Wyatt Earp in Hollywood

Join us for 30 minutes of Bob Boze Bell on Wyatt Earp in Hollywood.
What do you want to know? Did Wyatt Earp actually hob-knob with western stars? Did he in fact meet John Wayne? How wild was the last Mrs. Wyatt Earp, and did she pose semi-nude? Who actually made Wyatt Earp famous, and why couldn’t he sell his own story? Did Wyatt Earp actually kill Johnny Ringo?
Bob Boze Bell is known as America's Western Storyteller. He is an artist, author, writer and serves as executive editor of True West magazine. Bell is a popular, sought-after figure in television documentaries about the Old West, appearing as an expert in dozens of Wild West history shows. Bell won an Emmy Award as Executive Producer of the PBS special, Outrageous Arizona, a zany look at the state's centennial, that he also wrote and helped direct. As an author, Bell has brought to life Billy the Kid, Geronimo, Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok in his best-selling Illustrated Life and Times series. His books Classic Gunfights I, II and III are must-reads about the most important Old West gunfights. Bell’s Bad Men is now in its fourth printing, while his illustrated autobiography, The 66 Kid: Raised on the Mother Road, gives personal insight into the passions that have driven him on his lifelong quest to interpret the history of the American West for audiences around the world.
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[@dks13827]

I wish Wyatt was filmed and / or interviewed back then and we could see it.

[@wserafin11]

1- Duke Wayne and Ward Bond played football for USC not UCLA. After an injury Wayne lost his scholarship and dropped out. He studies pre-law and is reputed to have been a very good student. To earn extra money he worked as a gaffer, gofer, estar and stunt man. He developed a close friendship with Ace Stuntman and second unit director Yakima Canutt . 2- He patterned his walk after Harry Carey Sr. who was John Ford’s big star in silent films and later served as a character actor in several of Wayne’s movies like “The Angel And The Badman”, “Shepard Of The Hills” and “Red River”. Garry Carey served as Wayne’s mentor and was paid homage to by Duke at the end of “The Searchers” when Wayne walked away from the house holding his arm! (This was a salute to Carey Sr. who had just passed away. 3- The book by “Billy Breckenridge” is entitled “Helldorado” not “El Dorado”. Billy was supposedly a deputy Sheriff under “John Behan” and both were Democrats who were thought to be in cahoots with the outlaw faction in “Tombstone” known as “The Cowboys”. Sheriff “Johnny Behan” was allegedly engaged to “Josephine (Sadie) Marcus” for a short time before she left him for “Wyatt Earp”. The Earps were thought to be closely associated with the town’s Republican businessmen. 4- “John Ford”. Was not a stickler for accuracy! He was a good story teller! He was a drunkard, a bully and he was very abusive of his actors. He was either feared or hated! Very few actually loved him but he did have loyal members of his acting company! Wayne and Bond were fiercely loyal to him but he had many a falling out with certain actors who refused to knuckle under to his craziness. Harry Carey Sr. Didn’t speak to him for the last part of his own life. but after his death Ford did start Carey’s son (Harry Carey Jr.) off in his acting career. “Ben Johnson” also fell out of favor with him as did Pedro Armandariz who was known as “The John Wayne Of Mexico” and was a huge leading man in Mexican Westerns. The ladies loved him in those films too! Maureen O’Hara wrote about Ford’s abuses in her autobiography. “ ‘Tis Herself “

[@darrellhyde7978]

Great Stuff!

[@walterthornton5409]

Wyatt Earp himself drew a detailed map of the OK fight. He showed where everyone was standing during the fight. Ford could have studied this map if he was at all interested in accuracy.

[@Idahoguy10157]

Hollywood movies were written for entertainment, not accuracy

[@Gutslinger]

Did you even listen to this video? He said Wyatt Earp's account of the OK Corral had over 100 "cracks", meaning gunshots. Then also claimed to had killed Johnny Ringo. And you think his depiction would be accurate?? Lol

[@Rick_King]

@@Gutslinger No, James Flood's book talked about 100 "cracks." He was trying to write the book that Sadie wanted, clean, with lots of pep. Wyatt did claim to have killed Ringo, but no one believes that's true.

