A Big Difference in Books and Movies by Ginger Simpson

Just as we take creative license with our books, I believe movies and TV programs do the same, although editors and publishers always stress how important, as authors, our historical facts must be true and accurate.  The same doesn't seem to apply to movies.

Borrowed from Wikipedia

For example:  I watched one of my old favorite westerns while camping, Buffalo Girls.  In the movie, Wild Bill is played by Sam Elliott. (Yum...or used to be yum)  He and Calamity Jane Canary had a brief fling which resulted in the birth of a baby girl.  However, they weren't married in the movie and there is no historical mention of a marriage between the two, but in researching Wild Bill, I discovered  Jane Canary claims to have married and divorced Bill Hickok so he could wed Agnes Lake.  However, as I mentioned, there are no records to support Jane's marriage claim, but Bill did marry Agnes Thather Lake.  I found no record of offspring which makes sense since they married in March 1876 and Hickok died August 2, 1876.

Wild Bill had a colorful background.  A notable marksman at a young age, he meandered in and out of positions upholding the law.  Tall and thin, he earned derisive (according to Wikipedia) nicknames such as "Duck Bill" and "Shanghai Bill," and it wasn't until he grew a moustache in 1861 that he began calling himself "Wild Bill."  It's no wonder.  *smile*

During the Indian wars, he scouted for Custer's 7th Calvary, but then moved to Niagara Falls to try his hand at acting.  After he should no talent in that area, he return to what he knew best....being a lawman.  However, in one of his many shootouts, he accidentally shot and killed a deputy who was coming to his aid and was relieved of his duties in Abilene.

Wild Bill's colorful life came to an end in a saloon Deadwood in the Black Hills of Dakota.  He made it a habit to sit with his back to the wall while gambling, but this particular time, arrived late for the game and his seat was already taken by someone who refused to relinquish it.  A former buffalo hunter named, Jack McCall (AKA Crooked Nose Jack), entered unnoticed by Hickok, drew his pistol and shot Wild Bill in the back of the head, killing him instantly.  Another player was struck in the wrist by the bullet as it exited Hickok's right cheek.  The hand he was holding was sure to be a winner, two aces and two eights of spades;  now known as the "Dead Man's Hand."  The fifth card had yet to be revealed.

By the time of his death, Hickok had killed thirty-six men.  The motive for his own murder remains a mystery.  Some claim the shooter might have been paid to do the deed, other's claim it was payback for the way Wild Bill had embarrassed him the previous day, after McCall had lost all his money, Hickok gave him money for breakfast.  The most logical is the shooting was in retribution for the killing of McCall's brother, although there is really nothing to prove he was related to "Lew McCall," who was reportedly killed by the law in Abilene.

Taken From Google Images

McCall was acquitted (HUH?) and left for Wyoming, where he bragged about what he'd done and was rearrested and tried again.  This time, he was hung (March 1877.)

Times have really changed.  Double Jeopardy didn't exist in that time period because Wyoming was not yet recognized by the U.S. In the movie, Buffalo Gals, Calamity, along with her new baby and an old Indian, came to the Abilene where Wild Bill was killed and found they had just hanged someone.  Guess Who?  That's not true to history.

 Although some allege Calamity tried to organize a mob and threatened McCall with hanging, historical records reveal she was actually being held by the military at the time.  So much for historical accuracy in movies.  You can bet if we write about a novel about Wild Bill, it will be historically correct.

No baby, no marriage, no divorce, just the facts we can find that are historically accurate.  I guess the romantic part of Jane giving up her child because the father was dead and she couldn't care for the little girl, given the mother's lifestyle, just added appeal to being a Buffalo Gal.

