A slight diversion this episode as we present the story "Alphabet" written by Leslie McMurtry with original music by Katherine Seaton and narration by Sarah Golding.

It took a lot of talent to drive a stage coach. Bandits, bad weather, lame horses and broken wheels were only half the battle. Just imagine how cranky customers could get bouncing around the countryside in wooden coach! One driver handled the task with such skill that they became a western legend during their own lifetime. But it was only after One Eyed Charley that real history was made.

Say what you will about Squirrel Tooth Alice. She may have been the west's best known soiled dove, but she was also a business owner, a mother and proud proponent of Prairie Dogs. Special thanks to Rhiannon McAfee of Rex Rivetter Private Eye and to Austin Beach, Drew Profit and Mike Janson of Broken Bard Productions for appearing in this episode.

Thank you to Chris Enss for her book Wicked Women. To see all of Chris's western work, visit this link: https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Enss/e/B001H6IQ8E/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Some of you all were kind enough to contact me about doing more episodes. It really touched me to know how many people wanted to hear more of our little show. I figured, I may as well come clean about how I left things and let you know some new episodes are coming.

What did gold prospecting and hat making share in common in the days of the old west? Answer: Quicksilver! There was a reason that people used to say "mad as a hatter" to describe someone with mental illness. In this episode we venture close to madness and one possible cause for the odd behavior of our fictional friends Lester Creek and Bradford Miller.

Wild Bill Hangs Up His Badge by Robert Tinsley. Robert wrote, cast, directed and produced this entire episode and there's a lot of talented people to thank for their part in putting this story together. Thanks to Greg McAfee, Commodore James, Pete Lutz, Ben Stevens, Alex Gilmour, Boyd Barrett, Karl A. Nordman, Lisa Rost-Welling, and Lonesome Heights (Be sure check out his page and video of the music he sent us!) And be sure to listen to check out the American West History & Lore podcast for more stories of the American West!

Confederate Captain John S. Mosby never went to West Point but that didn't stop him from becoming one of the foremost experts on Guerrilla warfare during the Civil War. Mosby's midnight raid on Fairfax became the stuff of legends and it ruined military careers for many Union officers but what happened to $350,000 worth of gold, silver and other valuables that was said to have been stolen during the raid? It would be worth over $6 million dollars today. 

Buffalo Bill Cody is best remembered as a showman and perhaps the "P.T. Barnum" of the West. But there's more to his story. Aside from being a legend in his own time, he influenced America in some surprising ways and left a lasting legacy in the way we remember the West.

This minisode is a fictional story about 3 gold prospectors. It is a story based on the moral: "the true value of money is in it's use." Written and performed by Steve Blizin. All rights reserved.

It's Egg Nog Season! So, we started a new show called the Nog Blog where Cheryl and I discuss viscosity, rum and other important considerations in choosing your Egg Nog accessories. Oh, sure there's a smidge of Drift & Ramble stuff in here but when it's Egg Nog season, things get weird for a reason.

In this special Halloween episode, we explore the legend of the Navajo Skin Walkers. A subject that many feel is taboo even to speak about today. What we find out is creepy - and perhaps a little more than we wanted to know. This episode is brought to you by Rex Rivetter: Private Eye.

The guys from Audioblivious Productions go on an epic road trip to the Superstition Mountains to look for gold and the Lost Dutchman Mine. Native American folklore says this area could be cursed and may even be the gateway to the underworld. It's just a legend. What could go wrong?

A slight departure from our usual format, Cheryl and I meander through some trivial tidbits from the Wild West including Saloons, The evolution of the Wagon and the strange case of Samuel Colt's lost shipment of six guns. There's even deleted scenes and a ghost story or two!

Annie Oakley rose from abject poverty to become an American icon. She not only bested men in a sport once dominated by them, she went on to prove she was as tough and determined off stage, as she seemed to be while performing. Check out the inspiring story of this woman's rise to fame. 

In this first ever edition of "Unscripted," Steve suffers from production burn out and Cheryl wants to become a muse. Things get weird but it's definitely not the Old West. Our regular programming will return shortly!

