AC Decatur: Real Arizona Charlie's

Arizona Charlie is not an Aunt Jemima. There really was a cowboy with that name, who was a distant relative of the original builder of the casino. His father and brother were killed in Indian raids. After helping start Payson's rodeo in 1884, Charlie let his riding and roping skills take him into the Wild West Show business where he travelled to Australia, the Orient, Europe, and Alaska.

Intersting tidbit Paco. I always wonder how folks get their nicknames. I wonder if Charlie picked it for himself (probably not), or if it was "assigned" to him by the owner of the show.

Here's a trivia challenge: Just off the top of your head, how many other famous real folks can you name that have "state" nicknames? Each state can only be represented once.

I can only think of one. I can think of alot more with city nicknames.

Quote: pacomartin

Wow, thats a really handsome man, he looks like a
movie star. I've seen hundreds of pics from the
1800's and the people are usually very plain. I'll bet
Charlie had his share of attentive women batting
their eyes at him.

My daughter Mary Jo let me name her first baby girl. That girl is 11 years old now, sings like an angel. I hope to get her guitar lessons and a guitar after New Year's. Everyone knows her by her first and middle name. BELLE STARR

Quote: Ayecarumba

Here's a trivia challenge: Just off the top of your head, how many other famous real folks can you name that have "state" nicknames? Each state can only be represented once.

Minnesota Fats. Indiana Jones and Tex Ritter probably don't count, huh?

Texas Dollie Brunson?

I'm guessing the Cincinatti Kid is out to...

Quote: thecesspit

I'm guessing the Cincinatti Kid is out to...

Ricky Nelson played a cowboy named Colorado
in a John Wayne movie. Theres a guy named
Dakota Fred on Gold Rush Alaska.

There's Dakota Fanning, who is real.

Martha Washington, who isn't, but Im sure there is someone with first name Washington who was either a famous ex-slave or civil rights campaigner.

Never heard anyone with Oregon as a name. I ave a cousin with Maine as their middle name, but that's not from the state.

Quote: waltomeal

Minnesota Fats. Indiana Jones and Tex Ritter probably don't count, huh?

Good list. Was there a real Indiana Jones?

I thought about folks actually named "Washington", and don't think given names should count. Just nicknames.

Quote: thecesspit

Texas Dollie Brunson?

That was the one I was thinking of.

"Cincinatti" is a city, so, no.

Quote: Ayecarumba

That was the one I was thinking of.

"Cincinatti" is a city, so, no.

Slaps forehead. Well, of course.... (Just like Cleveland Brown...).

I was thinking of people with Washington as a first name, rather than a last.

Though, I'm sure there's more than one Carolina out there we can use.

Flo Rida, the rapper covers of that state.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Just off the top of your head, how many other famous real folks can you name that have "state" nicknames? Each state can only be represented once.

Tennessee Williams. Minnesota Fats.

Tennessee Ernie Ford. How many remember him.

Not me, but I recognise his most famous song, it seems.

Mississippi John Hurt.

Sweet Georgia Brown.

Montana Ted. (Self-proclaimed 'nickname' of Ted Turner -- also his chain of Bison meat restaurants).

Hannah Montana is surely a far better example :)

Real life railroad folk singer Utah Phillips. Best known for the tale of the Mooset*rd Pie.

I wonder if geographical references in peoples names are attempts to avoid further inquiry into origins. So that a man who ran afoul of the law in one area could claim a new identity without too much doubt. Or in a period of mass instability such as the depression was a geographical name a way to maintain some permanence or hope of being tracked. Many towns had signs up saying that homeless men should keep going, we have enough trouble taking care of our own. Those who hit the rails or the open roads often had little opportunity to expect to sink roots anywhere. Traveling on mere rumors of jobs being available somewhere was hardly a way of maintaining any sort of residency or identity. Adopting a road name that had a geographical moniker might have had some sort of advantage. Perhaps it conferred respectability or some hope of not being thought of as a tramp. For much of this country's history law enforcement was decidedly a local matter and pursuit of criminals was costly. Handbills and wanted posters lacked specific information. The Hole in the Wall Gang was tracked because they drunkenly posed for photos in one town and a Pinkerton detective bought the negative from the photographer.

Louis L'Amour and his heirs kept a list of hobo names that had been encountered during his yondering years as an oil field roustabout or Able Seaman shipping out of San Pedro. I believe Art Linkletter also advertized names of people that he had encountered and lost track of during lean years. Geographically linked monikers may have had advantages.