John
Wayne in The Desert Trail, {1935} one of the dozens
of B-Westerns and serials he made in the 1930s.
B-Movie
Cowboy Hats
These
hats are characterized by exaggerated dimensions made possible
by starting with an oversized hat body. Sound and Silent
B-Movie hats usually featured 6"-7" crowns and
large brims, and often had massive kettle curls.
To
understand the importance of the B-Movie western of both
Silent {1890s-1920s} and talkies {1930s-1950s}, you need
to look at them in the context of their times; the impact
they had on the culture of those days, and the legacy they
left later generations. One of which was to inspire the
three founding members to form the Single Action Shooting
Society {SASS} in 1981.
Silent
westerns from 1903-1920s are important records of the last
days of the Wild West, and in the case of movies like Hells
Hinges {1916} made by a Cowboy holdover from the Old
West; William S. Hart, they are of almost documentary quality.
Serious westerns were mostly shunted to the side when the
Tom Mix western formula became immensely popular through
the 1920s and 30s. Mix developed a comic style that emphasized
fast action and lots of chases.
By
1930 the World had slipped into the Great Depression, and
to boost attendance theatres started offering Double Bills
or two movies for the price of one admission. Studios like
Republic and Lone Star started churning out low budget serials
and westerns to be shown before the "A" movie.
These movies were tailored towards a rural or young audience,
and followed simple themes that featured plenty of action.
They were low budget; were completed in 5-6 days, and were
refereed to as 2 reelers by people in the industry.
OUR
STANDARD DELIVERY IS STILL6- 8 weeks for our quality
hand made cowboy hats. For
a complete listing of all our hats - click
this link for our online catalogue. The Last Best Cowboy
Hat. One of a kind Fur-Felt Art.
Order your hat today and receive in time for Easter.
Questions and quote requests should be e-mailed to
ORDERS CALL
TOLL FREE: 1-866-207-1909.:: Overseas
buyers please read this :: All
Our Contact Info ORDER DESK HOURS: M-F: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM MOUNTAIN TIME.
IF YOU GET VOICE MAIL LEAVE A MESSAGE!
Stories
generally involved a crooked banker, businessman, or thug
taking advantage of the honest hard-working townsfolk or
ranchers. Then a stranger comes to town and sorts out the
bad guys with iron fists and a quick draw, winning the girl;
and restoring the money; land; or justice to the people.
It is often revealed that the hero is a Government Agent
or Marshal sent by Washington to fix all the problems, and
during the Great Depression there was lots of them.
In
the 1930s the B-Western stars like Hoot Gibson, William
Boyd, Buck Jones, Yakima Canutt, and a young actor called
John Wayne, popularized denim and showcased the modern rodeo.
Several B-Western's featured a rodeo cowboy that'd get ripped
off by a shady promoter; robbed of their winnings, or framed
for a crime/murder. Often authentic newsreel footage of
rodeos was spliced into the story to add realism. It's fascinating
to watch movie's like The Desert Trail, or The
Man from Utah; starring John Wayne, and seeing the way
the Modern Rodeo has evolved. In the 1930s large, Texas
Longhorns were used for the steer wrestling and the world
record at that time was about 15 seconds to wrestle it to
the ground! There was no 8 second rule on the bucking contests;
they rode them til the mount stopped bucking or the rider
flew off. And here lies the real value of the Silent and
B-Western; as a record of those days.
Look
familiar?
This hat shape is the predecessor
of the Conagher. Click
to see.
The
Tom Mix Crown:
2 Dent
Brim: Kettle Curl Bound
edge Hand shaped
Hatband: 1 1/2 inch satin with bow. Color
shown: Bone in 50% Beaver fur-felt.
In
his early life Mix lived the cowboy way; even
serving as Town Marshal in Dewey, Oklahoma
in 1912. Mix went on to perform in Wild West
shows; and both he and another early western
film star; William S. Hart, were pall bearers
at Wyatt Earp's funeral in 1929. Yup, that
Wyatt Earp. . . Mix was still a big star when
he died in a car crash in 1940.
100X- Pure 100% Beaver Fur-felt Price: $670.00 | Shipping: $35.00
Total: $705.00 |Order
Now | Checkout
Tom
Mix was the first cowboy star to wear outrageous
outfits; and became, arguably, the first movie
star earning 40,000 a week in 1925. Later
Cowboy hero's copied this successful formula,
but none eclipsed Mix in popularity.
