Elmer Keith--Salmon Idaho

THREEDFLYER · #51 06-04-2018, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAH

Mrs. Keith cut me a piece of watermelon once.

Now that would have been an interesting encounter to have seen!

jmclfrsh · #52 06-05-2018, 02:29 AM

^ Thank you for resurrecting this thread. Nice read.

That was the Golden Age of Gunwriting in my book.

Green Frog · #53 06-05-2018, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Workman

Truth be told, the gunwriters of my acquaintance are typically personable types, and a couple are even kind of shy. I'm always eager to meet one of my readers. (I only have three or four

)

But the times I've been with some other writer, if someone comes up to say hello, we drop the conversation and shake hands. That happened quite a bit at the NRA show in Atlanta this year.

Back when I was writing for the American Single Shout Journal, if somebody mentioned reading one of my articles I was so thrilled they probably got bored talking with me. I'm sure the novelty would have worn off eventually, but for me that part of it never did.

I saw Elmer Keith at an NRA convention once toward the end of his life but couldn't catch up with him to speak. A few years later I did get to meet an chat with Skeeter at his final appearance and then with Jordan at one of his. Both were most gracious and were enjoyable to listen to.

Froggie

Capt. F. · #54 06-05-2018, 09:43 AM

I retired from Ma Bell 16 years ago. In the seventies one of my jobs there was to man the equipment for toll or long distance side of calls.
Because the long distance circuits were on the other side of the billing equipment there was no record of long distance calls.
Sooo, being a fan of Elmer’s I used to call him occasionally, usually with a reloading question.
Found him to be extremely helpful and more than willing to talk to a dumb 23 year old kid.
I know, as with all of us, he had his faults but I have to remember him as I knew him.

gwpercle · #55 06-05-2018, 12:44 PM

What I really enjoyed was seeing Elmer without the big cowboy hat !
Darn few photo's ever show him without it , I always wondered what was under it....he did have hair !
I printed the photo and have put it in my 1st edition "Sixguns" book .
Thanks for posting them...Awesome !
Gary

Jim NNN · #56 06-05-2018, 01:20 PM

What a beautiful scenic backdrop for Mr. and Mrs. Kieth's final resting place. Thanks to whoever posted the photo, whenever they posted it.

LAH · #57 06-05-2018, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THREEDFLYER

Now that would have been an interesting encounter to have seen!

It was for sure.

LAH · #58 06-05-2018, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmclfrsh

^ Thank you for resurrecting this thread. Nice read.

That was the Golden Age of Gunwriting in my book.

Not sure how I came upon this thread. Should have dated it before posting.

LAH · #59 06-05-2018, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwpercle

What I really enjoyed was seeing Elmer without the big cowboy hat !
Gary

Here's one without the hat.

RobertJ. · #60 06-05-2018, 11:01 PM

I've told this story before, but it deserves to be told again:

In the early 90's, I was living in Idaho Falls, and dating a woman whose mother was from Salmon. One evening when we were all having dinner together, I asked her mom if she knew who Elmer Keith was. She looked at me in disbelief, and said yes, she lived down the road from him, and how in the world did I know him?

It turned out she had no idea who he really was! He was just the strange old man that always wore a big hat and smoked a cigar! She was amazed to find out he was a legend in the gun world.

crstrode · #61 06-06-2018, 01:17 AM

Mr. Keith would visit with my Grandfather just about every time he was in the Coeur d'Alene area. He did indeed like watermelon. As a teenager and into my 20s, I had no idea that he was a big deal, and neither did Grandma. She would not abide even a single cigar puff in her living room. However, in the garage, or across the street in the garden, cigars and nips of whiskey from Alka-Seltzer bottle "flasks" was de-rigeur.

SRT · #62 06-06-2018, 01:29 AM

Thanks, everyone, for the OUTSTANDING photos and commentary. The collective depth and breadth of information on this forum continually amazes me.

Hell, I wasn't there, but I sure wish I had been!

Eddie Southgate · #63 05-23-2020, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Star

It varied with the man. Bill Jordan told me that he preferred tequila "because it won't rile up your system like whiskey does."

Jon Sundra knows wine very well, the only other gun writer I've met who shared that interest with me. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if he's still writing. I haven't seen his byline in some time.

Jon put out a new book in 2018 .It is titled " Hell, I'm still here". Put out by Safari Press .

Mickey D · #64 05-25-2020, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THREEDFLYER

Elmer had a house in town, then moved out on to the ranch which is north of Salmon in Gibbonsville........the road if off of HWY 93 and is KEITH RD or KEITH LN......I have a photo of the street sign someplace. I have mentioned on this thread before that my hunting buddy spent some of his youth in Salmon and his father hunted with old Elmer......see photos above. Some cool history in the Salmon area for sure and good fishing on the river so take a rod and book a trip!!

Attached is the pictures I took of the entrance to Keith Ranch when I moved to the Salmon area in 2015. There are many stories that the older folks tell of Elmer being a boisterous free loader.
Expected anyone that drank or had a meal with him to pay for his indulgence.
Another prominent gun writer and enthusiast lives here in Salmon is Ken Hackathorn.

I don’t know why the images went sideways.

Neversink n Klapperthal · #65 05-25-2020, 11:14 AM

I spoke with Elmer over the phone a couple times. He made it sound like we were long lost friends. I miss him

italiansport · #66 05-25-2020, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAH

Here's one without the hat.

I wonder what became of those tusks? Wonderful memories and thanks to all who contributed to this thread! For some reason; this thread brought back memories of Ole's big Game bar in Paxton, NB!!
Jim

UFGator · #67 05-25-2020, 11:30 AM

The real America.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by THREEDFLYER

Here is a photo taken of my friend Dwight atop of one of Elmer's horses.
This photo was taken in Elmer's backyard at their Salmon home in the mid 40's.

Neversink n Klapperthal · #68 05-26-2020, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by italiansport

I wonder what became of those tusks? Wonderful memories and thanks to all who contributed to this thread! For some reason; this thread brought back memories of Ole's big Game bar in Paxton, NB!!
Jim

I think his grandson has them

THREEDFLYER · #69 05-26-2020, 11:29 PM

I spoke with Betty Keith (Elmer's son Ted's wife) several months ago by phone......Betty told me that Ted had moved out and there was a "domestic" situation involved that I will not get into in this thread.

Not long after I learned of Ted's passing.....I am sure Ted had some medical issues and I would almost bet memory issues from the conversations that I had had with him over the past couple of years.

Betty said that Gregor Keith, the grandson you are referring to had some resentment after the big sale of Elmer's things.....but you may be correct that he may have the tusks.....if he has not already sold them.