Music Dreamer Christmas Melody Tree

The Pearsons, my older brother’s in-laws, owned 160 acres in the upper part of the lower peninsula of Michigan.

Their cabin stood in the middle of a blue spruce forest.

Each year they would top off several of the trees and give them to their family to decorate for Christmas.

For themselves they always picked a blue spruce that stood 10 to 12 feet tall.

They would decorate the tree with angel hair, tin foil, beautiful ornaments, small blinking lights and, my favorite, lights that looked like icicles and that were filled with liquid and bubbled when turned on.

Rolife has its own very special Music Dreamer Christmas Melody Tree wooden puzzle that not only looks gorgeous but has moving parts and plays music.

More than just a tree it also features steps, Santa and his reindeer and sled, loads of presents, gold ornaments, a Santa Stops Here sign, a miniature train and village and lights-lots of lights.

The tree sits on a Christmas red circular base with legs and with the simple touch of a button music plays, the little train moves along the track around and in the tunnel at the base of the tree.

Santa and his reindeer and sled loaded with presents revolve around the star at the top of the tree. A Type-C power cable is not included.

I can almost picture myself as a kid getting out of my bed on Christmas morning, running into my living room and BANG!, staring in awe at this Christmas tree.

Whenever I start a Rolife kit I always check the Instructions thoroughly and have some handy tools on hand: a strong light, an X-Acto blade and knife, a pointed tool, tweezers, both a Flathead and Phillips-head screwdriver (included) and a magnifying device. Some liquid glue and a brush come in handy.

Looking over the lighting diagram it was easy to understand how it worked and functioned. Wires connect the lights, traveling train and music box that plays Jingle Bells, Deck The Halls and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

The box is pretty hefty, has a flip lid with tabs, a full-color photo of the tree on its front along with specs: age 14 years old and up, 319 pieces, DIY and LED. Photos decorate the box sides and on the back are more specs: material-board and paper and button sequences for activating various moving parts, lights and sounds and more photos. A die-cut on the box cover lets you see the music box.

Inside the box are several large flats. What makes this particular kit unique is almost the entire thing is made of wood pierces that pop out of slates. 

 

All of the pieces fit together with tabs and part slats coincide with the Instructions making assembly easy. A single paper sheet is included for making gifts. A plastic tray holds the electrical components and Christmas ornaments.

I had no problem assembling the pieces as they fit together snugly and securely. Only a couple times did I need to use tweezers for smaller pieces.

For photos of other Rolife kits click here. For photos and a video of the Christmas Melody Tree click here and for even more kits check out Robotime’s website by clicking here.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Common Sense Preparedness

I like to be prepared. Ask my wife. I’m always gathering things together to pack in the trunk of our car if we were ever to break down. Camping tools, supplies, a first aid kit and more fill a large tote bag in the trunk of our car.

I like reading about survival and watching clips on YouTube.

But, so many of them are complicated, go into way too much detail and can be intimidating.

I’m a simple sort of guy. I want quick and easy solutions and cringe when explanations drag on too long.

Just give me the bare facts, make them easy to understand and give me some tips.

In Common Sense Preparedness author Laurie Neverman and Lyons Press, provide a guide to building resilience for uncertain times that are broken down in to easy-to-understand instructions, detailed tips and information accompanied by charts photos and graphics that looks at home, camping and wilderness survival.

Everything from stocking up on food, gardening, securing water, shelter, first aid and more are covered.

It’s a handy guide written in plain language, with photos and charts, that anyone can understand.

John 16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The Last Ronin

He is the sole surviving member of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and he’s here to reclaim the sewers.

Collecting the award-winning The Last Ronin 5-part mini-series with original TMNT’s creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, aided by other industry professionals and published by IDW, the highly prized series steps into the dark side with its story of redemption, loyalty and revenge.

This is not your typical kids’ TMNT tale. It’s complicated, multi-tiered, complex and sober and yet uplifting

Much like the Frank Miller's work on Ronin and Daredevil that inspired the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the story is dark, steeped in the shadows of a modern city and skirting on the edge of right and wrong. 

Join The Last Ronin as he restores his family’s honor and memory with the aid of some new and old foes and friends.

It’s a powerful tale steeped in legend, legacy and hope.  With its mature storyline, stellar art, impressive page layouts and overall high production quality it deserves to be a modern day classic. 

