History Warp (7/23-29): Big Money, Big Orange

Posted: July 23rd, 2012 | Filed under: History Warp | No Comments »

It is time to express my admiration for a cowpoke who saw more than sagebrush and cacti and varmints hiding in those western foothills where he chased cattle rustlers. And caught ’em.

Tip of the Stetson to Gene Autry.

On July 23, 1950, the singing cowboy made the transition to TV from movies and the radio. Along with his trusty steed Champion, and the requisite silly sidekick Pat Buttram.

But what I admire most about Autry was his vision. When he was filming those westerns in the San Fernando Valley, he saw the future.

Even wiser as a businessman than he was chasing desperadoes, he bought up a lot of that land before the post WWII land boom. Which made Autry a seriously rich fellow, given that the real estate evolved into the mall-infested Land of the Valley Girls.

* * * * *

I also wish to go back even further in the Time Machine to the era of America’s most intense inner conflict. Call it what you will.

The Civil War.

The War Between The States.

The War of Northern Aggression.

Whatever. It was not a fun time.

The basics. A number of Southern States split from the Union and formed the Confederacy. Not enough time here to debate the reasons, which were, as expected, complicated. Anyhow, after the renegade jurisdictions were defeated militarily, those who left returned.

On July 24, 1866, the Volunteer State of Tennessee — Big Orange Country to you “Rocky Top”-loving, General Bob Neyland acolytes — became the first Confederate state to be readmitted as one of the United States of America.

---