Dear western enthusiast and reader of the Beaver Creek Pioneer,
We have great news for all lovers of authentic western accessories! After the sad loss of the talented leather maker Wolfgang “Slim” Oitmann, his wife Tina continues the tradition with passion and success. Slim's Lederwerkstatt now not only shines in a new design, but also in a new location.
Tina boldly decided to go one step further - and the result speaks for itself. With a brighter, friendlier shop full of personal touches, Slim's Lederwerkstatt is now ready to inspire you again with high-quality craftsmanship. Particularly pleasing: the new store bears Tina's unmistakable signature and brings a breath of fresh air to her husband Wolfgang's long Western tradition.
The re-opening: a complete success!
We are pleased to announce that the reopening on June 22, 2024 was a success. Thanks to Tina's great organization and the support of loyal customers, it was an unforgettable event! Here are a few impressions from the opening day:
New address and contact options:
Slim's Lederwerkstatt can now be found at the following address:
Authentic western holsters, cowboy gear and western accessories of the highest quality
There is currently a 30% discount on Slim's unique items (incl. shipping). Only while stocks last!
We are delighted that Tina will continue to be a reliable partner for authentic western holsters, old-style cowboy gear and other western accessories with the new Slim's Lederwerkstatt. You can look forward to the usual high quality and individual design that has always characterized Slim's workshop.
In the new workshop you can place your individual orders as usual or choose from the beautiful pieces directly in the store.
And best of all, every order is made with the utmost care and attention to detail to bring you unique pieces that embody the spirit of the West.
If you have any questions, simply contact Tina directly - she will be happy to help and advise you at any time!
Visit Slim's leather workshop and be enchanted by Tina's craftsmanship and the authentic atmosphere of the West!
We wish her all the best and continued success with the new Slim's leather workshop - may the tradition of Western craftsmanship live on for a long time to come!
Dear readers, Dear friends from the Old West community,
As we enter the final days of the year, we want to take a moment to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. In the Old West, where the days are long and the nights are calm, we want to thank you for your loyalty to the Beaver Creek Pioneer and to the Two Rivers Privity!
The past year was full of adventures, stories and the unique flair of the Wild West. With authentic events, we experienced a long-forgotten time together in 2023. We hope you enjoyed our stories in the Beaver Creek Pioneer as much as we enjoyed telling them.
As we gaze at the starry sky over the endless prairie, we are already looking forward to the coming year. It promises new encounters, unexplored paths and, of course, many more stories from the time when the West was still wild.
We wish you and your loved ones a peaceful Christmas season, may your campfire burn warmly and may the laughter of your friends and family break through the chilly winter air.
Here's to a happy new year, may it be as exciting and fulfilling as a ride through the endless plains of the Wild West.
Until next year, when we open new chapters in this fascinating story together in January 2024!
Merry Christmas
&
Happy New Year!
Chet McCay, Colton White and the Two Rivers Privity
This year we are looking back on 12 years of Thanksgiving celebrations with the Two Rivers Privity. This gathering is the best opportunity for us to say thank you to everyone who has actively supported us throughout the year. Such gatherings are always a matter close to our hearts and extremely important to us. Everyone gets together again in their outfits in our beautiful tavern, enjoys a delicious meal and celebrates properly! Then we close our Old West season.
An afternoon of fun, games and snow
Surprising snowfall on the eve of our party heralded the start of winter. Autumn is long gone, but now Father Frost has everything firmly in his grip and covered our Beaver Creek Valley in a magical white.
The first guests arrived after midday. Most of them were not deterred by the distance or the local weather conditions and came from near and far to the Valley of the Beavers to join us for the festivities.
The origin of Thanksgiving teaches us solidarity
The Thanksgiving tradition, as we know it today in the USA, dates back to 1621 - even if the actual origin of the festival is still disputed. The settlers of Plymouth Rock gained a foothold in the land of the Patuxet tribe at this time. A plague killed almost all the Natives, while a harsh winter claimed the lives of almost half the settlers.
