“THE 'REAL' CALAMITY JANE... from Princeton to Deadwood”
A docudrama on the life and legacy of Calamity Jane
Bob Kauffman & Donna Covey
On March 30 & 31, 2019 thirty one North Missourians with the assistance of forty more helpers will descend on Mercer, Missouri to tell the story of how Martha Canary grew into the ‘REAL’ Calamity Jane. Fourteen scenes explain how this pioneer lady became a legend and who she really was! If you should ask anyone who they think she is, the answers vary. Some say she was a wild woman that was a disgrace to and blight on society. Others say she was a drunk who should have known better, a few think she was a brave & kind pioneer and most admit ignorance...especially teenagers. That’s why there’s a free performance Friday afternoon, March 29, for Mercer & Princeton high school students.
Five years ago Bob’s former University of Wisconsin student, Ann Glewen Williams, sent him a unique Christmas gift. You see, that previous year, she, her husband Dave and several classmates had visited the Kauffman farm near Princeton and had discovered it was the home of Calamity Jane. Ann and Dave decided the best ‘thank you’ for that weekend in Missouri was to give the Kauffmans “THE LIFE & LEGENDS OF CALAMITY JANE”, a book researched and written by Professor Richard W. Etulain. After reading it, we were convinced that Professor Etulain should come to Princeton’s Calamity Jane Days to tell more about Calamity Jane. Thanks to the Princeton Chamber of Commerce, the Mercer County Library and the Mercer County Genealogical & Historical Society who provided travel funds, he came and lectured. From that time forward, we believed there was more that should be known and told about this famous lady who got her start in a log cabin in Mercer County....our family roots! Therefore, Bob has written a docudrama about the ‘Real’ Calamity Jane, one to be performed on stage by Donna and 30 others and then preserved and perpetuated on a DVD by Master Video of Trenton.
The goal of these thirty one performers appearing on the Mercer stage will help set the records straight! This pioneer woman had a tragic life! It was filled with disasters.....some difficult to believe. The articles written my newspapermen often got it wrong, or only half right! They had no idea of her complete background! They weren’t concerned about how she helped folks that were deathly ill or seriously hurt or who needed help finding their next meal. It was those wild wanderings, getting drunk and raising hell, riding horses, shooting pistols and being thrown in jail that made for exciting headlines that sold newspapers.
Edward Wheeler of Philadelphia never traveled West but just read the stories in the western newspapers and decided to describe Calamity as his heroine in dime novels that were popular everywhere. She became the side-kick of fictitious Deadwood Dick. That’s how Calamity Jane got to be famous.....not because of her humanitarian ways but because she had an ‘exciting’ reputation. Because of this, newspapermen called her the ‘Plain Jane of the Prairies’ and named her ‘CALAMITY JANE’. The name stuck!
In March, the thirty one actors and actresses will tell the ‘real’ story. The scenes won’t bypass her wearing men’s clothing, swearing, chewing, smoking, drinking, hell raising, getting thrown in jail and being a prostitute. But, they will include some of the reasons for her erratic ways. They will explain why she was illiterate and will introduce you to her terrible parents. Those who attend will learn of the dangerous trip moving west from Princeton, and how she became an orphan at age 11 and had to care for her four younger siblings.
The docudrama tells of the talents she acquired. She was an industrious ranch and railroad worker, an excellent marksman, a competent driver of mule and oxen teams (called bull- whacking), and a proficient handler of horses in a time when women doing such jobs were considered scandalous. Although illiterate, what’s even more remarkable was her ability to tell stories. Around camp fires she often captured cowboys’ interests for hours. She used this talent when speaking to audiences telling about her life. Much of what she told was not true, but to make money she had her story written as an autobiography. Some of her talents, virtues and traits were considered equal to if not superior to those of men! If you attend the docudrama you’ll receive a copy of her autobiography along with historical events of the era and the docudrama’s theme song lyrics describing her life as composed to the tune of the Missouri Waltz.
Calamity had two children. Her son ‘Little Calamity’ died in infancy but Jessie grew to adulthood and loved her mother and Calamity loved Jessie. However liquor was her downfall and at age 47 she died near Deadwood. She was buried next to someone she greatly admired but hardly knew, ”Wild Bill” Hickok. Come see how this pioneer lady demonstrated independence and continually overcame huge obstacles during her short life. Perhaps she should have been called ‘Miraculous Martha’ despite her short comings, many of which resulted from a difficult childhood and living alone in a harsh, unsettled land. For more details please consult the website: HTTPS://CALAMITYJANEDOCUDRAMA.WEEBLY.COM.
