Lust for Gold, Part 2

July 25, 2011 © Thomas J. Kollenborn. All Rights Reserved.

Early in 1947 Columbia Pictures Corporation bought the rights for Barry Storm’s book “Thunder God’s Gold” with the intention of writing a screenplay and making the book into a motion picture. From the metamorphosis of a book to a motion picture considerable changes occurred. Ted Sherdeman and Richard English wrote the screenplay and the film was produced and directed by S. Sylvan Simon. The film was billed as the “true story of a secret treasure”. This film was meant to be Columbia’s competition against Republic’s film “Treasure of the Sierra Madres” starring Humphrey Bogart. “Lust of Gold” starred Glenn Ford, Ida Lupino, Gig Young, William Prince and Edgar Buchanan.

Glenn Ford played the role of Jacob Waltz, the Dutchman. Ida Lupino played the role of Julia Thomas. William Prince played the role of Julia Thomas’ husband. Gig Young played the role of Barry Storm, a modern adventurer and prospector. Edgar Buchanan played the role of Waltz’s partner. Three other prominent stars also had roles in this film. These stars included Will Greer, Jay Silverheels and Paul Ford.

The film portrays Waltz as an illiterate immigrant who could not write or even sign his name. Historical documents prove this totally incorrect. Waltz signed many documents between 1848-1889. It is a fact that no known letters written by Jacob Waltz have survived, but many of Waltz’s signed documents have survived to this day.

Ida Lupino played the role of Julia Thomas. The film portrayed her as Emil Thomas’ wife and Waltz’s lover. This was as far from the truth as any part of the film. Supposedly, Julia Thomas was trying to talk Waltz into taking her to his mine. Julia Thomas and her husband certainly didn’t die in a big earthquake at Waltz’s mine in the Superstition Mountains. Julia Thomas was born Julia Kahn (Korn) in Louisiana in 1867. She was married to Emil Thomas in Centrailia, Mitchell Co., Texas in 1883. Julia Thomas moved to Phoenix 1885, and divorced Emil Thomas in 1895. She then married Albert Shaeffer in 1896. She died of Bright’s disease in December of 1917, in Phoenix.

Jacob Waltz was in Julia Thomas’ home at the time of his death. He was about 81 years old. Julia became his caregiver when he could no longer care for himself.

This entire script for the film was made up from material provided to the scriptwriters by Barry Storm (John T. Climenson). The film was first titled “Bonanza,” than this title was changed to “Lust for Gold.” Near the release time of the film Barry Storm filed a lawsuit against the Columbia Picture Corporation claiming they lied about him saying he was Jacob Waltz grandson. He wanted this part of the film changed or more money. Columbia eventually settled with Storm and released the film in 1949. The film was a nightmare from the beginning for Columbia Pictures to produce because of Barry Storm and his various legal maneuvers.

S. Sylvan Simon did an excellent job directing this film. His props and stunts where basically ahead of their time. The mine scene was totally constructed at the studio. When the earthquake scene started one could see what an elaborate stage Simon had created. Simon was a man who never overlooked the most infinite
detail. However, there were a few things they did miss. The rattlesnake scene was terrible. The rubber rattlesnake did not look real at all. Then when they finally showed the live rattlesnake it was not a Western Diamond Back, but a specimen of rattlesnake not even indigenous to the Superstition Mountain area.

The final scene at the mine when the Apaches attacked was very interesting. The stunts were superb, especially the lance and arrow scenes. However, it was difficult to agree with arrows sticking in stone. The reason for this problem was, the scene moved extremely fast from beginning to end, and there was little time to cut certain portions of the scenes.

“Lust for Gold” never became a household name. Republic’s film “Treasure of the Sierra Madres” became a classic because of the star Humphrey Bogart and the story the film told. Republic’s film was far more  believable then Columbia’s film.

Many of the people who talk about the Lost Dutchman Mine learned much of their information from books or the film “Lust for Gold.” This film has introduced many generations to the history and legends of Superstition Mountain. Occasionally you can still watch “Lust for Gold” on the late night show or on a Saturday matinee.

Lust for Gold, Part 1

July 18, 2011 © Thomas J. Kollenborn. All Rights Reserved.

The motion picture "Lust for Gold" was the
reason many begin their search for Dutchman's
Lost Mine. The release of the film by Columbia
Pictures in 1949 started another generation of
Lost Mine searchers in the Superstition Mountains.