The art is gorgeous, the story is powerful and riveting.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Christkindl Square

I remember as a kid when my mom and I would would travel to Pontiac, Michigan to shop each Christmas. Streets were lit up with Christmas lights and shop windows were filled with wonderful animated Christmas scenes. I especially loved the toy displays.

The Lemax’s Christkindl Square has Tudor style buildings with open wood slat designs and wall plaster, heavy cream color masonry, shuttered windows, high peaked roofs with colorful colored tiles, long chimneys, and gold capped roof peaks. Beautiful! And the lights-so many lights! It’s all powered with three AA batteries (not included).

What a little, quaint town by Lemax! It reminds me of the shops in Michigan that populated the many German villages I visited with my brother and his wife.

There a variety of windows and shop fronts, porches and the large Christmas tree in the courtyard-just look at the colorful glass ornaments on the tree and the huge lit up star on its top! Perched on the roofs of two small shops the tree stands as high as the tallest building.

All the stores feature shop owners regaled in their Christmas finest selling their wares such as rum, spirited drinks, nutcracker figures, coffee, hot chocolate and Christmas tree ornaments.

The multi-story buildings all have high-pitched roofs, multi-pane windows of all sizes with frames in brown, white and red. Some windows have shutters of green. Six small shops front the buildings all selling their Christmas/holiday wares. One building has a large clock on its second story. Check out the drapery decoration!

Each small cubby hole shop has its own bright and festive sign. A cluster of people of all ages gather around and in the shops. All wear winter clothing bundled against the cold. There are holiday shoppers, carolers and a family with their kids.

Several sign placards are on the gray cobblestone walkway along with barrels and a waste can. The types is small but all of the signs are legible, colorful and reek Christmas.

Large, step stairs lead to the main building cluster entrance. Patches of snow are on the roofs. Everything looks so festive and alive with the hustle and bustle of the shoppers and families.

The details of the buildings are remarkable from the stone work to the classic roof tops to building structures to variety of windows.

Garlands, lit store fronts, chimney of red brick and twin smoke stacks, building eave lights in a rainbow of colors, intimate doorways and niches, small Christmas trees, and a Santa and his reindeer decoration flies above the buildings from rooftop to rooftop.

Just when I think Lemax holiday displays can’t get any better-they do.

This year Lemax Christmas villages, townships and various figures and set-ups pack in the details, are sculpted to perfection and feature various lights, sounds and action.

My wife took one look at Christkindl Square and declared, ”This is going under our Christmas Tree! The kids will love it!” And so do I. Bravo Lemax artists, designers, colorists, sculptor and packagers.

The entire Christkindl Square comes in a clear plastic front flip lid box decorated with lots of color photos and the Christkindl Square is packaged in a clever three-side form-fitted cardboard container with little clips that keep the triptych in place. I am impressed.

1 Corinthians 13:13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Mesmer Milann

Welcome to the mystical world of Mesmer Milan, Mediator of the Occult. Seven haunted stories by author Bertram Atkey (mostly know for his light-hearted tales) takes readers on a journey to the strange, mysterious and haunted worlds of the occult.

Get ready for a supernatural classic as you delve into the deep, dark and dangerous underworld where your worse nightmares come true.

Join Mesmer as he sends his astral spirit to investigate such chilling phenomenon as the Veils of Death, the reports of a Winged Woman, the seductive powers of the Temptress and the woman with wolves.

Danger lurks behind every dark corner, in dirty alleyways and ancient structures. Nature itself has its own gallery of ghouls such as spiteful spirits, a muse on a quest, a dangerous and deadly stone and other world weirdness and wicked beings.

Does Mesner fear for his corporeal form when he leaves it unguarded as he astral projects? Do ghosts, demons and other evil forces know his name? Do they fear him?

Move over Dr. Strange Mesner Milann used his astral form long before you did.

And what of the living? Are there those who side with the demonic, scheme with the supernatural or plot with the phantoms.?

Find out in Mesner Milann, Mediator of the Occult written by Bertram Atkey and published by Stark House Press. Get ready for some serious chills and thrills.

Romans 15:13Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

The Forest Cottage

From Tiny Treehouses comes the very unusual and beautifully crafted Forest Cottage Treehouse.

