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The series Deadwood comes on HBO. We don't get it but recently The 101 has been playing reruns so finally I get to watch it. (Please no spoilers on the show, I've only caught 2 episodes so far.)
On this show is the character Wild Bill Hickok played by Keith Carradine. Anyone who knows anything about the old west probably knows a little bit about him. Gambler, gunslinger and yes, a longhair. I wonder how many people he shot over the comment, "Get a haircut"? lol.
I can name 3 other characters from the wild west who had longhair, Custer, Buffalo Bill Cody and Temple Houston. Temple wore what looked to me like a type of mullet. Of course, if you include Native Americans in this list, and I see no reason not to, it would get quite long.
So how many wild west longhairs can you name?
Paul
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Here is something I am almost certain of. Buffalo Bill Cody, had he been born in the 20th century would have been a top name movie star, due to his good looks.
Of Native Americans, I can think of two immediately, Sitting Bull of the Sioux tribe, and Geronimo of the Apache tribe.
Scott
I'm starting to think that longhair was more prominent in the 1870's than it was in the 1970's. Damn, does that mean we have to wait another 100 years before it's back "in style"? lol
Paul
Yes the series by HBO (Home Box Office) on Wormwood is a great show.
I found this interesting link on the net on wild west men and long hair and the famous long haired author Oscar Wilde tour in the US.
Oscar Wilde and the Wild West Long Hairs
Thanks for posting the link to this article. I enjoyed reading - I've always like Oscar Wilde, but never knew he came to the US back then and toured as a speaker.
Thanks Duncan, I was not aware Oscar Wilde was a longhair! Yet another reason to admire the man.
I always liked that one thing he said, "Working is the curse of the drinking class".
Paul
I can't think of any more Wild West men with flowing locks right off hand. But it has always struck me that Custer was an army general (?) -- I think -- with long hair! I guess things change a lot over 150 years.
Custer was temporarily promoted to Brigadier General during the Civil War, but returned to his permanent rank of Colonel post-war, and that was the rank he carried at Little Big Horn.
Back then the uniform regulations and grooming standards were much different. Officers in particular had great leeway in their uniforms, many (including Custer notably) had specially tailored uniforms. If you look thru military pictures throughout the 19th century you'll see a number of longish-haired men, and some impressive beards. The short-cropped, clean-shaven look didn't really kick in across the board until the early 20th century, especially around WW1, and is often attributed to hygiene concerns during the trench warfare in Europe.
The Navy lagged behind the other forces, regarding facial hair at least, well into the 20th century. They didn't finally do away with beards until 1984, shortly after I joined.
Jim (who's just a bit of a history buff)
Thanks for the quick review. I'm no good at history really. I wonder if the tide will ever turn back in terms of dress and hair standards for the military? I've noticed some of the awesome historical beard photos -- a shame those brave men can't cultivate such an overwhelmingly masculine and authority-garnering look any more. Hopefully, no offense to you, of course, as you've told you served in the Navy for a great long time -- but I think you'd agree how a beard enhances a man's appearance. I saw somewhere that the British always permitted beards at sea for the longest time, for submariners, as I suppose shaving in a submarine is impractical and largely a waste of water. I did read as well that off-record, soldiers in Afghanistan have grown beards since the Pashtun culture looks on beardless men as not quite respect-worthy.
Oh, trust me, I was seriously annoyed when they took beards away. I had just made it to my first fleet command and was going to grow one myself when the word came down. That's one of the reasons I stopped shaving the day after my retirement ceremony.
The official reasoning was that a beard makes it difficult to get a proper seal against the face when wearing breathing masks for fire-fighting or combat purposes.
I believe the Royal Navy, as well as some of the UK's (other) former colonies still allow beards to some extent or another. From what I've seen in news pics, the UK military also allows a bit shaggier hair than the US does, but not to the extent of anything we on the board would consider much more than the early awkward phase.
All things considered, I truly doubt we'll see military grooming standards change much here anytime in the foreseeable future.
Beards were done away with in the military because it was felt that a gas mask wouldn't seal well on a bearded face.
Cool!! Another history buff here! Not to be nit picky but he
was actually a Lt. Colonel. The only general officer of the
regular army killed by indians was general E. R. S. Canby during
the Modoc Indian war in northern california.
Patton had tailor made uniforms but he was no long hair.
To keep on topic I think a lot of the mountain man trappers had
long hair but I can't single out any names at the moment.
It seems that the three I mentioned were the most well known. I've seen pics of Jesse James with hair over his ears and Billy the Kid with hair way past his collar. I guess they couldn't handle it. lol.
One native American I liked to read about is Ned Christie, he withheld a five year long siege on his fortified house. A serious bad***. Oh, and hair to his waist.
Paul
Sorry don't get HBO...with Sky1 or BBC2 do?
I don't know but if you like nitty gritty, down and dirty, blood and guts then you might like this show. There are also a good many longhairs portrayed.
Be warned though, there is some degree of nudity and sexual situations. They pull no punches, a little more and it'd have an X raitng.
Paul