a luridly garish cover‚ often featuring gratuitous nudity skillfully executed cover art that may not have actually reflected the events inside the book‚ but which did inspire great curiosity about the contents. Having replaced paper books with ebooks as I have‚ one drawback is that my chosen e-readers offer only black and white images‚ which I do not find engaging. [It’s been noted that if I were to read on my phone‚ as some people do‚ this would not be a problem. Hmmmph.] I should admit that hardcovers and trade paperbacks offer the same opportunity for eye-catching art and that they do so on a scale more favorable to appreciation by aging eyes. The Ads Admittedly‚ this might be even more of a personal issue than the previous three… but I miss the ads so often found in old paperbacks. The “Also by this author” lists‚ the “If you enjoyed this book‚ you might enjoy these other books” lists‚ the pitches to avoid distribution bottlenecks‚ and even lists of best-sellers by the same publisher.5 Heck‚ I got a whole fifty-book review project out of a single ad run in old-time Ace books! Other folks might well point out there is no shortage of ads in this exciting‚ commercialized world in which we live. Indeed‚ avoiding them is now the trick. Still‚ somehow‚ for reasons I find hard to articulate‚ it’s not the same. Are you old enough to remember the golden age of the paperback? Are there features you miss that I somehow overlooked? Feel free to mention them in comments below. It’s not the same for one simple reason (vague handwaving about the difference between in-person browsing through different selections of books versus online browsing in venues that are all essentially echoes of each other). ︎Then as now‚ pockets in women’s clothing were more aspirational than useful. I have a very long list of issues I thought would be resolved by now‚ and the absence of decent pockets in women’s clothes is towards the top. (It comes up over and over in the theatre where I work‚ as front of house staff have to juggle ticket scanners‚ flashlights‚ keys‚ and programs. It’s not hard if you have pockets to store away items not in use. I have pockets. Most of my fellow workers do not). ︎If you’re imagining one of those scenes where a person being disarmed produces weapon after weapon in implausible quantity‚ except with books‚ that’s the correct image. ︎Such as “This is math class‚ not Rocket Ship Galileo class.” ︎I also enjoyed magazine ads‚ particularly those for upcoming books. I apologize to the staff of Scribes Books for the number of times I asked if The World is Round was out yet. ︎The post Four Things I Miss From the Golden Age of Paperbacks appeared first on Reactor.

News Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa’s First Season of Doctor Who Gets a May Premiere Date Join the best Ken on a cosmic joyride By Molly Templeton | Published on March 15‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed The Doctor may be able to watch his television shows whenever he likes—the benefits of having a time-traveling police box—but the rest of us are subject to the whims of linear time (and massive corporations). Disney has just announced the premiere date for the extremely anticipated new season of Doctor Who—the first season with Russell T. Davies back at the helm‚ and Ncuti Gatwa starring as the Fifteenth Doctor. In the US and most of the world‚ the Doctor arrives on May 10th at 7 pm EDT‚ on Disney+. Somewhat confusingly‚ a press release says “audiences will return to ‘The Church on Ruby Road‚’ which premiered last December‚ and journey through two all-new episodes.” (“The Church on Ruby Road” is already on Disney+‚ so I’m unclear why we will “return” to it then.) In the UK‚ the season begins on BBC iPlayer at 12 am GMT on Saturday‚ May 11‚ and appears on BBC One “later that day.” A very brief summary of the coming season says: This season of Doctor Who follows the Doctor and Ruby Sunday through infinite adventures across time and space in the TARDIS. From the Regency era in England to war-torn futures‚ the duo champion the forces of good while encountering incredible friends and dangerous foes. This season stars Gatwa as the Doctor and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday; Gibson will spend only a season on the TARDIS‚ as Andor’s Varada Sethu will step in as companion for Gatwa’s second go-round. This season also has quite the list of guest stars‚ including Aneurin Barnard‚ Anita Dobson‚ Yasmin Finney‚ Michelle Greenidge‚ Jonathan Groff‚ Bonnie Langford‚ Genesis Lynea‚ Jemma Redgrave‚ Lenny Rush‚ Indira Varma and Angela Wynter. The trailer for the upcoming season will arrive next Friday‚ March 22nd. [end-mark] The post Ncuti Gatwa’s First Season of <;i>;Doctor Who<;/i>; Gets a May Premiere Date appeared first on Reactor.

