This Week in the West

`This Week in the West: John Wayne

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 32: John Wayne
📢 Episode Summary:This week’s episode of This Week in The West rides into history with the larger-than-life story of John Wayne and his special connection to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. We take listeners back to 1965, when "The Duke" led a grand opening parade through downtown Oklahoma City, drawing a crowd of more than 100,000. Riding atop a white horse, Wayne thrilled fans, embodying the spirit of the American West as only he could.
The podcast retraces Wayne’s journey from a small-town Iowa boy to one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons. From his early struggles in the film industry to his legendary roles and deep involvement with the museum, the episode paints a rich portrait of a man whose legacy still looms large in Western culture. With stories of family connections, iconic film props and a donation that became a cornerstone of the museum's collection, this is a must-listen for any fan of Wayne and Western heritage.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How John Wayne helped open the National Cowboy Museum in 1965 and the unforgettable parade that marked its grand opening.
A brief overview of Wayne’s rise to stardom and why he became a symbol of American masculinity
The story behind Wayne’s remarkable donation to the museum, including personal artifacts from his films and life
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
Official Website of John Wayne: https://www.johnwayne.com/
Timeline of John Wayne’s life: https://www.johnwayne.com/about/john-waynes-life/
Explore the archives and history of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/drc/
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!
 

This Week in the West: Audie Murphy

🤠This Week in the West🎙️Episode 31: Audie Murphy
📢 Episode Summary:This week on This Week in The West, we saddle up with the extraordinary story of Audie Murphy—a humble Texas farm boy who became the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II and then a bona fide Hollywood cowboy. We share the gripping tale of Murphy’s Medal of Honor heroics on the battlefield, his unlikely rise to Western stardom, and how his legacy continues to resonate 80 years later.
From standing alone atop a burning tank destroyer under enemy fire to playing himself in To Hell and Back, Murphy’s life was a remarkable blend of valor, vulnerability, and the American spirit. Join us as we honor a reluctant hero whose real-life courage shaped not only the outcome of a war, but also the golden age of the Western film genre.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How a teenage soldier from rural Texas became the most decorated combat veteran of WWII
Why Audie Murphy's real-life heroism made him a natural fit for Hollywood Westerns
How Murphy helped shape America's understanding of PTSD long before it had a name
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
Biography from the Department of Defense: https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/4035082/medal-of-honor-monday-army-maj-audie-murphy/
1949 Radio Broadcast of “This Is Your Life”: https://youtu.be/MrPaGoBOGY0?si=HjN5DE9Ah_BJQZMc
Audie Murphy Memorial website: https://www.audiemurphy.com/index.htm
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!
 

This Week in the West: Robert Lougheed

🤠This Week in the West🎙️Episode 30: Robert Lougheed and Prix de West
📢 Episode Summary:In this episode of This Week in The West, we pay tribute to Western artist Robert Lougheed on the anniversary of his passing in 1982. Known for his authentic depictions of animals and landscapes, Lougheed’s legacy lives on through his contributions to both commercial illustration and fine art—most notably, his pivotal role in founding the Prix de West Art Invitational at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Listeners will hear how his experiences on ranches like the Bell in New Mexico and his insistence on painting from life shaped a career that bridged tradition and innovation.
The episode traces Lougheed’s journey from a farm in Ontario to the studios of New York and the open plains of the American West. Along the way, it explores his influence on generations of Western artists, the continued relevance of his philosophies on art, and his impact on one of the country’s most prestigious Western art exhibitions, opening June 6 in Oklahoma City.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How Robert Lougheed helped establish the Prix de West and shape the future of Western art.
Why Lougheed rejected photographic reference in favor of painting directly from nature.
The lasting influence of Lougheed’s philosophy and technique on today’s artists and collectors.
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
The Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale: https://pdw.nationalcowboymuseum.org/
The Claggett/Rey Gallery: https://www.claggettrey.com/artwork
Southwest Art Magazine article: https://www.southwestart.com/articles-interviews/featured-artists/robert_lougheed_painter_late_painter
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!

