The Wild West Extravaganza

Latest Episodes:

Grave Secrets: Where Is Billy the Kid Really Buried? Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

For generations, rumors have swirled that Old West outlaw Billy the Kid’s grave at Fort Sumner was swept away by a massive flood. But is there any truth to the legend, or does Billy still rest beneath his famous gravestone? Also discussed are fellow Lincoln County Regulators Charlie Bowdre and Tom Folliard.

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Billy the Kid’s Grave by David G. Thomas - https://www.abebooks.com/9781542404723/Billy-Kids-Grave-History-Wild-154240472X/plp

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In the Days of Billy the Kid: Featuring James B. Mills Sep 30, 2025

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Was José Chavez y Chavez really part Navajo? And what about Billy the Kid’s famous escape from Lincoln? Was that Young Guns 2 scene with the pistol in the outhouse true, or did he overpower his guard? Who actually killed Deputy Carlyle at White Oaks? These are just a few of the questions I discussed with historian and author James B. Mills. His book, Billy the Kid: Bandido Simpatico, is one of the most definitive biographies on William H. Bonney, and his new release, In the Days of Billy the Kid, explores the lives of Chavez y Chavez, Juan Patron, Yginio Salazar, and the underrated Martin Chavez. We cover everything from the Society of Bandits to the Battle of Lincoln, whether Billy and Jesse James ever met, John Chisum, and even the White Caps uprising.

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James Beckwourth: From Slave to Mountain Man Sep 25, 2025

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James Beckwourth lived one of the most extraordinary lives in American frontier history. Born the son of a white plantation owner and an enslaved Black woman, Beckwourth was freed by his father and set out to make his own way in the West. He trapped beaver alongside legendary mountain men like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson, fought in battles ranging from the swamps of Florida to the Pacific coast, and rose to prominence as a leader among the Crow Nation. Beckwourth, also known as Bloody Arm, became known not only for his courage and skill but also for his gift of storytelling. Some saw him as a hero, others as a braggart, and many as a man whose tales blurred the line between fact and fiction. His legacy remains controversial, from accusations of involvement in the Sand Creek Massacre to the mystery surrounding his death near the Bighorn River. Was James Beckwourth a fearless frontiersman, a dangerous opportunist, or simply a legend much too large to pin down? Historians still debate the truth, but what’s undeniable is that Beckwourth left a mark on the Old West that cannot be ignored.

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Sheriff Pat Garrett & the $500 Controversy Sep 19, 2025

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Did Pat Garrett receive the $500 bounty on Billy the Kid’s head? For years, rumors have spread that Garrett was denied payment because he failed to prove the Kid’s death. But how true are these claims?

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Bigfoot Wallace: Texas Hero or Villain? Sep 16, 2025

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Bigfoot Wallace is one of those figures who looms so large in Texas history that it can be tough to separate the facts from the tall tales. Born in Virginia and hardened by tragedy, Wallace headed to Texas with vengeance on his mind. What followed was a life filled with brutal frontier battles, narrow escapes, and enough wild stories to fill volumes. As a Texas Ranger, Wallace faced down Comanche warriors, Mexican soldiers, and all the hazards the wild country could throw at him. He was captured, imprisoned, and forced to gamble his own life in a deadly lottery. Somehow, he always managed to survive, becoming both a folk hero and a figure of controversy along the way. But who was the real Bigfoot Wallace? Was he truly the courageous defender that Texans have celebrated for generations, or was there something darker beneath the surface? How much of his legend is built on truth, and how much is the result of years spent spinning yarns on a front porch?

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The Widow's Secret: Was Billy the Kid's Death a Hoax? Sep 12, 2025

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Did Pat Garrett’s widow really claim that her husband helped to fake the demise of Billy the Kid? What about Garrett’s daughter, Elizabeth? Did she really give an interview in the 1980s saying the same thing? Endless online debates and unreliable sources have fueled questions such as these. But what does the historical evidence actually say? Today, we’ll examine the affidavit of Homer Overton, the stories about Elizabeth Garrett, the primary sources, eyewitness testimony, and the coroner’s inquest records. And hopefully, once and for all, put the rumors to rest.

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John Tornow | Wild Man of the Wynoochee Sep 10, 2025

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John Tornow, also known as the Wild Man of the Wynoochee, became one of the most feared and hunted men in the Pacific Northwest during the early 1900s. Born in Iowa in 1880, he grew up in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, where he developed an unmatched skill with a rifle and a deep love for the wilderness. What began as the life of a quiet hermit spiraled into a story of family feuds, tragic deaths, wild rumors, and a scandal so shocking it still defies belief. Branded a monster by newspapers and pursued in one of the largest manhunts in Washington history, Tornow’s legend continues to blur the line between truth and myth. Was John Tornow a cold-blooded killer or just a misunderstood loner forced into violence?

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Frank "Pistol Pete" Eaton Sep 08, 2025

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Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton was more than a mascot. He was a real man who claimed to have lived one of the most violent and extraordinary lives of the Old West. Born in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut, Eaton moved with his family to Kansas, where he witnessed his father’s murder at the hands of six vigilantes. From that moment on, young Frank dedicated his life to revenge. By the time he was fifteen, he was a crack shot with a revolver and began hunting down his father’s killers one by one. He later served as a deputy under Judge Isaac Parker before settling in Oklahoma as a blacksmith. In time, his larger-than-life reputation turned him into a local hero and eventually the inspiration for Oklahoma State University’s official mascot, Pistol Pete. Today, we'll explore the facts, the myths, and the legacy of Frank Eaton. Was he really a teenage avenger turned US Marshal, or just an old cowboy spinning stories that grew taller with time?

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Young Guns 2: Fact vs Fiction Sep 03, 2025

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If you grew up watching westerns in the late 80s and early 90s, Young Guns II was probably on your list, but how much of what we saw on screen was true? Today, we dig into the real history behind Billy the Kid and Young Guns II with Dan LeFebvre, the award-winning host of the Based on a True Story Podcast. Together, we explore questions such as whether cattle baron John Chisum actually placed a bounty on Billy the Kid, if Pat Garrett really rode with Billy before becoming a lawman, and whether the legendary showdown at White Oaks actually took place. We also dive into the myths of Brushy Bill Roberts and uncover the truth about Dave Rudabaugh’s infamous nickname. Also discussed are Billy the Kid’s gang, the offer of a pardon, dime novels, vigilante justice, and other enduring legends that have kept Billy’s story alive for more than 140 years. If you’re a fan of westerns, historical movies, or the true tales behind the legends of the Old West, this is one conversation you won’t want to miss.

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Archie Clement's Bloody Last Stand Sep 01, 2025

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Archie Clement was one of the most notorious guerrilla fighters to emerge from Missouri during the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Barely over five feet tall and weighing around 130 pounds, Clement quickly became feared across the state for his ruthlessness and intensity. Riding with William “Bloody Bill” Anderson, Jesse James, and Frank James, he participated in some of the most infamous raids of the war, including the Centralia Massacre, where unarmed Union soldiers were executed and scalped. After Anderson’s death, Clement took command and refused to surrender even after the Confederacy collapsed. Instead, he escalated his attacks, intimidating towns, influencing elections with violence, and masterminding the very first daylight bank robbery in American history. His defiance of Reconstruction authorities eventually brought him into direct conflict with Major Bacon Montgomery’s militia, leading to a violent showdown in Lexington. Reportedly carrying up to eleven revolvers, Clement fought ferociously, even after being riddled with more than thirty bullets, attempting to cock a pistol with his teeth before finally succumbing just days shy of his 21st birthday.

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