WENTY’S TWO CENTS
The caffeine-addled ramblings of KCOW “Wakeup Show” host Jason Wentworth

 

September 24, 2012

Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.

As an abysmal high school and college student, I can assure you that the same goes for Spanish, Biology, and Algebra.  I had to take each of those twice.  (It’s that stellar academic record that led me to a career as a morning radio disc jockey.)

But I digress.  Back to history–it really is important for us to appreciate where we came from.  And generally speaking, important things are not usually fun things.  But this is one of the exceptions!

Recently I spent the day at Dobby’s Frontier Town in Alliance.  I am more than a bit ashamed to say that it was my first visit in fourteen years as a resident of The Best Hometown In America.  And boy do I feel silly to have waited this long.  And just on the outside chance that there are one or two others who’ve never experienced it, I thought I would share my thoughts.

It is truly amazing to walk through the buildings and see America as it was.  On my whirlwind tour of frontier days I sampled some rhubarb wine at the still (shades of The Baldwin Sisters and The Recipe); engaged in gambling at the saloon; visited the room above the saloon (ahem)…and then went to jail.

I kinda feel bad because while I was in the jailhouse, I spent a good while chatting with the Sheriff about the history of Dobby’s Frontier Town…and I think I saw someone bringing one of the prisoners a cake with a file in it.

Okay, maybe I didn’t see that–but the amazing thing about Dobby’s Frontier Town is the way it draws you into an era.  And here’s how they do it: there are no velvet ropes.  There are no big glass walls. You can touch, sit, and fiddle with everything to your heart’s content.  I think this is why every kid I saw there was having such a great time.  Whether they realize it or not, they are enjoying an interactive experience (no screen required).  And as a 40-year-old with an overactive imagination, I must confess to acting kind of like a big kid myself.

 

Another thought came to me as I lingered on ancient displays and old wanted posters–  I believe that there are a lot of people who are interested in U.S, history but would never consider themselves a “history buff”.  Example: is your TiVo is loaded with episodes of “Pawn Stars”, “Antiques Roadshow”, “Storage Wars” or any of the other TV shows that hang on the concept of “Look at this old thing”?

From one fan to another: you have got to see Dobby’s Frontier Town.  A 1950s Pepsi-Cola cooler,  an ancient linotype machine, old spice tins and about a thousand and one other amazing relics…and you can look as long as you want without hitting the “pause” button.

Did I mention a 1950s Pepsi-Cola cooler?  It resides in one of the two buildings that, although existing outside the “frontier” timeline, will be especially appealing to Alliance baby boomers.  I’ve heard the stories about Rex’s Hamburgers and the Kandy Snap…and they are now reborn at Dobby’s.

If this sounds like a whole lot of fun…it is.  And it’s free.  And they’re there every day.  I know I’ll be back to Dobby’s Frontier Town a heckuva lot sooner than another fourteen years.

For one thing, I forgot to bring a handful of nickels on my first visit to spend on taffy and Tootsie Rolls at the Kandy Snap.