Posted on 05/17/2004 7:50:04 AM PDT by presidio9
The critically acclaimed HBO "Deadwood" prominently features SOL STAR, a likeable Jewish shopkeeper character. Star, who really lived, was one of the many Jewish pioneers in the frontier town. There's even a large Deadwood "Hebrew cemetery" dating back more than a century.
Sol Star was born in Bavaria, Germany in 1840. He moved to the States in 1850 and quickly settled in Montana, where he went into the hardware business with his friend, Seth Bullock. South Dakota's gold rush drew the pair to Deadwood and they ended up as prosperous hardware merchants.
Star, who died in 1917, was a Republican state legislator as well as being Deadwood's mayor for 14 years. Meanwhile, Bullock, as shown in the series, became the sheriff whom "cleaned Deadwood up."
Recently, Mary Kopco, head of Deadwood's "Adams House" museum, spoke to the Rapid City Journal (SD) about Deadwood's history; her help with the series' historic research; and the huge increase in visits to the museum website since the series began (www.adamsmuseumandhouse.org). She told the Journal that Museum's web page profile of Sol Star is one of the most popular. (There's also a nice photograph of Star on the museum website.)
Deadwood series creator-writer DAVID MILCH, who also co-created "NYPD Blue" and "Hill Street Blues," told the Journal that he has discussed Star's Jewish background with John Hawkes, the non-Jewish actor who plays Star. While Star's actual personality isn't that well know, some educated guesses can be made. Hawkes told the Journal that he agreed with Milch that Sol's Jewish background made it likely that Star would have been an even-tempered guy anxious to fit in. Hawkes said the he and Milch have discussed the idea that Jews "tend be more aware of their surroundings and the importance of fitting in." As Hawkes put it, "His [Star's] survival skills are high...He sees the big picture. He knows it is smarter to live to fight another day."
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...
I've been watching this series since the beginning. I have to admit at first I was appalled! I couldn't believe this show, it was so raunchy, but it grows on you. We TIVO'd it last night and watched it this moring and it was a great show. I believe in the first or second episode there was a remark made to the Sol character that implied he was Jewish. Something about money and "YOUR" people.
AND HAS BEEN FAITHFULLY VOTING DEMOCRAT IN EVERY ELECTION CYCLE SINCE!
I think I'm the only one whos been watching the series. Personally I think its been a great series. Not really for children with lots of graphic violence, swearing like the sopranos and a fair ammopunt of nudity.
Read later.
ammopunt = ammount. coffee effect has been delayed.
This is a fantastic show. Don't let the colorful language put you off, because there are some very excellent messages about survival and self-reliance. There is a hard libertarian strain running throughout. I'm enthralled with it.
Yea, and the acting is great, too.
I think not. It's been a big hit for HBO, deservedly so...
(I must say that I was sorry when Hickock got killed. I knew it was coming, but I really enjoyed Carradine's performance and the characterization. He was excellent every moment that he was on-screen.)
Guess you don't read well--He was a Republican legislator.
It's a great show and you're not the only one absolutely hooked on it. The language is a bit rough, but no worse than what I heard every day on the line at an auto parts stamping plant in Ohio (summer job during college - real eye opener). Every third word began with the letter "F". Seems to be characteristic of all (or nearly all) male work environments and probably very close to what a mining camp like Deadwood would have really been like.
Guess you don't read well - it was a joke, and I'm sorry that you're offended.
You really think the DNC checks the tombstones of people to see what their party affiliation was in life?
Some awfully complex characters and releationships. The relationship between Seth and Bullock. Seth seems to be the only thing that prevents bullock from stepping over the line and killing lots of people.
No need to bark or bite, fifi. It was humor.
My wife & I usually watch the Sopranos on Sundays, then Deadwood on Mondays when it's shown again.
"I must say that I was sorry when Hickock got killed. I knew it was coming,"
Everybody but Hickock saw that comming.
Cool. I dig this show.
Considering how weird 'The Sopranos' has become I'm glad I have 'Deadwood' to make my Sunday nights interesting.
Agree--Carradine played such a strong character, it was hard to imagine how the series could maintain with him gone. Yet it has.
Calamity Jane is certainly an interesting creature. Was chuckling aloud last night when she was propping up the building in her stupor.
The Sopranos was REALLY weird last night. That's what made it so enjoyable!
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