6 Myths About the Wild West That Hollywood Got Wrong
When you think about the Wild West, you probably think about cowboys and outlaws, guns and horses, and a lot of drinking. But for the most part, that’s what we’ve been shown in movies and television shows. But what are some myths about the Wild West that Hollywood got wrong? While movies and shows are known to exaggerate and fantasize, there are some things about the Wild West that just aren’t true, but are still popular in media.
6. They Had Traffic Jams
Traffic jams are usually imagined in a more modern setting. But one of the myths about the Wild West that Hollywood was wrong about was how easy it was to travel. In fact, the Wild West usually had people traveling in groups with hundreds of wagons on a dirt road. That being said, anyone trying to get through would have to be stuck behind these groups that took up most space on the narrow roads.
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5. There Were a Lot of Camels
Hollywood always shows horses when it comes to the Wild West. And while they’re trusty traveling companions, there are more than just horses. In 1855, the Southern US was home to hundreds of feral camels. Originally, 75 were brought from Egypt to be used for army surveys. However, some managed to escape and roam, then started multiplying.
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4. Playing Cards Was More Intense
How many Western movies show a scene where a group is playing cards in a saloon? And how many times did a gun get drawn because someone did something sleazy? Interestingly enough, one of the many myths about the Wild West is that it was even more intense than Hollywood showed it. In fact, cards were considered a serious profession back then, and the competition was extreme.
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3. Robberies Weren’t Common
To be fair, Western and heist movies do well together. But in reality, bank robberies weren’t that common. In the movies, bandits rushed into banks with their guns drawn all the time. However, the estimated amount of robberies was only three or four across fifteen states within a 40-year timespan.
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2. Truth Behind OK Corral
The infamous OK Corral gunfight has gone down in history. And it’s cropped up in media several times with the breathtaking movie of Tombstone. But one of the many myths about the Wild West revolves around the fight, and that it actually didn’t happen at the OK Corral. This was just one of the simplifications of the location when it comes to shaping the narrative for movie purposes.
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1. It Wasn’t Really Wild
Of course, gun-slinging bandits, ambushes, and sharpshooters make great movies, but it wasn’t really as wild as they made it out to be. To be truthful, most towns were pretty peaceful. In fact, some historians argue that the Wild West was far more civilized and safe than society today.
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