Jack O'Connor biographical hunting DVD

JJEH · #1 04-22-2020, 09:09 AM

I watched this DVD yesterday and it shows an interesting man living and interesting life in an interesting time. Wow. People back then sure were cut from a different cloth.

Jack O'Connor biographical hunting DVD-psx_20200421_224527-3713-jpg

Jack O'Connor biographical hunting DVD-psx_20200421_224527-3713-jpg

I got it from Safari Press.

Quote:

Jack O'Connor

DVD, running time 2 hours

This biographical hunting DVD of Jack O’Connor is equally as well crafted as any episode on the History Channel. It begins all the way back when Arizona was a territory and Jack O’Connor actually met Pancho Villa in Old Mexico. In those days the O’Connor family lived in a tent, lacking anything better. After two short military stints, Jack met his wife, Eleanor, in university and they moved to Tucson where he started writing.

We see the first footage (partially in color!) as early as 1943 when JOC is on a pack trip to Alberta for bighorn sheep, outfitted by Roy Hargreaves. Hunts for Stone sheep followed, and in one trip he shot no less than three rams (legal in those days). In a 1947 trip with Ken Niles he hunted with Roy Weatherby in southern British Columbia. In 1950 Jack and Herb Klein shot a pair of monster Dall rams, again all of it seen in authentic footage.

From there on JOC filmed many of his North American and African hunts such as his 1959 safari to Tanganyika with PH John Kingsley-Heath and the 1960 hunt in the Yukon with Bill Ruger. Eleanor and Jack often hunted together, and there is historic footage of their tiger hunts from 1955 and 1965. We see more film of Jack’s later hunts in British Columbia with his son, Bradford. We also see Eleanor’s huge Dall ram shot in the Yukon as well as footage of the last sheep hunt JOC ever took when a bagged a good Stone ram. All of this is narrated by Buck Buckner and Robert Anderson and accentuated with original photos.

A section shows us Jack’s family, including his wife, Jerry, Brad, Cathy, and Caroline at home, on vacation, and on hunts where there was joy as well as sadness. It includes an interview with son, Bradford. The guns of JOC are shown including those in private collections today.

We also visit the Jack O’Connor Center in Lewiston, Idaho, where we get to see many of JOC’s finest trophies. The comments by his friends and family give this DVD magnificent insight into the hunting adventures and personal life of this American legend.

Jack O'Connor - DVDs

I was born in the wrong decade..... imagine hanging out and going hunting with people like Herb Klein, Roy Weatherby Sr, Vernon Speer, the Prince of Iran and so many others.... crazy.

Not sure if it's available through online streaming, but if you are stuck at home this surely is time well spent.

Jack O'Connor Hunting Heritage & Education Center

federali · #2 04-22-2020, 10:04 AM

As a young teen, I hung on his every word when he was field editor or whatever his title was at Outdoor Life. I should have listened to him when he touted the .270 Win. Indeed, he lived an interesting life and he wrote some good books. While he loved the .270, his wife did equally well with the 7mm Mauser.

I happened to be on a NYC subway train when I glanced over at someone's else's newspaper and happened to see a short obituary for Jack, not knowing that he had passed. The New York Times article started: "Jack O'Connor, Dean of gun writers." Talk about being shocked. As I recall, he passed on a cruise ship. RIP Jack.

Rpg · #3 04-22-2020, 10:14 AM

I too was an O’Conner acolyte in the 1950’s-‘60’s (still am).

My first centerfire rifle was a .270. Jack was right: marvelous cartidge. I’ve used it for antelope, deer and elk ever since.

6518John · #4 04-22-2020, 10:40 AM

I just finished his Last Book, Confessions of a Gun Editor and it was excellent. It is hard to find but I found a nice boxed one at a reasonable price. I was expecting a bit more “controversy” about other writers of the times, but in all it was pretty mild. For example, I think all the back and forth between him and Elmer Keith was simply to sell magazines.

Dashriprock · #5 04-22-2020, 11:06 AM

I got a copy of that a few years back and agree with you 100% -- what a great documentary of a time long gone.

If you're so inclined, get Robert Anderson's (same Anderson in the DVD) biography of O'Connor from Safari Press. It's a good read and capably explains some facts of O'Connor's life that certainly influenced his writing and career.

I'm a big O'Connor fan and have all his books, most in first edition. Took me some years to amass the collection as the early titles in particular can be elusive and rather expensive once located.

JJEH · #6 04-24-2020, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6518John

For example, I think all the back and forth between him and Elmer Keith was simply to sell magazines.

It was said in that dvd biography that they din not really have issues with each other. So, not sure...

WR Moore · #7 04-24-2020, 09:09 PM

I dimly recall that he did an autobiography. Anyone know the title? Always enjoyed his work, still have a stack of dusty Outdoor Life magazines around.....somewhere.

I also recall he wrote at one time that he'd been an English prof at a Texas university (Baylor?) and had a novel published where he'd explored all the various usages (noun, adjective, adverb and verb) of the phrase ***. After someone brought that to the attention of a member of the administration, he took a position in an Arizona U.

Texas Star · #8 04-25-2020, 12:56 AM

I read his material for decades and have most of his books.

Never met, but corresponded for years.

I think he was the sole gun writer to receive a major public obit ., probably because he was also a university professor.