Outcast A New Beginning is a beautiful game – and for those wanting to get immersed in the wonderful world of Adelpha‚ the performance issues may get in the way and prove frustrating. I’ve gathered the best tips and settings to make your journey with Cutter Slade as smooth as he is. Best Graphics Settings for Outcast A New Beginning Unfortunately‚ I can’t simply give the best graphics settings that will work for every single computer out there for Outcast A New Beginning. Despite my trying to provide you with the most optimal settings for those struggling with performance‚ you’ll have to tweak the settings yourself to get it how you want it. If you have an NVIDIA Graphics Card for your PC‚ make sure you are using GeForce Experience to automatically adjust the graphics quality for Outcast A New Beginning. Console players don’t have this option‚ so must rely purely on optimization of the Graphics Settings. Screenshot: PC Invasion You can acces...

Outcast A New Beginning is set in the gorgeous world of Adelpha. The trailers show off Cutter Slade zooming around in his glide jetpack‚ a tool that makes traversing the verdant valleys so much easier. Here’s how to get it as soon as possible. How to fly in Outcast A New Beginning Thankfully‚ you’ll be able to unlock Glide in Outcast A New Beginning fairly quickly if you focus on it. The Glide feature is an upgrade to your Jetpack‚ which means you can find it in the Upgrade Tree. Screenshot: PC Invasion Through playing the game normally‚ you’ll unlock both the Jetpack and Energy Saver‚ as you’ll be forced into unlocking them. The Glide feature is the fourth upgrade down‚ so you’ll need to be focused when spending your Blue Helidium. Blue Helidium is the resource needed to purchase your upgrades and has zero other functionality. So don’t worry about saving it. The Glide costs 100 Blue Helidium‚ but you’ll need to purchase the Jets...

For over a century‚ the Anti-Defamation League has enjoyed a reputation as the preeminent Jewish organization combating antisemitism and all forms of hate. Its acronym‚ ADL‚ has “household name” status—and not just in Jewish homes. This makes its current penchant for partisanship extraordinarily dangerous for‚ and beyond‚ the Jewish community. Last December‚ Senate Republicans learned that a Joe Biden nominee for a lifetime judicial appointment‚ Adeel Mangi‚ was previously a board member and generous supporter of the antisemitic Center for Security‚ Race and Rights at Rutgers University Law School. At his confirmation hearing‚ they questioned Mangi about his alarming affiliation with that center and his knowledge of its repugnant activities. Just last week‚ proof emerged that Mangi had worked closely with the center’s director and others with ties to antisemitism and terror. Yet rather than applaud the senators’ concern‚ the ADL stunningly accused them of bigotry. It decried supposed “inappropriate and prejudicial treatment” of Mangi that appeared to be “motivated by bias towards his religion”—Islam. Mangi’s faith and ethnicity were never mentioned in the questions‚ in contrast to the activities and ideology of the center. For daring to question a nominee’s association with anti-Jewish bias‚ the ADL accused Republican senators of anti-Muslim bias. One could hardly imagine a more outrageous betrayal of the ADL’s historic mission. Yet this was no rare instance of the ADL leveling a politically charged but fundamentally wrong indictment. Rather‚ sectarianism permeates the organization‚ especially since Jonathan Greenblatt left the Obama Administration to become its CEO in 2015. Greenblatt’s background is notably lacking in an advanced Jewish education‚ specifically regarding how Judaism itself has‚ for millennia‚ consistently identified antisemitism‚ the world’s “longest hatred‚” using a neutral yardstick. He has surrounded himself with like-minded progressives‚ such that today’s ADL views antisemitism‚ like everything else‚ through a partisan lens. In a post to Elon Musk’s X platform‚ Greenblatt recently lumped “neo-Nazis at CPAC” (the Conservative Political Action Conference) together with antisemitic rants by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and delinquents who verbally assaulted writer Bari Weiss and Jerry Seinfeld in Manhattan. CPAC declared that it stands with Israel‚ offered plenary sessions on antisemitism and the hostages held by Hamas‚ and has for years sponsored a “Shabbat at CPAC” program for observant Jews. To associate it with the very people it bans from attending‚ much less speaking‚ is simply deplorable—and consequential. It alienates the millions of Americans who support CPAC and its policy positions while blunting the efforts by CPAC’s leaders to combat antisemitism. And speaking of Musk‚ Greenblatt wondered if Twitter‚ as it was known at the time‚ should be shut down after Musk restored Donald Trump’s access to the platform. Apparently‚ Greenblatt shared the opinion of X’s previous owners‚ who thought Trump’s