In this second part of our two part series, we follow the final days of the Po8. Black Bart eluded detectives for 8 years and during his crime wave, he continued to taunt the men who pursued him. When he was finally caught, he patiently served his time. But upon his release from prison, the man mysteriously disappeared. Did he continue his life of robbery? The mystery may never be solved.

Black Bart, the "Po8" may have been the West's most polite bandit. In this true crime story from the pages of history, you'll learn how Black Bart robbed 28 stage coaches but never took a dime from the passengers. He never fired his weapon during his eight year crime spree and he left poems at a few of his crime scenes. Who was this masked man and why did he hate Wells Fargo so? We'll answer these questions in this two series. This episode is part one. 

Pearl Hart, the "Lady Bandit" loved the bad boys. She married one and they attended the World's Fair where she became enamored with strong women of the west like Annie Oakley. Inspired, she robs a stage coach and becomes one of the most infamous shady ladies of the old west.  

The story of Geronimo is one of outrage and honor, of revenge and deceit and it's a story of how the man became an inspiration even after his death. Told in his own words, thanks to a superintendent of schools and the president of the united states, it's an amazing journey into the mindset of this Apache medicine man who some believe, held supernatural powers. 

In 1860 a man takes a photo of an empty chair. When he develops the picture, there is a ghostly image of a young boy in the frame. How did it get there? And who is this ghastly specter? Within a year, Spirit Photography becomes a lucrative business and the master of this odd profession is William Mumler. In this strange story of spooky photos, we look at the champions and foes of spirit photography.

As more and more white settlers move into the Minnesota Territory, the Dakota are pushed on to smaller and smaller bits of a land. When the mounting tensions finally come to a boil, the results are tragic and costly for all involved. The story of the Dakota 38 is about America's largest mass execution. This important part of American history is often overlooked or ignored. Even my own father, who was born and raised in Minnesota, was not aware of these events. This episode includes graphic descriptions of violence. Listener discretion is advised.

What's in a name? In the story of Rattlesnake Dick we learn the nicknames can be powerful and living up or down to the reputation they promote may not always be advisable. And while Dick may be all but forgotten, there's that big ol' pile of missing gold that remains. Think you'll be the one to find it?

The story of a mountain man's struggles in the wild is an epic saga of survival and vengeance for the murder of his wife and unborn child. But do we really know who Liver Eating Johnson was or if the stories are even true. Our friends at Fatecrafter's Audioblivious Productions and Pulp-Pourri Theater appear to help bring the story to life.

The six gun is perhaps the west's most iconic hardware. In EP 20 we trace the origins of the revolver from it's unlikely source of inspiration to the point at which it won the west. Along the way we'll learn about the triumphs and tragedies that surround the developers of the six shooter as well as those who lived and died by the gun.

Call him Deadwood Dick or Nat Love, the most famous cowboy of color in the west, is a product of his own doing. Are the stories true? Does it even mater? As we learn more about the rich history of the old west, we find that tall tales and legends can often reveal great truths.

Among the many fabled lawmen of the old west, Bass Reeves was remarkable. He may have been the inspiration behind the Lone Ranger. Bass was a man who’s storied career is one of triumph over adversity, relentless dedication to his craft and a brilliant example of a man who showed respect, honor, humility and humanity in a world and time when little existed.  Bass Reeves was no ordinary lawman and his legendary career is marked with stories that will make you smile, squirm and thank your lucky stars he isn’t coming after you.

Was the gunfight at the OK Corral fought over a woman? How did Josephine "Sadie" Marcus wind up in the center of that epic storm?  Though there are many mysteries surrounding the final Mrs. Wyatt Earp, one thing that is certain is how she changed the Earp story forever. EP 17 is all about the mysterious woman of Tombstone: Josephine Marcus Earp.

