Messages

31

Random Talk / Re: Ozarks historian Brooks Blevins

« on: July 16, 2013, 12:56:59 PM »

I was excited to switch my minor over to Ozark Studies (from Folklore), but in taking the classes, I learned that learning about the Ozarks was for me more of a hobby than a full-on "need to take classes on it" kind of thing. I finally found my perfect minor when MSU FINALLY brought back the African American Studies minor. If they'd had it as a major when I first applied at MSU, I probably would have majored in it; this past year I've had some of the best classes I've ever had.

One of my favorite things to come out of MSU Ozarks-wise is the Ozark Celebration Festival. I've gone to it every year since I moved here, except last year. I'm hoping to make the trek down from KC for it this year; I wanna be able to hang with the Folklore Club, since I'm not gonna get to see them otherwise (well, I do hope to also come down for the Haunted Tour the club has each year on campus).

The OCF falls the same weekend at the Celtic Festival and Highland Games in Buffalo, MO; this year I will be giving presentations at the games on the Scottish influence on Ozarks folklore, so no OCF for me. I'd love to know when the Haunted Tour will be this year though.

32

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Old Bookstore

« on: July 16, 2013, 07:36:13 AM »

It might be fun for several of us to compose a "must read" list of 10-15 books relating to local history...

33

Random Talk / Re: Ozarks historian Brooks Blevins

« on: July 16, 2013, 07:27:53 AM »

I'm jealous of those here who have had a chance to go through the Ozarks Studies minor at Missouri State. I've got both Blevins books, and highly recommend them to all.

I am as well; I was fortunate enough to take Ozarks Geography with Milton Raferty, but "in my day", to quote the grumpy old man, we didn't have Ozarks Studies. 

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Random Talk / Re: Ozarks historian Brooks Blevins

« on: July 15, 2013, 05:07:27 PM »

I won't tell Brooks. 

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Random Talk / Re: Ozarks historian Brooks Blevins

« on: July 15, 2013, 04:26:45 PM »

I wish he would write a "sequel" of sorts to Hill Folks and cover SW Missouri. Gilmore's Ozarks Baptizings, Hangings and Other Diversions is good, but it's obviously very specific in terms of covering theatrical folkways in the late-19th/early 20th century.

T.

36

Random Talk / Re: The Great Passion Play: Signs of the Times?

« on: July 15, 2013, 03:49:30 PM »

For those wanting a concise history of ES, Brooks Blevin's Hill Folks: Arkansas Ozarkers and Their Image has a chapter devoted to the subject. It makes for interesting reading, including a discussion of the founder of the Great Passion Play, Gerald L.K. Smith, who was, ah...a very...colorful character to say the least.

T.

37

Random Talk / Ozarks historian Brooks Blevins

« on: July 15, 2013, 03:44:45 PM »

There is a very nice (but concise) article about Ozarks historian & Missouri State faculty member Brooks Blevins in today's edition of the Springfield News-Leader:

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20130715/NEWS04/307150008/Brooks-Blevins-Missouri-State-University-Ozarks-history

I highly recommend his books Hill Folks and Arkansas/Arkansaw for excellent academic (but readable) histories of the Arkansas Ozarks. The chapter in the former about the rise and fall of Dogpatch USA and the history of Eureka Springs are very well done.

T.

38

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Old Bookstore: OT

« on: July 15, 2013, 03:27:31 PM »

I've got the Morrow book, too. It does take an honest, plain spoken look at tourism myths about the Ozarks. It took me awhile to accept some of it, but, she's probably right. I also have a biography on Vance Randolph by Robert Cochran that tells his life story, and Vance, "Bull-Goose" that he was, had a hardscrabble life to some extent, an alcoholic, somewhat of a "dandy," never had much money of  his own until later, and when I visited the Veterans Cemetery where he is buried, not even the cemetery superintendent knew who he was. Kind of sad. Some of the folks who built up the Ozarks in literature and in tourism put on somewhat of a front at times to sell their ideas or projects. That's marketing, I guess.

