There are things I like more than straight razors. Some of them, a lot more. One interest is the old west. I'd move to Tombstone tomorrow if the boss said we could. I love that place. I am completely engrossed with the people and the history of the 1870's through about 1910. That's when I should have lived. Looks like I was born about 100 years too late. I will come back and add info in a bit. I have to go rustle up some lunch. To start off, though, here is a pic of the barber shop that was located inside of the Birdcage Theater. I should have gotten a pic of the chair, as well. Don't know what I was thinking. [vbpg]496[/vbpg]
[vbpg]497[/vbpg] This is the inside to the Birdcage Theater in Tombstone. Note the green banner at the left showing the trapeze performers. Above that are some of the "cribs" the soiled doves used to entertain their customers. Inbetween sessions, they could also take in the show on stage. I talked at great length with the property manager and discoverd a bunch of cool facts. One of the most memorable is the fact that there have been 172 bullet holes discovered throughout the saloon from gunfights and general rowdyness from the cowboys. I saw several, myself. One was very near the barber cubicle in the previous picture. Information on the Birdcage Theater. More info for the Birdcage. Of particular note is the cubicle at the left of the stage near the stairs. Some would say that I captured his spirit in the photo that appears to go in and back out of the private viewing box. I did not use a flash for the photo. There were, however, some sections of the wall that were covered with a protective lexan-type sheeting to prevent souvenir hunters from peeling paper and such off the walls. That could explain a few of the hot spots. Not that streak of light though... Back to the viewing box. I can't remember the guy's name, but he had rented that box every single night for two years to watch the show on stage. This place never closed down. It is also one of the very few buildings in town that never got burned to the ground back in the day. Most everything there in the Birdcage is as it was over 120 years ago. Anyway, this guy was apparently the butt of many of the rumors and jokes of the day. His way to dispell the claims that he was a puss was to steal a horse... He earned an atta-boy from the hardliners, but was promptly hanged for the offense. The basement is just as cool. Go to my gallery and follow some of the links or google some of your own. The place is fascinating.
It is very interesting. The 20's seemed like a good era too. Seems like life was much simpler back then
Back in 97 when I was living in Phoenix I went to Tombstone a couple of times. I loved it. One night I stayed overnight and a thunderstorm rolled in and the lights went out...talk about getting the real feel for the place!!!!!!! THe Birdcage has a reputation for having some past residents still visiting the place hence that light in the photo. I dont know about Bill but I felt something when I was there...spooky stuff!! The whole place was so cool. The OK Corral is not at all what Hollywood think it was. It is a freaking horse pen!!!!! but that is where the gun fight took place. If you ever get a chance go there you will never forget. Raf
Life expectancy? Depends on how rowdy you were. I would have made it to... mmm... maybe 50. It might have taken that long before someone got tired of my sense of humor. Then again, maybe not. This is a pic of the pool table that Morgan Earp was playing on when he was ambushed and killed by assassins who shot through the back window of the place on Allen St. It is stored in the basement of the Birdcage and is currently being used as a table-top for other things. It's to keep the treasure hunters from messing with it. It is not advertised as being connected with the Earps, either. I got the info from the guy who is the caretaker of the Birdcage. After having made several trips to Tombstone, I was welcomed in several places as quite the pest. The kind you look at for a while out of curiousity before you squash it. [vbpg]492[/vbpg] This next pic is the location where Morgan was murdered. The store had burned to the ground after the Earps had left town, but was rebuilt to look like this. [vbpg]493[/vbpg] Current owners of many of the establishments in Tombstone today will take advantage of unsuspecting tourists who don't know the true history of the town. Some would have you believe that this was the original pool hall and the table in there was the one Earp was placed on when he died. Not true. In addition, the characters currently running the OK Corral attraction really rip the tourists off. Their representation is only slightly truthful and they have put the ole spin on things. They have also boarded up the back side of the corral a Fremont St. where the gunfight actually took place which I think is a travesty. They are cheating history accuracy by putting the high fence right on their property line which actually runs through the near-middle of where the gunfight really was. The fight actually encompassed part of Fremont St between Fly's Photo studio and a private residence to the west of it. They would have you believe it took place in the confines of their property. That's cause they can't fence off a public street. The hoople heads!
Once upon a time ago.....i use to sell Western Boots in the boot capital of the world.......El Paso, TX. I fitted out 4 performers of the Tombstone OK Corral gunfight troop. I did such a good job they invited me to preform in the show whenever i went to Tombstone. Of course i was dumb enough not to go .....I would really like to check it out.
This is the grave site of my uncle's uncle in Boot Hill, Tombstone, AZ. My uncle George was married to my adoptive father's sister. Not really blood... it's all through marriages, adoptions and happenstance. However, it's still interesting history. And my uncle George was cool. [vbpg]495[/vbpg] This was the lot he was murdered on way back when... From what I remember it was an ambush with robbery as a motive. [vbpg]494[/vbpg]
