Great Plains Studies, Center for
Date of this Version
Winter 2012
Citation
Great Plains Quarterly 32:1 (Winter 2012).
Abstract
John Wooley's Shot in Oklahoma is pioneering in every sense of the word. Not only is it the first book to engage the entirety of cinema in the state of Oklahoma; it will also serve as an archive for future researchers in the field. Wooley has used massive amounts of materials, including interviews with principal figures, but he has especially researched the files of the Tulsa World, the now-defunct Tulsa Tribune, and the Daily Oklahoman for newspaper reactions to all the cinematic activity in the state.
Small though the state of Oklahoma may be, its engagement with cinema began almost as soon as Oklahoma achieved statehood in 1907. In 1905, the Miller brothers-Joe, Zack, and George-created the Miller Brothers Real Wild West at their 101 Ranch, a live show that would eventually feature such future film stars as Hoot Gibson, Bill Pickett, and Tom Mix. Bennie Kent, a photographer at the ranch, began taking his own films of the area in 1908. In the same year, the Edison Company began to shoot pictures at the ranch. Pioneer producer William N. Selig took advantage of the ranch's props, cowboys, cowgirls, and equipment to film many one- and two-reel films at the 101 for Selig Polyscope Company. Later, the 101 joined forces with Thomas Ince to film in California.
Comments
Copyright © 2012 Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska.