Klondike mini series

[bear tooth billy]

I was wondering if any of you watched the "Klondike" mini series that just was on Discovery channel. It was set in 1897,
the tail end of our time period. I liked the variety of guns, Colt SAA, Winchester 66, 73, high wall, S&W #3?. The
RCMP superintendent had some pistol that I didn't recognize, does anyone know what it was? What was your
impression of the show? I liked it


                                     BTB

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

The revolver was an Enfield, cal .476, which is correct for the time.  The character of the Superintendant is supposed to be Sam Steele. Sam Steele was an outsized character and did not need any dramatization.  I only watched episodes 2 & 3.  BTW Jack London briefly worked here in Victoria as a bank clerk before heading North.

I was completely turned off by the dark screen photography technique.  It must be the fashion, and I hope the fad expires & SOON! The Yukon is a beautiful land and should have been featured more prominently.

[Kinchafoonee Kid]

Hey, Billy, the lovely Miss Christy Lynne and I watched the first episode a couple of nights ago.  We loved the scenery, especially the Chilkoot pass which had a blizzard in July! 

I recall hearing of a piano being carried over the pass and found this on the Internet (alaskapublic.org):

In February, 1898 Mike Mahoney aka "Klondike Mike" made a deal with Hal Henry. He would escort the Sunny Samson Sister Sextette and their luggage over the Chilkoot Pass and down to Dawson city for $3000 plus a share of the musical group's proceeds once they started performing in the Dawson Saloons. The six blonde and virtuous sisters were sure to be a huge smash in the rough Klondike frontier, where feminine charms were worth their weight in gold.

There was just one problem – the sisters insisted on bringing their accompaniment piano. Klondike Mike, a strapping Ohio farm boy and champion boxer turned stampeder, duly hoisted the entire piano onto his back and went step-by step up the Golden Stairs and into Klondike fame. Fortune eluded him, however, because the Canadian customs officer at the top of the pass, seeing the piano, asked what he was about. When he heard that 6 delicate, ill-equipt showgirls were coming his way, he was aghast (this was only his second day on duty – he had yet to see the sort of folks trying to get to Dawson). Certain they would die on the trail! He refused to let the party continue any further.

Fuming, Mike stormed back to Skagway and left the piano atop the pass, where eventually someone hauled it back down and sold it for a tidy profit.

Hope you are doing well, my friend,

Matt

[Marshall John Joseph]

I was completely turned off by the dark screen photography technique.  It must be the fashion, and I hope the fad expires & SOON! The Yukon is a beautiful land and should have been featured more prominently.

In 100% agreement.  Disappointing film.  Hard to follow "in the dark".

MJJ

[Icebox Bob]

Sir Charles, you are quite right that some shots from the Yukon would have been a great addition to the series.

The series was actually shot in Alberta.  They used the CL Ranch near Springbank and locations in Canmore and the Kananaskis area (Fortress Mountain).  I enjoyed looking through the CL Ranch website, especially to realise how many movies have used the location.  http://www.clwesterntown.com/