News

Journalists get Custer Battlefield tourism pitch

Journalists from across the nation gathered at Custer Battlefield Museum on Thursday to hear Joe Medicine Crow, a historian and grandson of a Crow scout for Lt. Col. George Custer, speak about the Battle of the Little Bighorn as a way to promote tourism in Eastern Montana.

By CHELSI MOY
Of The Gazette Staff

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/06/25/build/state/40-custer-writers.inc

Custer Country, the regional tourism organization, brought the journalists here thanks to money from the state bed-tax fund. They sought experienced travel journalists whose readers may have an interest in visiting the area.

The travel journalists arrived four days ago from both coasts. A freelance writer from Germany also made the trip, said Jill Spanier, public relations coordinator for Custer Country.

A freelancer for Rolling Stone who is researching a book about wild horses, and an English professor writing a book about the preservation and commemoration of the Battle of the Little Bighorn also attended.

Most of the journalists came to Montana to witness the historical pageant performed annually in Hardin during Little Big Horn Days, which is scripted by Medicine Crow.

In 1939, Medicine Crow was working toward his Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Southern California when he saw a flier seeking extras to be in a new movie about the battle of Lt. Col. George Custer’s last stand .

Medicine Crow immediately volunteered for the project called "They Died with Their Boots on."

He told the director he was from Montana, lived close to the Little Bighorn Battlefield and was familiar with the story of Custer’s Last Stand. The director assigned Medicine Crow to the script-writing department.

"I didn’t like it because they weren’t telling the truth, but they were paying good money," he said.

One day, the producer came to talk to Medicine Crow and asked him what he thought of Custer.

"He was a darn fool," Medicine Crow said. "He jumped the gun and got 265 soldiers killed."

"Do you actually believe that?" the producer asked him.

When Medicine Crow said he did, the producer fired him.

"I thought he was kidding," Medicine Crow said. "He told me to stop smiling, get my stuff and get out of here."

He told the producer the movie was messing up an important part of history. Medicine Crow then vowed he would write his own version of what happened at the battle.

In 1964 he did just that.

"It’s my way of giving people something visual," he said.

Michael Elliott, an English professor at Emory University, said he was surprised by how enthusiastic people still are to learn about the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

"Some people are so invested in this history," he said.

Joseph Rosendo produces a national radio show for Travelscope. Although he had traveled to Montana many times, he had never made it to Eastern Montana before. One of the most interesting things about his trip, he said, was the wealth of information the Native Americans have about the famous battle.

"Over the years, the country has changed its allegiance to a little more even view between white and Native American perspectives," he said. "Not until recently have (Native Americans) been given enough credibility."

Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.