Notes From The Frontier

Movies, television series, and books have extolled the legendary mountain man-turned-bear-tamer, Grizzly Adams.

Baby boomers grew up with wonderful stories of dogs we loved in books and on the screen, but no story resonated more than "Old Yeller".

Baby boomers grew up on the 1964 Daniel Boone tv series and the theme song. Some of you may even be able to sing along.

Today is the 138th anniversary of the gunfight at the OK corral on October 26, 1881. It was only 30 seconds of fury and flying lead.

Sacagawea is one of the most famous figures in American history. Nearly all American school children and adults recognize her name.

Oscar Micheaux is not a household name like Martin Scorcese or Frank Capra or John Ford. But it should be.

For a century, American Westerns have captured the blood-and-thunder of the Wild West, cowboys and Indians, outlaws and outlanders.

In the frontier of American music-making, Johnny Cash was a pioneer. As a musician, he was an icon.

The truth about the real Katie Elder is far more spectacular than any Hollywood fiction.

Johnny Appleseed was born John Chapman in 1774 in Massachusetts. His father was a Minuteman under George Washington.

Few legends in American history embody the power and poignancy that Pocahontas does.

JAMESTOWN is a PBS series now in it third year on public television.

The obscenity of the West was indeed, 'striking,' but the obscenity of mining camps was unbelievable.”

No one was really prepared for the incredible success of Dances with Wolves. I know Kevin was blown away by the reception.

Dances with Wolves was not only revolutionary for the western genre, it was a watershed for Native American actors and actresses.

This week marks the 30th anniversary of the beginning of shooting for Dances with Wolves, the magnificent 1990 award winning film.

On this Father's Day, we wanted to celebrate dads in Westerns. Being a dad is a lot like being a pioneer or native American.

Horses played a lead role in the thousands of westerns produced over a half century of cinema.