Hidden History of Tulsa

by Steve Gerkin

Overview

The story of Tulsa's transformation from a nineteenth-century cow town into the "Oil Capital of the World" has been above ground for years, but a great reservoir of Tulsey Town's heritage has remained beneath the surface. These neglected tales include the dirigible flyover of 1929, the Hominy Indians' victory over the New York Giants and the legendary final performance of Spade Cooley, convicted killer and the self-proclaimed "King of Western Swing." From the horrors of the city's early race riot and the proud legacy of Greenwood (aka Little Africa or Black Wall Street) to Tulsa's iconic landmarks and unforgettable personalities, Steve Gerkin provides an evocative and enjoyable voyage through T-Town's hidden history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626195790
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	05/27/2014
Series:	Hidden History
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	1,086,129
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

A graduate of Oklahoma State University and the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Steve Gerkin has been a This Land Press contributing editor for three years. This Land is a Tulsa-based social media company whose focus is Oklahoma writers writing about Oklahoma-related issues. He retired as a general dentist in 2010 and as a professor of wine education for seven years at Oklahoma State University in 2013. Gerkin is a lifetime member of the Oklahoma and Tulsa Historical Societies.

Table of Contents

Prologue 9

Acknowledgements 11

Part I Early Racial Tensions: Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 and the Presence of White Supremacists

1 Beno Hall: Tulsa's Den of Terror 15

2 The White Knight Vigilantes: Exposing the Founders of Tulsa's Ku Klux Klan Clubhouse 22

3 Watts and Clary: The Odd Couple of Civil Rights Reconciliation 28

4 Joe Sheets: The Man in the Box 35

5 Diamond in the Rough: The 1921 Tulsa Race Riot Scapegoat 41

6 Tracking Down Diamond Dick: John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Symposium Speech on May 31, 2013 47

7 First Charged. Last Freed: The Exonerated Czar of Greenwood 54

Part II Dirigible Flyover: Zeppelin Circles Downtown Tulsa

8 USS Los Angeles Floats Over Tulsa in 1929: Crowds Watch from Rooftops 65

Part III Colorful Personalities: Native Giants and a Hamburger Nazi

9 They Might Be Giants: A Pigskin Bushwhack in the Osage 71

10 No Phones, No Fools, No Frets: The J.J. Behind J.J.'s Gourmet Burger Cafe 78

11 Harry F. Sinclair: The Trouble with Harry 87

12 Hay Is for Hosses: A Hay Hauler Fights Drought and Technology to Preserve a Pastime 97

13 Planet of Mushrooms: A Fungi Odyssey 103

14 The Ringleader: The Burning of the Coliseum and the End of Tulsa Wrestling's Romantic Era 106

Part IV Landmarks and Gangsters: Streets, Hills and a Murderous Maestro

15 The Hills Have Eyes: Standpipe Hill Seldom Stood Still 115

16 Electric to Eco Trolleys: Champions of Tulsa Transportation 120

17 Cedar Street: Tulsa's Proudest Thoroughfare 125

18 "Creepy" Karpis and the Central Park Gang 129

19 Fiddler Spade Gooley Played Rough: His Photo Terrorizes Patrons of Cain's Ballroom 135

Bibliography 143

About the Author 144