They say the most successful relationships happen with the couple share a common interest. Doc Holliday was a quick tempered, hair triggered, card hustler in the old west. His common law bride shared many of these qualities. In this episode, we'll learn about the woman behind one of the west's most legendary figures. The story of Big Nose Kate is every bit as legendary. No matter how volatile their love life was, what some people may do for love will surprise you.

The true story of Wyatt Earp isn't you're probably familiar with. Thanks to Hollywood, Josephine Marcus and an author named Stuart Lake, what we think we know is that this famous lawman made his bones with the gunfight at the OK corral. But what really made Wyatt Earp famous may surprise you. It had nothing to do with gun play. Still, the true story of this American icon is no less fascinating. Wyatt Earp is featured in Episode 15.

The gunfight at the OK corral only lasted 30 seconds but two men associated with that battle would become the most widely recognized gunfighters of the wild west. So why did it take 50 years for the the story to become legend and just who was this man we think we know named "Doc Holliday?"

What makes a great gunfighter? The answer may surprise you. The wisdom of the old west still applies today. In this episode, we hear from Bat Masterson himself, as he describes the 3 requirements of a great gunfighter and tells us about his friend, Ben Thompson. Ben himself was a highly regarded gunfighter in his time and Masterson spins an entertaining tale about the life and times of his friends adventures in the old west.

As a legend of the old west, Bat Masterson stands tall. He was a buffalo hunter, a gunfighter, an accidental Indian fighter and sheriff of Dodge City during its most violent year. He was close friends with Wyatt Earp, Buffalo Bill Cody, President Roosevelt and many other men known for their prowess with the gun. Today's episode is all about the man known for his bowler hat and deadly aim.

Judge Roy Bean was a cantankerous old coot and the "Law West Of The Pecos" but in his younger days, he was quite a ladies man with a history that's as wild as the old west. Find out how he came to be the law west of the Pecos in this very special episode featuring the cast of the Audioblivious Productions.

Are Coyotes rising up against us? Does a woman in a remote cabin survive the night? Can our host write poetry or should he stick to Western stories? And finally the true story of a mysterious healer during the Civil War. Was it sent from heaven or did it come from below? This episode is titled ...Fear.

In EP 9, we get ready for Halloween with two gruesome stories: The Wendigo and Big Nose George... First Nation and Algonquin speaking peoples had a legend of a powerful, shape-shifting creature, born out of greed, who appeared with bitter cold with an insatiable hunger for human flesh. The "Wendigo" was documented as early as 1661 but eventually assigned to a medical diagnosis called "Wendigo Psychosis." Was this an acknowledgement that Wendigos actually do exist? And could this be what happened to the Donner Party?  Then we learn about the strange true tale  of outlaw Big Nose George. Perhaps the best way to get to know him would be to walk a mile in his shoes...

We're "Whiskey Talkin" or talking whiskey as we trace the history of America's Native Spirit through the bottom of a shot glass - from it's humble beginnings on the American Frontier, Bourbon quickly evolved to become an integral part of our culture and economy. Bourbon expert and author, Reid Mitenbuler joins us to explore this fertile subject and there are several surprises along the way.

In this episode, we get a first hand glimpse gunfighters and desperados of Virginia City through the eyes of Mark Twain. We learn the tragic details of Nevada's worst mining accident and we visit the Gold Hill Hotel where ghostly weirdness abounds. And we end our 3rd and final installment on this curious little town that time forgot - with a look at the psychedelic 60's and the surprising birthplace of this iconic period in history.

In the continued story of the Grosh Brothers, we learn if they'll become rich from their gold and silver finds in Nevada. We'll meet the man the Comstock Lode was named for and we also meet an unknown Samuel Clemens who comes to town to meet his true calling - and leaves as Mark Twain. We'll also hear him freely admit to his role in manipulating the stock markets at the time. With special guests Finnius and Bill from the Tattooed Bananas Podcast!

In 1849, two brothers leave the security of their home in Pennsylvania to travel to California during the gold rush. We follow in their footsteps as they struggle through nearly 10 years of incredible hardship. Then they discover something that could change their lives forever. This is part one of a 3 part series on Virginia City, Nevada.