Ep. 799: Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, and the Booze-Fueled Bender that Ended at OK Corral

Published: 2025-12-01 10:00:00

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Steven Rinella talks with author Mark Lee Gardner, Brody Henderson, Randall Williams, Phil Taylor, and Corinne Schneider.

Topics discussed: Mark Lee Gardner's brand new book: Brothers of the Gun: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and a Reckoning in Tombstone; having a deep love for estate sales and rare books; insights into cowboy hats; being the author of interpretive guides for National Park historic sites; Old West cliches; “I’ll be your huckleberry”; the friendship between Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday; a brothel on a boat; Steve’s celiac theory; drifters; outlaws and lawmen; robbing trains; a play-by-play of the OK Corral gun fight; a performance by Mark on banjo; and much more.

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Referenced Books

Plainsmen of the Yellowstone

by Mark H. Brown

Steve Rinella mentions reading this book and discusses the author's perspective that the Battle of Little Bighorn was a 'non-event' that didn't actually matter in the larger historical context.

Referenced at 00:11:23

Dispatches

by Michael Herr

Steve discusses this book about the Vietnam War, explaining that Michael Herr was sent to cover the war for Esquire magazine and spent years talking to soldiers. Steve notes that Stanley Kubrick used quotes verbatim from this book in Full Metal Jacket.

Referenced at 00:45:20

The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid

by Pat Garrett

Mark Gardner mentions that Pat Garrett wrote this book after killing Billy the Kid, defending his actions and explaining why he didn't give Billy a chance.

Referenced at 01:07:03

Commerce of the Prairies

by Josiah Gregg

Mark Gardner references this book from the 1830s about the Santa Fe Trail, discussing how Josiah Gregg recovered from an illness (possibly through the 'Prairie cure') and documented his experiences.

Referenced at 01:10:11

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

by Ron Hansen

Steve and Mark discuss this book extensively, particularly a detail about the shotgun used to kill Robert Ford. Mark mentions that Ron Hansen is a friend who wrote a blurb for his book, and they debate whether certain details in the novel are historically accurate.

Referenced at 02:04:10

American Sniper

by Chris Kyle

Mark Gardner references this book to make a point about how war can numb people to violence and killing, drawing a parallel to how the Civil War affected Frank and Jesse James.

Referenced at 02:06:46