This Week in the West: J.R. Simplot

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 29: J.R. Simplot
📢 Episode Summary:This week on This Week in The West, we go to high desert of southern Idaho to remember one of the American West’s most influential—and unlikely—business pioneers: J.R. Simplot, the self-taught farm boy who became the “Potato King.” On the anniversary of his death, we trace Simplot’s incredible rise from a 14-year-old school dropout experimenting with potato storage to a titan of agribusiness whose innovations helped define both wartime rations and the fast food era.
The episode explores how Simplot’s early experiments with dehydrating and storing potatoes led to massive government contracts during World War II. But his most transformative contribution came in the 1950s, when his company developed a process to freeze precooked French fries. That innovation aligned perfectly with the rise of fast food, culminating in a historic deal with McDonald’s that forever changed how Americans eat—and launched Simplot’s business into the stratosphere.
Listeners also get a glimpse into the larger-than-life personality behind the empire. Simplot was more than a businessman; he was a true Westerner. He built the country’s largest cattle ranch, invested in technology, and maintained a plainspoken, boot-wearing presence well into his 90s. Despite becoming one of America’s wealthiest men, he never lost his frontier pragmatism or his deep roots in the land that raised him.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How J.R. Simplot’s innovations shaped the frozen food and fast food industries
The role of Western land and agricultural practices in building a business empire
Why Simplot remains a towering figure in both Western history and American entrepreneurship
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
The J.R. Simplot Company: https://www.simplot.com/
J.R. Simplot obituary: https://www.reliableplant.com/Read/11994/jr-simplot,-founder-of-potato-empire,-dies-at-age-99
A history of French fries: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/are-french-fries-truly-french
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!
 

This Week in the West: Bob Wills

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 28: BOB WILLS
📢 Episode Summary:On this week’s episode of This Week in The West, we celebrate the life and legacy of Bob Wills, the King of Western Swing. Broadcasting from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, the show takes listeners deep into the roots of a musical style that shook up the 1930s and beyond. Wills and his Texas Playboys blended country, jazz, blues, Dixieland, and even polka to create a sound that was fresh, lively, and irresistible — and they introduced it to the world through the airwaves of Tulsa’s KVOO radio station.
Marking the 50th anniversary of Bob Wills’ passing, the episode traces his journey from a small Texas town to national stardom. You’ll hear how Wills’ childhood in the cotton fields exposed him to a wide range of musical influences, how he developed his signature style as a young performer, and how songs like “New San Antonio Rose” catapulted him to fame. Even after personal struggles and the breakup of the Texas Playboys, Wills’ music continued to inspire generations of artists and earned him places in both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How Bob Wills blended country, jazz, blues, and other styles to invent Western Swing
The story behind the Texas Playboys’ rise to fame on Tulsa’s KVOO radio
Why Bob Wills’ musical legacy still resonates with today’s artists and audiences
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
The Bob Wills & Johnnie Lee Wills Photograph Collection at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: https://images.nationalcowboymuseum.org/islandora/object/ncm%3A226137
Country Music Hall of Fame: Bob Wills: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/bob-wills
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!
 