Today's reports date back to 1620, when a Native named Tisquantum (Squanto) taught the settlers how to farm. Squanto, who had been a slave in Europe before returning to his tribe, taught the settlers how to fish, grow corn and offered his services as a translator before he died of an illness a year later.
The chief of the Wampanoag tribe, Massasoit, also provided the settlers with food during their first winter on their new land. Massasoit hoped for a pact between his people, who, like the Patuxet, were severely weakened by the disease, and the English, who had a great advantage due to their weaponry. The Wampanoag were in conflict with the Narragansett tribe at the time - a strong ally would ensure the Wampanoag's chances of survival.
The agricultural efforts finally bore fruit and the English Pilgrims celebrated with the Wampanoag tribe for three days in 1621 after a successful harvest.
The origin of Thanksgiving actually teaches us to stick together, to help each other out in difficult times and to broaden our horizons. We therefore want to join in with the idea of exchanging experiences, competing in games, celebrating and focusing on a great community.
We know, of course, that peace between the tribes and the white settlers did not last long in the course of history. In the years that followed, many Natives were killed or taken to reservations, even though they were the ones who originally ensured the settlers' survival.
“Festival Games” in Beaver Creek Valley
This year, we once again had plenty to keep everyone entertained. The "Festival Games" put the skills and knowledge of all those attending to the test. They had to recognize different animals by their skins, throw axes at wooden targets and put their shooting skills to the test.
After the very funny but also extremely frosty excursion, our participants were invited back to the warm tavern. There they were able to share their knowledge about trappers, Indians, cowboys and western movies.
At the same time as we were playing, we were preparing dinner together. Hard-working hands formed dumplings and a wonderfully delicious-smelling roast was finished in the wood-fired oven.
But before that, our guests were served coffee, homemade cakes and the more than justified mulled wine!
A cozy evening with delicious food and good music
Once the games were over, everyone gathered in the cozy, warm tavern. We enjoyed the delicious feast in good company, after which the winners of the day were announced. The champions had their dinner costs for the day waived. The participants who came in second place received a voucher for dinner, to be redeemed at our Authentic Camp 2024. The third-placed participants were able to enjoy two beers, also to be redeemed at Camp 2024. The winners of fourth place didn't go away empty-handed either, as all the competitors received a small gift.
In his Thanksgiving address, Chet McCay thanked all guests and members for coming, for their ongoing support throughout the year and for their loyalty to the community.
As usual, all the birthday children who celebrated their milestone birthday this year were presented with a TRP shirt. There were six people in total, who together reached 280 years of life.
The Beaver Creek Valley Ramblers provided the musical accompaniment to the end of the evening. They once again performed one or two "TRP hits". Sometime late at night, this gigantic day ended with a successful party. Many thanks to everyone who enjoyed this evening with us.
So long, Beaver Creek Valley - The return journey the following day
The following day dawned faster than we would have hoped.
After a hearty breakfast, things got exciting once again - rather unintentionally: a stuck RV couldn't get off the site. The weather had softened the ground so much that it seemed impossible to get out without help. However, with combined forces - and we're talking about the strength of several horses here - the situation was resolved and our friends were able to make their way home. And we, we already have another reason to say thank you to our TRP helper Josef.
We are looking forward to next year and are excited to see what it has in store for us. We are proud of our great community and look forward to shaping the coming Old West season together.
So there is only one thing left for us to say:
Have a nice, peaceful, thoughtful and calm Christmas, have a good start to the New Year and get through the winter without worries. We sincerely hope that we will all meet again next year, safe and sound, when it's time to say it again:
In our precious free time we often share moments with our families. But as performers in the living history scene, we then devote ourselves with dedication to our beloved western hobby. In this captivating world, we strive to experience North American cultural history as authentically as possible. Whether we put ourselves in the shoes of cowboys, trappers, soldiers of the North or South, settlers, Mexican revolutionaries or personalities of the American War of Independence era, we travel back in time and bring history to life.
