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Hidalgo/Frank T. Hopkins
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Posted By:
Bob Schroeck
Nov 24, 2004
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I've been a long-time reader of the Museum site and have enjoyed it greatly. Now finally comes my chance to offer something back! (Assuming, of course, the search mechanism for the forums isn't broken and I'm not repeating someone's earlier suggestion...)
In the wake of renting the 2003 Disney/Touchstone movie "Hidalgo" (billed as a "true story"), I wanted to learn more about Frank Hopkins and his achievements. Google led me right away to the following site:
http://www.thelongridersguild.com/hopkins.htm
A thoroughly documented set of pages and links that show that the "true" story of Frank Hopkins is not just a hoax, but apparently so blatant a fabric of falsehoods that some historians are wondering how or why anyone believes it. Especially telling are the Buffalo Bill museum disclaiming any knowledge of Hopkin's alleged "starring roles" in Cody's Wild West Show, and the Arab historians who not only state authoritatively that the so-called "Ocean of Fire" race Hopkins claims to have won never existed, but also point out that any "3000-mile" race in the Middle East would have to have its finish line somewhere in Eastern Europe...
Looks like a perfect topic to cover in the Museum!
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Comments
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Page 2 of 13 pages < 1 2 3 4 > Last › |
poisonflower
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 | 05:10 PM
http://pub30.bravenet.com/forum/2524010309/fetch/903081/
John Fusco now says he's been contacted by people who claim to have known Frank Hopkins almost a century ago or whose relatives knew him almost a century ago, who want to back up his claims.
LOL |
Peter Hanbury
in New South Wales, Australia
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Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 | 02:45 AM
I'm a little amazed at the passionate messages, and the vituperatioon, that the movie "Hidalgo" appears to have generated.
I recently hired the movie on DVD, and loved it. Yes, it was a bit far-fetched in places, but a great story, well-structured, with interesting characters, entertaining dialogue and a whizz-bang exciting climax.
What more does anyone want in a movie? Because, come on guys and girls, that is what it was -- A MOVIE, not a documentary. There is a difference.
Peter |
Jan
in Michigan
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 | 08:06 AM
I'm courious about the journals or diaries that Ty Randell claims to posess. If authentic, he should publish them in whole, and include photo copies of some of the actual pages, and a group photo showing the entire collection of books.
If Hopkins' claims, at least part of them, can be confirmed through this source then it needs to be presented to researchers.
At this point, I too believe Hopkins was nothing more than self grandising blowhard. If it proves he was not, then he proves to be a very interesting study.
Randell - if you've got the proof, then show it. To hell with this "I'm trying to write a book" business. Remember, you have copyright control over the diaries. Just make sure anything you quote from them has the |
Jimmy Hoffa
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 | 06:10 AM
Just admit this is all fiction. So what if it's fake? Disney could have left out the claims that it was a true story and it would still be a good movie as far as I'm concerned.
To me, it doesn't have to be a true story to inspire. I had no idea this was actually being touted as such but the story intrigued and captivated me all the same. |
From a lone line of tall tails
in backwoods -backhome
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 | 11:42 AM
I have heard many a stroy relayed from my families good story tellers. They all have some facts. Some of them fewer truthful facts than others. Some of the tails I have hears have only one truth and lots of none truth. The important (truth) is that the story teller is telling of himself.
My father is one of the best, I always enjoys his tails. Over the years I know whats truth and what is fabrication to enhance the overall enjoyment of the story. Most of his tails are based on an event that is realistic and exciting. When I was about 5yrs. my father and I were stopped on the side of the road and someone asked him about his latest big buck that he killed. My father had told this story five or six times in the last week, so I knew the way it went. In mid story I interupted to say "that wasnt the way he told it last time." after we moved on my father informed me to never let on to anyone if he was fibing. He said never let the truth get in the way of a good story. |
good god
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 | 05:13 AM
But you don't believe your father's tall tales are true, do you? I don't know if Frank Hopkins actually believed his own lies, but Vickie Ives and John Fusco and their friends are trying to sell this story as true. I don't know why Fusco would want to do that; maybe it's his ego. But Vickie Ives seems to be pathologically incapable of admitting that anything she does is wrong, and she's using Fusco just as she's used others. |
ikes2p
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Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 | 08:31 PM
Im not going to see hidalgo. Im not going to suport this devil-worshiping woman vickie ives or any of her satanist doins like twisty cats and hidalgo. Satan is a liar and the father of lies. |
LOVE A GOOD STORY...
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 | 12:51 PM
...story telling...fact or fiction? It is my opinion that any story worth hearing, repeating or viewing is "based on fact".
It is also my opinion that based on the examples of this forum this world is quite simply filled with a ridiculous amount of cold, hard, cynical people who are quite possibly just jealous because they don't have a heart left to warm beside the good old fashioned hearth of a 'heart warming tale'.
If fact is what you want then by all means please, please feel free to take in the science channel or check out that same section in your local library but for heaven's sake don't throw away the Bible because you can't prove or disprove it's authorship, authenticity or facts. It's a simple and beautiful story. Period. |
Dr. D
Member
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Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 | 04:31 PM
See UPDATE on this story at www.frankhopkins.com
Click UPDATE at top of splash page. |
(ob)Fusco(ation)
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 | 04:20 PM
***yawn*** |
Frank T Hopkins
in In the sunset
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Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 | 10:35 PM
Hey! I don't know any of you that claim to be my kin.