This Week in the West: Myrtis Dightman

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 27: Myrtis Dightman
📢 Episode Summary:In this week’s episode of This Week in The West, we celebrate the 90th birthday of rodeo legend Myrtis Dightman, a man who broke barriers as the first Black cowboy to compete at the highest levels of bull riding. Known as the “Jackie Robinson of bull riding,” Dightman’s courage and talent paved the way for future generations of Black rodeo athletes, inspiring countless cowboys—including world champion Charlie Sampson—to chase their own dreams in the arena.
We dive into Dightman’s incredible journey, from his early days working as a ranch hand and bullfighter in East Texas to his historic debut at the National Finals Rodeo in 1964. Despite the racism and obstacles that stood in his way, Dightman earned his place among rodeo’s greats, capturing wins at top-tier events like the Cheyenne Frontier Days and Calgary Stampede, and leaving an indelible mark on the sport’s history.
Listeners will also hear stories of Dightman’s mentorship, his appearances in classic rodeo films, and the legacy he’s built back home in Crockett, Texas, where a statue and an annual rodeo honor his groundbreaking career.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How Myrtis Dightman overcame racism and discrimination to become one of rodeo’s top bull riders.
The vital role Dightman played in mentoring the next generation of Black cowboys, including Charlie Sampson.
Why Dightman’s legacy continues to inspire and is celebrated through statues, rodeos, and film.
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
Interview with ABC Houston: https://youtu.be/VGhgRcoecq8?si=2jEarPpb5W71_6Iw
Breaking Trail Blog from The Cowboy: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/breaking-trail-the-story-of-myrtis-dightman-the-jackie-robinson-of-rodeo/
A salute from Rodeo Houston: https://www.rodeohouston.com/myrtis-dightman-trailblazer-bullrider-and-rodeo-legend/
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!
 

This Week in the West: Foghorn Clancy

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 26: Foghorn Clancy
📢 Episode Summary:In this episode of This Week in The West, we share the remarkable story of Frederick Melton "Foghorn" Clancy, a cowboy whose booming voice made him one of rodeo's most iconic announcers. Born in 1882 in Alabama and raised in Texas, Clancy began working ranch jobs young and initially dreamed of being a rodeo champion. After a short-lived bronc riding career, his powerful voice led him to a decades-long career as the premier voice of rodeo, announcing at major events like Cheyenne Frontier Days and Madison Square Garden.
Beyond his announcing, Clancy was instrumental in promoting rodeos nationwide, often arriving in towns weeks ahead of events to build excitement. He also became rodeo's first historian, documenting the sport's origins and publishing influential works like My Fifty Years in Rodeo. Over his career, Clancy befriended Western legends like Will Rogers and Gene Autry, preserving the stories and spirit of early rodeo life.
Despite financial hardships, including a failed Wild West show venture during the Great Depression, Clancy remained dedicated to the rodeo world. His later years were spent writing and traveling with his wife, Alice, and their five children. In 1991, long after his passing in 1957, Clancy was honored with induction into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame, ensuring his legacy endures.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How Foghorn Clancy’s powerful voice helped shape the early rodeo industry.
The vital role he played in promoting, documenting and preserving the history of American rodeo.
Stories of Clancy’s friendships with Western legends like Will Rogers and Gene Autry.
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
Cowboy Jazz, a 1920 film about the sport featuring Clancy: https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/chicago-rodeo-1920
A Brief History of Rodeo from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/brief-history-rodeo-180980341/
A feature on Clancy from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article283852478.html
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!
 

This Week in the West: Willa Cather

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 25: Willa Cather
📢 Episode Summary:In this episode of This Week in The West, we journey to the sweeping prairies of Nebraska to explore the life and legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather. Born in Virginia in 1873 and later raised in Red Cloud, Nebraska, Cather was profoundly shaped by the open landscapes and resilient immigrant communities of the Great Plains. Her formative years inspired novels like O Pioneers! and My Ántonia, which captured the beauty, hardship, and hope of pioneer life with poetic realism.
This episode recounts how Cather’s early aspirations of becoming a doctor gave way to her irresistible urge to write. From her teenage essays in the local newspaper to her rise as one of America's foremost regional authors, Cather’s literary voice resonated with authenticity and emotional depth. Though her star dimmed in the mid-century literary shift toward modernism, her works have since been rediscovered and celebrated anew for their enduring insight into human experience on the frontier.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How Willa Cather’s Nebraska upbringing influenced her most celebrated novels
Why her literary reputation faded—and how it has since been revived
How a youthful newspaper career put the brakes on aspirations to be a doctor
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
The Willa Cather Archive: https://cather.unl.edu/
The Willa Cather Foundation: https://www.willacather.org/
The Willa Cather Homestead: https://www.nps.gov/home/learn/historyculture/willa-cather.htm
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!