“The
Old West is not a certain place in a certain
time, it’s a state of mind. It’s
whatever you want it to be.” —
Tom Mix
Wooden
Hat Stretcher/Retainer
FITS SIZES 6 7/8 - 8
We
recommend all customers who buy our hats,
get a hat stretcher. Its a small cost
for a tool that will keep ALL your hats
fitting properly. As well, if you only
wear your hat seldom; or have a number
of hats you wear, you will find our wooden
hat stretcher a valuable addition to maintaining
the perfect shape of your custom cowboy
hat.
Order
any hat in PURE BEAVER {100X} fur-felt
and we'll include a wooden hat stretcher
at no extra cost. New hat purchases only.
Order
with your hat
Our hat customers pay only $19.50 when
they buy a stretcher with their hat. You
can easily add the hat stretcher to your
custom cowboy hat order during the checkout
process.
HAT
STRETCHER FITS SIZES 6 7/8 - 8. PRICE:
$25.00 :: Shipping: $13.00 | TOTAL: $38.00
USD Order
Now | Checkout
Custom
Made For. . . .
All
our custom western hat's are personalized
with your name, initials, or moniker
stamped in gold foil on the sweat
band, inside the crown. No additional
charge.
Blue
Steel
Crown:
3 pinch B-Movie crease.
Brim: Kettle Curl Bound
edge Hand rolled
Hatband: 1 1/2 inch satin with 1898
bow. Color
shown: Charcoal Grey in pure Beaver.
John Wayne made scores of B-Westerns;
Seriels and B-Movies in the 1930s, and
was grateful for the work. At the height
of the Great Depression 1 in 3 men didn't
have a job. As with all our B-Western
hats, we start with an over sized hat
body to
make this beauty.
Poker
City Jim Crown:
3 pinch cavalry or Gus crease.
Brim: Kettle Curl Bound
edge Hand rolled
Hatband: 1 1/2 inch satin with bow. Color
shown: Black in 50% Beaver fur-felt.
One
of our favorite b-western cowboy hats, this
was the hat worn by actor Paul Fix, in the
John Wayne B-Western: The Desert Trail.
This hat is an ancestor of the classic Augustus
style made famous from Lonesome Dove.
100X- Pure 100% Beaver Fur-felt Price: $670.00 | Shipping: $35.00
Total: $705.00 |Order
Now | Checkout
Paul Fix started in films' in the 1930s and
had a long, successful career. You may remember
him as the Sheriff from the old TV Series;
The Rifleman {1958-1963} starring Chuck
Connors.
1898
Bow
This
was a common bow style of the 19th century.
If you prefer this bow style for any of
our hats, just request it when your hat
details are confirmed via e-mail. No extra
charge.
LADIES
BOW
Back in the 19th century and the first 4
decades of the 20th century, when hats were
a very common part of every day dress, women's
hats had the bow on the right hand side.
If you want the bow on the right - request
it when your hat details are confirmed via
e-mail.
Questions
and quote requests should be e-mailed to
ORDERS CALL
TOLL
FREE: 1-866-207-1909. :: Overseas
buyers please read this :: All
Our Contact Info ORDER
DESK HOURS: M-F: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM MOUNTAIN
TIME. IF YOU GET VOICE MAIL LEAVE A MESSAGE!
Click pics for larger image - then expand.
The
Yakima Crown:
4 Dent
Brim: Kettle Curl Bound
edge Hand shaped
Hatband: 1 1/2 inch satin with 1898 bow. Shown
with optional horsehair hat band ( #5 ADD
$15.00) Color
shown: Granite.
100X- Pure 100% Beaver Fur-felt Price: $670.00 | Shipping: $35.00
Total: $705.00 |Order
Now | Checkout
Yakima
Canutt in an early
silent western, Branded a Bandit {1924}.
This
big kettle curl and brim roll appears again
and again in the old B-westerns, on all kinds
of different hats and crown shapes.
Yakima
{Enos} Canutt
{1895-1986} is an important figure in early movie history.
A gifted athlete, and 4 time World Champion Rodeo rider,
Canutt was an early silent film star. When sound came
to motion pictures in 1927, his voice ended his career
as a leading man; so he focused his talent on stunt
work. Along the way Yak invented the movie punch, taught
John Wayne his famous walk, and how to handle a six-gun,
invented safety equipment for stuntmen, and doubled
stunts for virtually every famous male actor of his
day.
Through
the 1930s Yak worked at Republic, Lone Star,
and Mascot Pictures where he met a young John
Wayne. Wayne and Canutt worked on many B-movies
and Serials during this period, with Yak doubling
Wayne in the stunts, staging the action sequences,
and quite often playing a henchman, or bad guy
in the film.