What better way to attract birds of all types than with their very own Treehouse that rivals any human cottage? Even more attractive is that the Treehouse lights up with an auto-timer (batteries not included).

The Tiny Treehouses' Forest Cottage comes in a small twin open end box with flaps that are secured by tape.

The front of box has a full-color photo of the Treehouse along with specs: 169 pieces for ages 15 years old and up.

On the back of the box are several tips and more information: details such as hidden furniture, an acrylic plant pot stake in case you want to put it in a plant pot or you have the option of a flat base (see the Instructions).

Entirely made of wood that is number coded to coincide with the Instructions the Treehouse takes two to three hours to construct.  By following the numbers you can make the Treehouse free-standing or with a stake to display in potted plants or clusters of plants.

Inside the box is a sealed envelope contains very detailed fold-out Instructions in several languages, tweezers, sandpaper, a wooden parts poke-out stick and electrical components.

Also included are Instructions, four wooden part slats and a tip sheet for positioning, troubleshooting, water prevention, part replacement, repair and warnings if kids or animals are around. There is also contact information.

I had no problems at all assembling the Treehouse. Parts popped out of the wood slats smoothly, the Instructions made assemble quick and easy and I barely had to use the tweezers.

The wooden structure was surprising easy to put together. Being that my eye-to-hand coordination isn’t what it used to be I took a little more time assembling the Treehouse.

I love the railing and roof details and different levels along with the hidden ‘goodies’. The kit is extremely sturdy and the part tabs make the structure very solid and secure.

It took some clever design and engineering to make the Treehouse.  Wood printing, laser cutting and tab and slot placement had to be carefully planned out and executed.

The Forest Cottage Treehouse makes a great family project and it encourages critical thinking, dexterity, patience and teamwork.

Whether put together by one person or several people it provides a relaxing and thought-provoking exercise in determination, 3D thinking and persistence.

If you like to see more photos and a video of the Forest Cottage Treehouse click here. For other kits by Tiny Treehouse click here.

Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

F4F Wildcat Vs A6M2-N “Rufe”

During the time period of 1942 to 1943 in World War II significant aerial battles took place over the Solomon Islands. When the United States’ F4F-4 Wildcats aircraft tangled with the Japanese A6M2-N “Rufe” float plane fighters (dubbed the Zero on floats) the fighting was fierce and often deadly.

Filled with archival photos and beautiful color illustrations the F4F Wildcat Vs A6M2-N “Rufe” Solomon Islands 1942-43 book, written by Michael John Claringbould and published by Osprey Publishing, recounts the encounters that are relatively unknown.

The book contains firsthand accounts, combat reports, operational documents from both the United States and the Japanese, diagrams, and extensive and highly-detailed text.

An analysis is included of the Solomon Islands battles with further reading recommendations.

What is it about vintage aircraft that is so enthralling? To me it’s the profile and engineering, especially of WWII aircraft. There was no wasted space, fancy electronics or unnecessary details.

Flown by the seat-of-your-pants and more feel than instrumentation, the pilot’s knew their aircraft-it’s power capabilities, maneuverability and what it could or could not do. It took real skill and talent to fly what were essentially big chunks of metal.

The aircraft were rugged, well-built and performed as they were designed. Pilot comfort was sometimes sacrificed to obtain the best possible performance from each aircraft. It was war and engineers did whatever it took to ensure aerial victory.

Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Santa’s Hot Springs Oasis

Santa puts in a lot of work the entire year to prepare for Christmas. The old boy gets tired, sore and needs some rest and what better place to get so much-needed R & R than at a hot springs?

Lemax’s Santa’s Hot Spring Oasis is quite a resort. Check out the snow lined hot springs in front of Santa’s Hot Springs Oasis complex. Santa and his elves are soaking up some sun and fun in the springs that is stone lined and has a red ladder leading into the pool. Fill it with water (it circulates) and watch as Santa in his inner tube and four elves soak up the warm water and sun.

The two-story building has an igloo entrance complete with a wooden door and Christmas wreath. Next to it is another igloo containing The Sauna Room with a couple taking in the soothing warmth lit by overhead lights. Another sauna customer waits out in the cold.

The third structure is a small snack bar all in red with two candy cane poles to its left. A customer in ordering something to eat. Next to it are twin candy cane poles tops in green.

