Lewis & Clark | Sacagawea & Daniel Boone (Part 2)
The Wild West Extravaganza
One aspect of the Lewis and Clark expedition that’s often overlooked is that much of their success hinged largely on the good graces of the various Indigenous people on whose land they were crossing. Today, as we follow the expedition up Missouri, we’ll take a look at several such encounters, first with the Oto and Missouri tribes, then Arikara, the Yankton, and finally a near-disastrous confrontation with the Lakota – one that had the potential to significantly alter history as we know it. We’ll also examine the Corp of Discovery’s time among the Mandan, a possible meeting with the...
info_outline
Lewis & Clark | The Corps of Discovery (Part 1)
The Wild West Extravaganza
In the Spring of 1803, the United States acquired the Territory of Louisiana, a largely uncharted tract of wilderness stretching from Canada all the way down to New Orleans, over 800,000 square miles that, as the maps were concerned, remained a mystery. President Thomas Jefferson ordered an expedition to explore Louisiana west to the Pacific Ocean to understand this new purchase better. Tasked with leading this endeavor – officially known as the Corp of Discovery – were Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The Corp of Discovery was to travel some 8,000 miles, navigating their way...
info_outline
Introducing American Criminal
The Wild West Extravaganza
From Airship, the studio behind American Scandal, American History Tellers, and History Daily, comes a new true crime history podcast that takes you inside the minds of some of our most notorious felons and outlaws, exploring the dark side to the American dream. The debut season tackles one of the country’s most sensational cases: The Menendez Murders. In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez brutally shot their parents. Prosecutors said it was a million dollar inheritance that led two greedy kids to murder. But the picture-perfect facade this family built hid troubling abuse; could these teenagers...
info_outline
Claude Dallas | Killer Cowboy
The Wild West Extravaganza
They say Claude Dallas was the last of the Mountain Men; A modern-day cowboy and fur trapper just living life on his terms. A throwback to the Mountain Men like Jim Bridger, Jed Smith, and Kit Carson. The only thing was the authorities just wouldn’t let Dallas be. First, it was the FBI, then the Bureau of Land Management, and finally, a pair of Game Wardens out of Idaho. Dallas had sworn he’d never be arrested again, and sure enough when the smoke cleared, both Game Wardens lay dead on the ground. For over the next year, Claude Dallas was the subject of a nationwide manhunt. He would be...
info_outline
Black Cowboys
The Wild West Extravaganza
In this collection of true stories from the Old West, we’ll discuss Bass Reeves, one of the first black deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi. We’ll also take a look at the opposite end of the spectrum with Cherokee Bill – the son of a buffalo hunter who became one of the deadliest outlaws of Indian Territory. Finally we’ll celebrate the life and death of Brit Johnson, a former slave who’s quest to retrieve his wife and children from the clutches of captivity would inspire John Wayne’s The Searchers. Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West ...
info_outline
Legends and Outlaws | An Old West Marathon
The Wild West Extravaganza
In this collection of true stories from the Old West, we’ll discuss George Parrot, aka Big Nose George – a lesser-known outlaw who had a noose around his neck more times than you'd believe. And that’s just half the story! You’ll never guess how this one ends! Afterward, we’ll hop over to El Paso for a legendary showdown between madams Big Alice Abbot and Etta “The Grasshopper” Clark before discussing the legendary gunfight in Newton, Kansas. And don’t forget about legendary Joaquin Murrieta – the supposed inspiration for the likes of Zorro and Batman. Was Murrieta a...
info_outline
John Wesley Hardin's Final Stand (Part 4)
The Wild West Extravaganza
John Wesley Hardin killed his first man at the age of 15, and for the next decade, he would continue to kill. The exact number of victims is unknown, but it’s estimated that anywhere from twenty to forty men fell before Hardin’s guns, making him one of the deadliest shootists of the Old West. Then, at the age of 25, Hardin went to prison. After numerous attempts at escape and several lashings, Wes finally settled down and became a model inmate. And, upon his eventual release, Hardin truly seemed to be a changed man. Believe it or not, he would even receive a license to practice law and...
info_outline
The Sutton-Taylor Feud | John Wesley Hardin (Part 3)
The Wild West Extravaganza
The Sutton-Taylor feud was one of the deadliest of the Old West. On one side you had the Taylor clan – descendants of Virginian Josiah Taylor, who settled near Cuero in DeWitt County. Tough-as-nails patriarchs Pitkin and Creed, along with their many sons and nephews, formed the backbone of their faction. Their adversaries, initially tied to the nefarious Texas State Police, rally under the name of William E. Sutton and Sheriff Jack Helm. Ambushes, assassinations, and betrayals became the norm, with each party vying for dominance. But who’s side would gunman John Wesley Hardin fight on?...
info_outline
John Wesley Hardin vs Wild Bill Hickok (Part 2)
The Wild West Extravaganza
John Wesley Hardin – the Old West gunfighter who not only faced down Wild Bill Hickok but also gained infamy for (allegedly) shooting a man merely for snoring! Join me as we examine both of these incidents, as well as Hardin’s encounter with the Bloody Bender family of Kansas, the time a belt buckle saved his life, and the lead up to the infamous Sutton-Taylor feud. Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West Email me! John Wesley Hardin Part 1 - Wild Bill Hickok - Shootout at Hide Park aka Newton Massacre...
info_outline
The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger | Interview with Rib Hillis & Paul Epstein
The Wild West Extravaganza
Join me in a discussion with actor Rib Hillis and producer Paul Epstein as we discuss the upcoming premiere of INSP’s The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger! As a fur trapper, legendary mountain man Jim Bridger explored the entire distant West and survived countless hair-raising adventures. Now, he's a respected trail guide and army scout who knows every river, mountain, and trail of the frontier. As a new generation of settlers, soldiers, and speculators crowd the Bozeman Trail, Bridger's hard-won wisdom is more valuable than ever, even if his famous tall tales sound more like fiction than fact....
info_outlineThey say Claude Dallas was the last of the Mountain Men; A modern-day cowboy and fur trapper just living life on his terms. A throwback to the Mountain Men like Jim Bridger, Jed Smith, and Kit Carson. The only thing was the authorities just wouldn’t let Dallas be. First, it was the FBI, then the Bureau of Land Management, and finally, a pair of Game Wardens out of Idaho. Dallas had sworn he’d never be arrested again, and sure enough when the smoke cleared, both Game Wardens lay dead on the ground. For over the next year, Claude Dallas was the subject of a nationwide manhunt. He would be captured and sentenced to prison, but he escaped, causing yet another manhunt – this time making it on the FBI’s top 10 most wanted. Believe it or not, Claude Dallas is still alive and free. Considered a hero to many – a living, walking, talking embodiment of the old motto, live free or die. But just how accurate are these sentiments? Is Claude Dallas truly a hero, a good man who refused to be victimized by an oppressive government, or just a criminal turned cold-blooded killer? And where is Claude Dallas now? This episode is dedicated to the memories of William Harlan Pogue, Wilson Conley Elms, and their families.
Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/
Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/ Give A Boy A Gun by Jack Olsen - https://www.amazon.com/Give-Boy-Gun-Disorder-American-ebook/dp/B014085Q2E
Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest
Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/
Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/
Merchandise! https://www.teepublic.com/user/wild-west-extravaganza
Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d