We’re excited that Professor Richard Etulain will be in Mercer County to attend the docudrama. He will provide a free lecture about Calamity Jane. Those wishing to learn more about her are invited to attend. It will be held at the Mercer County Library at 7:00 PM on Thursday, March 28, 2019.
Five years ago Bob’s former University of Wisconsin student, Ann Glewen Williams, sent him a unique Christmas gift. You see, that previous year, she, her husband Dave and several classmates had visited the Kauffman farm near Princeton and had discovered it was the home of Calamity Jane. Ann and Dave decided the best ‘thank you’ for that weekend in Missouri was to give the Kauffmans “THE LIFE & LEGENDS OF CALAMITY JANE”, a book researched and written by Professor Richard W. Etulain. After reading it, we were convinced that Professor Etulain should come to Princeton’s Calamity Jane Days to tell more about Calamity Jane. Thanks to the Princeton Chamber of Commerce, the Mercer County Library and the Mercer County Genealogical & Historical Society who provided travel funds, he came and lectured. From that time forward, we believed there was more that should be known and told about this famous lady who got her start in a log cabin in Mercer County....our family roots! Therefore, Bob has written a docudrama about the ‘Real’ Calamity Jane, one to be performed on stage by Donna and 30 others and then preserved and perpetuated on a DVD by Master Video of Trenton.
The goal of these thirty one performers appearing on the Mercer stage will help set the records straight! This pioneer woman had a tragic life! It was filled with disasters.....some difficult to believe. The articles written my newspapermen often got it wrong, or only half right! They had no idea of her complete background! They weren’t concerned about how she helped folks that were deathly ill or seriously hurt or who needed help finding their next meal. It was those wild wanderings, getting drunk and raising hell, riding horses, shooting pistols and being thrown in jail that made for exciting headlines that sold newspapers.
Edward Wheeler of Philadelphia never traveled West but just read the stories in the western newspapers and decided to describe Calamity as his heroine in dime novels that were popular everywhere. She became the side-kick of fictitious Deadwood Dick. That’s how Calamity Jane got to be famous.....not because of her humanitarian ways but because she had an ‘exciting’ reputation. Because of this, newspapermen called her the ‘Plain Jane of the Prairies’ and named her ‘CALAMITY JANE’. The name stuck!
In March, the thirty one actors and actresses will tell the ‘real’ story. The scenes won’t bypass her wearing men’s clothing, swearing, chewing, smoking, drinking, hell raising, getting thrown in jail and being a prostitute. But, they will include some of the reasons for her erratic ways. They will explain why she was illiterate and will introduce you to her terrible parents. Those who attend will learn of the dangerous trip moving west from Princeton, and how she became an orphan at age 11 and had to care for her four younger siblings.
The docudrama tells of the talents she acquired. She was an industrious ranch and railroad worker, an excellent marksman, a competent driver of mule and oxen teams (called bull- whacking), and a proficient handler of horses in a time when women doing such jobs were considered scandalous. Although illiterate, what’s even more remarkable was her ability to tell stories. Around camp fires she often captured cowboys’ interests for hours. She used this talent when speaking to audiences telling about her life. Much of what she told was not true, but to make money she had her story written as an autobiography. Some of her talents, virtues and traits were considered equal to if not superior to those of men! If you attend the docudrama you’ll receive a copy of her autobiography along with historical events of the era and the docudrama’s theme song lyrics describing her life as composed to the tune of the Missouri Waltz.
Calamity had two children. Her son ‘Little Calamity’ died in infancy but Jessie grew to adulthood and loved her mother and Calamity loved Jessie. However liquor was her downfall and at age 47 she died near Deadwood. She was buried next to someone she greatly admired but hardly knew, ”Wild Bill” Hickok. Come see how this pioneer lady demonstrated independence and continually overcame huge obstacles during her short life. Perhaps she should have been called ‘Miraculous Martha’ despite her short comings, many of which resulted from a difficult childhood and living alone in a harsh, unsettled land. For more details please consult the website: HTTPS://CALAMITYJANEDOCUDRAMA.WEEBLY.COM.
We’re excited that Professor Richard Etulain will be in Mercer County to attend the docudrama. He will provide a free lecture about Calamity Jane. Those wishing to learn more about her are invited to attend. It will be held at the Mercer County Library at 7:00 PM on Thursday, March 28, 2019.