The Butcher's Floor

"Shake Hands with Danger" (early 1970's)

2008-06-24T14:26:00.000-07:00

Cool bad-ass country vocals and guitar...

Cowboy Songs as Sung by Silver Yodeling Bill (1935)

2007-09-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

Canadian Mountie Tin Lid (1940's)

2007-09-19T14:05:00.001-07:00

This is a tin that I got from my grandmother. Doesn't that Mountie look sharp? What a great uniform.

"Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa played by "Prince Band" 78rpm

2007-07-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day!

Gene Autry & Smiley Burnette "Uncle Noah's Ark" (1935)

2007-06-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

It's June 22nd and that means that the start of the Gene Autry and the Twentieth Century West exhibit opens at The Autry... Here's the scoop:

Gene Autry and the Twentieth-Century West:
The Centennial Exhibition 1907-2007
Autry National Center, Griffith Park Campus
in Los Angeles, California
June 22, 2007 through January 13, 2008

Gene Autry achieved fame as America's Favorite Singing Cowboy, but he was so much more than that. Come learn about this multifaceted man who was the first and only entertainer to earn five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording, radio, motion picture, television, and live performance. Gene Autry and the Twentieth-Century West: The Centennial Exhibition, 1907-2007 provides a comprehensive window into Gene Autry as a celebrity, innovative media maverick, sports team owner, businessman, and humanitarian.

On display in the George Montgomery Gallery from June 22, 2007, through January 13, 2008, the exhibition spotlights Gene's contributions during the significant events of his lifetime, including his military service during World War II, friendships formed with U.S. presidents, and his involvement in Major League Baseball. At every critical point throughout the twentieth century, Gene Autry was there-as a patriot, celebrity, visionary, and everyday hero who helped shape and influence our culture.

As you tour the five-gallery exhibition, you'll engage with fun, interactive, multimedia displays that allow you to sample early recordings and film clips. You'll also experience the more personal side of Gene as you peruse his closet full of brilliantly embroidered Western shirts, handsome, hand-tooled leather boots, and spotless cowboy hats, not to mention his famous Martin D-45 guitar. Additional displays round out the other dimensions of Gene, effectively bringing this legend to life for all to experience anew.

To celebrate here's a clip from my favorite Gene Autry movie/serial, "The Phantom Empire". Here's the plot summary...

When the ancient continent of Mu sank beneath the ocean, some of its inhabitant survived in caverns beneath the sea. Cowboy singer Gene Autry stumbles upon the civilization, now buried beneath his own Radio Ranch. The Muranians have developed technology and weaponry such as television and ray guns. Their rich supply of radium draws unscrupulous speculators from the surface. The peaceful civilization of the Muranians is corrupted by the greed from above, and it becomes Autry's task to prevent all-out war, ideally without disrupting his regular radio show.

This is an incredible film. Visit www.geneautry.com for more Gene goodness.

The Hoosier Hot Shots - Etiquette Blues (1946)

2007-06-22T11:49:00.000-07:00

Here's another YouTube clip I ripped from Pappy Stuckey's page. I'll even rip-off his text....

Along with Freddie Fisher and the Korn Kobblers, the Hot Shots were the precursor to Spike Jones, albeit with a rural bent... they were highly successful, making at least 22 movies throughout the 40's & 50's -- this one from the 1946 feature Lone Star Moonlight -- and featured the greatest musical washboard of all time, walloped by the great Hezzie! Dig in!

The Rio Theater Ad (1944)

2007-03-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

"The Amazon Yolanda" Burlesque Newpaper Ad (1945)

2007-02-13T06:43:00.000-08:00

The Knott's Berry Farm Burro in Ghost Town (1955)

2007-02-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

"FATHER DIED THIS MORNING" Aug 24, 1928

2007-01-28T18:19:00.000-08:00

I found this Western Union Telegram envelope today at my Grandmother's house in the desert. This letter is from my Great Uncle Emmet, who lived in Detroit, to my Great Grandfather, living in Los Angeles, telling him of my Great Great Grand Father's death. I think that Western Union charged by the word. That might be why the message is so brief and to the point. It could also be that there is not much else to say between two brothers when it comes to their father's death. 1145 Arizona Ave is right off Olyimpic just east of the 710 and 5 freeway intersection.

Jimmie & Leon Short - "Old Indians Never Die" (1947)

2007-01-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

Some good ol' Delmore Bros.-type harmonizin' from the 1947 feature Hollywood Barn Dance. Yes, that's Ernest Tubb intro-ing the Shorts...

I ripped this off PappyStuckey's Youtube page. This guy manages to find the cool/rare C&W and Jazz clips. Amazing stuff.

I've been real busy with a bunch of personal stuff (nothing bad, all good) and I haven't had the time to dedicate to this blog like I used to. Hopefully that will all change, so keep coming back and check out Sick's Sick Six too. That's my other blog with more Horror/weird/crazy stuff.
Thanks, HG

Christmas Ad (1962)

2006-12-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

Goldak Metal/Mineral Locator Ad (1963)

2006-12-05T07:04:00.000-08:00

"Westen Note Paper" Ad (1963)

2006-12-04T07:23:00.000-08:00

"Fort Apache Indian Reservation" Ad (1963)

2006-12-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

"The Alaskan Camper" Ad (1963)

2006-11-29T06:49:00.000-08:00

"Ruldolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" 7" Record (19??)

