"When the Grandmother Fell Off the Boat”

A stylized movie poster shows the silhouette of a cowboy against a vibrant yellow, purple, and orange abstract background with bold text reading "Gregory Peck Złoto Mackenny" at the top. — Fig. 4. Polish language movie poster for MacKenna’s Gold (1969), designed by Jacek Neugebauer, 1970. Lithograph, 33 7/16 x 22 13/16 in. Courtesy of the Autry Museum of the American West, 96.151.8

By Molly Smith, Processing Archivist/Cataloger, James R. Parks Library and Archives

A museum exhibit in a pink room displays a glass case with a typewriter, a table, a lamp, framed photos, and landscape images. Red cushioned seats and a pink-patterned rug are in front of the display. — Fig. 1. Gallery installation featuring Henry Wilson Allen’s desk in the Imagined Wests exhibition. Courtesy of the Autry Museum of the American West

Wander into the Imagined Wests exhibition, and you are invited into a space where stories of the American West are conjured onto the page. You will see a display that features part of a re-created cabin from Encino, California. The desk inside the cabin is worn and surprisingly small. You can almost smell the coffee, cigarettes, and afternoon breeze coming in from the open door as you listen to the clatter of the typewriter keys. This cabin was a writer's sanctuary—a space for writing novels, stories, and many, many letters.

Black-and-white portrait of a man wearing a suit, a bowtie, and a wide-brimmed hat with upturned sides. He has a goatee and mustache, and is looking slightly to the side with a neutral expression. — Fig. 2. Photograph of Henry Wilson “Heck” Allen, circa 1954. Courtesy of the Autry Museum of the American West, James R. Parks Library and Archives, Henry Wilson Allen Papers, MSA.52

In 2017, The Autry Museum of the American West received a donation from the Allen Family, consisting of papers, books, and objects related to the writing career of Henry Wilson “Heck” Allen. It is his desk, typewriter, coffee pot, ashtray, rifle, and other personal belongings on display in Imagined Wests. His books and papers are available for research in the James R. Parks Library and Archives.

Allen was a renowned imaginer of the West. Writing under several pen names, including Will Henry and Clay Fisher, Allen published more than fifty Western novels, which have sold over fifteen million copies (so far). Following up on his earlier success in Hollywood (he was the “Gag Man” for Tex Avery’s legendary cartoons), eight of his novels were produced for the big screen, starring such Western legends as Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum.

Poster for the film "Mackenna's Gold" featuring Gregory Peck and Omar Sharif raising rifles in a canyon, with mountainous scenery and a golden sky in the background. Film credits and cast listed at the bottom. — Fig. 3. Movie poster for MacKenna’s Gold (1969), 1970s. Lithograph, 40 ¼ x 25 in., Columbia Films of India, Ltd. Courtesy of the Autry Museum of the American West, 94.119.2

A vintage book cover for "Mackenna's Gold" by Will Henry shows two men fighting on a rocky ledge, one wielding a knife and the other a stick, with dramatic mountainous terrain in the background. — Fig. 5. MacKenna’s Gold, written by Will Henry, published in 1963. Courtesy of the Autry Museum of the American West, James R. Parks Library and Archives, IAL.2010.001.1211

Book cover for "From Where the Sun Now Stands" by Will Henry, featuring a group of Native American riders on horseback against a red background, with the title and author’s name in large yellow and white letters above. — Fig. 7. From Where the Sun Now Stands, written by Will Henry, published in 1960. Courtesy of the Autry Museum of the American West, James R. Parks Library and Archives, IAL.2010.001.1210

A five-time winner of the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America, Allen was also a prolific letter writer, corresponding with friends, colleagues, and fans over the years. Allen’s work had a devoted fan base, and they sent him a lot of mail. These fan letters hold considerable archival value, providing both insight into the readers’ perspectives on the American West and their personal responses to Allen’s prose.

One amusing series of letters is from a group of seventh-grade students in Louisville, Kentucky. Their history teacher, Mr. K., regularly assigned Allen’s novels in his classes, using them “to talk about history and how it can be treated from different points of views [sic].” Then, he asked his students to write to Allen and reflect on their reading.

Brad F. wrote, “When I read the book MacKenna’s Gold I couldn't believe what was taking place. One after another somebody got knocked off. Did you ever witness a murder because, [sic] you write a murder scene so well?”

A typed letter to Mr. Henry praising the book "MacKenna’s Gold," asking about writing murder scenes, the character Pelon, and the fate of Ben Call. The letter is signed by Brad E. and dated 2/24/96 handwritten in the top corner. — Fig. 6. Fan letter from Brad. F. to Henry Wilson Allen, 1984. Courtesy of the Autry Museum of the American West, James R. Parks Library and Archives, Henry Wilson Allen Papers, MSA.52

Mark W. read From Where the Sun Now Stands and wrote that it was “one of the best books I’ve ever read . . . . because it gave both sides of the story and one side wasn’t wonderful and so innocent and the other so mean and ruthless.”

A handwritten letter on lined paper dated 5/30/84 from Louisville, KY. A student named Mark writes to Mr. Allen, praising the book "From Where the Sun Now Stands" and describing its impact. — Fig. 8. Fan letter from Mark W. to Henry Wilson Allen, 1984. Courtesy of the Autry Museum of the American West, James R. Parks Library and Archives, Henry Wilson Allen Papers, MSA.52

But Jeff F. disagreed. “Dear Mr. Allen, I did not like your book From Where the Sun Now Stands because it was too long, very boring, and I couldn't understand it. The only good part in it, to me, was when the grandmother fell off the boat.”

A handwritten letter dated 5-31-84 criticizes a book for being too long and confusing, mentioning only liking the part when the grandmother falls off the boat. It is addressed to Mr. Henry Wilson Allen from Jeff. — Fig. 9. Fan letter from Jeff F. to Henry Wilson Allen, 1984. Courtesy of the Autry Museum of the American West, James R. Parks Library and Archives, Henry Wilson Allen Papers, MSA.52

A man with a mustache sits casually, smiling, in an office chair. He wears a plaid shirt and light pants. Behind him, papers and documents are clipped to a wooden wall. His right arm rests casually on the chair arm. — Fig. 10. Henry Wilson “Heck” Allen in his Encino office, circa 1957. Courtesy of the Autry Museum of the American West, James R. Parks Library and Archives, Henry Wilson Allen Papers, MSA.52

Impressed with their candor, Allen replied to the students that their letters and essays “raised up and restored” him. He especially appreciated students such as Jeff F., who were not afraid to share their true opinions, writing, “That, gentle friends, is what we call integrity.”