CowboysSettlers women in Sunday dressConfederate Army CorporalUS Army Soldier - Mandan/Hidatsa WarriorMexicans in the Mexican RevolutionEighteenth century representativesLaw & Order – County Sheriffs 1880
In our hobby dedicated to an authentic past, we also find performers of indigenous groups representing various aspects of the native American population. These include, among others, the Iroquois, Sioux, Apache, Crow, Comanche and Cheyenne - just to name a few performers in our scene.
CrowLakota-SiouxDog Soldier of the MandanChiricahua-Apache
Research, authenticity and living history
The history of American settlement offers a fascinating and extensive range of historical representations for each of us. Once we decide on a particular character, we delve into the associated history. We adapt our clothing to the period and many of us even make authentic items ourselves. These meticulous accessories complete our overall portrayal - historically accurate weapons, as found in history books, are of course essential.
Bear headdressBear headdress
Our goal is to not only look authentic at events such as Councils, Authentic Weeks, Camps, Western-Days or other events, but also to talk with like-minded people about times long past and learn from each other.
This picture with the authentic living-history performers was taken in Beaver Creek Valley during our 2018 TRP camp.
The world of miniature designers
While we are presenting ourselves as actors of the Old West, there is another group of enthusiasts - the miniature designers. These talented artists devote themselves with dedication and expertise to creating unique works of art. Unlike us, they do not re-live history, but transfer their knowledge to small figures of 15mm, 28mm, 54mm, 75mm, 90mm or larger.
They breathe life into prefabricated parts made of artificial resin or pewter and create unique masterpieces. Each finished model is a sign of their craftsmanship and their attention to detail.
The works of the figurine masters
These already modeled parts are carefully assembled and painted by the miniature designers to ensure historical accuracy. Over time, each designer develops his own technique, which makes his works distinctive. The recognizability of each piece, therefore, often allows for conclusions regarding the master. However, to recognize this requires a certain expertise.
From the underlying paint to the last brushstroke, they place great emphasis on precision. The figures are presented in a detailed environment and bring the past to life.
The following miniatures were arranged and painted by Michael Volquarts. They are part of Chet McCay's collection and one-of-a-kind pieces, that are not for sale!
Mato Tope Mandan ChiefSharp shooter Civil war5th N.Y. Zuaves 1861 Civil warSong of the talking wireSioux 1850
This adventurous scene is called "Stampede" and was created by the sculptor Carl Reid. This 75mm tall unique piece was painted by Frank Konetzke of Frank Miniatures. It is also an unsaleable unique piece from the collection of Chet McCay.
The StampedeThe Stampede
An endless variety
Some miniature designers specialize in the Wild West, while others explore a range of eras and possible representations. The Old West in particular offers many motifs, from trappers and American Natives of various tribes, to figures from the French and Indian War, to scenes of the American Civil War era. But the possibilities don't stop there. In miniature design, simply anything is possible.
Here is a small example: Martin Götz, who did the painting and depiction of these figures, is dedicated not only to American history, but also to Canadian, Napoleonic and British history, among others.
English soldier, Rgt. Guyenne, Quebec 1759Joachim Murat, King of Naples 1811Brit. Sergeant, 4. Rgt. Of Foot, Spain 1809Highlander - painting and illustration: Rüdiger Wittauer.
Scenarios of history
Even if painting and decorating individual figures is already time-consuming, some miniature designers dare to portray entire scenes - the so-called diorama.
In this rather time-consuming arrangement of several figures to a scene, there is usually a story being told. In this snapshot often very much happens at once and it's worth to take a closer look at the artwork.
The museum director, Martin Götz, presents some of his works of art there. We have photographed the most beautiful for you - but for a closer look, you can not miss a personal visit; which, by the way, we can warmly recommend!