This Week in the West: The Virginian, Owen Wister & Joel McCrea

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 24: The Virginian, Owen Wister & Joel McCrea
📢 Episode Summary:On this week’s episode of This Week in the West, we tell the story of The Virginian, the groundbreaking Western novel that became a cultural touchstone, a movie classic, and a symbol of frontier justice. Seth Spillman takes us back to the turn of the 20th century, when Owen Wister—plagued by illness—traveled West for healing and inspiration. His resulting novel, The Virginian, published in 1902, not only launched the Western literary genre but introduced archetypes that still define cowboy tales today.
We follow The Virginian as it gallops from page to stage and screen, with film adaptations spanning from 1914 to the Technicolor 1946 version starring Joel McCrea. The episode highlights how McCrea’s calm, grounded performance captured the quiet strength of Wister’s cowboy hero, bringing depth to the story’s exploration of morality, violence, and loyalty on the Western frontier. Reviews of the day praised McCrea for his authenticity and restraint—qualities that made his portrayal stand out in the crowded field of Western heroes.
The episode also celebrates Joel McCrea’s legacy beyond the screen, detailing his commitment to preserving Western heritage through his service to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, where he was honored in 1969. Wister and McCrea’s shared contributions to Western culture live on through their stories.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
The origins of The Virginian and how Owen Wister’s personal journey West shaped a new genre of American storytelling
Why Joel McCrea’s 1946 performance is considered a defining moment in Western film history
How The Virginian helped establish enduring Western tropes—and how its legacy continues at The Cowboy today. 
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
More about the friendship between Owen Wister and Teddy Roosevelt: https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/TR-Encyclopedia/Family%20and%20Friends/Owen%20Wister
The original trailer of The Virginian (1946): https://www.tcm.com/video/476075/virginian-the-1946-original-trailer/
The story of the Joel McCrea Ranch: https://camarilloranchfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/McCrea-Ranch.pdf
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
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This Week in the West: Frank "Pistol Pete" Eaton

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 23: Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton
📢 Episode Summary:This week on This Week in the West, we saddle up with the unforgettable tale of Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton, the real-life cowboy behind one of college sports’ most iconic mascots. Known today for his likeness on the sidelines of Oklahoma State games, Eaton’s life was anything but a cartoon. Born into tragedy and raised with a mission of vengeance, Eaton’s early years were marked by loss, grit, and an unshakable sense of justice.
At just eight years old, Eaton witnessed the murder of his father by a gang of former Confederate vigilantes known as the Regulators. Vowing revenge, he trained for years to become one of the sharpest shooters in Indian Territory, earning the nickname “Pistol Pete” from a U.S. Army colonel after outshooting the fort’s best marksmen at age fifteen.
Eaton's pursuit of justice led him across the West, where he hunted down his father’s killers one by one, even engaging in a legendary shootout in Albuquerque with the help of famed lawman Pat Garrett. Once his mission was fulfilled, Eaton chose a new path as a U.S. Deputy Marshal and later a blacksmith and storyteller in Perkins, Oklahoma.
From feared gunman to beloved folk hero, Eaton's legacy continued to grow, eventually inspiring Oklahoma A&M’s transformation into the Cowboys and cementing his place in Western lore. Through books, parades, and the stories passed down, Pistol Pete lives on—not just as a mascot but as a symbol of grit, honor, and frontier justice.
 
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
The tragic event that set Frank Eaton on a path of revenge—and ultimately legend
How Eaton earned the nickname “Pistol Pete” and became a sharpshooting icon
Why Oklahoma A&M students adopted Eaton’s likeness as their school’s mascot
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
The Frank Eaton Collection at Oklahoma State University: https://info.library.okstate.edu/frankeaton
True West Magazine article on Frank Eaton: https://web.archive.org/web/20190417183225/https://truewestmagazine.com/frank-eaton-pistol-pete/
“A Tribute to Pistol Pete:”https://news.okstate.edu/articles/communications/2008/a_tribute_to_pistol_pete.html
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us:The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
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