From Tombstone To Hollywood: The Last Days Of Wyatt Earp
After the gunfight at the OK Corral, Wyatt Earp spent the last of his days chasing gold, running saloons, and working in Hollywood. Wyatt Earps later years extended far past Arizona, but his tie to the town too tough to die followed him until 1929, when he passed away in Los Angeles.
Gold and Saloons
After Earp left Arizona, he had a variety of business endeavors. He owned a saloon in San Fransico, raised horses in San Deigo, and participated in many different gold hunts, such as the Klondike Gold Rush in Alaska in 1899.
During this gold rush, he discovered most of the riches had already been claimed, and Wyatt and his wife Jospehine opened a two-floor Saloon in Nome, Alaska. Eventually, the couple sold the saloon, and pocketed roughly 2 million dollars, using it for their next endeavors.
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Boxing Referee
Years after Wyatt Earp was finished cleaning up what was left of the cowboys, he found himself, alongside his wife, in San Francisco. In 1869, the San Fransico Examiner published an exaggerated biography of Wyatts life, giving him a lot of attention with the locals. His reputation changed very quickly when he was asked to be a referee for a boxing match, and not a legal one.
The match was between Fitzsimmons and Sharkey, two high profile boxers. Over 10,000 people were reportedly present, and Wyatt Earp was expected to be a fair referee. At one point in the fight, and unfair blow was landed on Sharkey, and reportedly most of the audience didn't see it. Earp Disqualified Fitzsimmons, who a lot of people had put money on.
Many were not happy with Sharkey getting the purse, and some began to speculate that Wyatt had been given money to throw the match. The situation eventually reached court, but it was thrown out because the tournament was illegal.
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Hollywood
Earp moved to Los Angeles towards the end of his life, when the movie scene really began booming. His legacy from his time in Tombstone and other western towns brought him a lot of popularity in a city producing western films.
He knew lots of notorious gunfighters, such as Wild Bill Hickock and Buffalo Bill, causing him to be a common reference for western films at the time. Wyatt was considered an unpaid technical consult in Hollywood for years.
Many Idols at the time such as Tom Mix and William Hart were guided by Wyatt Earp. Lots of real cowboys found work as stuntmen, doing most of the rope tricks, horse wrangling, and gunslinging. Without Wyatt Earp, old western films would've been much different.
Wyatt Earp eventually died in 1929 at 80 years old due to complications relating to a chronic health condition. His funeral was attended by Hollywood stars and old western figures alike. Wyatt Earp served as a symbol of the old west, long after his fame reached it peak.
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Gallery Credit: Christopher Cappiali