If you would like to know more about the story of Wild Bill Hickok.  I just watched Legends and Lies based on Bill O'Reilly's book.  I enjoyed finding out the TRUE story, and those wanting to know more about Hickok's years enforcing the law and his shootouts...visit Wikipedia's page on Wild Bill.
BTW...O'Reilly's book was written by David Fisher, the author of more than a dozen bestsellers.  He has also written extensively for national magzines and newspapers.   Bill likes to brag about his books...you'd think he wrote them.  *lol*

Wikipedia Picture

To Kiss or Not to Kiss, That is The Question - By Ginger Simpson

In 2013, when I first started Cowboy Kisses, I posted a blog that dealt with whether or not American Indians during the 1800s really kissed, and was their courting something we commonly read about in Romance novels.  I indicated that I was seeking the answer, and after exhausting all my own avenues, I sought an answer from "Ask the Experts." I'm sharing the answer I received here, but first...the following is the blog I posted in early 2013.

There has long been controversy over whether or not Indian lovers kissed.  Of course, no one can forget Kevin Costner (Lt. Dunbar) and his beautiful Indian woman, Stands With a Fist, and their toe-tingling liplocks in Dances with Wolves.  Did the writer take creative license and expand the romance for the sake of making the movie more appealing?  I know, as a romance author, I've had some pretty passionate scenes in my books, but I can't find much written about the "custom."  I recently sent off an email to an American Indian forum and I'm waiting for a response, but what I discovered in by book, The Sioux by Royal B. Hassrick casts a little black cloud over my passionate nature.  :)  NOTE:  I never received a response from the forum.

I quote, "Lovers were never to be seen holding hands, and man and wife never showed any affection in public.  There is no intimation here that the Sioux failed to know all that is necessary to know about the intimacies of marital affection, but this knowledge could not be bandied about.  Any overt expression of affection would be uncouth."

The author further states that in events where women and men were both in attendance, they sat separately, with the women keeping their eyes downcast and whispering only to their neighbor.  Likewise, the men did not exchange glances with the females as modesty and reserve "were the essence of fortitude."

people.ucls.uchicago.edu -

It sounds to me that what went on behind the closed tepee flaps shall forever remain secret, but the fact that it wasn't uncommon for young married couples to spend years with their elders might have provided less chance for intercourse or romance of any type.

It's great to be a fiction author.  Although I can guarantee most of my facts are historically accurate, I cannot with any certainty say that kissing was indeed a custom practiced in private by the Lakota.  I hope to get an answer from someone who might know.  :)  Feel free to share any resources here in the comments.  I think we'd all like to know.

So...now I'll share with you the questions I asked, and the answers I received.  May I say, I have no idea why I referred to an OAK tree when I correctly researched the type and have it in the opening chapter of Yellow Moon, my current WIP.


Subject: Intimacy & Kissing among early American Indians
Question:
 Hello,
I'm an author, and as someone who writes historical fiction, I try to keep my historical facts straight.  I've been able to research most of what I need in order to be credible, but very little is available about the intimacy among Native American couples, specifically whether or not they actually kissed.  I've written mainly about the Lakota and do realize that public displays of affection were frowned upon, and courting usually took place beneath a blanket away from prying eyes.  Of course, as most authors, I've taken creative license to create romance scenes as shown in movies such as Dances with Wolves, but the two main characters were both of white heritage.  I really would like an answer or an idea where I might find written resources that I can share with my peers via my blog.  Thank you in advance for your help.

Ginger Simpson
http://www.gingersimpson.com
http://mizging.blogspot.com

ANSWER: Dear Ms. Simpson;
Your question is a bit difficult, as it does vaguely date the people in question to the historic past, as if they remain an anthropological study in several folders in a storage bin somewhere. The answer is as individual as your characters will be when your work is completed. I can only answer from my own experience, as you have already stated how reserved and apparently devoid of public expressions of affection the Lakota traditional culture is.

In my relationships with many different people and families of the Hopi, Zuni, Pueblo and Navajo cultures, bear this out. A light touch on the hand or shoulder and a quick hug were all that were ever displayed in our presence. Even after many years of friendship. We attended a wedding of a Zia Pueblo couple in Zia Pueblo in the ancient adobe church there. A quick peck on the lips, and the marriage was sealed. While I've never seen an Indian couple "making out" in public, we don't think there is any social compulsion to behave differently than any other race when in private.