tweets were hateful‚ but deemed Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s calls for Jewish genocide merely “foreign policy saber-rattling.” This bears no resemblance to nonpartisan concern for antisemitism. The results were predictable: Musk is no antisemite‚ but his response to this gratuitous attack inadvertently elevated one. So anxious is the ADL to malign conservatives that it even targets Jews who favor traditional values. Last year‚ the ADL’s Center on Extremism took aim at Chaya Raichik‚ the Orthodox Jewish woman behind Libs of TikTok; it tarred her as a purveyor of “anti-transgender hate” until Raichik threatened to sue. The ADL immediately quailed‚ conceding by implication that its accusations were indefensible. Yet in November‚ the same Center on Extremism published a similar hit piece on the National Center for Public Policy Research and the National Legal and Policy Center. These organizations criticize supranational organizations like the U.N. and the World Economic Forum and what they call “globalist” agendas. Although the ADL readily admitted that the “globalist” language was consistent with what “mainstream personalities and politicians” use and that “there is no evidence to suggest that either organization’s … proposals were filed with antisemitic intentions‚” the ADL insisted nonetheless that the word globalist “could be interpreted” (emphasis added) as “an antisemitic dog whistle‚” along with “conspiracy theories” that “sometimes promote antisemitism” (emphasis added). Rather than learning to focus upon accuracy after the Raichik debacle‚ the ADL seems to have learned to employ weasel words to evade legal culpability. This is especially offensive considering that one of the ADL’s named targets‚ the National Center for Public Policy Research’s Ethan Peck‚ is another Jew‚ an Israeli-American who condemns globalists in part for funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The relief agency‚ of course‚ was lavishly funded from around the world as it taught Arab schoolchildren to murder Jews until the Israelis recently proved that the agency provided electrical power‚ internet connectivity‚ support‚ and terrorists for Hamas. If the ADL truly believes Peck is blowing an antisemitic dog whistle‚ the problem is ADL’s hearing‚ not the decent‚ respected‚ and philo-semitic National Center for Public Policy Research. But given the careful language choices the ADL uses to smear Peck and his organization‚ it honestly appears more likely that the ADL knew its charges were specious from the outset. The weaponized sectarianism of the ADL’s national headquarters undermines the fight against Jew-hatred‚ including efforts by its less ideology-driven (and thus‚ more effective) local offices to engage with law enforcement‚ legislators‚ and the public. This is true‚ first of all‚ because those on the disfavored side are silenced: How can Peck be a credible advocate for Jews and their indigenous rights while the ADL implies that the organization he serves is spreading antisemitic tropes? And‚ still more dangerously‚ the ADL’s silence and even expressed tolerance for left-wing antisemitism permits that antisemitism to fester. The ADL legitimized groups like Black Lives Matter organizations that promoted antisemitic tropes until BLM’s reaction to Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7 made this untenable. Until Whoopi Goldberg claimed the Holocaust wasn’t about race‚ the ADL’s own definition of racism attributed it uniquely to whites. All of this was happening while the most-targeted demographic in history—the one the ADL was created to defend—was smeared by leftist antisemites as possessing “white privilege.” Greenblatt is now confronted by a reality quite different from his ideology. It was not conservatives who disrupted his speech at Brown University about antisemitism. And‚ of course‚ to the Mangi-supported‚ antisemitic Rutgers Center‚ the ADL remains a den of reviled “Zionists.” The center’s director‚ Sahar Aziz‚ obtusely accused the ADL of “aligning itself with right-wing leaders.” Just last month‚ when the ADL pointed out correctly that American student groups were supporting Hamas‚ the center denounced the ADL for engaging in “anti-Palestinian advocacy.” The Coalition for Jewish Values‚ where I serve as managing director‚ is one of several organizations calling out antisemitism on both sides of the political aisle. The ideological tilt of the ADL harms both our and its own efforts‚ and this can no longer be ignored. While our Jewish communities are surrounded by real wolves‚ it is unconscionable that the ADL continues to cry wolf‚ wounding those favorably disposed toward Jews and Israel while true antisemites endanger America’s future. The Daily Signal publishes a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Heritage Foundation.  Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post How the ADL Harms the Fight Against Antisemitism appeared first on The Daily Signal.