2006-11-28T07:05:00.000-08:00

Little Jimmy Dickens "Big Sandy"

2006-11-21T09:49:00.000-08:00

Ernest Tubb "Walkin' the Floor over You"

2006-11-20T17:51:00.000-08:00

The Big Bopper "Chantilly Lace"

2006-11-19T18:39:00.000-08:00

Wrestling at Legion Arena, Newpaper Ad (1949)

2006-11-17T06:49:00.000-08:00

Gene Aurty Picture from Songbook (1946)

2006-11-16T06:37:00.000-08:00

Midget Wrestlers Photo (1949)

2006-11-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

"The Robert E. Lee" Burlesque Show at The Colony Club Newspaper Ad (1951)

2006-11-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

"Catalgue of Secret Society Rituals" by Ezra A. Cook (1930s)

2006-11-13T06:33:00.000-08:00

Hole in Rock, near Phoenix, Arizona Postcard

2006-11-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

Superstition Mountain - Arizona Postcard (19??)

2006-11-11T09:16:00.000-08:00

Old State Penitentiary at Yuma, Arizona Postcard

2006-11-08T07:08:00.000-08:00

"Herbert Hoover's 'Mistakes'" Pro-Hoover Flyer

2006-11-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

"Rejected" Anti Franklin Delano Roosevelt Flyer

2006-11-06T07:17:00.000-08:00

Encyclopedia of Folk, Country, and Western Music" by Irwin Stambler & Grelun Landon (1969)

2006-11-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

"The Black Donnellys" by Thomas P. Kelly (1955)

2006-11-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

"Wrestling Stars in Review" (1951)

2006-11-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

"The Wrestling Scene" by Guy LeBow (1949)

2006-11-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

Make a Day of the Dead Skull

2006-11-01T10:48:00.000-08:00

For this project you will need: wheat paste and plastic dishpan to mix it, 9" balloons, Vaseline®, newspapers, paint brushes, acrylic paint, glue. Optional: glitter, sequins, ribbons, paper flowers, etc.

Getting Ready:
Rip newspapers into long strips.
Mix wheat paste according to package directions.
Inflate balloons and cover with Vaseline®.
Making Your Skull:
Dip each newspaper strip separately into the wheat paste, holding both ends of the paper. Lay the strips over the balloon smoothly. Make sure they overlap. Build up two or three layers of newspaper over the entire balloon. Smooth out each layer.
Dip several strips of newspaper into the paste. Wad them into three balls. Place the balls on the face of the skull to make cheekbones and a chin. Hold the balls in place with more pasted strips. Set the skull aside for several days to dry.
When your skull is completely dry, prick it with a pin to pop the balloon inside. Paint it with two white base coats to cover the black newsprint. Now paint over the base coats with a bright color. Set aside to dry.
Now let your imagination and paint brush run wild! Paint your skull with bright flowers, trailing vines, and leaves. The more colorful, the better! Let it dry, then seal (paint) the skull with a mixture of glue and water to protect it.
When your skull has dried, add glitter, sequins, and other decorations to make it as festive as possible. If you use glitter, seal it with glue and water to keep it from flaking off.

Day of the Dead Altars

2006-11-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

In homes observant families create an altar and decorate it with items that they believe are beautiful and attractive to the souls of their departed ones. Such items include offerings of flowers and food, but also things that will remind the living of the departed (such as their photographs, a diploma, or an article of clothing), and the things that the dead prized and enjoyed while they lived. This is done to entice the dead and assure that their souls actually return to take part in the remembrance. In very traditional settings, typically found only in native communities, the path from the street to the altar is actually strewn with petals to guide the returning soul to its altar and the bosom of the family.The traditional observance calls for departed children to be remembered during the first day of the festivity (the Day of the Little Angels, "Día de los Angelitos"), and for adults to be remembered on the second day. Traditionally, this is accompanied by a feast during the early morning hours of November the 2nd, the Day of the Dead proper, though modern urban Mexican families usually observe the Day of the Dead with only a special family supper featuring the bread of the dead. In southern Mexico, for example in the city of Puebla, it is good luck to be the one who bites into the plastic toy skeleton hidden by the baker in each rounded loaf. Friends and family members give one another gifts consisting of sugar skeletons or other items with a death motif, and the gift is more prized if the skull or skeleton is embossed with one's own name. Another variation found in the state of Oaxaca is for bread to be molded into the shape of a body or burial wrap, and for a face to be embedded on one end of the loaf. During the days leading up to and following the festivity, some bakeries in heavily aboriginal communities cease producing the wide range of breads that they typically sell so that they can focus on satisfying the demand for bread of the dead.

"Black Slacks" by The Sparkletones (1957)

2006-10-31T16:16:00.000-08:00

Indians in Yosemite, California~ LA Times (1921)

2006-10-31T06:38:00.000-08:00

North American Animal Cult

2006-10-30T07:19:00.000-08:00

Pictures from New York Times article (1922)

2006-10-28T16:04:00.000-07:00

"Weird Western Tales Starring Scalphunter" #53 (1979)

2006-10-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

"Grayson's March of Comics featuring Roy Rogers" (1950)

2006-10-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

"Spanish Dance" by Xavier Cugat (19??)

2006-10-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

"KXLA's Scrapbook of Hillbilly & Western Stars" (1954)

2006-10-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

San Antonio, Texas Postcard (19??)

2006-10-22T07:42:00.000-07:00

Xavier Cugat & his Orchestra "She's a Bonbshell from Brooklyn" (1943)

2006-10-20T13:28:00.000-07:00

"Xavier Cuqat's Favorite Collection of Tangos and Rhumbas" (194?)

2006-10-20T06:53:00.000-07:00

"Boys' Athletic League" Matchbook (early 1940's)

2006-10-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

"Mexican Hat Dance" by Xavier Cugat (19??)

2006-10-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

"Dale Evans Comics" w/ "Red Ryder" Daisy Air Rifle Ad on Back (1951)

2006-10-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

"Jim Owen's Hillbilly Humor" Paperback (196?)

