On this day in 1849 -- 175 years ago -- Frederick Wadsworth Loring was born in Newton, a suburb of Boston. He was a poet, playwright, novelist, and journalist and died just weeks before his 22nd birthday. Those of you who know me remember that I have been researching (obsessed with) Fred ever since I … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Fred
Nevada history
Following Fred Loring
Happy New Year, and I hope you will all indulge me as I devote the occasional post to the man who will star in my next book: Frederick Wadsworth Loring, the Harvard graduate, poet, novelist, and journalist who left his comfy home in Boston to be the secretary for the George M. Wheeler survey of … Continue reading Following Fred Loring
“On The Train For Reno”
I told you about dude ranching in the movies in my last post. Today, I'm going to bring you a very specific type of ranch, which figures in a classic 1939 film, The Women. The Reno divorce ranch. In 1931 the state of Nevada did two very smart things: it legalized gambling, and allowed people … Continue reading “On The Train For Reno”
“Hoosier Tires of Yoga and Wants His Dude Ranch Back.”
You know, some stories just write themselves. That was the headline in the Indianapolis News on November 26, 1947, which I found doing some random dude ranch research the other day. Naturally, I had to investigate, and if you think today's celebrity culture is weird, just wait. Alva LaSalle "Beau" Kitselman, Jr. was the heir … Continue reading “Hoosier Tires of Yoga and Wants His Dude Ranch Back.”
Tumblereads: A New Twist on the Old West 