Sergeant Charles Ewart of "The Royal Scots Greys" - British Artillery 1809 (2nd Dragoons) – erobert die Fahne vom fr. Inf. Rgt. bei Waterloo Diorama: Bemalung und Darstellung – Martin Götz (not for sale)
British artillery 1809 Diorama: painting and presentation - Rainer Freiberg (not for sale)
The Marshal’s Office ca. 1880 Diorama: painting and presentation – Michael Volquarts Collection of Chet McCay (not for sale)
He received a certificate for this diorama in England in 1989, attesting to his "Exceptional quality and skill".
A medal was also awarded by the "Judiciary of the EURO MILITAIRE" at the "International Military Modeling Competition" in the category "Class 9. Boxed Dioramas".
The attention to detail in this diorama is unmistakable and is also clearly recognizable in his works today.
Variety in the miniatures world
The range of such model figures is very wide and diverse. For almost every historical era there is an abundance of these artistic sculptures.
In special editions, such as "Glory of Rome", the glorious era of the Roman Empire is brought to light. Other editions feature Vikings and the Templars of the Crusades. The variety ranges from the Greeks to the Middle Ages to the Samurai and fantasy figures.
There are numerous companies offering models in this industry, including Andrea Miniatures, Beneito Miniatures, Pegaso Models, Romeo Models, First Legion, King & Country, Hobby Boss, Italeri and Revell.
The offer of unpainted and painted figures is huge, and you can find almost everything to create your own miniatures fantasy world. In the store „Berliner Zinnfiguren“ you can buy around 23,000 complete figures and figure kits, as well as more than 31,000 model kits. Just take a look at their retail store or their online store.
Hadrian's Villa - Miniatures from renowned manufacturers
Hadrians Villa - miniatures from well-known manufacturersAnother first-class supplier of painted full figures can be found at hadriansvilla.de. Figurine and vehicle models from various well-known manufacturers are offered here, including:
King & Country
First Legion
Thomas Gunn Miniatures
John Jenkins Designs
W. Britains
Conte
Black Hawk
Figarti
The Collectors Showcase
Marcus Heiß-Hasala – Hadriansvilla
The owner of Hadriansvilla is Marcus Heiß-Hasala. He is a passionate figurine collector himself. He has also been running his online store for many years, through which he offers an impressive selection of figures from the manufacturers mentioned at extremely fair prices. Simply visit his website or contact him personally.
You can also expect excellent service there: Marcus is always friendly, professional and helpful. His dedication and patience in fulfilling customers' wishes are truly admirable. We are therefore extremely pleased to draw your attention to him.
Toysoldiers of Scandinavia - miniatures for a good price
May we introduce you to another great address? TOYSOLDIERS OF SCANDINAVIA, to be found at toysoldiers.dk.
If you are looking for accessories, pre-assembled buildings, landscapes or even complete dioramas, Jakob Bredahl-Kjaer is the man for you. The range is extremely broad and all the models and dioramas shown in the pictures can be customized or created from scratch. Jakob will fulfill all your wishes.
With his expertise, friendliness and impressive value for money, he has won over satisfied customers. A visit to his website is definitely worthwhile.
Below you will find some of his impressive models, which we would like to present with his kind permission.
Respect to the artists
We have great respect for the creative energy of these miniature designers. In our blog posts, we present their works and provide insights into the fascinating world of miniatures. Our photographer Robert Neuber has taken most of the pictures and allows you to dive into this world.
We would like to introduce some of these talented artists and their work in another article. After talking to the masters, a few hand-painted unique pieces are for sale.
Another year has passed in the Valley of the Beavers. We look back on 2022 with very mixed feelings. There were times when we laughed a lot and had a good time together. But there were also some tears running down our cheeks, because we lost a few good friends this year.
They all reminded us that the time we are allowed to spend here on earth is fleeting and that it is up to us to make the most of it.
Therefore, we want to remember all the good times we had with all our friends with pleasure and once again recall the beautiful hours we had with them in 2022.
What follows is our little retrospective on the year 2022!
Shooting of the commercial for Sack's Distillery
Even before our annual spring clean-up, we came together in January because we were tackling a special project. A "moonshiner" came to Beaver Creek Valley with a special request: The filming of a commercial for a new gin creation.