2006-10-16T07:08:00.000-07:00

"Kid Colt Outlaw" #122 (1965)

2006-10-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

Three 78 rpm B-Sides (1930's)

2006-10-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

"Country Bear Jamboree" Disneyland, CA 35mm Slides (1970's)

2006-10-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

"National Book Club's 'Gold Rush' Game" Ad (1959)

2006-10-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

"Fun Facts about Duane Eddy" (1959)

2006-10-10T06:31:00.000-07:00

"Mysteries in the Mountains" by Ron Quinn

2006-10-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

This fascinating journey into the unknown began in early 1956 and still remains an unsolved mystery today.

It all began during a two-year adventure into Southern Arizona in search of lost mines and hidden Spanish treasures. High among the rugged terrain bordering Mexico, my brother Chuck and I discovered a location where time itself is altered. This natural freak of nature lies deep within a region seldom visited by modern man.

The reason I'm bringing this tale to light after all this time is because something in the works might effect this interesting place. Tucson Electric Power Company plans on building a 345,000-watt high-voltage transmission line from Tucson to Nogales. The line could come quite close to this site.

When this line becomes active, what, if anything, will this enormous voltage do to this delicate location? Enhance the natural energy already lurking within it, or nothing? Only time will tell.

The following stories all took place around this mysterious location.

Lights in the Sky

This all began after my release from the military. My brother Chuck asked if I'd be interested in taking an extended trip to Arizona to search for several of the legendary lost treasures allegedly hidden during the Spanish occupation. This ignited my adventurous spirit, so plans were made. We saved enough capital, with the help of our parents, for two years. I was 23; Chuck was 26.

We left Tacoma, Wash., on March 20, 1956. Our final destination was Arivaca, Ariz., a small desert hamlet of perhaps 70 residents. This old adobe village was located squarely in the center of the country harboring some of these well-known hidden treasures.

About three weeks into this treasure game, Chuck and I were relaxing at camp one evening. Towards the south, the craggy peaks of the Tumacacori Mountains were silhouetted against the darkening sky.

Our attention was directed toward two large balls of blue-green lights slowly descending behind the mountains several miles away. They were not flares, as no sound of aircraft broke the silence of the night. Both vanished within minutes.

The following night at precisely the same time, 8:05 p.m., the lights appeared once again near the identical location. These also disappeared behind the peaks.
Several days later, Louie Romero, a local cowboy who rode for the Arivaca Ranch, stopped by. Over several weeks, we became friends and learned a great deal of the history about the area from him. While in Arivaca, we heard from the locals that if Louie tells you something, you can bet your life it's the truth.

During one of his weekly visits, Louie told us many stories centering around the nearby mountains. Several bordered on the paranormal. After describing the odd lights we had seen, he smiled, saying he and others have spotted them since 1939 in the same location. Over the months, we saw them several more times.

Doorway to the Gods

One day, as we were returning to Arivaca, we spotted an old truck parked beside the road with a flat tire. Not having a spare, the gentleman stood beside his vehicle trying to hitch a ride to the nearest service station. We picked him up and soon arrived at the Kinsley Ranch and gas station.

After having the tire repaired, we returned John, an Indian, to his truck where we mounted the tire for him. John couldn't thank us enough, as not many white men had shown him such kindness.

A month or so later at camp, we spotted a rider approaching--and were surprised to see it was John. He told us he was working temporarily for a local ranch, checking the fence lines.

While talking in general about the surrounding country, Chuck mentioned we were treasure hunting. As a boy, John said he heard many of the tales of lost mission gold and silver. He also believed some of the tales were true, as treasure was found in 1907 near Nogales.

Later, John told us about a mysterious stone archway. Roy told him we came across such a formation south of camp. John's first words were, "Did you walk through its opening?"

Walt answered, "No. We noticed it while descending a slope, but paid little attention to the oddity."

John told us around the 1800s, three Indians were hunting and upon returning to their village, discovered a stone archway. Being in a jubilant mood, they began chasing one another through the opening in a playful manner.

Moments later, one jumped through but never emerged from the opposite side. Fearing they had entered some sacred ground of the gods, the remaining two fled the scene. Arriving at the village, they told the medicine man how their friend had vanished before their eyes.

As the story spread, others journeyed to the high plateau to gaze upon the stone structure. Rocks and other items were tossed through, but nothing occurred--until an elderly woman approached. Tossing in a live rabbit, it suddenly vanished. The Indians backed off in fear and spread the story of this "Doorway to the Gods," as it came to be known.

John himself has been to the site on many occasions. The only time he witnessed anything strange was around 1948. A big storm had blown in, and the sky was filled with dark clouds in all directions. As he rode past the archway, he noticed the sky through its opening was blue--no clouds were visible. Dismounting, he walked cautiously toward the formation and peered through. The mountains on the other side hadn't changed, but the sky was clear. Looking around the corner of the structure, the sky was once again covered with dark clouds. Fear gripped him and he rode off.

Some believe John was looking into another time period through the portal. We asked John: If the story was indeed true, why hadn't it been investigated? He replied that only his people knew of the story, as it had never been mentioned outside the tribe. The only reason he told us was because we had shown him kindness while stranded beside the highway.

Curious, we decided to make another trip to the remote site with Roy Purdie and Walter Fisher--two fellow treasure hunters who were camping with us. It's a rugged climb, and the torturous, craggy mountains play no favorites. Enter their domain, make an error, and you'll be added to the list of the injured and missing.

This mysterious area is covered with windswept rock formations that dot the landscape. Searching further, we discovered an enormous deposit of geodes. The ground was littered with them. Some had broken open, revealing their crystal-lined interiors.

As we approached the archway, the structure took on a menacing appearance. It stood beside a rocky slope, and was perhaps 7 feet high by 5 feet in width. Its columns measured approximately 15 inches in diameter and were made of andesite.

Chuck jokingly tossed several rocks through, but nothing happened. Next, I placed my arm in. Roy, the superstitious member of our foursome, said I was flirting with danger if the story was true. Knowing his nature towards the unknown, I decided to play a joke. I suddenly yelled, like something was pulling me through. Jumping back, I began laughing as Roy cussed me out. By now, we were all close friends, so no offense was taken.

