Legendary Female Gambler Kitty Leroy

The thrill of the wild west didn’t just belong to the men. There were plenty of women who were as skilled in cards and guns as Bat Masterson and Doc Holiday. One such female who thrived on the edge of danger, and died young, was Kitty Leroy.

Kitty was born in Michigan in 1850. She began dancing at the young age of ten and by 14 was a professional in the dance halls and saloons. During this time, dancing wasn’t her only passion. She learned to handle knives and guns, becoming more proficient than most men. Her first husband, whom she married at the age of 15, was the only man in their town willing to let her shoot an apple off his head. But Kitty grew restless with small town life and longed for bigger and better things. Her husband didn’t share her desires, so she left him and headed west in search of fortune.     

Game of Faro

Kitty landed in Dallas, Texas and continued with her dancing career, but soon gave it up for dealing Faro. She became an accomplished gambler and continued mastering her skills with guns and knives. It was during this time she took to dressing in men’s clothes and married her 2^nd husband at the age of 20. They moved to California in the hopes of opening a saloon, but Kitty left him for husband number three. This marriage was extremely short. Legend dictates she challenged him to a fight but he refused to fight a woman. She donned her man’s clothes and challenged him a second time. Again, he refused so she shot him. When he didn’t die instantly, she sent for a preacher and married him while he lay on the ground. He died a few days after.

Deadwood

Kitty left California and made her way to Deadwood in 1876, traveling in a wagon party with Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane. Once in Deadwood, she found work as a prostitute in Mollie Johnson’s brothel. Shortly after gaining employment with Mollie, she opened the Mint Gambling Saloon and married her 4th husband, a German prospector who struck gold. His money dried up fast and so did her interest with him. Arguing became second nature for them until the night she hit him over the head with a bottle and tossed him out, effectively ending their marriage.  

Alone again, Kitty continued managing her saloon and her girls, earning a good profit. On June 11, 1877, she married for the last time to prospector and gambler Samuel R. Curley. Kitty’s marriage to Samuel was also steeped in violence. He was extremely jealous of her, and with reason. She continued with her promiscuous ways, including having an affair with her ex-husband and one with Wild Bill, or so rumor suggests. Samuel shot and killed Kitty on the night of December 6, 1877 then killed himself. They were laid to rest together the next day.

   Somewhere in Kitty’s colorful 28 years, she had a daughter. At the time of her death, Deadwood newspapers printed her estate was left to her daughter, Kitty Donally. 

Women of Western Television

We all have our heroes from western television; Matt Dillon, Joe Cartwright, and Seth Bullock to name a few. Aiding these swoon-worthy men are heroines who are often over-looked or forgotten after the series has ended. Here are a few I have admired for their spot-on portrayal of women living in the wild west.         

Barbara Stanwyck: Born Ruby Stevens on July 16, 1907 in Brooklyn. Stanwyck is best known for portraying Victoria Barkley on The Big Valley. Barbara played the matriarch of the Barkley family; a strong-willed, compassionate mother who loved her children and ranch dearly. Before taking on the role of Victoria Barkley, Stanwyck appeared in over 80 movies, most notably Stella Dallas and Double Indemnity.  

Stanwyck did not have an easy childhood. At the age of 4, her mother was killed when pushed off of a moving streetcar. Her father couldn’t cope with the loss and left much of her upbringing to her older sister, who was a showgirl. Stanwyck began smoking at 9 years of age, quit school early and made her way into showbiz.  Shortly after changing her name to Barbara Stanwyck, she made her Broadway debut in 1926 playing a chorus girl in The Noose. By 1930, she was married, had bid farewell to Broadway and moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in the movies. Her first 2 films flopped, nearly ruining her career before it really began, but she convinced Frank Capra to give her a role in his production, Ladies of Leisure. The movie gained her the recognition she desired and helped launch her career.

Along with actresses such as Bette Davis, Stanwyck played a hand in redefining the typical roles women played in films. Instead of females in distress or the typical housewife, Stanwyck portrayed women with their own motives and ideals. She never won an Oscar for her work in film, including for her role as seductress and murderess Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity, but she did receive an honorary Oscar in 1982.

