First Scalp for Custer
The Buffalo Bill - Yellow Hand Fight
July 17, 1876

by Ron Soodalter




It happened like this:

Custer and most of his command have been dead three weeks. Some eight hundred Cheyenne have jumped the reservation at Fort Robinson, and several companies of the Fifth Cavalry under General Wesley Merritt - around 400 to 500 men in all - are on a mission to keep them from joining Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. Along either Hat or Warbonnet Creek, in the broken hill country that defines the Wyoming/Nebraska border, the army's scouts spy some thirty of the Cheyenne waiting in ambush for two unsuspecting army couriers. William F. Cody, one of the scouts, volunteers to take a half dozen or so troopers and warn the couriers, just as a handful of Indians breaks from their group and advances. From his hilltop vantage point, trooper Chris Madsen - acting as signalman and possessed of a powerful telescope - witnesses what follows:.

Through his photos, award winning photographer Myron Beck (Los Angeles, CA) inspires us to dream and embrace the beauty that surrounds us in the people we see, the environments in which we thrive and the diverse cultures that enrich our lives.

www.myronbeck.com
 

Mary Schmitt
Cayuse Western Americana,
Jackson Hole, WY
www.cayusewa.com

Cowgirl, Collector and Conservationist


Each month Smoke Signals gives special focus to one of our High Noon dealers in our Dealer Spotlight feature. In our Inner Cowgirl column, we take a look at the women who help drive the energy of our Western world. Well, this month, we feature someone who fits both. If you believe in past lives, you can be assured that Mary Schmitt was one of those daring and dedicated women who, along side their cowboy counterparts, helped tame the Wild West in the 1800s.

Southern California born and raised to parents who were antique aficionados, Mary was no stranger to collecting. She attributes her passion for history and antiques to her mother Barbara (who we all know from the shows) and her father Jim (whom few have ever seen and most believe really doesn't exist - Mary assures us he does).

Mary lived the corporate lifestyle working for high tech companies as a marketing executive for several years. Funny, she reflects, that by day she was part of creating products that would be obsolete in 6 months but on the weekends, she spent her time passionately searching flea markets and antique shows in the quest for treasures that have endured the years.

The beauty of Western Wyoming was always in her dreams. She and her family would vacation often in Jackson Hole and she knew, somehow, some day, that would be her home. Her parents had that same dream and they moved there in the late 1980s.

So how do you make the switch from high tech exec to cowgirl extraordinaire? Out antiquing in L A one day with her mom in the 80's, they stumbled upon a spectacular vintage cowgirl skirt. It was love at first sight and her career in cowgirl, cowboy and American Indian collecting began.

She started by buying and selling and educating herself on the weekends at markets in and around Southern California - embracing the history and amassing all the knowledge she could about this collecting genre. And then it happened, as it does to most of us, she couldn't live the "double life" anymore and new it was time to live her dream.

Each month, Smoke Signals will give a little insight into who makes High Noon happen. This month we introduce you to Lynda Greene, our bookkeeper extraordinaire.

Lynda Greene
High Noon Bookkeeper
(through whom all cash flows)

Most people perceive those involved with finances and bookkeeping to be rather dry, dull personality types whose lives revolve around spreadsheets and Excel docs. Leave it to High Noon to find the one who can be found up to five nights a week dancing her shoes off at the Hacienda Hotel (one of her favorite L A spots) - West Coast Swing, Country Western, The Hustle and Line Dancing - she's there, she's good and she's tireless. Dancing's her first passion but she also loves the movies. Keeping tone with her insatiable and dry sense of humor, Weekend at Bernie's, Overboard and Grease are her faves. Again, it's that wacky personality that keeps all of us smiling whenever Lynda's around.

A born and raised L A Valley girl, Lynda actually was once very reserved and shy, beginning her bookkeeping career in the finance office in high school. Graduating college with a focus in accounting, Lynda was then a wife and mother and living the serious life. It was at the age of 28 she recalls, when she decided to change things up a bit - live those teenage years she didn't when she was younger. And we are so glad she did! Yes, she's crack at her profession but spend time with her in the staff office in Phoenix and soon tears are rolling down your cheeks from laughing so hard. Lynda is a ray of sunshine with just a hint of sarcasm thrown in.

