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| It's the oldest ranch
in the United States. At one time 10,000 cattle grazed here
every summer, herded by cowboys on horseback. A century ago,
this was the temporary home of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and
his Rough Riders, just back from the war in Cuba. Today, prize-winning
cutting horses are raised and trained here, and sold to buyers
around the world. |
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Where is it? Texas? Montana? Guess again...it's Montauk, at the
eastern point of Long Island, 110 miles from the concrete canyons
of New York City. Deep Hollow Ranch has been in business since 1658,
grazing cattle and raising horses.
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But in the summer of 1898, the entire area was teeming with
soldiers, the rolling hills covered with a carpet of white
tents, the scene of infantry drills and calvary parade. More
than 22,000 other troops recuperated from the rigors of battle
at the temporary Camp Wikoff, including Roosevelt's Rough
Riders and two regiments of Buffalo Soldiers, the famous African-American
calvarymen.
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Now fast forward to Labor Day weekend, 1998. Once again, thousands
have gathered at Deep Hollow Ranch. Greeted by a spectacled
man in a khaki uniform, who looks an awful lot like Teddy
Roosevelt. Before us stretched a replica of the encampment,
complete with hundreds of uniformed reenactors. Rough Riders,
Buffalo Soldiers and squads of mounted calvary. Nearby a crowd
gathered, drawn to the hustleand
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bustle of a turn-of-the-century county fair with artisans and musicians.
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But the main event is about to begin. A Buffalo Soldier bugler
calls the troops to order, and a hundred calvarymen ride into
an arena, signaling the start of an old-fashioned Wild West
Show, the kind that thrilled American and European audiences
a hundred years ago. This one will feature all the spectacle
and pageantry of the shows that Buffalo Bill once produced
-- parades, flag drills, chuck wagon races, trick riding and
roping, sharpshooting...plus Colonel Roosevelt himself to
help emcee.
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Rough Rider Days at Deep Hollow Ranch was a partly historical reenactment,
marking the centennial of the Camp Wikoff encampment. A successful
fundraising event, benefitted the preservation of the historic Montauk
Lighthouse. But at its heart was the best Wild West Show since Buffalo
Bill. Captured on video and edited into an entertaining one-hour special,
the show will give audiences the chance to see a slice of western
Americana rarely seen on television. |
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