After several hours we departed this interesting location, carrying a number of geodes. I remember glancing back at this lonely part of the world, wondering if there was truly something within the area that could alter time at random. Was it just the archway itself, or were other unknown natural forces at play?
We would definitely discover the answer--at least to the time-altering question.

Horses From Beyond

It was roundup time on the Arivaca Ranch. That evening, Louie and several others were camping beside the corral just north of the mountains to get an early start the following morning.

As they sat around having coffee and making small talk, Louie noticed how still the night was. Most evenings, one could hear the night sounds of the desert. But this time it was unusually quiet, and the livestock seemed restless.

As they were about to bed down, they suddenly heard the rumbling of approaching horses. As the sound grew closer, one could hear the clattering of hoofs among the rocks accompanied by the whinnying of many horses. As the sound increased, the boys dove for cover, expecting to see a herd of horses stampeding through camp. But as the rumbling reached the opposite side of a nearby canyon, it abruptly ended.

The following morning, they searched, but found no evidence of horses. Louie mentioned wild horses once roamed the country around the turn of the century. Were Louie and the others caught on the outer edge of some time change?
It turns out they were near our mysterious archway.

(Before continuing, I'd like to set forth a theory told to us by a party well-versed in the field of the strange and paranormal: Perhaps an enormous deposit of geodes beneath the surface might be effecting time in some mysterious manner. When all the natural elements --the vibration of the crystals, the electricity in the atmosphere and the magnetic fields in the earth--come together at the precise moment, laws of nature are turned topsy-turvy, and things occur beyond our understanding. It could be like dropping a stone into a pool of calm water--the archway being the stone and the waves expanding outward could be the natural forces. These might reach anywhere from several yards to a mile. Depending upon the activation, everything within this radiating circle could be thrown into a different period of time. When it fades, things return to normal.)

Ghostly Padre

This story was told by a reliable rancher and also took place within the shadows of the puzzling archway. It involves the appearance of a Spanish padre long since dead: a ghost--or perhaps not.

Several hundred years earlier, a Jesuit priest, whose name has long since been forgotten, built a small mission east of Arivaca. The residents gave their most treasured possessions to him for safe-keeping, as they feared robbery. These were hidden somewhere near the church grounds.

One morning, a Mexican woodchopper found the elderly padre dead. After he was put to rest, the villagers suddenly realized he was the only one who knew the location of their valuables. They searched, but nothing was ever found.

Over the years, many cowboys and others have reported seeing a dark-robed figure walking near the site of the old mission, which has long since crumbled back into the dry earth. The description given resembles that of a Spanish padre. One rancher told us quite frankly, "Nobody will ever convince me otherwise. I know what I saw that afternoon. The figure wasn't any ghost. It walked across a wash disturbing the gravel and casting a long shadow."

The figure slowly became transparent, shimmered several times then vanished.
Again, was the witness caught in another trick of time produced by the site? Or was he himself back in the 18th century, watching the padre going about his daily rounds? Too bad our rancher didn't see the mission. That would be hard evidence he wasn't in his own time.

Spanish Soldiers

Another mind-boggling story involves two cowboys out searching for a sick bull. Both separated and rode off in different directions. One rider paused atop a hill searching the country below with his binoculars. Suddenly, he felt a stone bounce off his hat. Turning, he expected to find his companion had tossed it jokingly, but nobody was there. Another stone hit his arm, but once again nothing was seen.

While scanning the terrain again, he spotted his friend several hundred yards below. In the distance, he saw the bull. Waving, he shouted to his partner signaling to him which direction to go.

While descending the hill, he spotted a group of six riders traveling eastward. They rode in single file and were about half a mile off.

Stopping, he looked through his field glasses--and was amazed at what he saw. His description of the horsemen resembled pictures he had seen of Spanish soldiers with tunics, lances and helmets. He followed their movements until the scene "shimmered" and faded.

Once again, this occurred near the archway's realm. A column of soldiers traveling east? The only fort in that direction was the presidio located at Tubac during the Spanish occupation.

Indian Revisited

During the mid-1940s, Louie and another ranch hand came upon the skeletal remains of what appeared to be that of an ancient Indian. Beside the body was a rotted bow. The Indian's clothing was of animal skins, and a leather moccasin clung to one foot. The skull and one leg were missing.

Could this have been the Indian who vanished so long ago? The body was discovered less than a mile south of our strange location. They buried the remains nearby, marking the grave with several large rocks. Louie noted that the body didn't resemble 200-year-old remains.

Before hearing the above tale, I often wondered what became of the Indian allegedly swallowed by the archway. If the portal was visible from the opposite side, why didn't he come back through? He might have never noticed a change and, to him, his friends had disappeared. Not finding them, he eventually returned to his village and perhaps also found it missing. Perhaps he was somehow transported forward in time, and for some unknown reason, died on that lonely hillside, only to be found by Louie years later.

The Shimmer

One day, Walt and Roy had their own weird experience near the stone portal. They returned there because Walt wanted to collect some geodes for friends in Tucson.
Looking toward the archway, both saw it appear to shimmer. According to Walt, this lasted several minutes before it slowly faded. During this period, both felt a strange pressure within their ears.

Roy said, "That's it Walt. I'm outta here." After gathering a number of geodes, both left with Roy leading the way--rather fast.

During the summer months, temperatures can reach 110 degrees. The heat waves dancing off a flat surface can make objects appear to shimmer while looking through them. But this was mid-January and the temperature was around 60 or so.

Old Roy would never again return to the site, no matter how we tried to persuade him.
Was the shimmering and ear sensation the beginning of some activation that never reached its full potential? Seeing the expression on Roy's face after he returned to camp--take my word, it happened.

Ghost Camp

A number of individuals have disappeared from the unfriendly rugged hills over the years. Did some make the unfortunate mistake of entering the portal at the wrong time? The following suggests that possibility.