A Christmas wreath, a pine tree and lights make up the front entrance-way. To the right side of the building are two more small shop alcoves. Snow is in piles in around and on the building.

The second story has three snow-capped window awnings over three-pane red windows. A small porch extends out with a towel, life ring and some long purple and white trousers left out to dry on the railing.

On the left is a brown room with a Santa Claus in a barrel decorating its roof. Turn on the power and Santa ducks in and out of the barrel reciting some Christmas cheer backed by music. On the middle building is a large clock counting down the days to Christmas. The hands turn once the power is turned on and the face lights up.

On the top flat roof three water spouts that move up and down. On the top of with waterspouts is a Santa’s Hot Springs Oasis sign.

Be sure to check out the slanted and crooked chimney in red, green and white.

The right side of the roof has a Post Season sign and extended peaked roof with a light, a roof peak cap and a large window in red and green. A white owl perches on the sign.

On the right side of the building is a Towel Station flanked by rolled towels on the roof and cabinet and a small roofed opening with a Robes Attendant standing behind the counter. On its front is a Beach, Bath & Hand sign and a red and white laundry barrel. A small evergreen tree sits on the snow beside the barrel.

On the back of the building are several windows, a doorway and varying wall textures of board, stucco and wood planks. The power cord plugs into the back.

Other fun objects to look for are more trees, Christmas decor, abundant lights that come on once power is turned on, a white rabbit, some red shoes, a loose towel, a small drink with a straw, roof hatches, a small smokestack, green shingled roofs and other little hidden goodies.

The Santa’s Hot Springs Oasis comes in a large box with color photos on all sides.

Inside the miniature building set is cradled between two form-fitted cardboard sides secured with a Velcro strap.

Just look at the details, colors, sculpt work and amazing design and various functions of the set-up. It took a lot of talent to create such a small masterpiece and Lemax employees have done an excellent job.

Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Afraid Of Everything

There were two things I was deathly afraid of when I was young; spiders and the happy and sad faces of comedy and tragedy as depicted in theatrical plays.

Spiders frightened me because we were poor and lived in ramshackle house with wood spiders and the masks because my mom had a set of plastic masks she hung on the wall. Brrrr-they still give me the creeps.

What are you afraid of? What are young kids afraid of?

In Afraid Of Everything the creative team of Adam Tierney and Matthieu Cousin and IDW Publishing present a delightfully and slightly spooky and unsettling collection of stories exploring all the different types of fears.

Accompanied by clever and colorful illustrations each short tale is sure to send chills down your spin, make you think twice and maybe cause a giggle or two.

It’s beautifully illustrated small graphic novel, with great stories, amazing layouts and title illustrations and Behind The Scenes goodies all wrapped up in small packages kids are sure to love (and grown-ups too).

Deuteronomy 31:6Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

The Universe Box

Five time Hugo Award winning author Michael Swanwick’s new collection of stories in The Universe Box from Tachyon Publications combines magic and science fiction that mix myth and legend.

I’ve never read any of Michael’s books and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

As I read through the book two things struck me about his writing-it is unique and unconventional. That’s good.

He has the uncanny ability to immediately grab a reader’s attention within a few paragraphs into each story. I felt as if I knew the characters and settings after just a few words and was immersed in the stories almost immediately.

The author is extremely inventive and proficient in a wide rage of story genres.

Whether dealing with time travel, magic, mystical themes or AI Michael draws readers in using minimal words and yet somehow fully descriptive.

His writing style reminds me of of some of the anthologies written by Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov and other masters of science fiction and fantasy.

The author has a knack for mysteries, adventure tales and haunting, scary and unsettling stories.

I intend to search out and read other books by the author.

Psalms 34:4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Gingerbread House

There are Christmases and then there are very special Christmases. When I was about 12 years old or so my brother Dallas and his wife Marge invited me along with them to a Christmas village in Michigan.

It was located in one of the many German townships in Michigan. This particular town was well-known for its Christmas theme.

There was one particular shop that displayed Christmas trees, decorations, accessories, etc. all year long. I loved that store. My favorite section in the store was the gingerbread section.

Gingerbread was everywhere! Cookies, cupcakes, pastries, gingerbread themed jars, bags, clothing, candles-wow!

Giant gingerbread figures sat on or about displays, candy canes and other Christmas paraphernalia helped accent the gingerbread holiday theme.

