Bigfoot and other Big Books on the West from Gene W. Baade

For those who like to explore ghost towns, Baade has eight ghost town books by Lambert Florin. If they were ghosts towns then, they must be really ghostly now as these books were published in 1970 or 1971. Areas covered are Alaska, the Yukon and British Columbia; Arizona; California; Colorado and Utah; Montana, Idaho and Wyoming; Nevada; New Mexico; and Oregon. All are inexpensively priced at $8.50 to $12.50.

We will conclude this review with a song, or many songs: Songs – Otto Gray and His Oklahoma Cowboys. The group had started out as Billy McGinty's Oklahoma Cowboy Band, but McGinty, a one time performer with Buffalo Bill, got a postmaster's job and left. Otto Gray took over. The band began to travel, becoming extremely popular. They appeared on radio stations all over the country. As the burden of travel became too much for many of the Oklahoma cowboys, Gray replaced them with professional musicians. The band prospered through much of the 1920s and 1930s before disbanding (that is what bands do when they break up). Most of this 1930 privately published book contains the band's songs, including the ever popular “Sucking Cider through a Straw.” It also tells about how McGinty formed the band, and Gray took over. There is a picture of the band broadcasting from Schenectady, New York, not exactly cowboy country, but home of broadcasting pioneer General Electric. If you would like to experience the Cowboys, here is a link to them: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJLSgI6EHkA. The cider song is included. You won't be disappointed. Item 50. $75.

Gene W.Baade Books on the West may be reached at 425-271-6481 or bookwest@q.com. The website is www.booksonthewest.com.