[@nealhathaway2004]

Damn it Bob you should do more of these. I love your insight.

[@artisaprimus6306]

It's surreal that John Wayne actually met the honest to God real thing, Wyatt Earp. He goes on to become the king of western movies. I wonder if John Wayne actually copied Wyatt Earps walk as its been claimed. Fascinating!

[@bassmangotdbluz3547]

I have a question for B.B.B.: What did you do with all the money your Mother gave you for singing lessons?

[@kermitkroll5332]

Thomas Eddison was a thief of other people's ideas.

[@garyfrancis6193]

I think John Wayne said he copied Wyatt Earp.

[@danharrell2024]

These episodes are never long enough! Bob you do an awesome job

[@frankzakzak]

Wayne went to USC

[@mrdaveyjones5432]

Hugh o’Brian didn’t have a mustache, He was much better in “The Shootest”Of course The DUKE was simply GREAT,as usual! Thanks Bob for another Great episode of our True West 🌵🌵💥💥

[@douglasthorburn8530]

I read Duke patterned his walk after Yakima Canutt. I love how amused Bob is by all the conflicting stories.

[@zekeplacer4340]

you are correct....Yakima was a helluva horseman as well....I think his given name was something different tho....can't remember it now....darn it

[@TJ_Beam]

That photo you showed is of Leila Waddell. Scarlet woman and witch of Alister Crowley… I believe anyway…

[@robsim4692]

Well Wyatt and gang made it back before Ringo did, Doc killed him and then rode like the wind so Doc would make it to court on time! Wyatt took blame to protect Doc's reputation! We all know what happened! Ringo: I didn't think you'd show Doc: I'm your Huckleberry Doc:"why Johnny Ringo, you look like someone walked over your grave" Ringo: My fights not with you Doc Doc: I beg to differ, we started a game we never got to finish, a game for blood. Ringo: all right younger Doc: Say when Blam!!!! Doc: you're no daisy, you're no daisy at all! They had a paralegal and one of those typewriter ladies there taking down everything that was said! Geez! Haven't you seen the movie? All movies based on true stories are always true!

[@lavictorian]

This was fantastic! Thanks, Bob!

[@nightowl5475]

When Wyatt said on his death bed, “Suppose, suppose….” He may of been getting another money making idea. Certainly, it wasn’t moving again because of his advanced age. But, he was always thinking of making a buck from his past exploits in the Wild West. Just a thought.

[@TooFarWest1]

I love this. In Charlie Chaplin’s My Autobiography, he wrote about the old west lawlessness in Los Angeles, such the Mexican bandidos who would ride down from the hills on their horses and rob film crew at gunpoint on what is now Barham Blvd that connects Hollywood to Burbank. They called Barham Bandido Pass.

[@marcf905]

It will be called that pretty soon as long as Biden continues to ruin this country by letting in millions of illegals!

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

IMO the movie Wyatt Earps that i think most closely portrayed the real man were Henry Fonda, My Darling Clementine, and James Garner, Hour of the Gun. They didn't say much and were very no nonsense.

[@a.leemorrisjr.9255]

Evidently the woman in photo is not Josephine Marcus Earp. She reportedly is an actress from early 1900s.

[@danielcombs3048]

I didn't know that Wyatt and Josephine spent all that time in Videl Ca. I travel down the highway 95 and stopped once at what they said was the house where they lived. There's a bronze plaque and stone monument 🦂🐎🏜️🤠👍

[@stevemccoy8138]

Good one Bob. Why didn't Wyatt get into the movies ? HE was already there. Hey Bob which Outlaws are you related to ? One more question, was Wyatt Earp absolutely fearless, like it's been reported? Thanks Bob. 🤠 I have one more question, why didn't Bat Masterson write Wyatt's story 🤔

[@Sirharryflash82]

John Wayne played football at USC, not UCLA.

[@vilstef6988]

I think it was Merle Miller who wrote an interesting book about Harry Truman who said the enemy of good story telling are the ones who want to clean it up. Probably give it pep. . . Miller called the champions of clean story telling the dejuicers.