The next time I'm in "Fayettepatch", I plan on making a pilgrimage to Randolph's grave. What I found the most tragic in Cochran's biography as to how hated Randolph, May Kennedy McCord and others were by the so-called "progressive" crowd in the Ozarks were -- the scene where Vance and McCord, "The Queen of the Hillbillies", were publically called out for their work in Springfield comes to mind. Ironically, these are the same folks that Lynn Morrow discusses in SOTH Country (Lynn is a great guy, btw. I met him a couple of times when I was working for the Greene Co. Archives as an intern in graduate school.) As much as a love the Cochran book, it just isn't the most readable in terms of a biography of Randolph. I've always wanted to tackle that project, but no time.

39

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Old Bookstore

« on: July 15, 2013, 01:36:40 PM »

http://books.google.com/books?id=6D0-YmjQfdsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Shepherd of the Hills Country: Tourism Transforms the Ozarks, 1880s-1930s By Lynn Morrow, Linda Myers-Phinney

40

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Old Bookstore

« on: July 15, 2013, 09:14:22 AM »

"SOTH Country" is a great book, even though I disagree with him just a wee bit on his comments about "the bull goose of the Ozarks", Vance Randolph. 

Trying to stay on topic here, with the demise of "The Ozarks Mountaineer" and the SDC bookshop, I'm unaware of any real Ozarks speciality book shops, save the regional shelves at Barnes & Noble. The Wilson's Creek National Battlefield's gift shop does carry a few Ozarks-related titles, as do other state & national historic sites (Nathan Boone Homestead, Ozarks National Senic Riverways, etc.)

T.

41

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Old Bookstore

« on: July 15, 2013, 08:23:00 AM »

Another fan of the bookshop and the printshop. I used to love getting "old-timey" posters made there -- anyone remember the "comic-looking" Baldknobber poster?

I bought my now-weathered copy of Hartman & Ingenthron's Baldknobber history at the SDC bookshop. I agree 100% that there needs to be some sort of Ozarks history book store that sells Randolph/Mitch Jayne/Milton Rafferty/Lynn Morrow books -- of course, Lynn's book about Shepherd of the Hills country might not be too popular, as it "pops" some myths. 

T.

42

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Miss the old days

« on: February 27, 2013, 08:41:40 PM »

About the closest thing I've found to the old SDC was Rawhide, an 1880s western town in Phoenix, Arizona. Granted, I haven't been to the "new" Rawhide -- the old one, on Bell Road in Scottsdale, was sold back in 2005 before the housing market bubble exploded in the Valley. The town was moved lock, stock and barrel to the Gila River Indian Reservation south of Phoenix on Interstate 10:

http://www.rawhide.com/

I first visited Rawhide in the early 1980s, and whenever I was in Phoenix (my second home growing up), multiple visits to Rawhide were always on the agenda. To be quite honest, I aways preferred it to SDC -- Rawhide today still has no "mega thrill rides", but the "classics": stagecoach rides, burro rides, etc. Rawhide has been around since the 1970s, and is still holding up well.

Old Tucson Studios is also another possibility:

http://oldtucson.com/

If you've seen any number of TV or movie westerns, you've seen Old Tucson:

http://oldtucson.com/films-producers-directors/film-history/


Regards,

Todd

43

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Any Breaded Tenderloin fans out there??

« on: September 24, 2012, 02:34:52 PM »

Can't say I've ever heard of anyone using cracker crumbs for tenderloin breading. Of course, coming from a long line of Iowans, I tend to be a bit a purist when it comes to tenderloins.

I've had the SDC tenderloin before, and while any PT is good, I don't remember it being as good as an authentic Iowa PT sandwich. There ia a great blog that reviews PT's across Iowa:

http://des-loines.blogspot.com/

T.

44

Other Parks / Re: dogpatch usa

« on: September 16, 2012, 08:21:49 PM »

Brooks Blevins' Hillfolks: a history of Arkansas Ozarkers and their image has a whole chapter devoted to the history of Dogpatch and its downfall. It's a fascinating read.

T.

45

Construction/Rumors / Re: Your Attraction Ideas

« on: August 19, 2012, 08:16:57 PM »

That was where Mark Twain was born.

He was born in Florida (Missouri):

http://mostateparks.com/park/mark-twain-birthplace-state-historic-site