While the four of us were checking out an old silver workings, we came upon a deserted miners camp that Louie had told us about weeks earlier. Everything was left behind--rotted clothing, tools, drill steel, old blankets and cooking utensils. Everything was there to maintain a functional camp. By the looks of several items, I'd say the site was active during the 1930s.

It looked as though somebody just walked away and never returned--or couldn't. The camp was almost a mile from the bizarre site high above. Did this party fall victim to it, or did he become discouraged with mining and abandon camp? I find this highly unlikely.

We also heard a story about a lone prospector who arrived each October and remained until spring. This continued for several years. One day, he vanished, leaving his horse, wagon and camp behind. It was located near a saddle in the mountains--just north of you know what. A body was never found.

We visited this site and found a deep shaft nearby with numerous open cuts on a hill. Was he prospecting or treasure hunting? It was rumored that some bandit's loot--two bags of gold coins--was buried within this area.
Stories like this keep people like us searching.

Stones From the Heavens

Another close encounter occurred about 14 months into our treasure game, a game that seemed to be going nowhere.

While in Arivaca picking up needed supplies, we met three other treasure hunters. They were in the area for a month seeking the famous "Lost Treasure of Carreta Canyon" hidden by the fleeing padres from the Tumacacori Mission during the great Pima uprising of 1751.

We invited them to stop by camp and gave them directions. Several weeks later, they arrived and had an interesting story to tell. By chance, while traveling overland, they camped near the mouth of the canyon leading to the strange area. We discovered this when one pointed to their campsite on his map.

While relaxing one evening after a long, tiring search for this elusive treasure, they heard a sound like rain hitting the tent. Stepping outside, they saw the sky was clear. All at once a shower of hundreds of small stones came cascading down around them. Most were the size of a large pea, were reddish brown and resembled hematite, an iron ore.

Picking several up, they noticed they were quite warm to the touch. Their camp wasn't located near any high cliffs where the stones could have originated. George, a member of the group, jokingly said: "Perhaps we're camping on some ancient Indian burial ground and the spirits want us to leave." He had read an article about an incident similar to this occurring on a burial ground somewhere in the Midwest.

By now, one has to admit something quite out of the ordinary encircles this strange site. I won't definitely say their encounter with the warm stones had anything to do with our odd out-of-time region. Indian spirits or not, something weird occurred while they sat relaxing in their tent.

My Encounter

After our two-year adventure ended without finding buried gold or lost mines, we returned to Washington State for almost a year. We then moved to Arizona, making Tucson our home.

Most of our adult lives have been one long adventure after the other. If Roy and Walt arrived at our door with some wild treasure lead, we'd be off with them the next day. To live such a lifestyle, we all remained single. We were one big happy family of devil-may-care adventurers.

The strange experience I had occurred on Oct. 14, 1973. During one of our two-week adventures, I found myself near the canyon that leads towards that oddball site. Not having been there in almost four years, I decided to pay it a visit. The canyon was just as rugged as ever. After climbing and slipping among the boulders, I finally arrived at the steep hill leading to the site above.

It's a long, weary climb, so I paused for a breather half way up. I sat on the slope facing north. Too my left (west), the steep hill followed the canyon perhaps a mile, but something was definitely wrong. Below to my left was a canyon--where none had existed. Curious, I made my way down, entering it from the eastside, so I thought.

I soon discovered I was in the same canyon that led toward the hill I had just scaled. I was more than 250 yards back down the canyon on a different slope and now I was facing south--I had mysteriously been transported to the new location. Thinking I was looking west, I was really looking east seeing the canyon I had just hiked.

There was no way on earth I could have reached this other slope while climbing the original hill. Knowing where I was, suddenly I knew why this had happened. Any skepticism I had about this crazy site vanished.

I was apprehensive about continuing and should have departed the area immediately. But curiosity led me on. I made the grueling climb once again, passing the spot where minutes before I had been resting.

I realized that if something within this site caused my teleportation, I might not even be in my own time. What a frightening thought that was. I felt somewhat alarmed over the incident that occurred.

Soon, I arrived at the site and looked around. Everything appeared normal. No shimmering effects, lights or other odd observations were observed. However, I noticed how silent it was--not a breeze, a birdcall, nothing. Looking down, I saw the hairs on my arms standing straight up like being near static electricity. I began feeling uneasy and decided to leave.

It seemed each time we visited this twilight zone, we'd discover another geological oddity, and this time was no different. While descending the hill, I found an outcropping of thunder eggs--a cryo-crystalline variety of quartz found in egg-shaped nodules. We had searched this area before, and I couldn't understand how we missed seeing them. After gathering several, I continued on.

If what happened was caused by this tricky mysterious region, I didn't want to perhaps get zapped a second time and wind up God knows where. I was quite relieved when I climbed from the canyon and found my Jeep where I had left it three hours earlier.

Glancing skyward, I spotted a jet passing over. I sure was happy it wasn't some prehistoric bird. I joke now, but something serious could have occurred while in the presence of that weird, upside-down area.

That evening at camp, I tried to arrive at some satisfactory answer to what may have happened. Some force could have been released from the area, but being well below the site, I didn't receive its full impact. Anyway, something moved me within a micro second without ever realizing something occurred. This wasn't my imagination.

I have kept the location secret all these years, as I do not want the area turning into some circus sideshow. Only five living friends of mine know its location. The others--Roy, Walt and Louie--have gone on to that Big Desert in the sky, where all of us will meet again. It is not some UFO landing site or mythical place to communicate with spirits from the beyond, but it is capable of altering time at random.

On my last visit to this wondrous place, I discovered the top portion of the archway had collapsed. All that remains are the two columns. Will this damage interfere with its ability to change time? The following story answers that question.

