Collection Of Twelve Items Pertaining To The 101 Ranch Near Ponca City, Oklahoma

VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS

Publication: Various Contributors, 1907 - 1933, Various Locations

The 101 Ranch was founded in 1893 by Colonel George Washington Miller, a Confederate Army veteran. This became the birthplace of the 101 Ranch Wild West Show, and also an early focal point for the oil rush in northeastern Oklahoma. When George Miller died in 1903, ownership of the ranch transferred to his three sons Joseph, George Jr. and Zack. The Millers' neighbor Major Gordon W. Lillie, who performed as Pawnee Bill, motivated the Millers to produce a Wild West show of their own. In 1908 Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill combined their shows into an extravaganza that broke records at Madison Square Gardens in New York City. Over the course of the show's history, its cast included Lillian Smith, Bill Pickett, Bessie Herberg, Bee Ho Gray, Tom Mix, Jack Hoxie, Mexican Joe, Ross Hettan, and Buffalo Bill. The collection includes: #1. A 12" x 7 ½" rectangular hide of leather with an illustration by Ray Larson, the 101 Cowboy artist, produced for the Century of Progress World's Fair in Chicago, 1933. The illustration features a steer attempting to buck a cowboy. #2. 11" x 8" 4-page pamphlet advertising "New York’s First Rodeo" taking place at Madison Square Garden, November 4-14, 1922. #3. 9" x 6" 24-page booklet entitled, “OFFICIAL PROGRAM. World's Championship Cowboy Contests Under Auspices Argonne Association of America. Madison Square Garden. November 4-14, 1922. Also includes a pamphlet showing names of the various contestants along with where they’re from and the program for Monday, November 13th. #4. A 22" x 22" beige cotton handkerchief featuring Col. Zack T. Miller (Director) and Jack Hoxie, both on horseback. Handkerchief features a 4 1/2" border and the border offers an illustration of a stagecoach being drawn by four horses; a pioneer wagon being drawn by three oxen; an Indian profile; a cowboy on horseback performing tricks; steer wrestling; a buffalo being chased by hunters; a cowboy profile and predominantly displayed in a corner are the words "101 Ranch. Real Wild West." In addition to the cream-colored thread, illustrations are in red, green, brown and yellow. #5. Hand-written, one-page letter on Texas Kit, Fancy and Trick Roper, Letterhead. Addressed to Zack Miller of the 101 Ranch, introducing himself and asking for a possible job with the show. The letter is signed by Rick Somers (Texas Kit). #6. Typed letter on California Frank’s Attractions Letterhead, signed by C.F. Hagley (California Frank) and addressed to J.C. Miller of the 101 Ranch, asking Miller whether he plans to have any shows at the 101 Ranch this year. Furthermore, asking whether it would be profitable for Hagley to put on exhibits in the Oklahoma area. #7. 8 1/2" x 5 1/4," 16-page pamphlet entitled, "101 Ranch Wild West Show. Daily Review." Offers information about Col. Zach T. Miller, the program for 1931 and with numerous cigarette ads. #8. An 18" x 18" pink silk handkerchief featuring an illustration of a cowboy on a bucking bronco. Above the illustration is written in pink thread, "Frontier Days, Cheyenne, Wyo." and below the illustration in pink is written, "Let'er Buck." The surrounding border of the handkerchief are tepees, printed in blue. #9. A promotional broadside for E.L. Miller's Sciopticon Show exhibiting the "Grand, the Beautiful, and Amusing." The programme of lantern slides includes scenes of California, Yosemite Valley, Salt Lake City and the Mormons, buildings in mid-western cities, the driving of the last spike in the finishing of the U.P.R.R., members of various Indian tribes, scenes in the oil fields, Niagara Falls, and scenes in Europe. #10. Hand-written, one and 1/4-page letter on Carlo Ancelo, World's Greatest Rope-Spinner and Cowpuncher, Letterhead. The letter begins, "Dear Will" (possibly Bill Cody). The letter is signed by Carlo Myles, a member of the show. According to the Cody Archive, "Carlo Miles, had been listed as a 'Mexican performer' in 1910-11 route books for Buffalo Bill's Wild West combined with Pawnee Bill's Great Far East. Contemporary newspaper accounts sometimes referred to Miles as an "Indian," perhaps due to his skin tone. Miles (or Myles) is believed to have appeared in Cody's film The Indian Wars." The letter explains that Carlo hasn't heard from Will in quite a while and that neither man should let their friendship to dissolve. The letter goes on to say that he is currently working for Gordon Lillie's Buffalo Ranch. #11. An 8-page hand-written letter, dated Nov 14, 1910. A great letter regarding the 101 Ranch. In reading this letter, we discover that the author (Howard B.) had just passed his bar in New Haven and was now spending time at the 101 Ranch. He goes on to describe the ranch landscape, assisting at round-ups on the ranch, crossing water for the first time on horse-back, how beautiful and vast "The Great Divide" is, an ornery trick played on him by other cowboys, etc. He ends his letter with the comment that "A New York company is taking some moving pictures here for some of those Western melodramas […] like the newsboys dream and foiled again etc. They got me in some play called the Last Ten Thousand…" As of the moving pictures he says, "They wanted me to dress up as an Indian but I wasn't particularly fond of smearing myself up with a lot of war-paint." #12. A real photo post card of the cowboy band of the 101 Ranch at the Anglo-American Exposition, 1914. 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" black and white photo postcard showing The Cowboy Band of the 101 Ranch marching and playing instruments at the Anglo-American Expo. The Anglo-American Exposition of 1914 was one of the last exhibitions held in Shepherd's Bush, London, in the exhibition space known as the Great White City. According to The Times, "This is the first time that the Miller Brothers cowboys and cowgirls, who come from the 101 Ranch at Bliss, Oklahoma, have performed out of America." A very scarce image of the 101 Ranch Cowboy Band in London. A wonderful eclectic collection of 101 Ranch items, all in very good condition.