Early in 1947 Columbia Picture Corporation bought the rights for Barry Storm’s book “Thunder God’s Gold” with the intention of writing a screenplay and making the book into a motion picture. From the metamorphosis of a book to a motion picture considerable changes occurred. Ted Sherdeman and Richard English wrote the screenplay and the film was produced and directed by S. Sylvan Simon. The film was billed as the “true story of a secret treasure”. This film was meant to be Columbia’s competition against Republic’s film “Treasure of the Sierra Madres” starring Humphrey Bogart. “Lust of Gold” starred Glenn Ford, Ida Lupino, Gig Young, William Prince and Edgar Buchanan.

Glenn Ford played the role of Jacob Waltz, the Dutchman. Ida Lupino played the role of Julia Thomas. William Prince played the role of Julia Thomas’ husband. Gig Young played the role of Barry Storm, a modern adventurer and prospector. Edgar Buchanan played the role of Waltz’s partner. Three other prominent stars also had roles in this film. These stars included Will Greer, Jay Silverheels and Paul Ford.

The producers asked Arizona’s Gov. Dan E. Garvey for a letter of authenticity about the Lost Dutchman Mine. The governor wrote a letter that basically stated the story presented by Columbia Picture Corporation was true account describing the Lost Dutchman Mine.

Portions of the motion picture were filmed on the studio lot, however a large percentage of the film was filmed on location along the Apache Trail. Many scenes were filmed in an area near the Salt River Project access road to Horse Mesa Dam.

The film opens with a spectacular scene of Superstition Mountain with an adventurer named Paul Buckley hiking toward the mountain. A narration describes how rugged the mountains are, how dangerous they are, and that many people had lost their lives in these mountains searching for gold. The film’s narrator talks about a cache of gold worth $20 million dollars hidden in these mountains. According to the story, the Apaches under the leadership of Cochise, killed the Peraltas and buried their gold.

The film then introduces a treasure hunter by the name of Floyd Buckley, who appears to know what he is talking about. Barry Storm is portrayed as the grandson of Jacob Waltz, the German prospector who had a rich gold mine in the Superstition Wilderness Area. Storm tries to talk Buckley into accepting him as a partner, but Buckley quickly brushes him off.

Buckley hikes off into the Superstition Mountains and is mysteriously murdered in an ambush. Storm had followed Buckley to the point where he was killed, but didn’t witness the shooting. He did hear the shot and found Buckley’s body. According to the film, Storm ran and walked 36 miles to Apache Junction to report the murder. Ironically, there is no place in the Superstition Wilderness, particularly the western portion that would be 36 miles from Apache Junction.

At this point in the film, Barry Storm begins his research about the infamous tale of the Lost Dutchman Mine. He travels to the pioneer’s home and finds out about Jacob Waltz. Here, the producer of the film inserts many of the stories about Waltz being a murderer. Storm found out at the Pioneer’s Home that the Lost Dutchman Mine and the Peralta Mine were all one in the same.

The film stresses the cactus marker with the stones in it as one of the key markers in locating the mine. This clue continues to surface today in a variety of stories about the Lost Dutchman Mine. The film also presents an interesting correlation between the sunburst, ORO, and snake on Black Top Mesa and the one in the film. According to the film Manuel, Pedro, and Ramon cached the gold somewhere in the Superstition Mountain where the moon shines through a window rock revealing its location.

Glenn Ford was far to young to portray Jacob Waltz who was 64 years old at the time. Waltz arrived in the territory from California in 1863 with the Peeples-Weaver Party and spent his first five years in the Prescott area before moving to the Salt River Valley in 1868. Most documents about Waltz indicate he was the opposite type of person the film portrays. Many sources reported Waltz as well liked and a kindly person. Records indicate he voted in every election after receiving his citizenship in 1861 in California. The film portrays Waltz as a vicious premeditated murderer.

This was absolutely not true. Every since I have been doing research on this subject some researchers have been constantly trying to prove Waltz was a murderer.

Much of this film is based on exactly what Barry Storm believed, but the problem is that Barry Storm’s research was not accurate. Barry, like a lot of researchers, developed facts that fit his own scenarios.

Next week, Part II

Earning My Spurs

July 11, 2011 © Thomas J. Kollenborn. All Rights Reserved.

As the first rays of sun light ventured across the summit of Miner’s Needle it was time for another day’s work at the Quarter Circle U Ranch. Usually we were already up and feeding livestock by dawn. Breakfast had been on the stove for 15 minutes when the feeding and watering was completed. Eggs, spuds, beans, chili, beef, bacon, biscuits, and coffee were a solid breakfast for hard-working cowboys. Soon we were saddling our horses for a long day’s ride into the backcountry to check and work cattle.