To the disbelief of gaping onlookers in the packed stands at El Toreo‚ Mexico City’s largest bullring‚ American rodeo performer Bill Pickett clung to the horns of a massive Mexican bull ironically named Frijoles Chiquitos (“Little Beans”). Watching from a safe distance in the saddle atop jittery horses were cowhand Vester Pegg and siblings Joe and Zack Miller‚ proprietors of the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Real Wild West. Matadors‚ including the famed Manuel Mejíjas Luján (aka “Bienvenida”)‚ also stood by as Bill grappled with the snorting‚ gyrating wild beast‚ which Mexican and Spanish bullfighters alike typically fought from a more dignified distance. Funny thing is‚ Pickett wasn’t even supposed to be there. Days earlier he’d been working one of the Miller family ranches back in Oklahoma. It was early December 1908‚ and the Real Wild West had come off a grueling tour of the United States. Instead of heading home to lick their wounds‚ however‚ Joe and Zack Miller took the show south of the border. Though still two years from the onset of the Mexican Revolution‚ that southern neighbor was already in turmoil. The troupe endured several intrusive (and costly in bribes) searches by customs officials before arriving in Mexico City on December 11. The streets of the heavily populated capital were clogged with Roman Catholic pilgrims preparing for the next day’s Our Lady of Guadalupe observance‚ marking the 1531 visions of the Virgin Mary to believers in that Mexican city. The observance also marked the start of the show’s two-week run at the circus arena in Porfirio Díaz Park. Low attendance and gouging fines for Pickett’s failure to appear‚ though “The Dusky Demon” was prominently featured in advertisements‚ led Joe to telegram brother George‚ back at the 101 Ranch‚ with instructions to have Pickett travel down by train immediately. Shortly after the bulldogger arrived and began performing‚ Joe and the show’s press agent‚ W.C. Thompson‚ stopped in at the Café Colón‚ a popular eatery among matadors and local reporters‚ where Joe hoped to gin up publicity for the show. When a table of matadors directed their laughter at the gringos‚ Joe asked what they found so humorous. They told him they had attended the show that afternoon and were unimpressed with Pickett’s antics in the ring‚ comparing him to a novice bullfighter. An indignant Miller challenged them on the spot to go toe to toe with Pickett in a bulldogging event. On behalf of the group‚ Bienvenida accepted and agreed to show up at the circus arena at 10 the next morning. But neither he nor any other matador took up the challenge‚ claiming the arena promoters forbade them from taking any such foolish risk. After several days of verbal exchanges‚ challenges and braying newspaper ads‚ Miller bet the arena promoters Pickett could remain alone in the ring for 15 minutes with their fiercest fighting bull and spend at least five minutes of that time grappling barehanded with the beast‚ wrestling it to the ground if possible. If Pickett succeeded‚ the Millers would collect the gate receipts for the day. Joe also made a 5‚000-peso side bet. The publicity from his wager and newspaper coverage led promoters to move the bulldogging spectacle‚ scheduled for December 23‚ to the far larger El Toreo. Within days Mexico City’s largest venue had sold out. On the afternoon of the 23rd Pickett trotted into the arena atop his favorite horse‚ Spradley‚ to a cacophony of cheers‚ boos and hisses from an estimated 25‚000 onlookers. As the blare of the opening trumpets faded‚ the gate to the corrals swung wide‚ and Frijoles Chiquitos stormed into the ring. When the bull saw Pickett and raced across the arena toward him‚ Bill saw right off that his terrified hazers would be of no use. Steering Spradley in close to Frijoles Chiquitos‚ Bill sought to maneuver into position to leap on the bull’s bulging neck. Each time the rampaging beast gave them the slip. Suddenly‚ the bull swung around and charged rider and horse from behind. Spradley could not evade the rush‚ and one of Frijoles Chiquitos’ horns ripped open the horse’s rump‚ causing it to stumble. Taking advantage of the distraction‚ Pickett dove from the saddle. Locking on to the bull’s horns‚ he wrapped himself around its writhing neck and rode Frijoles Chiquitos as the crowd rose to its feet in anticipation. The