On 26 October 1881, three men were shot dead in Tombstone, Arizona. A survivor, Wyatt Earp, turned it into a legend. Sign entering Tombstone, Arizona mentioning the so-called Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, 1937.

Did the gunfight at the OK Corral really happen?

The gunfight at the O.K. Corral was a gunfight that lasted less than a minute between lawmen led by Virgil Earp and members of a loosely organized group of outlaws called the Cowboys that occurred at about 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, United States.

How accurate is the movie Gunfight at the O.K. Corral?

The screenplay by Leon Uris is based on a 1954 article entitled The Killer in Holiday Magazine by George Scullin. The film's plot contains numerous historical inaccuracies and takes liberties with actual events at the real gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

How much of the O.K. Corral legend do you think is actually true?

The famous shootout at the O.K. Corral was typical. Unlike its portrayal in movies, the real gunfight didn't even happen there but in a vacant lot about 15 feet wide beside a photography studio. The shooters stood about 6 feet apart and exchanged 30 shots in 30 seconds.

Does the original O.K. Corral still exist?

Welcome to the O.K. Corral ®

The O.K. Corral Historic Complex includes the actual site where the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place involving Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday began. The Corral is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm., and we are closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

The Messed Up Truth About The Gunfight At The O.K. Corral

What was Doc Holliday dying from?

Doc Holliday—gunslinger, gambler, and occasional dentist—dies from tuberculosis. Though he was perhaps most famous for his participation in the shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, John Henry “Doc” Holliday earned his bad reputation well before that famous feud.

How many were killed at O.K. Corral?

On 26 October 1881, three men were shot dead in Tombstone, Arizona. A survivor, Wyatt Earp, turned it into a legend.

Which Wyatt Earp movie is most accurate?

They were both pretty accurate. “Tombstone” just concentrated on the events leading to the gunfight at the OK Corral and it's aftermath. The Costner film went into more of his entire life. A central figure in the narrative of how the west was won, Wyatt Earp and his story became an American legend.

Where is Wyatt Earp buried?

After his death, Josephine had Earp's body cremated secretly and his remains buried at her family plot at the Hills of Eternity Memorial Park. The first marble headstone was stolen. The recovered headstone is now on display in the Colma Historical museum. Earp's grave is the most visited place in Colma, California.

How long did the gunfight at the OK Corral last?

In a Fateful 30 Seconds ... On the cold afternoon of October 26, 1881, four men in long black coats strode purposefully down the dusty Fremont Street. Around the corner, in a narrow vacant lot behind the O.K. Corral, waited six cowboys. In a fateful thirty seconds, nearly thirty shots were fired at close range.

How did Doc Holliday get tuberculosis?

John “Doc” Henry Holliday was educated in the south and trained as a dentist but he never had much opportunity to practice due to contracting tuberculosis in his 20s, most likely from his mother. Hoping to assuage the symptoms and prolong his life, he headed west to drier climes.

Was Wyatt Earp ever wounded?

Wyatt was never wounded in any of the gunfights, unlike his brothers Virgil and Morgan or Doc Holliday, which added to his mystique after his death. After leaving Tombstone, Earp went to San Francisco where he reunited with Josephine Marcus, and they lived as husband and wife.

What is the most realistic gunfight scene?

Was Johnny Ringo a real person?

John Peters Ringo (May 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882), known as Johnny Ringo, was an American Old West outlaw loosely associated with the Cochise County Cowboys in frontier boomtown Tombstone, Arizona Territory. He took part in the Mason County War in Texas during which he committed his first murder.

How many Cowboys died in Tombstone?

Three men died and two were injured in the infamous gun battle, which has since been the subject of a multitude of movies, books, biographies, history lessons and televised series. According to various accounts, the most famous shootout in the history of shootouts occured at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, 1881.

Who died at the O.K. Corral in real life?

During that confrontation, Deputy U.S. Marshal and Tombstone Town Marshal Virgil Earp, Assistant Town Marshal Morgan Earp, and temporary deputy marshals Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday shot and killed Billy Clanton, and Tom and Frank McLaury.

Who cried at Wyatt Earp's funeral?

In the film Tombstone, starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, during the closing credits reference is made to the fact that "Tom Mix wept" at Wyatt Earp's funeral. A passing reference is made about Mix in Season 3, Episode 2 of Downton Abbey.

How old was Wyatt Earp died?

January 13, 1929

Wyatt Earp dies in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 80.

Did John Wayne ever know Wyatt Earp?

Yes John Wayne did know Wyatt Earp. John Wayne was gored as an extra and a prop boy. Wayne created his famous walk and talk in Westerns after Earp. It is said that John Wayne was a pallbearer at Wyatt Earps funeral.

Did John Wayne and Wyatt Earp know each other?

Bottom line: Earp and Wayne never met. Anything Wayne knew about the real Earp came to him secondhand from Ford during their 25-year working relationship. Their encounter is only a charming Hollywood fable. Nonetheless, Earp and Wayne did share several qualities.

How many people did Wyatt Earp actually shoot?

The shootout, thought to have lasted less than a minute, left three people dead: Frank and Tom McLaury and Billy Clanton. Afterward, the Earps and Holliday were arrested for murder. In late November 1881, they were exonerated in court.

Did Billy the Kid ever meet Wyatt Earp?

Billy the Kid Meets Wyatt Earp in Jerome, Arizona.

Did Wyatt Earp have children?

Why Didn't the Earp Brothers Have Any Children? It's a bit of an anomaly because they came from a family of seven children and one half-brother, Newton. Neither James, Virgil, Wyatt, Morgan, or Warren had any sons. Actually, Virgil did have a daughter that he didn't know about for many years.

Why was it called the OK Corral?

During the presidential campaign, candidate Martin Van Buren was supported by a political club in his home town of Old Kinderhook originally called the “Oll Korrect” club. The name was later changed to “Old Kinderhook” and then shortened to “O.K.”.