That there is what folks in North Dakota call a dead ringer...
This Thursday morning I spent a delightful half hour with Theodore Roosevelt.
No, I’m not suffering from one of my periodic historical delusions (I haven’t had camp coffee with P.J. Pretorius for months). I was invited to meet Joe Wiegand, a nationally renowned Theodore Roosevelt reenactor.
What a delightful man. Not only does he look the part and carry off the mannerisms (both verbal and physical) convincingly, he genuinely conveys the great man’s zest for life, his boundless intellectual curiosity and his love for nature and the best of his nation. Clearly, Wiegand shares those traits with the man he portrays.
The Colonel (“my friends call me Colonel”) was in Sisters, Oregon, for a presentation at Sisters Middle School. The presentation was part of a tour organized by the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) and sponsored by Wells Fargo. It includes stops in Beaverton, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Salem, Prineville and Portland, among other cities.
Unfortunately, my 7th grade daughter was engaged in her own pursuit of the strenuous life — on a science field trip to Smith Rock State Park. She was most disappointed to miss T.R., but the Colonel heartily approved of her endeavor. I missed the presentation due to other interview commitments, but I certainly enjoyed my all-too-brief coffee with the Colonel.
Wiegand is deeply immersed in the history of The Gilded Age and passionate about bringing it to life as entertainment and education. He decries the kind of “presentism” that rejects our heritage because some of it offends 2012 sensibilities — which is preaching the old-time religion to me.
This man has one heck of a fun gig. He’s been to the White House and visited our National Parks (perhaps T.R.’s greatest legacy). He’s spending the summer in the Badlands of North Dakota, living the strenuous life when not performing. Bully for him, I say!
Find out more and watch video clips at http://www.teddyrooseveltshow.com.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to fetch up the rifle and head out to the woods. I have an appointment with Kit Carson’s shade…
Me & T.R.
Paul McNamee says
Very nice.
Gene Baldwin says
Jim Cornelius told me you need a new hat?
Lane Batot says
I didn’t know people specialized in re-enacting specific individuals–interesting! Of the many portrayals of Teddy Roosevelt in film, my favorite is still Brian Keith in one of my favorite movies of all time, “The Wind And The Lion”–also with feisty Candice Bergen and the incomparable Sean Connery. I think Brian Keith really nailed it, and it makes one nostalgic to have a president like THAT again! And although this movie did take liberties with the facts(it was based on a real incident)–what dang movies don’t?–it is hard to beat–filmed beautifully on location in Morocco, fantastic stirring soundtrack, great adventure and characters, and some skilled and amazing horseback riding! And being an older movie(1975)–it is available cheapo on Amazon! And still appropo to politics going on to this day(sigh)…….
JimC says
I’m beginning to think we’re related, Lane. I, too, love that movie and now I want to watch it again and do a blog piece on it. I met director/screenwriter John Milius a few times when I was working at a trap/skeet/sporting clays range in So. California. He had ambitions to do a biopic on Simon Kenton, which I would have loved to see come to fruition.
Lane Batot says
Wow! That’s purty cool getting to meet/gab with him! Is John Milius still kickin’? I have always wondered WHY-THUH-HECK they’ve never done a Simon Kenton film(as far as I know….) It’s never too late!!!–and I’m still waiting fer a PROPER HISTORICALLY CORRECT Daniel Boone flick–I don’t think they’ve done him justice yet neither(I live very near, right now, where Squire Boone settled when the Boones left Pennsylvania for North Carolina). When I “worked” on the “Last Of The Mohicans” film back in 91, LOTS of talk/rumors about a new D-Boone film in the works back then–the last I heard, it all fell apart due to stoopid Hollywood squibbling and posturing(sigh). And yeah, maybe we ARE related–my parents always told me they found me somewhere, but it has always been assumed I was raised by wolves. Son, I have just begun to go back and re-comment on all yer old posts–annoying as that might be, I can’t help myself! And please do do a post on “The Wind And The Lion”–until then, “Let the earth run red with the blood of the infidels, we will all eat lamb in paradise!”, er perhaps “Mrs. Pettycaras, you are a GREAT deal of trouble!”……..
Amber says
I need your help! Where did you get the hat you are wearing in this picture? Or when can i get one like it!
Thank you.
JimC says
My hat is a custom hat by Gene Baldwin of Sisters, Oregon. http://www.baldwinhats.com/