Wild West Podcast Michael King/Brad Smalley

In May 1883, Mysterious Dave returned to Dodge City, Kansas, maintaining his reputation for making poor choices. Mather arrived during the so-called Dodge City War, a dispute between saloon owners who were friends of the mayor of Dodge City and Luke Short, owner of the Long Branch Saloon. Several gunfighters, including Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp, gathered to support their friend Short. However, Masterson and Earp's presence and other gunslingers in town were enough to cause Short's enemies to back down to avoid violence; fortunately for him, Dave did not get involved in the Dodge City War. Wild West Podcast proudly present The Life and Times of Dave Mather Part Three: Return to Dodge City.
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In this podcast, we will reveal how saloons, over time, became a wide range of entertainment and pleasure facilities that offered gambling and drinking, depicting an image of saloons that early temperance movers would have apprehended. Early saloons in Dodge City were dark and cheaply built and set to take all the money of the early buffalo hunters and cattle drivers. As a result, violence sometimes transpired due to the mix of guns, whiskey, girls, and the isolated life on the prairie. Throughout the podcast, we will discuss how the Dodge City saloon culture developed after the railroad arrived on September 12, 1872. The Dodge City Saloon's story demonstrates how the public opinion of the saloon changed as the world they found themselves in changed. Wild West Podcast is proud to present Early Saloons in Dodge City with our special guest Mr. Keith Wondra the newly appointed curator at Dodge City Museum. 
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From 1878 to 1879, Mathers rode on both sides of the law. From Ogallala to El Paso to Dodge City, the phantom-like Mysterious Dave Mather hunted buffalo, rustled cattle, played at the gaming tables, bore a wound in a knife fight, wore a law badge, and sometimes even been brought into court as a defendant. He crossed the fence between law and outlaw like a ping-pong ball. There were times when he was credited with being a proficient and courageous badge toter: other times, Mysterious Dave couldn't have cared less. He had served under renowned and respected lawmen: but he had also ridden the back trails with the worst of the lawless element. Wild West Podcast proudly presents Part 2 of "The Life and Times of Mysterious Dave Mather: The Las Vegas New Mexico Years."
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He was known as "Mysterious" Dave or sometimes as "New York Dave." During his lifetime, he became noted for many professions in the Old West as a horse thief, buffalo hunter, train and stagecoach robber, law officer, prospector, farmer, gambler, and hotel employee. Little is known today of Mather's life; the gaps in his personal history and his taciturn personality earned him the moniker "Mysterious Dave.” Join us now as Wild West Podcast takes you back to the history of the old West as we present The Life and Times of Mysterious Dave Mather.


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On February 15, 1879, Bassett, Sheriff Masterson, and others were at Fort Leavenworth to pick up seven Cheyenne prisoners from the military authorities. The Indians, members of Dull Knife's band, were accused of committing atrocities during their September 1878 flight across Kansas and were to be taken to Dodge City for trial. Wild West Podcast proudly presents “The State of Kansas vs. Wild Hog.” Stay tuned after the show for a special announcement. Resource for Podcast
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Legend has it James “Spike” Kenedy was just as much a victim as the woman he killed in cold blood. Though all agree Dora Hand was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was not Spike’s intended target, there is some disagreement as to why mayor James “Dog” Kelley was Spike’s target. Some speculate that Spike tried to kill Dog because Dog was his rival in love with Dora. That would have been more than ironic – ending up killing the object of his adoration rather than winning her. For whatever reason, there was bad blood between Kenedy and Kelley. Things got out of hand in the summer of 1878 when Dog threw Spike out of his saloon. Spike vowed to bring vengeance upon Dog. Wild West Podcast proudly presents “The Beautiful and Lovely Dora Hand.” 
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