OKC Events: July 10, 2008

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Jul 10, 2008 by Joan Gilmore

Tulsa's Gilcrease Museum offers a taste of the real Wild West in its newest exhibition titled 101 Ranch: The Real Wild West. The exhibit offers the largest known collection of memorabilia and artifacts from the famed Oklahoma ranch and its Wild West shows. This exhibit will be on view through Jan. 25.

Featured are more than 300 objects from the 101 Ranch and its Wild West show that raveled the world during the early 20th century. Visitors will have the opportunity to see historic firearms and costumes used by the Wild West performers, as well as photographs, posters and other curiosities. The collection, which was recently acquired, has never been seen by the public before. It represents a fascinating story in American history that was centered in Oklahoma, says Gilcrease Museum director Duane King.

To celebrate the opening of the exhibit earlier this month, the museum was filled with trick ropers, storytellers, live music of the era and children's activities. Author Michael Wallis hosted a signing for his book, For the Real Wild West: The 101 Ranch and the Creation of the American West, a book that chronicles the life of the ranch and its famous show.

Ths exhibition marks the beginning of the University of Tulsa's management of the Gilcrease Museum. The city of Tulsa and TU entered into an agreement last year to manage operations at the city-owned museum in order to streamline museum management, preserve and advance its collections and provide new opportunities for academic research of the museum's extensive holdings.

The 101 Ranch collection of more than 3,000 items was purchased by the museum from Ruth and Jerry Murphey, a couple from Corpus Christi, who are 101 Ranch experts and lifelong collectors. The ranch was founded near present-day Ponca City in the late 1800s by Col. George W. Miller. In its heyday, the 101 Ranch show, titled The Miller Brothers' Real Wild West Show for Joe, George and Zach Miller, sons of the ranch owner, offered such star performers as Tom Mix, Bill Pickett, Hoot Gibson and Yakima Cannutt. The show later included Ruth Roach, Lucy Mulhall, known as America's First Cowgirl; Lillian Smith and western legend Buffalo Bill Cody.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m until 5 p.m. For more information, call (918) 596-2700 or visit www.gilcrease.org.

Teen 'fiddlers' (on the roof)

Norman's Sooner Theatre, 101 E. Main, will feature Fiddler on the Roof at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. from July 31 to Aug. 2. The theater's Young Producers is presenting this production featuring rousing song and dance numbers perfected by up-and-coming, high-school-aged performers.

Tickets are $10 per adult, $5 per child and group discounts are available. Call (405) 321-9600 or visit www.soonertheatre.org for tickets or information.

Bits and pieces

The Gaylord-Pickens Museum at the Oklahoma Heritage Association, 1400 Classen Dr., and the art on shARTel is presenting The Artists of Ponca City exhibition through Sept. 4.