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Pour yourself a shot and settle in for an entertaining journey through Dodge City lore and fine spirits! Our debut episode of "Whiskey and Westerns on Wednesday" brings together host Mike King and Dodge City historian Brad Smalley to explore frontier legends while sampling Ardbeg 10, a smoky Islay scotch.

We kick things off by shattering a persistent Wild West myth about the origin of "shot" glasses. Despite romantic notions of cowboys trading bullets for whiskey, historical records reveal that in 1870s Dodge City, a shot cost about 25 cents—enough to buy nearly ten bullets. When George Hoover established the first saloon in what would become Dodge, he dispensed whiskey by the ladle for two bits, likely delivering a more generous pour than today's standard shot.

The heart of our episode revolves around Luke McGlue, Dodge City's most infamous resident who never actually existed. This entirely fictional character served as the perfect scapegoat for the town's practical jokers, including legendary figures like Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp. When pranks were pulled and someone needed to take the blame, Luke McGlue became the untraceable culprit, preventing potential violence in a town where everyone carried guns.

We share the hilarious tale of Dr. Meredith, a traveling "medical man" who came to deliver a lecture on "private diseases" after corresponding with the nonexistent Luke. What followed was an elaborately orchestrated practical joke featuring staged disruptions, gunfire that extinguished the saloon's lamps, and ultimately a terrified doctor fleeing town on the first train out.

Throughout our storytelling, we appreciate the complex flavors of Ardbeg 10, discussing how peat imparts its distinctive smoky character during the whiskey-making process and identifying flavor notes from beeswax to black pepper.

Subscribe to our podcast for weekly episodes where we'll continue exploring legendary characters, historical tales, and fine spirits from the American frontier. Search "Wild West podcast" to find us and join our Wednesday tradition of whiskey and wonderful stories!

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If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.

"Edward Masterson and the Texas Cowboys," penned by Michael King, takes readers on an exhilarating ride through the American West, focusing on the lively and gritty cattle town of Dodge City, Kansas. This thrilling dime novel plunges into the action-packed year of Ed Masterson's life as a lawman, set against the backdrop of the chaotic cattle trade, filled with fierce conflicts, shifting loyalties, and rampant lawlessness. You can order the book on Amazon.

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The enduring legend of Belle Starr, America's notorious "Bandit Queen," culminates in this riveting final episode that traces her tragic demise and extraordinary posthumous transformation. After the death of her husband Sam Starr in 1886, Belle found herself in a desperate legal battle to keep her beloved home at Younger's Bend. The Cherokee Tribal Council delivered devastating news – as a non-citizen, her claim to the land had vanished with her husband's passing. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, she quickly formed a strategic alliance with Jim July, a young man of Creek and Cherokee heritage, securing her homestead through this new marriage while agreeing to stop harboring fugitives.

Despite her attempts to reform, the shadows of Belle's past continued to circle. By February 1889, she had accumulated a long list of potential enemies – from her disgruntled neighbor Edgar Watson to her own resentful son Ed Reed. On February 3rd, just days before her 41st birthday, Belle was ambushed on a lonely stretch of road near Eufaula. The attack was brutal and cowardly – shot in the back with what many believe was her own double-barreled shotgun, then finished off as she lay wounded on the cold ground. Though she was found still alive and brought home to her daughter Pearl, her injuries proved fatal.

The investigation into Belle's murder exemplifies frontier justice at its most ineffective. Despite compelling evidence against prime suspect Edgar Watson, including distinctive footprints at the crime scene, he was acquitted due to insufficient evidence and reluctant witnesses. The mystery of who killed Belle Starr remains unsolved to this day, adding another layer to her fascinating legend. It was her violent death that catapulted her from local notoriety to national fame, as sensationalized newspaper accounts caught the attention of publisher Richard K. Fox. His 1889 paperback "Belle Starr, the Bandit Queen" reinvented her as a beautiful, educated Southern belle driven to crime to avenge her Confederate brother's death – a romantic fabrication far removed from the complex reality of the woman who had just one conviction for horse theft.

Belle's grave at Younger's Bend bears the poetic inscription: "Shed not for her the bitter tear... 'Tis but the casket that lies here, the gem that fills it, sparkles yet." These words perfectly capture the essence of the Belle Starr phenomenon – the transformation of a frontier woman into an enduring symbol of the Wild West. Share your thoughts about this fascinating American legend and explore our illustrated dime novel for the complete story of the Bandit Queen's remarkable life.

Support the show

If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.

"Edward Masterson and the Texas Cowboys," penned by Michael King, takes readers on an exhilarating ride through the American West, focusing on the lively and gritty cattle town of Dodge City, Kansas. This thrilling dime novel plunges into the action-packed year of Ed Masterson's life as a lawman, set against the backdrop of the chaotic cattle trade, filled with fierce conflicts, shifting loyalties, and rampant lawlessness. You can order the book on Amazon.

Send us a text

Saddle up for a journey into the heart of podcast storytelling excellence as we explore the remarkable success of the Wild West Podcast. Since 2017, this captivating show has transported listeners back to frontier America through its perfect tagline: "where fact and legend merge."

What makes this podcast truly exceptional is the extraordinary partnership that brings each episode to life. Michael King serves as the meticulous researcher and writer, crafting historically accurate narratives that go beyond the audio medium into carefully illustrated dime novel-style publications. This isn't just historical recounting—it's a deliberate homage to the very format that originally popularized Western tales 150 years ago. Meanwhile, Brad Smalley delivers each story with authentic frontier gravitas, his signature "Howdy from Dodge City" greeting backed by genuine credentials as a local Boot Hill gunfighter and historical reenactor. When Smalley narrates, you're not just hearing history; you're connecting with someone deeply embedded in the traditions and physical space that shaped these legendary tales.

While other Western podcasts cast wide nets across the entire frontier or rely on cinematic production values, the Wild West Podcast takes a different approach. By focusing intensely on Dodge City and prioritizing substance over flash, King and Smalley have created something remarkably authentic. Their 260+ episodes, typically running 20-30 minutes each, cover both iconic figures and obscure historical moments with equal dedication. The result? A show that's reached listeners in 150 countries and maintains an impressive 4.6-star rating. It proves something powerful about storytelling today: in our digital age, deeply local knowledge delivered through genuine voices can resonate globally, ensuring these complex, sometimes contradictory, but eternally fascinating chapters of American history continue to echo for generations to come. Subscribe now to experience the perfect blend of historical accuracy and spellbinding storytelling that only the Wild West Podcast can deliver.

Support the show

If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.

"Edward Masterson and the Texas Cowboys," penned by Michael King, takes readers on an exhilarating ride through the American West, focusing on the lively and gritty cattle town of Dodge City, Kansas. This thrilling dime novel plunges into the action-packed year of Ed Masterson's life as a lawman, set against the backdrop of the chaotic cattle trade, filled with fierce conflicts, shifting loyalties, and rampant lawlessness. You can order the book on Amazon.