bull tried everything it could to free itself of Pickett‚ to no avail. For several  agonizing minutes it wildly shook its great head‚ slashing with its horns‚ as the determined bulldogger clung tight‚ looking for an opportunity to take the animal to the ground. Likely bemoaning their decision to bet against the do-or-die Yankee‚ the crowd turned on Bill and began pelting him with whatever was at hand. Fruit‚ cushions‚ rocks‚ bottles‚ even bricks rained down from the stands. After taking a rock to the side of his face and a beer bottle to the ribs‚ a bleeding and dazed Pickett released his iron grip on the raging Frijoles Chiquitos and lay on the arena floor grimacing in pain. Rushing in‚ his 101 Ranch hazers finally distracted the bull long enough to help Bill to his feet and out of the ring. The crowd’s delight at Pickett’s failure turned to disappointment on learning he’d made it to the 5-minute mark‚ thus winning the wager. With his seven and a half minute ride the bulldogger had earned the show a whopping 48‚000 pesos (north of $450‚000 in today’s dollars)‚ not to mention Joe’s side bet. The day after Christmas the show wrapped up its lucrative run in Mexico City and headed back north. Joe canceled a scheduled show in Gainesville‚ Texas‚ and as the train arrived in Bliss‚ Okla.‚ weary troupe members clapped and cheered at being home. The big payday had helped buffer an otherwise tough financial year‚ and the show’s future seemed bright. A Working Ranch Most Western historians cite 1881 as the year 101 Ranch patriarch Colonel George Washington Miller first seared his brand on cattle. A notorious namesake San Antonio saloon is said to have inspired the brand. Whatever the truth‚ that first bitter wisp of burnt hide launched a story for the ages‚ as the 101 was destined to become one of the most recognizable names in both ranching and Western entertainment. A Kentucky native‚ Miller fought for the Confederacy in his 20s and moved west after the Civil War‚ initially settling in southwest Missouri and driving cattle from Texas to the railheads in Kansas. Miller later moved his herds to land leased from the Quapaw tribe in Indian Territory (present-day northeast Oklahoma) while residing just across the border in Baxter Springs‚ Kan. He cultivated a relationship with the Ponca tribe when it was briefly displaced to the Quapaw Agency. Miller suggested the Poncas settle on land farther west in the Cherokee Outlet. After the federal government forced ranchers out of the outlet in 1893‚ the Poncas did just that‚ and Miller leased their land for his operations‚ setting up headquarters near the tribal hub at New Ponca (renamed Ponca City in 1913). The 101 Ranch ultimately comprised 110‚000 acres. After Miller succumbed to pneumonia in 1903‚ wife Molly had the ranch turned into a trust‚ with Joe‚ Zack and George as equal partners and shareholders. From then on the trio ran the whole shooting match. At the time of their father’s death Joseph Carson Miller was 35 years old‚ Zachary Taylor Miller 25‚ and the youngest‚ George Lee Miller‚ 21. Each brother developed unique interests and skills‚ enabling them to divide oversight of the 101 effectively and without rancor. Together they remained focused on realizing their father’s dream to build the nation’s largest and most influential ranch. Known as the “White House‚” the grand main house of the 110‚000-acre 101 Ranch speaks to the wealth the Miller family had accumulated before taking their show on the road. On land leased from Ponca Indians in the Cherokee Outlet‚ patriarch George Washington Miller built a ranching empire for sons Joe‚ Zack and George. The rich soil already grew a range of crops‚ while livestock included cattle‚ bison‚ hogs‚ poultry and several breeds of horse. The brothers continued to experiment with crops and added an electric plant‚ a cannery‚ a dairy‚ a tannery‚ a store‚ a restaurant and several mills. Promoted as the “greatest diversified farm on earth‚” the ranch prospered well into the early 20th century. Of course‚ oil too played a role. Ernest W. Marland‚ of Marland Oil Co.