Yakima
Canutt seldom got "on" a horse. He
jumped into the stirrup, vaulted or leapt into
the saddle. His athleticism is on display in
every film he made in those days. He once rode
a horse off a cliff into water, somersaulted
into the saddle from 15 feet above, and rode
a tree branch down an irrigation canal. In The
Star Packer {1934} he not only doubles the
Duke, but also the bad guys; so in effect he's
chasing himself in the action sequences!
In
those days when the story needed an action sequence,
the script writer would simply pencil in: "Action
by Yakima Canutt", and Yak would deliver
the scenes needed.
When
John Wayne got his break into A list movies,
with the role of the Ringo Kid, in John
Fords' brilliant western; Stagecoach,
{1939} the Duke took Yak Canutt along with him.
John
Ford made Yak his action director on Stagecoach,
and it was Yak that staged that famous Stagecoach
chase near the end of the movie. Watch the video
above and you'll appreciate it once again, or
maybe for the first time. Over his career Yak's
stunt work blazed new ground; often doing things
never before attempted. For this Yakima paid
a grave price; breaking most of the bones in
his body.
Yak's
ride of Rex "The Devil Horse"
in the 1926 film is one of the most amazing
feet's of horsemanship you will ever see. Canutt
rides that bucking bronc up and down coulees,
through underbrush and across uneven ground.
Even today Yak is a legend with the people who
know and appreciate the history of Rodeo. He
was the only man {83 went before him} to ride
the legendary bucking horse Tipperary. This
feat and the invention of safety equipment for
stuntmen, were among Yak's most proud achievements.
Horse
Hair Hat Bands
Add a quality horse hair hat
band to any hat. Slide it over the satin ribbon
and bow {as seen on the Yakima above} or wear
it alone. Click picture for larger image.
Freshen
the look of your favorite old hat with a
new custom hat band from The Last Best West.
Introduced in the spring of 2011 our hatbands
are all made by hand, and have that authentic
Cowboy flavor to help you stand out from
the herd. We still won't sell the custom
hat bands that go with our great hats, but
here's a selection of 8 original hatband's
to help you make your own statement.
We've
adapted a horn slider so every hat band
ties off at the back and is held in place
by light pressure. It's surprising fast
and you can easily take our hatband off
and put it on a different hat. This design
innovation gives a dang fine fit every time.
:: Custom
Hatbands
Order your hat today and receive in time for Easter.
The
Champie
Crown: Creased
:: Brim: 1/2" Kettle Curl Bound
Hatband: 1" Satin with Bow :: Color
shown: Sand
Watch
almost any "B" western movie from
the 1920s and 30s and you'll see someone wearing
a Champie in almost every scene. No kidding.
Good guys and bad guys wore it with equal enthusiasm.
This
is also the hat shape made famous by William
Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy. After 66 B-movies
Boyd brought the character to television as
a series, and also to radio as a play. Boyd
was one of the first entertainers to realize
millions of dollars in marketing revenue. In
1950 Hopalong Cassidy was the first image
to grace a child's' lunch box, and that marketing
craze continues to this day.
What
you need to know to order with confidence
On our fact page you'll learn about
fur felt, see available colors, and see step by
step instructions for measuring your head, ordering
your custom hat, shipping, and our refund policy.
We also have a section on general hat care, and
Cowboy Hat Etiquette.
A
Note about Color Color
variances caused by individual computer monitors
are beyond our control. Light
colors will reflect heat the best - while dark colors
will retain the heat the most - with black being
the worst for staying hot (black absorbs sunlight).
However black is the most formal color so bowlers
and top hats were generally black or dark gray.
For the first 15-20 years cowboy hats were marketed
- your choice of color was black and about 3 shades
of brown.
Click
the color for an example of a hat in that color
FRONTIER
FUR FELT
The Dodge City is shown in long hair Beaver
fur-felt. Some call it SHAGGY some call it GRIZZLY,
we prefer the name FRONTIER fur-felt to describe
it, as this is what the very first beaver fur-felt
would have been like. Not as long as Bill Cody's
hat to the right, but longer than today's standard
hat bodies.
You've
likely seen this look before in a western movie.
You can generally spot a long haired fur-felt
in most of the westerns filmed in the 1930s
and 40s. Errol Flynn wore it in several of his
western movie's.
Has
all the same characteristics as our fine, standard
hat bodies - just a longer finish to the fur
of the hat.
You
can request Frontier Fur Felt for any of our
hats, when your hat details are confirmed with
Sonja, within a day of your purchase being made.
No extra charge.
Click
hats for larger images.
The
Dodge City Color:Undyed
Natural :: Crown:Top Dent
Brim: 1" kettle curl with gentle
hand roll. Hatband: 1" Satin Ribbon/bow,
with optional horse hair hat band #3.