[@cherimolina2121]

Suppose suppose. Could it be a vague pleading the fifth? I'm sure he wasn't squeaky clean as some made him out to be. Maybe he had the Jekyll Hyde persona and played the parts to the hilt. When he was honest he was telling the truth. When he was lying he appeared to be telling the truth. He couldn't tell his story because a liar can't remember all the lies they told to stay afloat. Suppose?

[@danielwebster5748]

One thing everyone needs to realize why it hurt was the last one there was no one to question or call foul anything he said. Even Johnny behan was gone dying in 1912. The only one that was still alive was Billy breckinridge and you can bet your butt he did call foul. He said I was not a death deputy as the Earth cronies tried to tell everyone he said my job was serving warrants and I can tell you there was never a single warrant on either mclaury or either Clanton. They did have dealings with wrestlers as practically every rancher at the time did. If you wanted to protect your stock you were friendly with the rustlers and they would leave you alone. A lot of people don't realize this was a much different time a much different place and people today cannot understand it. They vilify The outlaws and glorify Wyatt Earp. And there are very few criminal ventures that weigh it up was not involved in as well. There's even a story that he threatened camillus fly to not photograph the gunfight because he was afraid it would put his head in the noose you know I would like to know what the Earth cronies meant by saying they would say nothing to hurt the Earth but in their opinion doc Holliday started the fight. In addition Tom mcclury's gun was still in the saloon where he had checked it it makes no sense for him to go and buy a new gun at the gun shop as some gullible people tried to claim when his gun was still in the saloon where he left it as was law. The law stated the first building you come in in town you check your gun there well clearly the first building Tom came to was a saloon he was unarmed when Wyatt Earp pistol with him shortly after the fight while he had his hands in the air thinking the their feud was over.

[@StephenEngdahl-mu9rr]

Bob you know the real story so well I think you were there. Still, the best version of it was my show at the OK Corral...right? -Stephen Keith

[@silverstar4289]

I mentioned this in another video by True West- There is a neat unknown biography "Across the Cimmaron" by James D Horan. The subject mentions his relationship with Holiday and if Earp was present when Holiday and the other man talked, Earp would never say a word, only once did they have a conversation- which was a bit quirky. If you like western history- this book gives some great insight into areas rarely mentioned.

[@kevinlake4996]

I was visiting Tombstone and ran across Grandma Sanders diary explains that she was cooking Johnny Ringo something to eat and he would teach her Latin

[@cbanducci]

I lived for a number of years in Colton, California. There is a museum there that talks about Virgil Earp being the first Colton town sheriff. If I'm not mistaken they say that Wyatt Earp worked for Burlington Northern Santa Fe as a railroad police officer, although I'm not sure of that.

[@richardjderr2984]

Was Josephine's family as rich as her character claimed at the end of Tombstone? If yes, why the need to make money off Earp's story? Gambling debts? Failed business ventures?

[@MelbourneShorts11]

Great stuff. I’m looking for a book on wyat Earp in early Hollywood.

[@kevinlake4996]

Bob you need to find that diary it's old I was visiting Tombstone and ran across it and antique shop little black book

[@scottmurray2239]

As a kid my favorite cowboy show was Rawhide. I even recorded the theme song on a recorder. I played and played that theme song over and over.

[@karlbobthepirate5704]

Edison wanted to "protect" Americans from foreign films,🤔 Love your enthusiasm for an enthralling chunk of US history and the way you tell it, thanks for your work on all this wild west stuff, from the wild Western Australian, may your spurs never rust Bob🤠🏴‍☠️

[@craigwarner6156]

So did we ever get the REAL Wyatt Earp story?

[@guysmith1946]

Great video today... where at in Kirkland, Az was Virgil Earp’s homestead? I live outside of Congress Az.

[@vilstef6988]

Couldn't sell it because he couldn't tell it! Wyatt should have had Bat write it!

[@vilstef6988]

I always thought John Wayne walked like he was nursing a rupture!

[@conniecrawford5231]

Song was from Hugh O ‘Brien ‘s Tv series!

