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| Celia Yeary, author |
Romance...and a Little Bit of Texas
Copyright © 2011 Celia Yeary
Langtry, Texas-Pop. 30 (est.)
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| Judge Roy Bean |
Judge Roy Bean, the self-appointed “Law West of the Pecos,” became a saloonkeeper and Justice of the Peace on the Rio Grande in a desolate stretch of the Chihuahua Desert of SW Texas. When the Texas Rangers weren’t around to stop him, he brazenly held court.
In 1972, Paul Newman played Roy Bean in a movie titled "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean." Notice the similarities between the real Roy Bean and Paul Newman in these similar poses.
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| Paul Newman as Judge Roy Bean |
However, young women considered Bean handsome, and often competed for his attention. In San Diego, a Scotsman named Collins challenged Bean to a pistol shooting match on horseback. He allowed Bean to choose the target, and Roy Bean decided they would shoot at each other. Bean shot Collins in the arm. The sheriff arrested both men and charged them with attempted murder. During the two months in jail, Bean received many gifts of flowers, food, wine, and cigars from the ladies of San Diego.
The last gift included knives encased in tamales. He used the knives to dig through the cell wall.
In Southwest Texas by the Rio Grande, the small town of Langtry was established as a construction junction from east and west during the building of the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railway. Two origins of the town’s name are under dispute. One claim says the town was named for a civil engineer named Langtry who directed a group of Chinese laborers in the railroad construction. The other more popular and accepted claim is that Judge Roy Bean, an eccentric, colorful character, insisted he named the town after his idol, English actress Lillie Langtry, "The Jersey Lily.”
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| Jersey Lily-circa1860 |
Today, a Texas Visitor’s Center sits next to the preserved 150-year-old-saloon in Langtry, Texas. The center is well maintained, with clean restrooms, a snack area, landscaping, and a gift shop.
Thanks so much, Celia!
Wow, three commenters this week will win! Celia was here at RTW on Monday with an interview and an excerpt of Texas Blue. Any comment all week enters you to win one of the three books Celia is offering. Be sure to include your email address or we'll have to pick another winner.
I'd love to give away more than one thing: a pdf of Texas True, a pdf of Texas Promise, and a pdf of Angel and the Cowboy. Jacquie will help me choose three visitors, I'll ask each one which she'd like to have.
Thanks so much, Celia!
Wow, three commenters this week will win! Celia will be here on Thursday with a wonderful article on Judge Roy Bean. Any comment all week enters you to win one of the three books Celia is offering. Be sure to include your email address or we'll have to pick aother winner.
I loved this movie.. I have seen and read a couple of varaitons on this character, but I don't think I would want to mess with him...
ReplyDeleteHi, Celia! Thanks so much for more info about the colorful life of Judge Roy Bean. I first saw the movie years ago and loved it because I was such a huge Paul Newman fan. I like the Lillie Langtry connection for the town name, so I'm sticking with that.
ReplyDeletealsnhendersn at aol dot com
KATHLEEN--it's a little hard to believe how popular he was with the ladies. But in his younger days, he was handsome. Oh, but he did turn mean!
ReplyDeleteAlison--I liked the Lily Langtry story better, too. But who knows? Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteCelia, isn't that a great photo of the saloon in 1860? And there is a similarity between Roy Bean and Paul Newman in his make up. I had no idea Bean had broken out of a CA jail. Also didn't know he was married. What an old despot. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi, Celia -
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post - fun and interesting!
Jacquie - Thank you for your knowledgeable guest!
Please enter my name in the Giveaway.
My Email: madley (AT) cogeco (DOT) ca
Thank you, Ladies!
Patricia
He must have been shocked to find the knives in the tamales. Never would have thought of that one. :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of your post was the judge deciding they should shoot at each other instead of some kind of object. Guess they didn't call it the wild west for nothing.
One of the things I've observed about women going crazy over men is that it isn't always related to appearance. Someone with a craggy look (like Harrison Ford) can still be very sexy. Also, how a man treats a woman makes a huge difference. I'm thinking with Roy Bean it must have been that element of danger and uncertainty that drew women. His poor wife! I wouldn't have hung around anyone that abused me.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the post and seeing the fun pictures. Nice job, Celia!
Interesting post about Judge Roy Bean. I remember watchings westerns about him.
ReplyDeleteWe went to the museum in Del Rio and saw a gravestone with his name on it, but I was certain it was a replica. Turns out, no, that's where he's buried! The state of the grave was pretty shabby, though.
ReplyDeleteNow I want to watch that movie again!
Patricia--yes, thank you so much for commenting. Your name will certainly go in the pot!
ReplyDeleteCaroline--he was definitely a despot, the sort that women probably were attracted to, until they learned of his violent nature. He seemed to flirt with danger and death...a man who thrived on it.
ReplyDeletePAISLEY--oh, yeah, it was the Wild West, all right. And he was one of the wildest. But I doubt he was shocked to find the knives in the tamales. I'm sure he just laughed and took it as his due to get the knives.
ReplyDeleteMAGGIE--yes, it's the allure of the "bad boy." Many women are drawn to that sort....I certainly don't think all of us are! I was most disappointed to learn he was a wife beater. All else could be forgive or overlooked--but to beat your wife? No, no forgiveness for that.
ReplyDeleteSANDy--yeah. He was a figure in many Westerns...usually a secondary player until Paul Newman played him.
ReplyDeleteM.J.--Del Rio would have been around his territory, except for when he lived in California. Isn't that the case with a lot of the famous bad men's real graves? Rather shabby?
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting....
What an interesting and informative post; I enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
And here I thought Roy Bean was a totally fictional character. Where do you find this stuff? Well, I was riveted to this most interesting post. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jacquie!
ReplyDeleteI have heard from Celia that I won one of her books!! That is wonderful!
Thank you, Jacquie for hosting this Giveaway.
And a further Thank You to Celia!
Patricia