After
filming The Adventures of Robin Hood,
Warner Brothers top action star; Errol
Flynn was rushed into his first western
role, in the 1939 western; Dodge City.
The movie is quite entertaining, with
Flynn playing Wade Hatton with
more than a dash of Robin Hood
- if you catch my drift. Flynn favoured
this hat shape in many of the westerns
he later appeared in.
Virtually
the same hat style is worn by Leonardo
DiCaprio in The Quick and the Dead.
(1995)
This
hat is rendered in standard or short-haired
beaver fur-felt.
An
early picture of a young Buffalo Bill
Cody wearing a long-haired Frontier
Cowboy Hat. Notice the bound edge.
Questions
and quote requests should be e-mailed to
ORDERS CALL
TOLL FREE: 1-866-207-1909.:: Overseas
buyers please read this :: All
Our Contact Info ORDER DESK HOURS: M-F: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM MOUNTAIN TIME. IF YOU GET VOICE MAIL LEAVE A MESSAGE!
Trail
Dust
Many
customers have been requesting that we dirty up their
new hats to make them look trail worn. Pictured at
right is a Dusty Augustus - our Augustus
with about 2 years worth of trail dust - as if a working
cowboy had been wearing it.
We've
got three different degrees of trail dust. Light (add
$55.00) - medium (add $75.00), and heavy (add $95.00).
Light would be what you see at the left on the Dusty
Augustus; medium would be like the dusting on the
Rossiter; and heavy trail dust looks like
our Josey
Wales.
This
is a similar process that costume designers apply
to hats in the movies and t. v. Looks authentic and
yer friends will swear yer just got off a trail drive,
or a hitch in the Horse Cavalry! You
can add trail dust during the check out process -
or request it when you call your order in. Orders
call toll free: 1-866-207-1909.
The
Stumpy to the right has a hand rolled brim with a
very slight pencil curl - reminiscent of Hoss's
hat from Bonanza. We'll do the brim any way
you like.
The Stumpy
Crown: open :: Brim:
1" kettle-curl - Bound
Hatband: 1" Satin with 1898 bow. Color
shown: Granite in 20X Fur-felt
You'll
see lot's of these open crown style cowboy
hats from the early days of film right through
the modern era. Variations of this hat design
were worn by Walter Brennan as Stumpy
in Rio Bravo {1959}, as well as Dan
Blocker as Hoss on the long running
TV series; Bonanza. A unique looking
hat nowadays, but a century or more ago
it was a very common hat style, being just
an oversized cousin of the classic Boss
of the Plains.
Custom
Hat Customers
Want to order one of our custom made
Last Best Cowboy Hats with a check or money order?
Or maybe you have a friend or relative that would
like to but doesn't have a computer. Now you can order
one of our quality custom western hats by printing
out an order form and mailing it in. Please
click on this link for a pdf file you can save to
your hard drive, and follow the instructions.
If anything is unclear please email us at:
Custom
Leather Products Canadian
Bat Masterson
was one of the most feared and respected "Shootist's"
of the Old West. He employed a cross-draw
pull, and his skill with a hand gun was such
that everyone kept theirs holstered with Masterson
around. Own a classic custom holster inspired
by Bat's simple - yet elegant rig.
Shown in black cow hide, with heavy, plain
black belt. In the holster is a 45 Cal. 1873
Colt Peacemaker, with 4" barrel
- nickel plated. We will custom make to accommodate
the make, model, and calibre of your firearm.
Side arm is very secure when pushed down in
the holster and comes with a hammer tie-down.
Click
for our Custom Leather Page
Why
should men have all the fun?
Over
the years, many of the wives and girlfriends
that have ordered hats for their cowboys,
have asked when we were going to do some strictly
ladies hats. - so here we go, and remember
ladies; back in the day all women's hats had
the bow on the right.
Exceptional
Service from The Last Best West
Ladies, we will give you expert
personal service designing your Traditional
Old West, or Classic Western Movie Hat. If
you don't see what you want - send us a picture
- and we'll make our version of that hat.
Now
that you've seen our great hats we're sure you'll
want your own Custom Hat - so what are you going
to do with your old one? It'd be a pity to relegate
it to discard. Our
solution is to rotate it out and make a great
Character Hat.
Years
ago I read a story about how Tom Mix used to
crease and work all his custom hats himself
in the shower. So I decided to take his advice
and am more than pleased with the results. The
amount of time it takes is up to you. I had
the Ellsworth fashioned in less than 5 minutes
- then a further half hour fine tuning the look.
Click
for the rest of the story
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