Award winning screen writer for television, short & featurette films, and comedians.
listen to interview from Chronicle of the Old West
Photos from the Thunder Over the Prairiebook launch in Dodge City, Kansas
The year was 1878. Future legends of the Old West—lawmen Charlie Bassett, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Bill Tilghman—patrolled the unruly streets of Dodge City, Kansas, then known as "the wickedest little city in America." When a cattle baron fled town after allegedly shooting the popular dancehall girl Dora Hand, these four men—all sharpshooters who knew the surrounding harsh, desertlike terrain—hunted him down, it was said, like "thunder over the prairie." The posse's legendary ride across the desolate landscape to seek justice influenced the men's friendship, careers, and feelings about the justice system. This account of that event is a fast-paced, unforgettable glimpse into the Old West.
Most Extaordinary Women
Gilded Girls
Women Entertainers of the Old West
Gilded Girls profiles fourteen of the liveliest, wildest, and most talented female entertainers ever to light up the boards of the western frontier.
Hearts West
True Stories of Mail-Order Brides on the Frontier
Hearts West brings to life true stories of mail-order brides of the Gold Rush era. Some found soul mates; others found themselves in desperate situations.
Love Untamed
Romances of the Old West
The romances of thirteen couples are explored and represent the variety of relationships and love affairs that added color, controversy, and commitment to the unmatched days of the Old West.
The Doctor Wore Petticoats
Women Physicians of the Old West
Despite the dire need for medical help, it seemed most trappers, miners, and emigrants would rather suffer and die than be treated by a female doctor. Nevertheless dozens of highly trained women headed West, where they endured hardship and prejudice as they set broken limbs, performed operations, delivered generations of babies and solidified a place for women in the medical field.
An Ounce ShortDocumentary Examines Career of Old West's Worst Entertainer
Grass Valley, CA. - The failed acting career of Gold Rush pioneer Pauline Ogden is the subject of a new film entitled An Ounce Short. At a time in history when any fledgling entertainer with just an ounce of talent could get work, Pauline Ogden couldn’t get arrested.
Old West historian and author Chris Enss, wrote and produced the tell-all mockumentary. The film features historical photographs and excerpts from the journals and diaries of famous figures from that period such as Lola Montez, Lotta Crabtree and Mark Twain.
Award winning documentary director Catherine Bush-Johnston, skillfully weaves the fabric of Pauline Ogden’s struggling life and times into a tapestry of interesting film footage. Highly acclaimed voice-over artist, Chris Kilpatrick acts as narrator for this piece and several well-known thespians have lent their voices to the project as well.
For more information about this mockumentary and how to obtain a copy, please contact Chris Enss at gvcenss@aol.com
