While in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Bob and Ever-Lovin’ were excited to see a billboard for the Fred Harman Museum.

“Who is that?”  (I admit.  I am pop culturally challenged.)

“You know!  Red Ryder and Little Beaver.”

Who-o-o???

 Red Ryder???  (See that smile on Ever-Lovin’s face.  He was excited to be here. – I loved it!)

Little Beaver???

Ever-Lovin’ went on to explain from the late 1930’s until the early 1960’s Fred Harman was the creator of a syndicated comic strip – Red Ryder and Little Beaver.  At that time, it was the largest syndicated comic strip in the country.  (It was carried in 750 newspapers, and had 45,000,000 followers.  Yes that is 45 million!)  In addition to the comic strip, there were books, magazines, radio shows, movies, TV shows and a slew of  commercial products made of the duo.  Of course, they always saved the day.  (Ever-Lovin’ did not know all these facts, but the friendly guide did.)  Ever-Lovin’ faithfully read the comic strips and the books.  He went to the Red Ryder movies and probably had Red Ryder toys.  “How could I not know about Fred Harman?”

Look at this – A Daisy Red Ryder BB gun.  This was/is BIG.  It was a commerative BB gun created for Red Ryder.  I have heard of it, so I am certain you have heard of it also.  (“You’ll shoot your eye out”!  – Can you name that movie?)  I know about this.  “Okay, now I am beginning to connect the dots.”

As you enter the home of Fred Harman, you see examples of his artwork.

His work was greatly in demand from famous personalities across America -John Wayne, Art Linkletter, and many others would come to the ranch in Pagosa Springs to buy paintings.  He was a founding member of The Cowboy Artists of America.  By 1965 he was the most widely  known living artist portraying the American West.- (So the interesting guide informed us.)  Russell and Remington were considered the premier artist of the Old West ( before the Civil War), and Fred Harman was considered the premier artist of the New West (after the Civil War).  During his life, this real life cowboy and cowboy artist had a long, long list of honors awarded to him.

I especially enjoyed seeing his studio where he created the comic strips and paintings.

This is a painting of Red Ryder and Little Beaver that hangs in his studio.  Unlike some other cartoonist who worked with a partner, Fred did both the illustrations and story lines for Red Ryder and Little Beaver.

A most interesting fact was that Fred began his career sitting next to Walt Disney in a Kansas City commercial art studio.  For a while, together they formed their own company, but it was not successful.  Walt Disney wanted to go to California to make animated films, but Fred preferred to return to Colorado. Even though they went their separate ways, they remained lifelong friends.

Now, I know something about Fred Harman.  I love learning new things.

Blessings to you and yours,