The Wild West Extravaganza

My name’s Josh, and this is the Wild West Extravaganza, a history podcast where we discuss all the real-life people and events from the Old West. Today’s show is somewhat different. Rather than talk history, I thought I’d share a few announcements. Sort of a State of the Podcast address, just my way of touching base and letting you know what’s going on and what to expect going forward. Check out t...

In the late 1940s, a man calling himself J. Frank Dalton made a startling announcement: He said that the outlaw Jesse James had not been killed by Bob Ford in 1882. According to Dalton, the entire thing was a hoax, and he – Dalton – was the REAL Jesse James. Join me today as we examine the validity of Dalton’s claims. We’ll also take a look at other Jesse James imposters, as well as the 1995 DNA t...

Join me as we discuss the final days of Jesse James. From the aftermath of Northfield to his untimely demise at the hands of Bob Ford. Also discussed are the Knights of the Golden Circle, along with the fate of Frank James, Dick Liddil, Jim Cummins, and the Ford brothers. This episode is sponsored by Mint Mobile – www.mintmobile.com/wildwest Frank James | The Old Shoe Salesman - https://www.wildwe...

The aftermath of the Northfield raid as Jesse James and the James-Younger gang are shot to pieces and attempt to flee Minnesota. Also discussed are the many injuries of Cole Younger, Jesse James, his alleged jump across Devil’s Gulch, and the mysterious fate of outlaws Clell Miller, Charlie Pitts, & Bill Chadwell. This episode is sponsored by ExpressVPN - https://www.expressvpn.com/wildwest Check...

On September 7th,1876, three heavily armed men entered the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota. They immediately pulled their guns and hopped over the counter, demanding that the clerk open the safe. When he refused, he was viciously beaten. And when one of the other employees made a break for freedom, the bandits shot him in the back. Meanwhile, their companions outside were likewise fac...

Today, we’re going to examine the war between the Pinkertons and Jesse James, a bloody feud that would culminate in an ill-advised attack on the James farm, along with the tragic death of Jesse’s eight-year-old brother. We’ll also be talking about that “special device” that was thrown through the window. Was it really a bomb or something else entirely? What the heck is Greek fire, anyway? And just...

Was the outlaw Jesse James a cross-dresser? Probably not, but an interesting story claims he dressed as a young lady on at least one occasion. Also discussed is how Jesse earned his nickname (Dingus!), Jim Lane and the Osceola massacre, the Lawrence massacre, how to properly pronounce Glassgow, American Primeval, Jim Bridger, and whether or not the Missouri guerrillas were on team good guy or team...

The outlaw Jesse James got his start during the Civil War as a young bushwhacker, fighting with William Quantrill and Bloody Bill Anderson. He killed his first man at the age of 16 and continued doing so even after the war was officially over. Today, we’ll discuss Jesse’s rise from a mere bushwhacker to an outlaw as he and his brother Frank begin robbing banks and have their first brush with the i...

According to many, Jesse James was a hero, a freedom fighter who continued resisting Northern aggression long after the Civil War came to an end. But to his victims, Jesse was nothing more than a cold-blooded killer, one who used the war as a convenient excuse to lead a life of violence and destruction. But where does the truth lie? What occurred during Jesse’s childhood that turned him to a life...

On April 4, 1878, Andrew L. “Buckshot” Roberts took on the Lincoln County Regulators in what’s now known as the Gunfight at Blazer’s Mill. Today, we’ll dive into Roberts’ background and discuss who really killed him – Billy the Kid or Charlie Bowdre. Also mentioned are Dick Brewer, John Tunstall, and one of the greatest westerns ever made, Young Guns. Let’s dance, Mary Ann! This episode is sponsor...

Thomas “Black Jack” Ketchum was an Old West cowboy turned outlaw. He and his gang robbed trains and stole livestock all throughout the American Southwest before coming to a disastrous end. And that’s when things went from bad to worse. Before it was all said and done, Ketchum would go down in history as the only person ever executed for ATTEMPTING to rob a train. Also discussed are Black Jack Chri...