[@Jimusmc0311]

Earp was taking guns away.. imagine making America great again.. like that!!

[@Cactusflattmediaphotography]

Outstanding episode, love this one! Just awesome ❤

[@andrewtate8303]

Sure we know it was Doc killed Ringo poor sole was just too high strung 😊

[@bobbyjames5327]

TRUE WEST ALL THE WAY...DOB1945USA..

[@raulxrooney1060]

Are you selling CDs with your music?

[@davidhughes8661]

Is there no recording of wyatt speaking

[@Idahoguy10157]

As a child of six years old, in 1963, my mother informed me that the cowboy heroes on tv and movies were terrible people. I can relate, Bob Boze Bell! Although my grandmother, born in 1890, was from a small town in Iowa. Obviously not from a family in New Mexico who had actual knowledge of Wyatt Earp.

[@WildwoodClaire1]

John Wayne could be almost as cavalier with the truth as Earp. He obviously modeled his performances on Harry Carey, Sr.

[@ernieblanchard8879]

Is there a Virgil version out there anywhere?

[@oregonoutback7779]

What wonderful stories. You tell them so well. Thank you. Also, very, very nice hat.

[@alanhope1190]

I believe Duke went to USC, not UCLA…

[@ihatehoodies]

It's been told many times but how Wyatt Earp wound up in Sherith Israel a Jewish cemetery is an interesting story.

[@classicbladereview1886]

Love to hear these stories of the west!

[@jeff9104]

Great stuff, thanks !

[@debeholland]

That was AWESOME! the American west moves me. . . thanks!

[@douglasthorburn8530]

To quote The Firesign Theater, "We're All Just Bozos On The Bus"

[@DressedForDrowning]

A real friend sits into fire ants to make a photo.

[@MrNorjam]

Thanks for posting this. Long may his story be told! I had dinner at Musso & Frank’s about three years ago and am very glad that I did.

[@bradfordbarrettluckotheIrish]

Very interesting vlog. Clarifies a lot and also that old racy pic as being someone else

[@a.leemorrisjr.9255]

"Any man who "fans" a single action revolver in a fight is looking to get himself killed. You could get your shots off rapidly, but odds were you wouldn't hit much." - Wyatt Earp

[@azmike3572]

Read that movie guns used for fanning have much lighter springs in them. They only have to be used for fanning scenes.

[@jillatherton4660]

Gripping stuff. 😄👍

[@douggoss4855]

Another awesome post!

[@roberthansen9694]

When I lived in Arizona back in the 50's, there were still people in town who had known the the Earp brothers personally. For my grammar school graduation my dad took me to dinner in Tombstone (it had the best restaurant in the area). Currently the Town Marshal's office is on the lot where the OK corral gunfight took place.

[@ufc990]

My grandfather went to school in tombstone, around 1940ish. I wish I could've spoken to him more, he passed before I grew up.

[@roblowe9283]

Great as Always !!!!!

[@riverraisin1]

BBB, your grandmother was right! My favorite book on the before, during, and aftermath of the OK corral incident was titled And Die In The West by Paula Marks. Excellent research and frank facts about the whole story from both sides.

[@jacquelinemarie1078]

Wyatt met Jack London while in Alaska. Also, Virgil went to Goldfield Nevada, to see Wyatt and Josephine, around 1904 where they made him Deputy Sheriff (Nevada had no marshals) of Esmeralda County. But after a few months, Virgil came down with pneumoniaand died. His daughter had his body transferred from Goldfield, to Portland Oregon to be buried in the family plot there.

[@bubbalandbeau9872]

Duke (Morrison), AKA John Wayne, played football at USC, not UCLA. He was always called Duke, name came from a family favorite dog, I think. Thanks Bob!

[@lucasmembrane4763]

I've read that the consensus was that Sky Masterson was based primarily on Titanic Thompson, the famous gambler (card player, golfer, chess and checkers hustler, horseshoe pitcher, etc, etc, etc) from Arkansas, who later retired to Ft Worth.

[@elenamiller3610]

Who taught the Duke his walk? I’ve known that actor Paul Fix taught John Wayne--a lifelong friend--his famous and distinctive "rolling walk" when Wayne was starting out in the business.

