Home on the range Gunfighter group glad to put down roots in Florence November 25, 2008 FLORENCE - This weekend, Florence celebrates its "Cowboy Cradle of the Great Southwest" bonafides once again with events surrounding the world's oldest youth rodeo. But in a new angle this year, "cowboy" will also include the gunslinging variety as Southwest Legends Gunfighters takes an active part in the festivities. SWLG, now in its 13th season, recently made Florence its new headquarters. Leader Tom Lowe explained recently that Florence is a good fit for the group because several members live within 10 to 12 miles of town, so many local people have been welcoming and supportive of the group and the town has a great Old West history to draw on for material. "The history is just unbelievable," Lowe said. "...and it's probably the oldest town in this territory still operational today, other than Tombstone." Jess Knudson, assistant to the town manager, said the town of Florence was happy to welcome SWLG to the downtown historic district. He said the town appreciates the group's educational efforts and looks forward to supporting them in upcoming holiday events and throughout the year. Besides regular appearances in downtown Florence, SWLG is available to entertain at parties and other special events. Lowe, who is also a minister, can even perform weddings. After watching the group's show all day downtown on a Saturday last month, a woman asked the group if they'd be interested in playing at a birthday party the next week for her granddaughter and the girl's cousin. Impressed with this new family of fans, the group showed up for the party and performed for free. The group often helps raise money for charities including Boy and Girl Scouts, nursing homes, Phoenix Children's Hospital and groups helping those suffering from diabetes and lung cancer. Money from their paying gigs typically goes right back into the group for ammo, advertising and new props. The group competed in Tombstone earlier this year with its "Women of Morganville" skit, in which women run the town. "What was great, the judges were falling off their chairs laughing," SWLG member P.C. Crabbe said. "Comedy is not usually what they're looking for." Although SWLG didn't win first prize, the crowd loved their show and the judges came up with a new prize, the Judges' Special Award, for SWLG. Upcoming shows SWLG will be in Saturday's parade, beginning at 10 a.m. on North Main Street. Immediately after the parade, SWLG will do a show on North Main from approximately noon to 1 p.m. The group then plans to go to the rodeo grounds to assist with parking and working the gate. Then on Dec. 6, SWLG will work with the Arizona Rangers and Coolidge Junior ROTC on a Christmas drive. SWLG will perform in downtown Florence beginning at 10 a.m. Audience members will be asked to contribute a can of food, an article of clothing, toy or cash donation to help the community's underprivileged have a better Christmas. Other upcoming projects include a dinner theater production. "We have a show written and ready to go," Lowe said, looking for a host. They also hope to eventually incorporate a fast-draw demonstration into their Main Street shows, including audience participation, with wax bullets. What keeps the group going is "they love the history of the Old West, they love bringing it to life and they love to entertain," Lowe said. They also just enjoy hanging out together, said Crabbe, who with his wife, Cindy, has been in the group almost three years. The re-enacting and the shooting are all fun, but Crabbe said his favorite part of being in SWLG is the camaraderie. "We are one big family and we genuinely care for each other. ... We really enjoy each other's company and we're friends outside the group as well. "That was one of the major reasons we got involved in the group. They made us feel like family." They also have a grandson, Morgan Jaecks, who performs with SWLG. "We have quite a few youngsters. We like to do shows that include them," Crabbe said. Lowe called SWLG "a very family-oriented group," which includes keeping the language in the shows fairly clean. They don't use blood capsules or bags, or flying hamburger following shotgun blasts. "It's too scary for younger kids; besides, it's really messy," Lowe said. "... Our mission is to help educate, entertain and keep the spirit of the Old West alive." Educating includes a gun safety demonstration before every show. The children in the audience are "deputized" and given a certificate and badge. They also hope to give people a real glimpse of the old days. "It's amazing how many people do not know what really happened in the Old West and how it contributed to the culture we have today." Of course, people have a lot of information from popular culture that may or may not be reliable. For example, the duel in the street at high noon - one of American western cinema's fondest cliches - was actually quite rare, Lowe said. The clash of cultures, scarcity of law enforcement and the human tendency toward greed did lead to violence in the Old West. But stories often became more graphic and shocking with the retelling. Newspaper reporters, as well as everyday gossips, were known to embellish a tale as it made its way back east. But not everyone came west spoiling for a fight. Many lived by the "Code of the West," in which you treat people as you want to be treated, help them when you can and they'll return the favor, Lowe said. Famous shootout When Florence residents think of an Old West gun battle, they're often reminded of their town's 1888 gunfight at the Tunnel Saloon between retired sheriff Pete Gabriel and his disgruntled ex-chief deputy, Joe Phy. Besides being celebrated in books, poems and artwork, the shootout has been replayed at various times over the years by different actors on North Main Street, near the historical location of the former saloon. With pride in their new home town, SWLG have been working on a new re-enactment that gives meaning and context leading up to the hail of bullets between the two former friends. Central to the skit will be a Tucson reporter interviewing a witness five days after the shootout. Lowe called this new re-enactment of Florence's most famous gunfight "a little longer" than the group's usual show. But group members spent several weeks on research and "I think people will understand what happened. We have put a lot of work into it. "Hopefully we'll have it ready for the Junior Parada. It's going to be real good." Southwest Legends Gunfighters From approximately noon to 1 p.m. Saturday in downtown Florence after the Junior Parada parade. In Florence's Holiday Light Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 on North Main Street. Beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 in downtown Florence. Audience members will be asked for a can of food or other donation to help others have a brighter Christmas. 76th Florence Junior Parada Rodeo events begin at 7 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Charles Whitlow Rodeo Grounds, three miles south of Florence on Arizona 79. Admission $5 per car. Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday on North Main Street. Rodeo awards ceremony, approximately 3 p.m. Sunday at rodeo grounds.