The call of the quail and a distant serenade of the coyotes were music to our ears as we rode east from the old URanch toward Castle Rock. This towering outcrop of rock east of the ranch looked something like a medieval castle, hence the name Castle Rock. The clinging of our horse’s shoes was mixed with the early morning sounds of the desert. A serenade only a cowboy could appreciate. The green- and yellow-blossomed Palo Verde trees were like burning torches from the light of the early morning sun. We could hear the distant bellowing of a calf for its mother. One of Barkley’s range bulls was rutting and sounding his call.

The trail that lay ahead was steep, rocky and difficult to follow. We arrived at Miner’s Needle Summit with near exhausted horses. As the air temperature warmed we rested our mounts in what shade we could find and adjusted our cinches. We then stepped into our stirrups and back into the saddle for the ride that lay ahead. Slowly we moved our horses toward Bluff Springs corral and cabin. We stopped briefly at a seep and watered our horses. Once we arrived at the corral we opened the gate and checked our supplies in the cabin. We then rode eastward looking for signs of range stock.

Two draws to the east we found about 12 head of cows and calves that needed to be moved back to the corral and checked for screw worms. It was always easier to work cattle in a corral then on open ground in this rugged country. After all we were not expert open ground ropers, especially with all the Mesquite, Palo Verde, Jojoba, Chain Cholla, Prickley Pear, Hedgehog, and Teddy Bear Cholla in the area.

We moved the cows and calves toward the corral without incident. Once they were in we began the task of checking each animal. Some were easy to check and others were not. This required plain hard work and our only tools were a primitive corral, gloves, a rope and a good horse. We roped, handled and doctored each animal. The final tally was 14 cows, 15 calves and two yearly steers. The mother cows we only visually inspected. Two of them we did have to throw and doctor for screw worm infestation. This endeavor required most of the day. We were pleased to know we had eased the misery of these cattle by treating them for screw worms. Our accomplishments were part of the routine of being a cowboy in these mountains. This was Barkley’s first year being involved with the Screw Worm Eradication Program. Almost everywhere we rode on his range we put out sterilized flies in small boxes.

Barkley always told us this was the roughest cow range in Arizona as far as he was concerned. We often rode crosscountry over huge rocks, slide areas and steep slopes to round up cattle. A steep slope was often 45 or more degrees. It wasn’t uncommon for a cow pony to take a spill with you. Many times my horse’s legs would just buckle under me and we would go down. A good cowboy gets his legs out of the way before the horse hits the ground if he is lucky. An unfortunate cowboy breaks a leg or a foot and is laid up for a couple of months or so. A smart cowboy stays out from under his horse under all conditions.

Ranchers don’t like to feed cowboys with broken legs or arms. Sometimes a horse will go end over end on a down hill slope because of loose or soft ground and a steep slope. Sometimes a saddle-tree will get busted, but a good cowboy steps clear with a little luck. Sometimes a wild cow will jerk your horse out from under you in rough country once you have tied on to her with your rope. I was one lucky novice cowboy on the Barkley spread and I knew it.

Somebody ask me about the trails one time. My response, “what trails?” Most of our range riding was over rugged terrain often where no horse had gone before, only a cow. The landscape was covered with thorn brush and Cholla cactus just to aggravate a cowboy.

Cattle will go anywhere to find water or feed. A cowboy has to be able to follow and coax them down out of the rugged terrain where they have sought browse. If cattle have plenty of feed and water in a rugged area they will remain until one or the other is exhausted. During roundup (rodeo) these cattle can be difficult to manage and remove from a rough mountaintop.

There are many such mountains in the Superstition Wilderness. If the rocks, slide areas, and steep slopes aren’t enough to discourage a cowboy, there are always the many thorny plants that stick and slash at your legs and arms as you ride through them. Most smart cowboys invest in thick, heavy leather leggings called Chaps. Usually these leggings add another ten pounds to your horse, but will save you several pounds of flesh. The weight your horse carries in rough country can be extremely important for your survival. An overburdened horse falls easily. These sudden falls tend to break a cowboy’s bones.

Old Gus Barkley always said everything in this desert either sticks, bites, stings or eats meat. Believe me these were prophetic words from a great philosopher who knew what he was jawing about.

When the Saguaro cactus begins to bloom the Black gnats swarm. These nasty critters love to bite man and beast alike. After a little summer rain you have the combination of Black gnats and Mosquitoes biting at your hide, both day and night. Just another pleasure a cowboy is subjected to while working on this range after a summer monsoon.