‚ spearheaded the search for crude deposits on the family spread and helped form the 101 Ranch Oil Co. That highly successful venture substantially increased the Millers’ profit margin. All-important downtime served to seed the brothers’ entrance into show business. George Lee Miller was 21 years old when his father died‚ leaving him and brothers Joe and Zack as equal partners of the 101 Ranch. Rodeos held at the ranch were the genesis of their Real Wild West. What became the Real Wild West had its roots in late summer or early fall 1882 in Winfield‚ Kan.‚ where Colonel Miller‚ Mollie and their children had recently moved. Miller and hands had just finished a cattle drive up the Chisolm Trail from Texas. Meanwhile‚ Winfield city leaders were planning an agricultural fair and wanted entertainment. Miller proposed his cowboys put on a roping and riding exhibition‚ and the event planners enthusiastically accepted his offer. Miller’s “roundup‚” as he called it‚ proved a roaring success. The business of running a sprawling ranch intervened‚ and it wasn’t until 1904‚ a year after Colonel Miller’s death‚ that the 101 hosted its next roundup. This time it was the Miller brothers’ brainchild. That year Joe Miller visited the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis‚ Mo. While there he and leading Oklahoma newspapermen met with the board of directors of the National Editorial Association‚ hoping to convince the board to hold its 1905 convention in Guthrie. To sweeten the pot‚ Joe told the directors the 101 Ranch would host them and put on a big Wild West show in their honor. The board bit and approved the proposal. The Millers thought it best to prepare for the 1905 event by holding a roundup in the fall of 1904. Pleased with the enthusiastic turnout‚ the brothers planned the 1905 roundup‚ which they grandly dubbed the Oklahoma Gala. Dozens of trains were needed to help transport the more than 65‚000 people who attended the elaborate opening parade on June 11. It was the largest crowd yet assembled for an event in Oklahoma. The June gala ended with a reenactment of a wagon train attack by 300 Indians. Gunfire and bloodcurdling screams rose from the arena floor as wagons caught fire and settlers closed with their assailants in mortal combat. More credulous onlookers feared they were witnessing a real massacre. Then‚ out of nowhere‚ a posse of cowboys rode to the rescue‚ guns blazing. As the act drew to a close‚ the performers gathered at the center of the arena to a standing ovation. The Miller brothers joined the troupe to bask in the crowd’s appreciation. Over the next two decades the Millers hosted annual roundups at the 101‚ seating up to 10‚000 spectators in an arena just across from ranch headquarters. The program always included roping‚ riding and bulldogging‚ as well as Indian dances and other Western cultural offerings. The brothers employed top cowboys from across the region‚ and Pickett and other well-known 101 Ranch hands went on to stardom in Hollywood Westerns. The “Show Business Bug” Planning for the June 1905 Oklahoma Gala had another unexpected offshoot‚ for Joe caught the “show business bug” in a big way. Looking ahead to the June gala‚ he and Zack arranged to have some of their performers join Colonel Zack Mulhall and his touring Western troupe in a series of shows that April at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Appearing before packed houses in one the biggest venues of the era gave the brothers an opportunity to learn the production aspects of a touring show. It also afforded their performers rehearsal time for the upcoming gala. Among the Miller hands appearing at the garden was Will Rogers‚ then a relative unknown. Indeed‚ Mulhall initially turned down Rogers‚ who had to enlist the help of the colonel’s wife‚ Mary‚ to secure a spot on the program. It is ironic‚ then‚ that while the Madison Square Garden run proved successful for Mulhall‚ Rogers benefited all the more from his appearance. The turning point came amid the sixth show when a steer got loose and entered the stands. Thinking quickly‚ Will lassoed the wayward animal and guided it back to the arena floor‚ saving the day. The publicity generated by his courage‚ talent with a lariat and wit prompted a shrewd promoter to offer him a starring role‚ performing his rope acts solo on vaudeville stages in Manhattan. Among the best-known “graduates” of the Real Wild West were humorist Will Rogers (above) and actor Tom Mix. Hollywood came to rely on the ranch to provide other such adept hands and screen-friendly faces as Ken Maynard‚ Buck Jones and Hoot Gibson. Meanwhile‚ Joe‚ Zack and