New Visitors

During 2001, my friend Bill Riley and his wife, Mary, wanted to visit the area after hearing the remarkable stories surrounding it. Both had to promise not to reveal its location to others. After showing them the rugged route on a map, it still took them several attempts to find it.

During their first attempt to reach this forbidden zone, Bill injured his knee but managed to continue. I had to remind them how unfriendly this region can be while prowling its harsh domain.

On their second trip, they missed the right hill. However, they did discover a portion of the geode bed, and were amazed by its expense. That evening, while camping within the canyon, both claimed a slight vibration came from the nearby geodes when placing their hands upon them. Mary later mentioned it was a spooky place and she felt uneasy throughout the night.

The following morning while exploring, Bill discovered a hollow geode large enough to sit in. It's odd we didn't find this large geode while exploring, as I've been there perhaps 10 times.

Like I've mentioned, it's a real odd place. You see something one time and it's gone the next. Could these large geodes be the main source that activates the natural energy within the area, or just more wild unfounded speculation?

On their final trip into this never-never land of mystery, Bill and Mary found the correct hill. After an exhausting climb, they arrived at the site. Bill found most of what I told him to search for, but the archway eluded them.

While searching, Bill and Mary spotted what resembled the two columns off in the distance. Upon arriving where they should have been, both columns had vanished. Was this their imagination, or were the strange forces within the area playing with their minds?

After spending the day searching and not witnessing any strange activities except for the vanishing columns, they left arriving at their truck after dark. While preparing to leave and follow their tracks out to the ranch road, Bill glanced toward the canyon. In the sky above the site, a circular transparent donut-shaped glow was seen resembling the Aurora Borealis. From the inside rim, tiny sparkling particles were observed cascading downward. Taking his digita1 camera, Bill took a picture of the odd display before it vanished.

Later, only the black sky and the moon appeared in the photo. Using a magnifying glass something else could be seen, but it was too faint to make out.
Mary refuses to go there anymore.

Fact or Fiction?

What we have out there is a natural phenomena created accidentally by nature. It alters time, and there's no way to predict when this might occur. The majority of these tricks of time seem to occur during the summer and winter storm season when lots of energy is about. But others happen during the stillness of the night or on sunny days.

Undoubtedly, there will be the skeptics and believers. This is definitely not a hoax or a figment of this writer's imagination. Such a place exists high on a plateau near the Mexican border. Odd things do occur at random within its mysterious boundaries.
Can this site alter time? I believe so until proven wrong.

Strange activities no doubt still occur near this bewildering location but go unnoticed by human eyes due to its remote proximity to civilization. I'll no doubt return there again someday.

Will this uncanny mystery ever be solved? Only time will tell. I believe there's ample evidence to support the claim that something quite unnatural happens at random within this locale.

How does that saying go? Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

Don and Phil Everly Promotion Picture (1959)

2006-10-08T17:36:00.000-07:00

"Tarantula" The Storms 7" 45 rpm (1960)

2006-10-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

Santo & Johnny "Sleep Walk" (1959)

2006-10-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

Apple Valley, California Ad (1953)

2006-10-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

Link Wray "Slinky" 45rpm Picture Sleeve (1958)

2006-10-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

Roy Acuff "Hillbilly Fever" (1952)

2006-10-03T11:55:00.000-07:00

"The Phantom Pinto" Main Title Card (1941)

2006-10-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

"Wildwood Flower" Joe Maphis, Larry Collins & Merle Travis

2006-10-02T12:10:00.000-07:00

"Maid In The Ozarks" Newspaper Ad (194?)

2006-10-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

Jo Stafford - Westinghouse Clock Radio Ad (1952)

2006-09-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

"Knott's Berry Place Ghost Town News" (194?)

2006-09-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

Roy Rogers Production Still (1950)

2006-09-28T06:52:00.000-07:00

"McLintock!" Ad - Long Beach Press Telegram (1963)

2006-09-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

"Galloping to Glory" Main Title Card (19??)

2006-09-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

"Belmont Theater" Harrisburg Press Newpaper Ad (Aug 26, 1945)

2006-09-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

"Billy the Kid's Range War" AKA "Texas Trouble" Title Card (1941)

2006-09-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

"Ghost Town News" (April, 1944)

2006-09-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

"Chief Wahoo" Comic & "Save Used Cooking Fat" (Pittsburg Post-Gazette, July 1944)

2006-09-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

"The Kid From Texas" Newpaper Ad (1950)

2006-09-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

Charlie Pride - Hee-Haw Clip singing "Kaw-Liga" (1968)

2006-09-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

The following is from Charlie Pride's offical website:

Born to poor sharecroppers, one of eleven children in Sledge, Mississippi, Pride is a timeless everyman, revered by his musical peers and adored by countless millions of fans around the globe. His golden baritone voice has transcended race and spanned the generations.

Charley Pride unofficially started his music career in the late 1950s as a ballplayer with the Negro American League’s Memphis Red Sox singing and playing guitar on the team bus between ballparks. Self-taught on a guitar bought at the age 14 from Sears Roebuck, Pride would join various bands' onstage as he and the team roved the country.

After a tryout with the New York Mets, Pride decided to return to his Montana home via Nashville. It was there he met Jack Johnson, who upon hearing the singer perform, sent him on his way with the promise of a management contract and a newly forged relationship that would last for over a decade.

A year later, Pride returned to the Music City and was introduced to producer, Jack Clement, who gave him several songs to learn. When Clement heard Pride’s renditions, he immediately asked the fledgling singer if he could cut two songs in two hours. Pride agreed, and “The Snakes Crawl at Night” and “Atlantic Coastal Line” were recorded.

Three months later, Pride’s two song demo landed in the hands of already legendary RCA Records head, Chet Atkins, who was so moved he immediately signed him to the label. Pride’s first single hit the airwaves in January 1966 and just like that his star was on the rise. Within a short period of time “The Snakes Crawl at Night” was climbing the charts with his “Before I Met You” closing in on its tail.