As she aged, Stanwyck steered away from film toward television. She appeared on The Jack Benny Program and hosted her own show, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, before taking the role as Victoria Barkley. Stanwyck also appeared on The Thorn Birds for which she won a Golden Globe and an Emmy. Unlike many of the characters she played, she was a social recluse, though she did form a lasting bond with Linda Evans (also from The Big Valley) after Evans’ mother passed away. Stanwyck was married and divorced twice, and passed away in 1990 from congestive heart failure.  

I’ve had the pleasure of watching Ms. Stanwyck in some of her films, but to me she will forever be Victoria Barkley from one of my favorite childhood television shows.

Linda Cristal: Born Marta Victoria Moya Burges on February 2, 19 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Linda Cristal is best known in the United States for her role as Victoria Buchanan on The High Chaparral, for which she won a Golden Globe award. Victoria was patriarch John Buchanan’s wife. Somewhat strong-willed, she loved her husband and strived for some common ground with her grown stepson.

Cristal was born to a French father and an Italian mother. She lost her parents in 1947 in a road accident. Before coming to the United States, she was a movie star in Mexico and Italy. One of her first roles in the United States was in the movie Comanche. Afterward, she met up with John Wayne, who asked her to asked her to take on the role of Flaca in his movie, The Alamo. Afterward, she went on to co-star with Jimmy Stewart in Two Rode Together.

Cristal appeared in other westerns before briefly retiring in the mid 1960’s to raise her 2 young sons. She was coaxed out of retirement to play Victoria on the High Chaparral in 1967. After the show ended, she appeared in the movie Mr. Majestyk opposite Charles Bronsan before starring in the Argentine television series, Rossé..  At the time of writing this blog, Ms. Cristal is retired and residing in California.  

The High Chaparral was a favorite childhood show. I especially liked the character of Uncle Buck since he was funny and always made me laugh. I will forever remember Cristal as the beautiful Victoria with the pretty clothes who supported her family and fought for peace alongside her husband.     

  

Paula Malcolmson: Born June 1, 1970 in Belfast, North Ireland, Malcolmson played soiled dove, Trixie, on Deadwood. Before landing the role, she appeared in several television shows and movie, including Tombstone as Allie Earp.

   Malcolmson began her acting career in theater. Her 1^st movie role was in 1992’s Another Girl Another Planet. From there was cast in Tombstone and Dunston Checks In. She has appeared on television in The Practice and Ray Donavan, but her most notable role is still Trixie from Deadwood.     

Malcolmson is sometimes known and credited as Paula Williams. She is extremely secretive about her personal life, so much so no one knows for certain if she is married. Rumors have swirled regarding a husband, but since nothing could be proven, her bio lists her as single. Currently, she lives in Los Angeles and will co-star in the revival net year.

I was a huge fan of Deadwood, and Malcolmson in particular. She brought to light the hardships of Trixie’s life as a soiled dove, (and saloon owner Al Swearengen’s girlfriend) but she also gave Trixie strength and heart and soul. Living with a dangerous man, in a dangerous town, she was a strong woman who carefully navigated a path between right and wrong and always championed lawman Sol. Of all the characters who have come and gone through the years, Malcolmson’s Trixie is one of the ones I miss the most.         

Mustangs Still Run Free

by Heather Blanton

And I'm not talking about the BLM Round-ups. On a recent trip to South Dakota with my sister, we discovered the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. The place is awe-inspiring, the horses jaw-dropping, and the dedication of the volunteers humbling.

In short, this preserve protects 700+ Mustangs on a little over 13,000 acres in southern South Dakota.
There are also 200 head of red Angus so the ranch can benefit from some government grants. Wild horses alone don't qualify. They're considered feral animals.

Imagine 700 horses that have never been saddled. The herd contains actual Spanish ponies, descendants of Cortes' foray into the Southwest. There are also a few Choctaw ponies the reserve is trying to bring back. And there are dozens of the striking smoky-blue gray grulla horses. You can tour the ranch (which I highly recommend) and interact with the horses. You can also sponsor horses. Or you can just flat-out donate. With a feed bill of one million dollars, they won't turn your money away.

If you are ever in the state, anywhere in the state, make the trip. Go see the Mustangs. You can find out more about them here!

A little Choctaw Indian Pony with my seester Dawn

 

Our guide showing us the basin where the main part of the ranch sits.

Some of the horses were sweet. Some, not so much.