Sure, I stretched it a bit . . . but not as much as most of you so-called relatives of mine.
I raced, I won, I drank, I loved (ok . . . it wasn't always real love), so what.
Get off your duffs and race around a bit. Your heads will get some much needed air.
F.T.H.
BTW: I had TWO Hidalgos. Both were real good at holding on for the whole run. |
Forrest Roberts Lambert II
in Gadsden, Alabama USA
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Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 | 08:08 PM
I just saw the movie, and I read all the sites. All I can say is , I don't give a flying rip whether it is true or not. After all, people, it's only a MOVIE!!!!!!!!!
If you believe Hopkins, you can't be convinced otherwise and if you think he was a liar, you can't be convinced either. So just have your opinions, because you will never change.
GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Name not important
in Tombstone, Arizona
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Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 | 05:47 PM
I'm writing on behalf of my horse, and this is not a joke. My horse's name is Hidalgo, and he is a paint mustang and direct descendent of the original,and I'm not joking at all.Frank Hopkins WAS NOT A BULLTHROWER, and what's more, I'm willing to pit my Hidalgo against any number of Arabs for a cross country race completeley around the borders of Saudi Arabia, which, I am sure, is more than 3,000 miles. My boy will kick their butts even better than his great great granddaddy did. Now, I don't expect the king of Saudi Arabia or any other Arab to have the guts to respond to this and accept the challenge, but I'll be watching this site just in case they do. |
Non-Aryan Glory
in As far away from Satan as I can get
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Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 | 01:50 PM
Are you sleeping with Vickie Ives? |
Forrest Roberts Lambert II
in Gadsden, alabama USA
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 | 09:09 PM
No, I'm not sleeping with Vickie Ives. But I know of 2 women and a football team that claim they are. |
Stace
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Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 | 12:32 AM
Heh, heh...
It all reminds me of lyrics to a Jimmy Buffet song:
"It's a semi-true story believe it or not,
I made up a few things and there's some I forgot..."
The horses in the move were splendid, and that's a fact. |
wendy onstott
in utah
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Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 | 11:42 PM
Well, I just saw the movie for the first time. I put it off for as long as I could, Cuz I am a professional horse trainer, and most horse movies just piss me off.
The movie was good fun; I don't know what to think about the Frank Hopkins true story.
But I do personally know the horse that played the mare of the "christian lady", and that is why I finally had to give in and see the film.
He is a purebred Arabian bay gelding named Probant that belonged to a local woman here that showed him western, hunter and show hack for many years. Then some movie guy bought him from her to play in the film. I think she hooked up with the movie guy when she was at the Scottsdale show.
I have trained and shown horses since the early 60's, and have done mostly Arabians.....and in recent years, some mustangs too.
I find it hard to believe that any horse from this country, or anywhere but the desert, could last through any of their races. The environment is savage and the races gruelling; I mean really, if they won't eat figs, dates and camels milk, they will die.
And that is why, whether you like Arabians or not, the breed leads the way in endurance riding to this day...that is what they were bred (and survived) to do.
That I know for a fact, if facts are what you are looking for.
Good luck with research on Frank Hopkins. Whether he was a great endurance horseman or not, I would be hardpressed to believe any American horse could beat a true desert horse......even an American Arabian. They are starting to get pretty woosie now-a-days compared to the desert horses, unless they've been bred specifically for endurance.
And, what the hell is a twisty cat, anyway? |
diamond lillie
in nowhere
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 | 08:36 AM
Twisty cats are deformed, disabled cats Vickie Ives (who was Vickie Speir until her husband walked out on her) was breeding some time back.
http://www.the-cats-meow.ca/twisty1.html
"Twisty cats are caused by a genetic mutation called radial hypoplasia, in which all or no part of the long bone from elbow to wrist, is missing, leaving either no front paws or only vestigial paws. These cats do not move like normal cats; instead, they hop around on their hind legs much like a kangaroo. If they do use all fours, they use their front elbows as a means of movement or balance."
She still can't admit this animal abuse or take responsibility for it, but it got her horse farm a lot of publicity. |
Lisa
in Canada
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Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 | 06:54 AM
I think that you should all just relax. So what if the story isnt true, what difference does it make if its fact or fiction, all I know is that the movie was fabulous and it inspired people. So think for a moment, what if those people who were inspired by the movie and did think it was real came to this site and saw you all bashing it? That inspiration that they got from the movie would vanish, I know mine did. Why dont you try and forget about wheather its fact or fiction? Because frankly if you want facts then watch the science channel or somthing. A good movie is a good movie, and isnt it nice to think that perhaps this Frank man was real? Its like Santa clause, a hero of his time, somone for children to look up too. You wouldnt toss a bible away just because you couldnt prove its truth would you? No because its nice to believe that perhaps there were good people in this world that did at one point do great things. Try and be resonable people, Frank Hopkins is a hero, whether he be real or not.. |
witch hazel
in the world
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Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 | 09:41 AM
My hero is Charles Ponzi. I look up to him. |
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