Rattlesnakes, scorpions, tarantulas and centipedes are nothing to fear. Common sense usually takes care of any encounters you would have with these critters. These creatures are the source of many good stories for cowboys to tell “dudes.” A smart cowboy is more concerned with the desert sun and the heat it produces. Cowboys who work in the summer months on the desert wear very wide brim hats and a large scarf around their neck for protection against the sun’s rays. Amazing as it may be, it is always cooler upon a horse’s back then walking on the ground. My guess is the temperature is a least 10 degrees less on horseback.

Our work at the corral ended just about sundown. We tightened our cinches and began the long ride back to headquarters. We knew dinner would be late, but we got a lot of work done and felt we had relieved the misery of a lot of cattle.

We arrived home long after dark. We fed what stock we had in the corral, cooked dinner and went to bed. Our well deserved rest for the night was appreciated, but usually interrupted by a damn coyote or fox in the barn chasing the chickens. We are up again at 2 o’clock in the morning chasing after a coyote, skunk, or fox. If we weren’t guarding the chickens, doctoring animals, or fighting the Black gnats, mosquitoes, scorpions, ants, and snakes then we could get some sleep.

This was just one day of my life on the Quarter Circle U Ranch. Barkley always said, if you can survive a year on this ranch you have “earned your spurs.” I was so dog-tired and exhausted I just couldn’t get too excited about Barkley’s cowboy spun humor or philosophy. However I knew it was the gospel of cowboy tradition in the Superstition Mountain area.

Hollywood Nightspot in AJ

July 4, 2011 © Thomas J. Kollenborn. All Rights Reserved.

Recently my wife and I enjoyed an evening at the Superstition Skies Restaurant & Bar. We had heard the band at the “Skies” was just phenomenal. I am embarrassed to say the last time I was in the Superstition Skies was when Jo Lane played the piano there.

We found the band very upbeat and great to listen to. Once through the door we were introduced to some of the Superstition Skies past which is by all means a part of Apache Junction’s history. When I worked for the Barkley Cattle Company in the late 1950’s the “Skies” had just opened for business.

The “Skies” has a very interesting history. Some say a bordello operated out of the restaurant and bar in the late 1950s, however I cannot verify that statement nor was I a witness to such activity. The legacy of the “Skies” centers around two significant historical events. One was the many different Hollywood legends that visited the restaurant and bar during the filming of the many movies at Apacheland and the second was Burnette Pletan, known as the world’s fastest painter.

Elvis Presley stayed at the Superstition Ho Hotel and ate several evening meals at the Superstition Skies while filming “Charro.” One story is told that he actually strummed his guitar and sang a song one evening at the “Skies.”

Stars like Ronald Reagan, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Kenny Rogers and Marty Robbins ate at the Superstition Skies over the years. The “Skies” opened before the Superstition Ho Hotel, the Mining Camp and many other well-known establishments in Apache Junction. The “Skies” was open before the Apache Junction Dog Racing track on Main Street (Apache Trail).

The Superstition Skies is one of last real “honkytonks,” where it is not uncommon to see horses tied up at the hitching rail and cowboys with chaps and spurs standing at the bar, with country music being played by a jukebox or a live band.

Places throughout the Southwest such as the “Skies” are the heart and soul of America’s County Western music tradition. These restaurants and bars are the place were many great Country Western singers got their start. Men such as Marty Robbins, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, and women such as Loretta Lynn and hundreds of more began their entertaining at the “honkytonks.”

Burnette Pletan was probably the world’s most prolific artist. He was certainly the fastest artist in the world with a paintbrush. Over the years I have marveled at his work. And his work has survived after his death. I had the pleasure of working with him when the school district sponsored the first Superstition Art Saga Fair in 1977. When my wife and I visited the “Skies” we were introduced to Pletan’s work again. If you have never seen his work, this is an excellent example of it at the Superstition Skies. This was Pletan’s last major project. He painted the walls all in one day, and the paintings are still there. Mr. Pletan was in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” and “That’s Incredible.” He was certainly an incredible artist.

History and tradition are certainly a part of the “Superstition Skies’” menu in addition to good food. Take a little time out of your busy schedule and enjoy some genuine country-western music and good food. While you are at it take time to visit other great honkytonks and historic sites in Apache Junction such as the Mining Camp, Hitching Post, Mammoth, Filly’s, and Dirtwater Springs. They all have something special to offer in the nostalgia of old Apache Junction.