[1934 HELLDORADO DAYS HOME MOVIE TOMBSTONE ARIZONA]

Genre: home movie

Description: This extraordinary silent home movie was rescued by collector George Mihal of California. It has portions that appear to date to 1934-35, and some parts that appear to be from as early as 1929 (dates based on Kodak edge codes) and was shot by someone named "PJ" who chronicled his trip Out West. The film begins with images of an Indian cliff dwelling, likely at Tonto National Monument in Arizona near Payson. At :35 the film moves to Tombstone, Arizona, where the annual "Helldorado Days" festivities are underway. According to Mihal, it features several important personalities. First is John Philip Clum, the first mayor of Tombstone and founder of The Tombstone Epitaph newspaper. Also present is William Billy Breckenridge who served as deputy sheriff under famed Sheriff John Behan. At 2:01 the Crystal Palace in Tombstone is shown as a parade winds along Fremont Street. A stagecoach, Civil War soldiers and cowboys on horseback are shown along with a parade of covered wagons. At 2:08 a re-enactor draws his gun while at 3:06 crowds thrill to a mock stagecoach hold-up. At 2:41 a banner proclaims "Helldorado". At 3:00 the Birdcage Theater is shown. At 3:10 is footage of unidentified members of the San Carlos Apache tribe.