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Category Archives: popular culture
Happy Birthday Hoppy!
William Lawrence Boyd, known throughout the world as “Hopalong Cassidy”, was born June 5, 1895 in Hendrysburg, Ohio, to Charles William Boyd, and his wife, the former Lida Wilkens (aka Lyda). Following his father’s death, Boyd moved to California to … Continue reading
Comic Books: A Continuing Work in Progress
Although comic books depict the exploits of characters who possess “powers and abilities far beyond those of ordinary mortals” the medium itself stems from very humble beginnings. Comics as a print medium have existed in the United States since the … Continue reading
Joseph S. Palen: Cheyenne Frontier Days Chronicler
If you’re interested in the history of Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD), a great place to start is the J. S. Palen papers at the American Heritage Center. Born in 1912 in Salina, Kansas, Palen became fascinated with cowboy culture at … Continue reading
Traveling with Cole Porter
Actress and photographer Jean Howard was a great favorite of Cole Porter, the urbane composer and songwriter known for scoring such successful productions as Kiss Me Kate (1948) and High Society (1956). His numerous hit songs include Begin the Beguine, … Continue reading
Aloha Wanderwell – A Well-Wandered Woman
To commemorate March as Women’s History Month, the AHC would like to feature the life of adventurer Idris Galcia Hall (1906-1996) who christened herself “Aloha Wanderwell.” In 1922 at age 16, she answered an ad calling for “a good-looking brainy … Continue reading
Marguerite Shepherd: Assistant to “Ace of Aces” Eddie Rickenbacker
Marguerite “Sheppy” Shepherd (1894-1983) was the longtime personal assistant to ‘Ace of Aces’ Eddie Rickenbacker (1890-1973), a World War I fighter pilot, race car driver, automotive designer, government consultant in military matters, air transport pioneer, and longtime head of Eastern Air … Continue reading
Posted in aviation history, popular culture, World War I
Tagged Amelia Earhart, Eastern Air Lines, Eddie Rickenbacker
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Superman’s Pal – Mort Weisinger
After World War II, superhero comics, which had been a welcome diversion for American servicemen, stalwart champions of War Bonds, and other support for the home front during the conflict, largely lost their audience and were gradually replaced by comics … Continue reading
Posted in Comic book history, commercial art, Fantasy, Hollywood history, popular culture
Tagged Julius Schwartz, Stan Lee, Superman
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William Beaudine, Bela Lugosi, and Horror Films Out West
For Halloween 2018 and 2019, we brought you blog posts on The Killer Shrews and The Giant Gila Monster, two low-budget horror movies financed by Texas radio pioneer Gordon McLendon. This year, we shine a spotlight on the career of … Continue reading
Living Through a Pandemic: Eight Months of Donations to the American Heritage Center’s COVID-19 Collection Project
The AHC COVID-19 Collection Project began in April 2020 as an effort to collect stories, photographs, poems, and other creative works that show the impact coronavirus has had on our community. Not just the University of Wyoming employees, students, and … Continue reading