Between 1969, when he first hit #1 on the singles chart with "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" and 1984, when he commanded the top spot again with "Every Heart Should Have One," Pride scored more than 36 number one country singles.

Over the past thirty years, Pride has remained one of the Top 20 best-selling country artists of all-time. His incredible legacy includes 36 #1 hit singles, over 70 million albums sold, 31 gold and 4 platinum albums - including one quadruple platinum. On RCA Records, Charley Pride is second in sales only to Elvis Presley.

"The Dope Evil" by Loraine Burnett Tyler (1930's)

2006-09-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

"Tijuana Smells" Wacky Packages (1975)

2006-09-20T06:53:00.000-07:00

"Vernell's Fresh Butter Mints" Ad (1953)

2006-09-19T06:35:00.000-07:00

Bob Wills Song Book (1942)

2006-09-18T19:31:00.000-07:00

"Roy Rogers Comics" (1951)

2006-09-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

In Memory ~ Mike P. Ball ~ April 21, 1967 - September 17, 1994

"Bill Boyd Song Book" (1941)

2006-09-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

"Red Foley's Cowboy Songs - Mountain Ballads" (1941)

2006-09-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

Cowboy Songs w/ Gene Autry on Cover (1941)

2006-09-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

"Barnyard Bard" Peoms by Smokey Rogers

2006-09-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

"Country Song Roundup" #4 (early 1950's)

2006-09-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

How to Display the Flag, Los Angeles Times (1922)

2006-09-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

Mystery Woman (Unknown Vintage)

2006-09-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

I found this photograph between the pages of an old Bible. I don't know who she is but it's a beautiful picture.

Gasoline Alley (July 31, 1950)

2006-09-09T08:04:00.000-07:00

Polk Street, Amarillo, Texas (1939)

2006-09-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

Paperback Books "Rawhide Range" (1952), "Secret Valley" (1954)

2006-09-07T21:02:00.000-07:00

"From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter" (2000)

2006-09-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

From Richard Scheib's The Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film Review:

This was the third of the films that began with the cinematically-released Quentin Tarantino-Robert Rodriguez collaboration From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). The success of From Dusk was followed by two South African-shot released-to-video sequels, From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999) and this. The first two films disappointed - From Dusk felt like two quite different films stuck together, while Texas Blood Money conducted a more interesting variation on the central premise but was killed off by Scott Spiegel's pretentious direction. The surprise is that The Hangman's Daughter is actually the best of all three films.

All three films retain the same basic idea - a group of outlaws on the run who end up at The Titty Twister and are forced to survive up against vampires. The Hangman's Daughter's novelty is to take the story back and set it a century before the other two films as a Western. There is considerable ingenuity to this. One particularly clever touch is its winding in of actual history, adding as a major character Ambrose Bierce, the real-life writer best known for his biting cynicism. Bierce wrote collections such as Tales of Soldiers and Civilians (1891) and The Devil's Dictionary (1903) and a good number of horror stories, most famously the original deathdream fantasy An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1891). It is a touch that cleverly resolves Bierce's mysteriously unexplained real-life disappearance South of the Border in 1914. [The subtitle of the film incidentally is borrowed from the title of one of Bierce's books, The Monk and the Hangman's Daughter (1892)].

Entertainment Section Ads - "The Albertan" Calgary, Alberta, Canada (July, 31, 1950)

2006-09-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Clint Walker - General Electric Ad (1956)

2006-09-03T19:41:00.000-07:00

Whiskey Ads from "The Billings Gazette" Montana (Jan. 17, 1936)

2006-09-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

Meramec Caverns - Stanton, Missouri

2006-09-01T18:07:00.000-07:00

The Following is from the Roadside America Site:

Meramec Caverns - Stanton, Missouri This is one of the giants among Missouri's show caves. You don't even reach the mouth until you drive past the Meramec Caverns motel and RV park, park half a mile away, and claw your way through the ice cream stand, game arcade and huge gift shop. Boys of all nations gather at the toy gun rack, firing off shots in all directions. The whole complex is packed with vacationers desperate for an excuse to get out of the heat. Meramec satisfies in this regard, providing guests with an 80-minute journey through its clammy passages. Flag CurtainThe cavern bills itself as "Jesse James's Hideout," but the tiny cabin in the cave mouth (under the neon "Meramec Caverns" sign) belonged to a moonshiner, not Jesse.

Just beyond lies the Grand Ballroom, with a mirrored disco ball hanging over its tiled floor and signs along its lumpy walls boasting of TV shows and movies that were filmed here, like "Lassie." Dim, drippy, lesser passages extend beyond here, packed solid with tour after tour of lock-stepped heat-beaters. The booming voices of well-rehearsed tour guides lecture adjacent groups about cave nodules and Art Linkletter (another TV show filmed here), blend into an eerie audio mosaic. All of this leads to the last room, where a theater of tiered plastic chairs spreads out from a great curtain wall of striking flowstone formations. The better for visitors to appreciate nature's handiwork? Hah! How long do you think Meramec Caverns would've stayed in business if that's all that were here? Meramec's founders foresightedly created in this room "the greatest show under the earth" -- a triumph of 1946 technology.

As the tour guide manually throws noisy toggles that turn colored lights on and off, a well-worn recording of Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" echoes off the surrounding stone. The clacking switches add staccato overtones to the murky music, as the show climaxes in a slide of a waving American flag projected in the middle of the flashing blues and reds and greens. The tour group, happy after finally being allowed to sit, bursts into applause.

New Mexico Booklet (1942)

2006-08-31T07:07:00.000-07:00

"Ghost Riders in the Sky" by Stan Jones

2006-08-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

Ghost Riders in the Sky

(Stan Jones)

An old cowpoke went riding out
One dark and windy day,
Upon a ridge he rested as
He went along his way,
When all at once a mighty herd
Of red eyed cows he saw,
A-plowin' through the ragged skies
And up a cloudy draw.