Imagine a little shop with a Gingerbread Bakery sign atop a red, six window, Christmas wreath decorated door surrounded by a candy cane border and inset in a gingerbread roof doorway with white swirling walls, twin gold bells, a large peppermint at the roof’s peak and a small decorated Christmas tree out front on the snow-covered, cobblestone pavement.

On top of brick chimney is a gingerbread man next to a striped peppermint pole holding a Bringing Christmas Magic Home banner. The peak of the main part of the cottage is a stripped candy cane with another gingerbread man with presents.

In the Rolife Gingerbread House are gingerbread goodies of all types: pastries, cakes, candies, and cookies all sitting on tiered counters and a table.

There is a banner strung across the back wall highlighted by the beautiful overhead glass shade light.

Cups hang from hooks on the wall, a colorful menu offers tasty goodies, there is a hot coco machine, tins of gingerbread confections and a large gingerbread man figure that rocks back and forth.

Check out the windows on both sides and on the door that actually opens.

There is so much color, details and amazing miniatures with clearly legible labels, signs, stripped wallpaper and other holiday hidden gems.

Parts come in bags or are shrink wrapped in plastic along with various paperwork and Instructions.

I started to put together the kit beginning with the floor and wall sections eventually moving on to furniture, brick-a-brac, the lighting, wall hangings, etc.

Folding the small paper products and applying the stickers was a little bit cumbersome to me so I used tweezers to apply them and the pointed tool to peel off stickers from their paper.

A Flathead screwdriver came in handy for popping out small parts. I was careful to only open the bags for parts that I needed them at each sage of assembly. A Phillips-head screwdriver and tweezers come with the kit.

I’ve included a photo below of the tools I like to keep on hand when assembling a kit. Big hands, old age and less than perfect eyesight makes using tools a must.

With small loose 3D pieces I occasionally had to use tweezers to pick them up and be careful to make sure I didn’t drop them or have them fall off the table I had the kit on.

Unfortunately when assembling one of the small pieces of furniture I broke off a tab. But with a little glue it was as good as new. Gotta be more careful, klutz that I am.

All the large parts have tabs that easily pop into place securely holding the parts in place. Lighting was easy to set up.

Any small adhesive strips were difficult for me to remove so sometimes I used glue instead. Whatever works. The Gingerbread House will make a great table decoration when Christmas rolls around.

Like always when assembling a Rolife kit be sure to take your time, enjoy the process, follow the Instructions to the letter and never, never take out more parts that what you need for each step of the building process.

The box the Gingerbread House comes in is bit different than most Rolife boxes. It has a slip-on lid with a huge color photo of the Gingerbread House on its lid.

On the back of the box are two large color photos, a list of materials used, a notification that batteries are required and more info. The kit consists of 250 pieces, is recommended for those 14 years old and older and includes LED lights.

As I assembled the kit I could almost hear Christmas music playing in the background and could smell the wonderful gingerbread goodies. Suddenly I feel very hungry-gingerbread goodies perhaps?

To see what other Rolife kits has to offer click here. For photos and video of the Gingerbread House click here and click here to see more Robotime products.

Jeremiah 29:11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

How To Survive Anywhere Second Edition

Usually whenever anyone mentions survival books it is usually associated with surviving in the wild. In How To Survive Anywhere Second Edition by author Christopher Nyerges and published by Stackpole Books, readers are provided with guide to survive in not only in the wilderness but in urban, suburban and rural environments as well.

In this uncertain age where services and goods prices are escalating, rents and mortgages are soaring in price and it seems everyone is out for themselves having survival skills are necessary.

Knowing how to grow and preserve food, to make due with less, how to acclimate to different climates, provide shelter, stay healthy, provide medical aid and so forth are important capabilities.

There is so much information contained in this small softbound book that provides practical and tried and true information, skill sets and insights. Filled with photos demonstrating various skills the book is handy book to have around at home and whenever you go on trips, camping and vacations.

Psalms 28:7The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

US Tank Tactics In World War II

As a kid I loved watching Hollywood movies about World War II. I especially liked films about Tanks. I thought it was so cool to be able to drive around battlefield, fire off the tank’s cannon and be safe and secure in my little metal box.

Boy, was I wrong. Tank life was anything but pleasant. It was hot, claustrophobic, taxing, dangerous and exhausting.