their well-rehearsed performers returned to Oklahoma to finish preparations for the gala. Taking a page from Mulhall‚ the Millers generated a marketing blitz‚ published in newspapers and spread through contacts nationwide‚ describing what attendees could expect on June 11. The lineup included bulldogger Pickett‚ trick rider Lucille Mulhall (the colonel’s daughter)‚ expert horseman and crack shot Tom Mix and a supporting cast of almost a thousand performers‚ many from the local Ponca and Otoe tribes. The 101 Real Wild West was one step from becoming one of the most popular traveling Western entertainment troupes of its era. Taking the Show on the Road Encouraged by their successful 1905 gala‚ and at the urging of Oklahoma neighbor Gordon W. “Pawnee Bill” Lillie—who’d already made a name for himself as the founder and proprietor of Pawnee Bill’s Wild West—the Millers took their show on the road full time in 1907. Favorable publicity from an early run in Kansas City‚ Mo.‚ caught the notice of Theodore Roosevelt. The “Cowboy President” was already acquainted with the Millers from prior visits to their ranch. (On his invitation Mix had ridden in the president’s 1905 inaugural parade alongside Roosevelt’s Spanish-American War “Rough Riders‚” sparking a rumor the 101 Ranch hand had been a Rough Rider himself.) Roosevelt persuaded the Millers to bring their show to Norfolk‚ Va.‚ as part of the Jamestown Exposition. At the close of that 100-day run the exposition promoters helped land the Real Wild West a two-week run at the Chicago Coliseum. The publicity from 1907 led to the busy but grueling 1908 tour‚ starting at Brighton Beach‚ N.Y. Through 1916 the Millers and their performers were at the top of their game as crowds grew ever bigger‚ drawn by a spreading fascination with cowboys‚ Indians and all things Western. In 1916 the Millers merged their production with Cody’s arena show and toured as Buffalo Bill (Himself) &; the 101 Ranch Wild West Combined‚ though the nation’s growing involvement in World War I put the tour on hold later that year. Cody died soon after‚ on Jan. 10‚ 1917. Going back on the road in 1925‚ the Real Wild West toured throughout the United States and abroad‚ traveling to Mexico‚ Canada‚ Europe and South America. In 1916 the Millers merged with Buffalo Bill (above left‚ beside Joe Miller on the white horse) for a patriotic tour dubbed the “Military Pageant of Preparedness.” Cody died on Jan. 10‚ 1917. After World War I the show went into decline. Joe died in 1927‚ George in ‘29. Zack Miller lost the 101 and died nearly destitute in 1952. Through the 1920s‚ however‚ the 101 Ranch Real Wild West‚ Pawnee Bill’s Wild West and other touring shows drew ever smaller crowds‚ leading to severe financial losses. By then such productions faced stiff competition from the film industry‚ as well as proliferating circuses and rodeos. Making matters worse for the Real Wild West‚ Joe Miller died in 1927‚ followed two years later by the death of brother George. Then came the Great Depression‚ which drastically cut into profits from the ranch and show. Zack alone could not pull the operation out of its tailspin‚ and in 1931 the 101 Ranch and its associated businesses went into receivership. A year later much of the land was divided and leased‚ and authorities auctioned everything of value to cover debts. On Jan. 3‚ 1952‚ a nearly destitute Zack Miller died.       Today one may visit the site of the ranch headquarters‚ though all that’s left are a few weathered buildings‚ the foundation of the Miller home (known in its prime as the “White House”) and a few historical markers describing what once was. An excellent nonprofit named the 101 Ranch Old Timers Association continues its work to keep the ranch and show legacy alive. Its members support a wonderful museum housed within oilman E.W. Marland’s Grand Home in Ponca City and host annual events and tours for the public. And so the show goes on. New Mexico–based E. Joe Brown is an award-winning author of novels‚ short stories and memoirs. For further reading he recommends The Real Wild West: The 101 Ranch and the Creation of the American West‚ by Michael Wallis‚ and The 101 Ranch‚ by Ellsworth Collings and Alma Miller England. This article was originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of Wild West.

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