Yippee-yi-ya, yippee-yi-yo,
The ghost herd in the sky.

Their brands were still on fire and
Their hooves were made of steel,
Their horns were black and shiny and
Their hot breath he could feel,
A bolt of fear shot through him as
He looked up in the sky,
For he saw the riders comin' hard
And he heard their mournful cry:

Yippee-yi-ya, yippee-yi-yo,
Ghost riders in the sky.

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred,
Their shirts all soaked with sweat,
They're riding hard to catch that herd,
But they ain't caught 'em yet,
'cause they've got to ride forever on
That range up in the sky,
On horses snortin' fire, as
They ride on hear their cry:

Yippee-yi-ya, yippee-yi-yo,
Ghost riders in the sky.

As the cowpokes went on past him
He heard one call his name,
“If you want to save your soul from hell
A-riding on our range,
Then, cowboy, change your ways today,
Or with us you will ride,
A-trying to catch the devil's herd
Across these endless skies”.

Yippee-yi-ya, yippee-yi-yo,
Ghost riders in the sky.

The name Stan Jones doesn't pop up in too many country music reference books, but most fans of cowboy songs and Western movie soundtrack music, not to mention the music of Gene Autry, the Sons of the Pioneers, Vaughn Monroe, and Johnny Cash, know his name, as the author of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky."

Stanley Davis Jones was born in Arizona in 1915 and became a forest ranger. He had an interest in music, could sing a little and play a guitar, and occasionally wrote songs in his spare time. In the fall of 1948, he was assigned as a technical advisor on a Columbia Pictures movie called The Walking Hills, starring Randolph Scott and Ella Raines and directed by John Sturges, when the crew was doing their location shooting in Death Valley. During a slow point in the work, Jones pulled out his guitar and started singing some of those songs and was told by Scott and the rest of the crew that the songs might go nicely in Western movies and that he should try and sell them to the Hollywood studios.

Jones followed their advice and tried to publish some of his songs (including "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky," which owed its melody to "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"), only to have them turned down by the music companies that he approached -- one even said that "Riders" was too dirgeful and funereal. He recorded that song and a few others on his own, and composer Eden Ahbez (best known for the hit "Nature Boy") heard "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" and brought it to Burl Ives, who cut it for Columbia Records. It was later picked up by Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, and Vaughn Monroe, as well as dozens of others, and Jones had a new career and major Hollywood representation.

By 1950, Jones was writing songs for major motion pictures, including Ford's Rio Grande, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara -- Ford learned of Jones' songs when actors Harry Carey Jr. and Ben Johnson brought him and his music to the director in person, during shooting -- where they were sang by the Sons of the Pioneers, and he was being looked at by Walt Disney Studios, where he signed on as a composer and recording artist. He wrote and recorded individual songs and began releasing albums in 1961 with Ghost Riders in the Sky, followed by Creakin' Leather a year later and the concept album This Was the West.

Jones' other credits include the beautiful theme music to the Warner Bros. television series Cheyenne, written in collaboration with Hollywood veteran William Lava -- indeed, some viewers say the title theme was the best part of the program -- and the title theme from the landmark John Ford Western The Searchers. "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" remains one of the most popular and often-covered post-World War II country & western songs, constantly re-recorded and old recordings constantly revived. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

The Haunted Shack, Knott's Berry Farm, Ca. (1954 - 2000)

2006-08-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

During the early part of the century, a strange roadside phenomena occurred. Places where the geomagnetic forces appeared to be mis-aligned... places where gravity and light were distorted. People promoted the gimmick as a tourist attraction where round objects and streams run uphill, folks walked on walls, brooms stand on end.
Such sites were:
• The Mystery Shack at Calico Ghost Town, Yermo, CA
• The Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz, CA
• The Oregon Vortex House of Mystery Gold Hill, OR
• Confusion Hill Gravity House, Percy, CA
• Cosmos of the Black Hills, Rapid City, SD
• The Teton Mystery, Jackson, WY
• Confusion Hill, Ligonier, PA
• The Wonder Spot, Lake Delton, WI
• Mystery Spot, St. Ignace, MI
• Mystery Hill, Irish Hills, MI & Marblehead, OH
• Mysterious Tuttle House, North Woodstock, NH
• Mystery Hill, Blowing Rock, NC
• Mystery Shack, NC
• Spook Hill, Lake Wales, FL
• Casa Magnetica, Arlington, TX
• Magnetic Mine Shack, Brainerd, MN
• Mystery Shack, Maggie Valley, NC
Knott's Berry Farm had a haunted shack that was moved directly from the ghost town of Calico, CA. Fortunately for Walter Knott and his family business, he moved it to another, equally powerful geomagnetic anomaly!!! The house of strange phenomena was opened in June of 1954. Daily tours revealed the gravity defying mysteries as told by Slanty Sam in "The Legend of the Haunted Shack."
Your wisecracking guide walked you through a mysterious shack where water ran uphill, chairs balanced precariously on walls, and bad jokes abound. For a sample of the humor you were subjected to, a barrel in the waiting area warned you of its dangerous "Baby Rattlers." It was filled with very small rattles. News of the planned replacement of Knott's Haunted Shack hit the public in early 2000. Due to the attraction's age, operational cost, declining attendance and lack of ADA (Americans With Disabilities) requirements, Knott's decided to remove the attraction to allow room for a new roller coaster. This news was met by great sadness from both enthusiasts and normal, everyday patrons. The Shack was a staple of Knott's Berry Farm, and a reminder of the slower and more unique attractions which used to dominate the Farm.
The Haunted Shack's last patrons went through in September 2000, right before it was transformed into Dead Man's Wharf for Halloween Haunt. As soon as Haunt closed for the season, the Shack closed forever. As soon as the final Haunt props were removed, the destruction began.