[@larrymonahan1106]

thank you loved it

[@Tammy-un3ql]

👍👍👌👌

[@warrendelay]

So Wayne modeled his walk after a 75 year old man's swagger. Ha!! absurd... the fact is Wayne said he learned his style from stuntman and actor Yakima Canutt . Tell us more rumors BBB.

[@lesleyewen-foster3629]

Goood stuff!!! I just discovered you and I just subscribed. Listening to you was fun!!!

[@audreyricci6383]

I am of that generation . I grew up watching westerns like Wyatt Earp, Have Gun-Will Travel,etc.

[@mike1967sam]

Hey Bob it's like the 3rd time I've seen this video. I like Tombstone it has Val Kilmer who is great, Kurt Russell is a pretty short Wyatt Earp. He has an air about him of being a nice guy which I don't believe for a secondWyatt as a nice guy and Kevin Jarre wrote a script full of so much fantasy at least Costner was more precise.

[@johng4250]

Don’t know who said it but I loved the description of Doc as “A suicide bent renegade “ , I think that says it all. I have always been fascinated by Doc, just the idea of an educated man becoming who he became. Just fascinating yet I suspect a horses ass, was it the booze?

[@philsooty5421]

Well he wasn't flawless but he was certainly brave. And he should always be remembered!

[@chrisbatten2432]

Remember, when the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

[@hg-nf9ol]

i read that there is a filmed interview with sound of wyatt earp. But it is owned by someone in England and they wont release it.

[@warrendelay]

"As the legend goes" he said. In other words BBB is just repeating rumor. It's story time.

[@Idahoguy10157]

A great sexy photo with no proof it was Josephine “Sadie” Marcus Earp

[@jacquelinemarie1078]

Facial recognition has indicated this isn't her.

[@rongarrett1366]

Marion Morrison preferred to be called Duke.

[@Idahoguy10157]

Its claimed by Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and “Johnny Behind the Deuce” that they each killed Johnny Ringo. Well after the death

[@brazosteinway5924]

Enjoyable and entertaining and hilarious

[@zekeplacer4340]

Geeez....I guess old Ringo didn't have a lot of friends ? HA HA

[@Idahoguy10157]

@@zekeplacer4340 …. Criminals make enemies even among their ‘friends’. Same now as it was then

[@a.leemorrisjr.9255]

It was not always easy to discern who were the lawmen & who were the outlaws. Even Ringo had ridden on both sides of the law. Some believed "Buckskin" Frank Leslie, a notorious gunman in his own right murdered Ringo.

[@h.p.oliver8666]

While I am enjoying all of your videos, our areas of interest meet in the "Wyatt Earp In Hollywood'" episode. I write historical fiction set in Hollywood between World Wars, so you can understand my interest in this period of Wyatt Earp's story. My reason for posting this comment is to mention another film about Earp in Hollywood. Odds are you've heard of SUNSET (1988), starring Bruce Willis as Tom Mix and James Garner as Wyatt Earp. First of all, it's a comedy, so don't expect a gospel documentary. Beyond that the film is a humorous look at the era and is more truth than fiction. If you haven't seen SUNSET, it will give you a smile or two.

[@jbooth6241]

Can you give us titles of your works, so we can look for/buy them??????

[@dks13827]

Bob, is that Wyatt's Los Angeles house that is still there at that address?

[@johnvoorhees7881]

I love this 😀

[@sandratessem9980]

Too cool for school

[@nikreikalas6886]

Interesting.

[@encoded7403]

Love it

[@55azguy]

Wonderful !

[@stephendufort4154]

good job!

[@jacquelinemarie1078]

Wyatt's sisters in laws hated him, apparently, and said he was a jerk! They felt Wyatt influenced his brothers in a negative way, and thought that Wyatt may even be an outlaw himself. They found masks in their closets, and other articles that could indicate that Wyatt and his brothers may have actually been stage robbers.

[@BoulderCreekSteve]

“ We’re gonna dig us some truth” ? What are you eleven years old?

[@chrisbatten2432]

Wayne went to USC