In US Tank Tactics In World War II, written by Steven J. Zaloga with illustrations by Steve Noon and published by Osprey Publishing, the history of tanks during WWII is examined along with tactics used during the war years, different campaigns in Europe, in the Pacific and Africa, difficult terrains and weather conditions, the challenges, personnel, victories and defeats accompanied by archival photos and full-color illustrations.

Tank warfare during WWII was more than aim and fire. It involved humans pushed to their physical and mental limits.

2 Timothy 1:7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Dasher’s Bumper Boats

Every wonder what Santa’s reindeer do to have a little fun? Who would have thought that reindeer like water bumper boats!?

Dasher has it all figured out for a little relaxation and fun. Lemax's Dasher’s Bumper Boats number six in all and look like plump reindeer-antlers and all, and all the numbered boats but one carry red and green dressed elves.

They float about in a large blue pond surrounded by a yellow escarpment with silver rails in the front-just add water.  Three lights illuminate the pond from the front and other lights brighten up the candy-stripped lighthouse with its green roof and translucent lens area topped by an gold pole red flag. A larger Dasher’s Bumper Boats sign in red and white is held up by candy cane poles and a small lit up Christmas tree is to its right.

A large archway allows the boats to pass underneath. It is covered with snow and has a red-capped polar bear leaning against a candy cane pole with a North Pole sign.

In front of the lighthouse is an elf and just to the right of the lighthouse’s door is an open window with another elf leaning out of it.

Stone steps lead down the snow covered stone pool enclosure and at the bottom are four pine trees, an Enter Here sign and a large sign that reads: Dixon’s Cove & Snack Bar, Reindeer’s Game Arcade and Comet’s Bobsleds above a North Pole Transit red and white sign with pine tree art on both sides.

I absolutely love the wooden walkway around the pool, the pool floor decoration, the penguins, the twin outdoor lighting on a pole, the small bench, silver trailing, little brown rabbit, guardrails with a red life flotation ring, polar bear, reindeer in the tower window, small evergreen trees, signs, lights, music and bumper boat action. the small lighthouse with a translucent light globe, its wraparound windows, gold trim windows and door and the snow-capped archway.

For a decidedly different type of Christmas check out Dasher’s bumper boats. Great detail, coloring, sculpting and all of it wrapped up in a protective shell inside a flip lid box. The floating elves come in their own little pack away container within the box. Christmas just got a little more aquatic.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Inventing The Wild West

Americans were and are fascinated by The Wild West. It all started in the middle of the 19^th Century.

As explorers, fortune seekers, entrepreneurs and those seeking to start a new life the wide open spaces of the mostly unexplored Western United States was a natural draw.

Add in the California and Alaskan gold rushes, the expansion of the railroads, free government settler land, the Civil War and other factors and its only natural that The West would foster romanticism, wonder and stories of danger, excitement and the promise of wealth.

Conflicts with native Americans, robber barons, railroad tycoons, rustlers, cutthroats and other unsavory characters also sweetened the pot.

Folks back East and around the world thrilled at the exploits of real cowboys, wild encounters with Indians, traveling Wild West shows, saloons, train and bank robberies and the rough and tumble life of those who traveled West.

Stories proliferated in dime novels, Wild West shows, heroic exploratory conquests, bloodshed and romanticism.

Nostalgia, folklore and fakelore fed the public’s appetite for excitement and there were those only to happy to contribute to the myth of life in The Wild West.

Newspapers, magazines and cheap novels fed the flame and soon radio, motion pictures and television all contributed to the myth. Marketing executives, publishers, broadcasters and merchandise manufacturers all benefited by perpetuating a vision of The Wild West that was more fiction than fact.

Did you know that at one time Westerns were the most popular movies being produced and at one time almost 40 Western TV series were being broadcast in a short span of years?

Cowboys became heroes while in fact they were hard working, rugged individuals that existed and endured the worst conditions for little pay.

Author Jeremy Agnew and McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers present the truth behind the legend of the West in Inventing The Wild West.

It successfully peels back the myth to present the real Wild West and how media created an idolized picture of life in the West. It provides an insight of how, with a little modification and marketing, The Wild West transformed from a dry and dusty and dangerous region into a haven for heroes and Wild West justice.

Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.