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The part of U.S. history commonly called "The Wild West"
or "Old West," especially the colorful characters from the
19th century who were often at odds with the law,
continue to fascinate people around the world. One such
outlaw was Billy the Kid, who remains an iconic figure in
the western state of New Mexico. He is the subject of an
exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History that
runs through July 22. VOA's Greg Flakus spoke with the
historian who served as curator for the show, and he filed
this report from Albuquerque.
His fame was spread through
western movies that were made
long after his death, but even in
life Henry McCarty, alias William
Bonney, alias Billy the Kid, was a
legend.
The exhibit of paintings, photos
and artifacts in Albuquerque's
Museum of Art and History was put
together by historian and University of New Mexico professor Paul
Hutton. "I call this exhibit and the companion book I am doing for
it "Dreamscape Desperado," because that is what Billy the Kid
really is. He is the outlaw of our dreams," he said.
Although Billy the Kid was in life and
remains today a romantic figure, the one
photo taken of him does not show a
handsome face. As Hutton explains,
however, an old stained and tattered
photograph probably reveals little about
the man. "The photo evidently does not
do him justice. He was a notorious
ladies' man, and all the senoritas in New
Mexico absolutely loved him, and there
was much wailing and carrying on when
he was killed," he said.
Also on
display is the gun that ended
Billy's life. It was fired by Sheriff
Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, New
Mexico on July 14, 1881. But
Billy the Kid Still Rides in New Mexico
By Greg Flakus
Albuquerque, New Mexico
14 July 2007
Paul Hutton
Photo of Billy the Kid
VOA News - Billy the Kid Still Rides in New Mexico Page 1 of 3
Professor Hutton says the end of
Billy the Kid's life was just the
beginning of his enduring legend.
"He is Peter Pan morphed into
Robin Hood. He dies when he is
21, he is a ladies' man. He is the
perfect romantic hero and he is a
fighter for justice," he said.
Billy fought against a powerful
and corrupt group in Lincoln County, New Mexico in a conflict
that claimed around 100 lives. He was never a highwayman or
robber, like Jesse James or Butch Cassidy, but he did kill several
men, including four lawmen.
Hutton notes that, while he was despised by the corrupt men
who wore the badges in those days, small ranch owners and
Hispanics, in particular, saw him as a friend. "He is a 21-year-old
kid, absolutely fluent in Spanish. (He) has lots of Hispanic girl
friends and, in fact, in perfect romantic fashion, that is his
undoing. He goes to old Fort Sumner to see his girl friend,
Paulina Maxwell, when Pat Garrett tracks him down and kills
him," he said.
Decades after his death, Hutton notes, the Kid's fame spread
well beyond the western United States through comic books and
movies. "Sixty movies have been made about Billy the Kid. I do
not think there is another character in all of world history that
has had that many films made about him," he said.
One of the most popular films made about the outlaw was
1973's "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid," directed by Sam
Peckinpah, with Kris Kristoferson in the role of Billy the Kid.
Some people find it odd that a
criminal would attract such
sympathy and interest, but
Hutton says such men have
always had appeal.
"It is so interesting that in
America, which is a nation that
constantly spouts themes of law
and order, that we so romanticize
the outlaw, but that is nothing new, people do that all around
the world, whether it is William Tell or Robin Hood or d___
Turpin. The outlaw is a favorite subject and we all like the bad
boy," he said.
Hutton says the Kid also represents the lone fighter, standing up
to political power and defending a way of life threatened by
industrialization.
"There was quite a bit of class conflict that went on, and there
was also a struggle over sort of the machine coming into the
garden, there was the last stand of the pastoral. Billy the Kid
Pat Garrett's gun
Exhibit Hall at Albuquerque
Museum
VOA News - Billy the Kid Still Rides in New Mexico Page 2 of 3
represents, in many ways, those pastoral themes. He also
represents that lawlessness of the West, that refusal to
compromise, the refusal to obey the rules that are imposed," he
said.
As Paul Hutton wrote in an article about him some years ago,
Billy the Kid is "the outlaw of our dreams -- forever free, forever
young, forever riding."
VOA News - Billy the Kid Still Rides in New Mexico Page 3 of 3