Lynda's life is filled with friends and family. She has three younger sisters with whom she is close and son Brian, who at 33, is the apple of her eye. With no grandchildren yet, her special nephews and nieces and now great nephews and great nieces fill the grandchildren role just perfectly. She lives her life as the "queen of her castle" and when asked, "Do you have any pets?" In typical Lynda style, her response is, "Nothing with four legs lives in this house unless they're uninvited or dead."

When Lynda's not out dancing or working her pencil to the nub in finance, she spends time with her "adopted grandson, Gustavo," the 10 year old son of friends who adds such joy to her life. Special to her for many reasons and born to Spanish-only speaking parents, her role as mentor, teacher and friend is something she cherishes.

High Noon 2010 Dealer Update
from "T"

Dear High Noon Dealers,
 
Well, the contracts have finally been sent & within minutes after hitting the "send" button on the computer, the rumors were flying!
 
The first rumor I heard was that we're not going to have any booths at the show...isn't that silly? Well, our floor plan was just approved by our new Mesa fire marshal (yippee!), & we're good to go. The show is going to be stunning...and yes, there will be booths!
 
You can find a copy of the new 2010 floor plan on our NEW website that actually debuts today! Be one of the first to take a peek. You can find the floor plan on the dealer info page. While you're poking around, check out the other goodies we have there for you.
 
Once you've downloaded a copy of your floor plan, take my arm & we'll take a virtual "walk-through" of the show together...not too fast, I'm wearing my boots!
 
Here we go...are you ready?
 
The one and only public entrance to the show is closest to the Palo Verde Ballroom. The last time we were in Mesa, the entrance was at the lobby by the Main Hall. I'm hoping you'll like this a lot better.
 
Let's visit the Palo Verde Ballroom first. You may notice that it's bigger than it was the last time we were here. That's because we only used two-thirds of it. Remember, we used the other third for our auction preview? The auction & the preview have moved across the way to the ballroom at the Phoenix Marriott Mesa, so we don't have to share the space anymore.
 
As you can see, the entire perimeter of the PVB, with the exception of a few doorways, will be booths, and tables will fill the center of the room.
 
The public will have three doors to choose from when entering the Palo Verde Ballroom, and no matter which door they pick, they will have a beautiful view of the room. Poke your head in and take a look. Nice, huh?
 
Where to next? Well let's follow the signs & see where they lead us. Oh, it's the Gallery! The Gallery is the only walkway between the rooms. As you can see, there are 23 tables lined up against the two walls. I think the table dealers & the public will really like the natural light in here. It has a warm, comfy atmosphere.
 
Let's keep walking. Hey, there's another sign. We're heading into the Mesa room. Isn't it beautiful? The room is well lit from all of the track lighting from the booths along the 3-wall perimeter. Oh, there's a bank of tables in here, too. Looks great!
 
What is that yummy smell? Coffee! Let's go to the concession stand! My treat today!
 
Wow! We're in the Main Hall! I like that! It feels like the Mesa Room & the Main Hall are one big room. The Main Hall looks a lot like it used to. Booths line the two big walls, with banks of tables & booths in between. It's a showstopper!
 
I hope you've enjoyed taking this virtual tour with me. My goal in laying out the show this way & moving the "flow" of traffic through a little differently is so everyone will feel included.
 
Truly, there is no "bad" spot in the show. I hope you're as excited as I am, and that you're having troubles deciding which room you'd like to be in. If you are, then I've done my job!
 
For those who did not receive a contract, please know that you have not been forgotten, you are still part of our High Noon family, and you are on the waiting list. I'll contact you as soon as space becomes available.
 
If you've been with High Noon for many years, including our years in Phoenix, and did not receive a contract, or if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please feel free to contact me. #310-202-9010 or Theresa@highnoon.com
 
We'll see you down the trail,
Theresa