Letter to the Editor: Defending the O.T. Gunslingers

In defense of O.T. Gunslingers

To the Editor,

This is in response to a letter to the Editor, written by Glenn Upton, in the September 23 edition of The Mt. Pleasant News. I write this with varying degrees of emotion, but feel it necessary to respond.

The Old Threshers Smokin' Gunslingers were established over 25 years ago when it was decided that there was a need for this form of entertainment to help bolster the activities and draw crowds to the town of Snipe Run. Snipe Run is a replica of an old west town, complete with a sheriff's office and saloon, a perfect setting for the type of shows that are performed there.

The Golden Slipper Saloon is full of "saloon girls" performing their songs and acts throughout the day, and often times they take part in the old west shootouts.

Rope boundaries are put up as a safety issue to keep the hundreds of spectators at a safe distance from the old west show. These ropes are not used to barricade in a reluctant audience, but to keep an overly excited audience from harm's way. We strive to keep our shows at ten minutes, for we are aware of the delay that is caused, not only with the ground train, but also the train itself during the train robberies.

I am sure anyone who has tried to get on a train when a robbery is going to take place, or tried for a front row view of the town shootout, can testify to how popular these Old West Shows are.

In response to Mr. Upton's question as to whether the Old Threshers administration has a handle on the situation, the answer is an overwhelming "yes." Not only are there several meetings throughout the year with the Old Threshers administration, they also monitor our shows from time to time during the reunion, and provide us with strict guidelines.

I do take offense with the statement that we disrupted the music and the people that were dancing at night in the dance barn. As anyone who regularly attends these dances can attest, my wife and I are usually the only ones from the gunslinger group that partake in this activity. And I, not expecting any trouble from the outlaws, usually go "unarmed."

If Mr. Upton is looking for respite from the wind, dust and blowing chaff, and would also enjoy listening to music, then I know he can find all of that in the museums, and a very large family tent that boasts of music all day and through most of the night.

As a part of the many volunteers that work Old Threshers, we are all working together to do our part to make it the best show for the money for the people that attend the reunion and visit the many businesses in our town.

If Mr. Upton could see the thousands of autographs that are given out daily to children and adults alike, the number of posters of the gunslingers that are sold, and the smiles and laughs of the crowds during our performances, I doubt very much whether his letter would have been written.

Until we are directed to stop, either by the Old Threshers administration or by popular consensus of the public that attends the reunion, you will see us performing on the hour every hour, from noon till eight, in one of the last late summer activities many people attend.

Our goal is for these people to leave the reunion and our town with the best possible impression of both.

Frosty Hermanstorfer

(Sheriff Frosty, O.T. Smokin' Gunslingers)

Mt. Pleasant