Josiah "Doc" Scurlock was a poet, philosopher, intellectual, and hardened killer long before he met Billy the Kid. His mysterious past in Mexico, rumors of dead men from New Orleans to Texas, penchant for vigilantism, and several close calls with hostile Natives all made Doc a man to be both feared and respected. However, the trials he would face after the Lincoln County War made Scurlock the man...

On Christmas Day 1851, Lieutenant Amiel Whipple and his men find themselves outnumbered and facing certain death at the hands of the Quechan people. What happens next is what many would consider a Blood Meridian Christmas miracle.   Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https:...

Chief Satanta, the great orator, was an extremely influential Kiowa leader. A participant in both battles of Adobe Walls, Satanta was eventually tried for murder and sentenced to life in prison. This is the story of his escape.   Check out today’s sponsor, Mint Mobile! – https://www.mintmobile.com/wildwest   Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/...

Silas Soule moved to Kansas as a teenager. He and his family joined the Underground Railroad, and when it came time to arm up against the border ruffians, Silas didn’t hesitate. Later, during the Civil War, he was commissioned as an officer in the Union Army and served with distinction during the battle of Glorietta Pass. Afterward, he did all he could to protect the Colorado frontier from hostile...

Considered by some to be the last of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch, Harry Tracy blasted his way out of prison in the summer of 1902. What followed was one of the most desperate man hunts in all of U.S. history. Over the course of the next two months, Tracy would lead hundreds of lawmen, including the National Guard, on a deadly game of chase that would see at least 7 men gunned down. According to the...

Billy the Kid had a brother, Joseph Antrim. This is his story, including a brand-new revelation. Stick around to the end for a special announcement.  Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/ Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/ Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com Find...

Deacon Jim Miller, also known as Killin’ Jim Miller, was an Old West assassin-for-hire. Chances are, if you wanted someone gone, Jim Miller could make it happen…for the right price, that is. Also discussed are John Wesley Hardin, Pat Garrett, Sheriff Bud Frazer, and a bullet deflecting steel plate! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp – http://www.betterhelp.com/wildwest Check out the website f...

The Bender family, often referred to as America’s first serial killer family, settled in Labette County, Kansas, in 1870. They built a cabin near the Osage Trail that served as an inn for weary travelers. And that’s when things got weird. Join me today as we discuss the Bloody Benders! We'll discuss their various crimes, their true identity, and their (probable) fate. Also discussed are another Ol...

They say the only man Billy the Kid ever truly feared was Dave Rudabaugh. They also say that Rudabaugh taught Doc Holliday how to use a gun. But how accurate are these stories? And just who was Dave Rudabaugh? Join me today as we attempt to separate fact from fiction. We’ll examine Dave’s short-lived career as a train robber and find out what caused Wyatt Earp to describe him as the "most notoriou...

Did John Wayne learn his iconic onscreen persona from the legendary Wyatt Earp? Let’s discuss! We'll also examine Earp’s life after Tombstone! Check out the website! https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   David Lambert Art Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/davidlambertart   David Lambert Original...

When Olive Oatman was just 14 years old, she was forced to witness the slaughter of nearly every single member of her family. Only she and her 8-year-old sister were spared, and for the next several years, they’d be held as captives. When Olive finally emerged from the desert she was forever marked, both physically and mentally; a young lady not truly belonging to either culture, or as a friend wo...

In the Spring of 1803, the United States acquired the Territory of Louisiana, a largely uncharted tract of wilderness stretching from Canada down to New Orleans. Over 800,000 square miles that, as far the maps were concerned, remained a mystery. President Thomas Jefferson then ordered an expedition to explore this newly purchased land all the way west to the Pacific Ocean. Tasked with leading this...

In November of 1864, famed frontiersman Kit Carson picked a fight with the Lords of the Southern Plains – the Comanche. The bloody engagement that followed, known as the first Battle of Adobe Walls, saw Carson and his men outnumbered 10 to 1 against the Comanche and their allies, the Kiowa. But why? Why did Carson pick a fight with the Comanche on their own home turf? What exactly is Adobe Walls,...

During the summer of 1863, the U.S. Government sent the legendary Kit Carson to reign in the Navajo. As such, the former Mountain Man adopted a scorched earth policy, burning crops and villages, restricting access to water, and pretty much annihilating everything he could find that belonged to the Navajo. What resulted is an incredibly dark chapter in American history known as the Long Walk, as th...