A bunch of outlaws regrouping after an outhouse explosion (not that kind) The dumbest bandit ever: Doofus The look that won the West This never turns out well The clever Marshall outsmarting the not-so-clever, Doofus

The Real History of The Gate City Gunslingers

We're all fun and games, but we think you oughta know the real story behind cowboys. And The Gate City Gunslingers intend to edumacate you with our brain powers!

If you notice anything historical inaccurate or care to add to this section feel free to Contact us!

Forget what you think you knew about the Old West!

Even before the Continental American frontier was declared officially closed in 1900, Western Showmen such as William F. Cody were "re-creating" the "wild west" with traveling troupes of performers. Since then, the old west heritage has enjoyed varying degrees of appeal to the rest of the world. This appeal has never really disappeared. Usually this interest would reach its peak when Hollywood was portraying the old west. Over the last 40 years ordinary  folks from all walks of life have formed groups  and performed live re enactments of some of the themes depicted on the silver screen. The Old West, Cowboy, Action, Shooting, Gunfighter scenes have always been a crowd pleaser, and has flourished among dedicated groups across America.  These groups portray cowboy action shooting and acting scenes that may have typically been seen in the Wild  West in the latter part of the 19th Century.  The Gate City Gunslingers is just such a group. Portraying scenes from the Old West period from 1870 to 1900, with a bit of comical flare.

The Gate City Gunslingers had it’s humble beginnings in the summer of 1969, and performed it’s first show on Labor Day, September, 1969, In the city of Catlettsburg, KY.

The idea of an Old West shoot-out was first concocted by then Fire Chief (the Late) Paul Conley as a family entertainment event for the town’s Labor Day celebration. The first show was put on by Paul Conley, his son Paul David Conley, and a few others recruited by Paul, and was a huge success. So much so that they were asked to do it again the next year.  And the next year. The first personnel change came in 1972  when brothers Paul and Jimmy King were invited to join the cast.  The "Catlettsburg Gunfighters" as they came to be known, were a highly anticipated Labor Day event in town for several years until the cast members started to disburse to pursue other interests.

Then some  years  later in 1985, Paul David Conley, Jimmy King, Paul King,  and Joe Stevens, all members of the original cast,  wanted to do a revival of the concept of the shoot-outs. At that point an Old West town setting was built complete with an outhouse, and they took the show on the road with the first show performed in Danville,  WV.. They started to assemble the gunfights into a set of "shows" mixing them with a good dose of slapstick comedy and humor. The early shows were called "Grand Pappy", "Otis", "No Time Out", and the grand finale, "The Bank Robbery", later titled "Dufus Robs The Bank",  These shows have evolved over the years with different cast members, but are still the same themes brought together 20 years ago.

For the next few years they performed under the name Catlettsburg Gunfighters. With Catlettsburg's nickname being "The Gate City",  in 1991 the name was changed to "The Gate City Gunslingers" and the popularity started growing.  In 1995, Paul David Conley hung up his guns after 26 years, and the Gunslingers introduced Jim Coburn as the newest member to keep the central cast at 4 people.

After the rebirth, of the Gunslingers, the success of the shows has continued a steady growth in popularity and for over 20 years the Gate City Gunslingers have been filling each other full of lead and entertaining audiences young and old throughout the region of KY, WV, and OH, as well as a half dozen other states with their brand of Old West shoot-um-ups and comedy. Sometimes performing as many as a dozen dates a season. Their shows are always crowd pleasers and the same shows are still performed regularly for ever-increasing audiences all over the region. 

Jim Coburn hung up his guns in 2006 after 11 years but came back for the 2009 season. Jim officially retired at the end of the 2009 season.  Through the years the Gunslingers have featured many other associate cast members and had a total of 8 full time cast for the 2011 season, and expect all to return for the 2012 season, and maybe a few others that participate as their schedules permit.  "Why shucks.  We even got us some saloon gals"

Every Labor day you can still find the Gunslingers shootin' up the town of Catlettsburg,  KY. Back to the place it all began way back in 1969

So,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,There ya have it pardner.  check out the "Events" page and see if the Gate City Gunslingers are going to be in your area.  Catch one of their shows........................ You’ll be glad you did.  And click right Here to book your event early. 

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