A ‘Fortune’ Teller – In the Truest Sense

By Bennett Owen

Credit: Yahoo.News

Virginia City, Montana sits on the remains of one the most lucrative gold rush sites of the pioneer west. The US Assay Office estimates that $90-million in gold was extracted from Alder Gulch between 1863 and 1889 – and given the price of the precious metal nowadays, that value soars to – count the zeros - $40,000,000,000.

Man with a rocker cradling for gold near Virginia City, Mont. Terr. By Jackson, 1871 Credit: Marion Doss

Now, the popular ghost town is celebrating a lucrative find of a much different kind… namely, a 100-year old fortune telling contraption that’s gathered dust in a back room of the "Gypsy Arcade" which has the nation's largest collection of woking music machines and arcade games from the early 20th century. 

Credit: Ernie Hathaway

The Gypsy Fortune Teller – drop a nickel in the slot and her eyes would flash, and her teeth chatter as a mysterious voice told you your fortune. Yikes! The 'eyes' have it!

The Montana Heritage Commission has found that the Gypsy is one of only two or three “verbal” fortune-tellers left in the world! And magician David Copperfield has gone a step further, saying he believes it’s the only one. He’s reportedly offered $2-million for the relic, hoping to make it the crown jewel in his collection of turn-of the century penny arcade games.

Credit: nicolekiss.blogspot

Now a bidding war has broken out and experts say the piece might ultimately fetch upwards of $10-million.  I wonder if one of the Gypsy’s fortunes went something like, “you will fall back-asswards into boo-koo dolores”? Now that’s a fortune worth telling about.

Read the Chicago Sun Times account here.

Virginia City, Montana, c. 1939.  Credit: Library of Congress

Virginia City, Montana, c. 1939.  Credit: Library of Congress

John Ford’s Stamp of Approval

By Bennett Owen

Credit: Baltimoresun

The US Postal Service is honoring legendary filmmaker John Ford with his own stamp.  It’s a ‘forever’ version, meaning it will be good for as long as there is a post office, which in this day and age is not a foregone conclusion. One thing is for certain, Ford has achieved immortality based on the scene portrayed on the stamp, the broad shoulders of John Wayne and Monument Valley, the scenery Ford claimed was the true star of his westerns. Here it is, one of the most famous opening scenes in cinematic history:

Yeah, pretty flashy opening, but give me Liberty Valance any day. Ford made 140 movies including an incredible 45 made during the silent era. He now joins a long list of western icons honored with postage stamps over the years. Here are our 10 favorites:

C.M. Russell  - Simply the greatest western painter of all time 

Credit: usstampgallery

Sitting Bull – The great Sioux warrior and holy man, forever linked with the Battle of Little Bighorn

Credit: bonanza.com

Montana Centennial Stamp – The Treasure State – Big Sky Country – CM Russell, take another bow

Credit: usstampgallery

Western Cattle in a Storm – Considered one of the most beautiful US postage stamps, released in 1898 with a one-dollar value! The image actually depicts a scene in Scotland!

Credit: dawandastatic

Bill Pickett – An extraordinary cowboy and creator of Bulldogging – Steer Wrestling. The image on the first stamp was actually his brother! Ooops! The original, incorrect stamp featuring Bill’s brother, Ben Pickett:

Bill Pickett Postage Stamp, c.1994. This is the revised stamp that replaced the initial recalled stamp on which Bill’s bother Ben was illustrated:

Credit: hmdb

Buffalo Bill Cody – No, not the football team! An adventurer and one of America’s first great showmen. The stamp was released in 1989 as part of the USPS Great Americans series.  

Credit: Media Bucket

Hank Williams  - The greatest country-western singer/songwriter of them all.

Credit: philosateleia

Sacagewea – She helped Lewis and Clark find the Pacific Ocean. I guess men were hesitant to ask directions back in those days too.

Credit: Photobucket

Pony Express – “Wanted – Young, skinny, wiry fellows. Not over 18. Orphans preferred” Wonder what the postage was for a New York – San Francisco letter back then?

Credit: exponentgroup

John Wayne – We can’t honor John Ford without John Wayne. Duke’s stamp was issued last year as part of the Legends of Hollywood series.

Credit: fanpop

Royal Flush - Will & Kate at the Calgary Stampede

By Bennett Owen

Credit: Pacific Coast News

His Rocky Mountain High-ness, Britain's Prince William and his bride Princes Kate donned specially made rabbit fur cowboy hats for the grand parade at that 10-day cowboy cavalcade known as the Calgary Stampede. The royal couple capping off their nine-day newlywed tour of Canada.

They also took in some bull riding and ... Will with Chuck Wagon …

Credit: The Sun/AP

Credit: Jonathan Hayward/AP

And mutton busting... (the kids riding sheep)

"It's nice to be in jeans again," the Prince was overheard as saying.

Credit: Zimbio

"We should get you into a pair of these," his bride replied as she observed the cowboys in their chaps.

Credit: Zimbio

The UK Daily Mail has all the gorgeous pictures right here. William is first in line for the throne. But if they decide otherwise, Kate would sure make a fitting rodeo queen...

Credit: sanfrancisco.ibtimes

See the Daily Mail for more images.

Five Rules of Summer Skiing – Greatest Slush on Earth

By Bennett Owen

And you wondered why they call it the “Bunny Hill?”

Credit: Summer Skiing at Snowbird on July 4, 2011 YouTube

Utah’s Snowbird resort has finally closed for the season after a red white and blue July 4^th celebration of skiing…with emphasis on the white, we might add.  Going into high summer season, there’s still plenty of it to go around….and enough fanatics to make a day of it.

Credit: Rick Egan: Salt Lake Tribune

Lot full? Check out the tram!

Credit: Utah Outside

It’s been a record season for Snowbird in terms of snowfall, with over 783 inches…that’s 65 feet, about as high as a six-story building. And the lifts have now been open for 201 days…one day longer than the previous record set in 2005.   The resort says the snow depth still measures 12 feet on the upper slopes. 

Credit: Summer Skiing at Snowbird on July 4, 2011 YouTube

And in their usual timely fashion, the My-West staff has prepared some summer skiing tips for those who just can’t get enough of the white stuff -

• Bring lots of sun block and eyewear – a lead suit will also do nicely

Credit: Fox News

• If you fall, be prepared for some serious road rash
• Stay on piste – melting snow often triggers serious rockslides
• Stuff a backpack and be prepared for all kinds of weather
• If you arrive after noon – bring water skis.

And a sixth, perhaps…go down on bended knee and humbly beseech the weather gods for more snow next season…

Credit: Summer Skiing at Snowbird on July 4, 2011 YouTube

Credit: Summer Skiing at Snowbird on July 4, 2011 YouTube

Cowboys Get Their Due – From the Barons of Bull

By Bennett Owen

Bighorn County, Montana. Credit: Library of Congress

‘The Hill’ reports that the US Senate has recessed for the July 4th holiday after approving a bipartisan resolution to “recognize the contributions of cowboys and cowgirls to American life.” The measure designates July 23 as ‘National Day of the American Cowboy.’

“The Hill” notes that the move came amid bickering over stalled debt talks and wrangling over a resolution authorizing continued use of force in Libya.

Well, at least they got something right. Now if they’d just declare Rodeo the national sport…