More Black Jack BBB Botox

[Bob Boze Bell]

January 14, 2009
This morning I found a couple more photos that might be better contenders for the BBB-Black Jack Separated At Birth bit:

In this stunt photo I have a beard, just like Black Jack: this was taken at a Young Buck radio remote (a radio personality is paid to show up at a commercial venue, outside of the station, therefore a "remote."). This was taken at an Old West supper club in Tempe (I can't quite recall the name) and they had one of those photo emporiums inside the restaurant. After my gig, they offered me a free "old timey photograph" and I oblidged. The hat, jacket and pants are mine, the pistol and rifle are props of the proprieter. And, by the way, the belt I'm wearing is the one the late Randy Baca bought me when I joined the new station). The props in these venues are usually real cheesy, so I picked only two. I believe this photo was taken sometime in 1998 or 1999, which would make it almost on the century mark, as Black Jack was photographed in August of 1899:

The second photo I found this morning was taken at the same photo session as the one I posted yesterday, but in this one I'm wearing a hat:

I think this is the one we are going to use in the magazine. Makes me nervous to look at it. Too close for comfort.

[Bob Boze Bell]

Well put Gina. I think you speak for many of us.

[Gina]

It is good to know that others feel the same feeling, as if they lived before, during that time period. It is like I belong there and I'm homesick and long to go back home. The time period that seems to posess me is between 1836 and 1890. When I hold or read anything from that time it is like I am conversing with my friends again. I can hear their voice, I can reach out and feel their touch through the item that I hold, and I want to tell them that they are not forgotten.

[Bob Boze Bell]

Well, I do see the resemblance, although in both cases those boys are mean lookin' (or, at least meaner than me). Ha.

[Chris Lampe]

Bob, Yes, it's that old photo taken in front of the Wortely Hotel. I think I said it was from the 1890's but I think it was actually the 1880's. I think it's one of the series of photos taken of Sheriff Brent.

[Bob Boze Bell]

Chris, is this the guy you were mentioning in Lincoln, New Mexico?

[Chris Lampe]

[Bob Boze Bell]

Ha. Gus is referring to the fact that when they hanged ol' Blackjack his head snapped off. We have the grisly photos to prove it and they have often run in True West, although we skipped the chance in this coming issue. And, by the way, congrats on the good Blackjack Country map in the same issue, Gus.

[gus Walker aka the mapinator]

BBB

don’t lose your head over the Blackjack resemblance.

gus

[Mark Boardman]

Are you sure that wasn't a whiff of horse poo?

Seriously, those moments are what keep many of us so tied to the West--even if we don't live there. The first time I was in southeast Arizona--probably about 7 years ago--I was one the road between Sonoita and Bisbee. I glanced out the side window, away from telephone poles and modern houses. And the green brush, mixed with the dirt and the hills and the sky, wow! I immediately thought, "The Earps or Clantons may have seen exactly the same thing 120 years ago." I almost ran the car off the road. But every time I head West, it seems I can find some place, usually out in the middle of nowhere, that remains unchanged by time and events. And that's magic.

[Bob Boze Bell]

I often feel like I was part of that world, but then I think most of us on this site feel that way to some extent. In the early 1990s I flew to El Paso and Paul Northrop drove me up to the Tunstall (later Dolan) ranch. As we approached Tularosa in the early morning light, Paul said to me, "Sometimes, you get a whiff of being there, and then it's gone." I nodded my head and we drove on in silence. Very true, and that's what keeps me going to all these great sites.