Bonaza and the 40 Little Joes

If you grew up watching westerns as I did, then you remember the Cartwrights. Ben and his four sons (then only two after Pernell Roberts bolted over a contract dispute and another son left after the first season to head for obscurity) ruled the western plains of Nevada from the Ponderosa Ranch. Little Joe was the youngest and always reminded me of one of my brothers. (Although Wayne was not the youngest in our clan, he had Little Joe's hair.)

Anyway, I was catching up on the news today and read about the controversy over the new show "Kid Nation", premiering on CBS in September. The producers placed 40 children, the oldest being only 15, in a "desert town" alone to see them build a community. Two children together will often result in chaos and a threat to mankind. So I can understand the brilliant thinking that is behind this new reality show.

The desert town is actually Bonanza Creek Ranch, located just a few miles north of Albuquerque. Often referred to as Bonanza City, New Mexico, the working cattle ranch (longhorns mostly) has been the movie set of numerous westerns, including one of my favorites "Silverado".

The controversy is the alleged child abuse that took place. Supposedly, many of the "Little Joes" were in danger, some actually injured, without proper adult supervision. This has resulted in parents bringing charges against the producers.

I can imagine what the producers are thinking: "Oh happy day. The ratings will be enormous!"

A Dapper Looking Fellow

The man to the right is Edward S. Curtis. I like his photo, a rather dapper looking fellow. Being a photographer myself, and a lover of black and white images, I'm a sucker for an old black and white portrait. I studied Curtis briefly in college while working on my journalism/photography degree.

I recently was researching the Pueblo culture here in New Mexico and came across him again. It was fun to get reacquainted with him.

Edward Sheriff Curtis published The North American Indian (1907-1930), capturing north American indian culture in chronicles and photographs. He immediately became controversial due to his methods of observation.

As an entrepreneur and photographer, he spent much of his career chronicling the American indian, whom he called "historical figures of an American landscape."

In the coming days, I'll write more about him and his work on my blogs Writefinger and Photographium.