In my last post I asked the question: “Who was Ben Cartwright or Little Joe’s horse? Or Clint Eastwood or Matt Dillon’s? I know you’ve been dying to know so let’s get that out of the way. According to Bobby Copeland’s “Silent Hoofbeats”, Ben rode Buck, Little Joe rode Cochise and Concho, Clint Eastwood, Midnight and Matt Dillon, Buck. So now let’s test your memory with a little quiz. Can you match the cowboy with his horse?  If your memory is as good as mine is getting to be, you should get at least 3 right.

1) Tom Mix                                                       a) Sonny and Thunder

2) Buck Jones                                                   b) Champion

3) Ken Maynard                                               c) Trigger

4) Hopalong Cassidy                                      d) Tarzan

5) Roy Rogers                                                  e) Tony

6) Gene Autry                                                  f) Silver

7) Lone Ranger                                                g) Koko

8) Johnny Mack Brown                                  h) Topper

9) Rex Allen                                                      i) Silver (another)

10) Bill Elliot                                                     j) Rebel

Answers: 1-e, 2-i, 3-d; 4-h; 5-c; 6-b; 7-f; 8-j; 9-g; 10-a

So, buckaroos, how did you do? Here’s the grading scale:

0-2 right: you haven’t watched enough B-Westerns

3-4 right: just average but if you did not get Trigger and Champion right you get an automatic F.

5-6 right: Trail Boss status

7-8 right: Cowboy Scholar

9-10 right: you are in the Jerry Campbell league and will be nominated to the Cowboy Hall of Fame!

You know, actors are just that: actors. They pretend to be someone they really aren’t. But have you ever wondered if any of those silver screen cowboys were real cowboys or at least real horsemen? More on that next time. Until then, goodbye, good luck and may the good Lord take a likin’ to ya!

The Wannabe Cowboy

April 15, 2014