One tip off was experiencing the lustiness of their humor. The Hopi were the fastest to rise to "testing" us with "off-color" humor which we enjoyed immensely and when we had known Navajo families a bit longer, they too, would pull our legs and poke fun in a decidedly sexual nature from time to time. So it's pretty clear they enjoy it. They just don't show it off. The people we knew made a point of providing space and time to courting couples, so they could be alone and out of sight as necessary.

In terms of the Lakota, there are some well-documented examples of the difficulty, especially for women, within their culture, for free expression. I would recommend a book, Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog for it's personal view of Lakota culture and how it has confronted the modern society and consumer culture. As long as you're not doing Fifty Shades of Red, or some such equivalent, I think portraying your characters with a certain degree of shyness between the sexes would do the trick. Best wishes for your ongoing research. I hope this is helpful;

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you...this was indeed helpful, and I have ordered "Lakota Woman" by Mary Crow Dog as you suggested and I'm really hoping to find standards as they applied during the 1800s when the Sioux Indian were still plentiful on lands promised them by the US...specifically the Lakota in the Black Hills  My work-in-progress, Yellow Moon, is the story of a young Sioux maiden who is selected to be among those virtuous women searching for the proportionate COTTONWOOD oak  to use for the sun dance.  Since most of my reading has been of other "romance" type books about the Indians, and restricted to research based solely on the rituals and cultural life of the tribe at that time, I'm totally in the dark as to how courting would have occurred.  Would a young man have approached her at the river while she filled buffalo bladders with water? Would he have hinted that he wanted to know more about her and that the feasting during the first four nights of the sun-dance might be the appropriate time to ask her more?  I wasn't very clear in my original question, and for that I apologize, but I'm hoping between your expertise and the book, I can learn what is appropriate to history.

Thank you so much.

Ginger Simpson
Answer:
The proper forked tree for the Sundance would have doubtlessly been a Cottonwood, which are know to draw lightning strikes and live. Courting, is still very similar, in that the initial approach is through an elder female of the intended's family. Even her name, would only be revealed under proper conditions. For example, a young man might approach one of her friends to ask who he might ask about her. The referrals would progress up the chain to an elder -- probably her mother's oldest sister, who might suggest the introduction to her mother. It is complicated. Young men in that day, would not have the right to approach directly, nor would the two be seen in public unless accompanied by an elder woman. However, at night, the ritual of the Courting Flute arose, to provide an audible clue as to where the young man might wait under cover of darkness, for his intended to meet him. She would hear the melody faintly, from inside her parents' lodge and would give some excuse to rise -- bathroom call, etc. -- go outside and follow the sound of the flute to him where they might share a few moments before she returned to her parents lodge. At some point in their courtship, Once his interest in her had been accepted by the elders of her family and her parents, he would send her a gift, which, if she accepted him, would be accepted publicly in front of her parents, at which time, his identity and familial connections could be shared: clan, honors, etc. At this time, she would have accepted his betrothal. I'm not sure if anything beyond the slightest, least important contact could be arranged during Sundance, when the dancers as well as the entire community are on their best behavior, focused upon the needs of the greater community to assure the success of the intercession of the spirits upon seeing the purity of the sacrifice. Stray thoughts even, personal matters such as this, would be considered as working against the ritual, so they would be kept to chance meetings, and little else. For more detail, I suggest you contact a Lakota Community such as Rosebud, SD. The tribal government may have a public information officer who can pout you in touch with appropriate elders. Glad to be of some help.

Richard Sutton
Kiva Trading Company
www.kivatrading.com
*********

Needless to say, I have some serious re-writing to do.  So much for my opening where Yellow Moon meets him at the river because he's followed her there.  Shucks!  I guess "Watch for you wish for," could also be translated to "Don't ask unless you really want to know!"  *smile*  I guess Thunder Eyes is going to follow the chain of Elders to find out more about the woman of interest to him.  Boy...this story is taking a serious turn and I hope my character knows where she's going, cause I certainly don't.  I'm hoping Mary Crow Dog can be of help. I'll keep you posted.