The author is Holly George-Warren, How Hollywood Invented the Wild West: Featuring the Real West, Campfire Melodies, Matinee Idols, Four Legged Friends, Cowgirls and Lone Guns. Just coincidentally she also wrote a biography of Gene Autry. I didn't know that when I sent the earlier post. --- On Sun, 10/19/08, Andy <mimi.erva@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: Andy <mimi.erva@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: JOE THE PLUMBER To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Sunday, October 19, 2008, 2:31 AM Actually, if you're a real cowboy you're probably a freed slave or out of work soldier from the Civil War looking for work. Or a Russian Cossack immigrant doing horsemanship in NYC or Philadelphia in a Cossack style embroidered shirt. So if you like cowboys you'll have to thank the people at Liberty Island who changed Yevgenie Autryinski into Gene Autry. Okay, never mind, I made him up but it captures the reality of the origin of the cowboy. The real cowboys are long forgotten. There's actually a book I came across once on the myth of the cowboy but it too is long forgotten. If I think of it I'll post it. --- On Sat, 10/18/08, Mike Geary <atlas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: But if you're a real cowboy, you suck it up and get back on your horse. Mike Geary Memphis __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com