Marcel Völkel of Sack's Distille visited Beaver Creek Valley to work with Panorama Video Production on a new spot!
read more
The annual "spring cleaning" in Beaver Creek Valley.
As always, spring 2022 was used by us to keep our Beaver Creek Valley in its beauty. As with any spring, there is initially some necessary cleanup to be done so we can all indulge in our beautiful hobby. Unfortunately, our latitudes do not experience the cold and therefore dry winters, which is why it is mainly damp during the winter months. Unfortunately, the untreated wood used in our constructions cannot withstand these conditions for long, which is why repair work is necessary for most years.
For us, the perfect opportunity to get back together and work on our collaborative "Beaver Creek Valley" project!
This year, the first meeting was already scheduled for the end of April. For this, the premises should already shine again in full splendor!
The Rendezvous of the Trappers and Indians - Kick-off 2022
Towards the end of April we rang in the hobby season on Beaver Creek Valley! The outfits were dug out of the closets, because the TRP invited to the internal meeting of the trappers and Indians, where our members were allowed to prove themselves in a small "trapper course"!
Of course, we didn't want to miss out on food and so we came up with the idea of preparing "Campfire Rabbit" - which, by the way, turned out great! Of course, we won't withhold the recipe from you and will publish it in the Beaver Creek Pioneer at some point in the future.
Small excursions with the members of TRP
But 2022 not only stood under the "American flag". Together with our members, we also met outside Beaver Creek Valley and spent hours together. The program included a visit to the outdoor museum in Perschen and a medieval market in the town of Bärnau.
The Freilandmuseum Oberpfalz is a place of preservation and teaching by telling the story of the region and the people who live and have lived there. The lively museum offers events throughout the year about the rural life of the past.
The impression that you get here, remains almost unforgettable. We were able to learn a lot about the history of our region on this day, had a "Mordsgaudi" in addition to a rustic snack in the authentic beer garden and can recommend a visit there at any time!
Another "non-American" highlight was our visit to the History Park Bärnau. Once a year the historical town of Bärnau in the Upper Palatinate organizes a medieval spectacle. We took this as an opportunity to learn more about another chapter of our history. Afterwards we visited the authentic historical park Bärnau.
There you can find three time windows: An early medieval village of the 8th/9th century, a motte (tower hill fort) and a stave church of the 11th century. Furthermore, there is a settlement of the High Middle Ages, segmented into a rural homestead and various townhouses from the 12th/13th century.
We were very fascinated by what has been created here, on the approximately 11 hectares of landscaped grounds. This makes the Bärnau History Park the largest medieval archaeological outdoor museum in southern Germany. You can't help but be amazed, just like in the previously described outdoor museum in the Upper Palatinate. A great day!
Cowboy-Gathering in June 2022
At the end of June, another meeting was on the agenda: The Cowboy Gathering. This small gathering was themed around the cattle herders. On a sunny summer afternoon we met and ate together as well as chatted about an era long gone by.
We had the opportunity to take some great photos and spend some quality time in Beaver Creek Valley.
Day visit at the Bavarian Rangers
After the two-year Corona break, our friendly neighboring club "Bavarian Rangers" invited us again to their legendary country festival. As in the years before, we gladly followed the call.
In addition, Chet ran his "blanket sale" which was again gladly accepted by the guests and also by the hobbyists. Besides delicious food, cool drinks, and the bands with their "hand-made music", it was again a successful and appealing get-together of like-minded people for everyone involved. In 2023 we will be there again - promised!
Our highlight of the year 2022: The Authentic Camp
As every year so far, our Authentic Camp took place again - a topic that of course cannot be missing in the TRP Review 2022! This year with unspeakably high temperatures and the highest forest fire danger level we recorded since 2018. So this year we were only allowed to operate our campfires with an exceptional permit - all other fires had to be kept in closed stoves.
We had the opportunity to grow together even more. Where otherwise small individual fires burned, all participants now came together at a central fireplace. We cooked together, sat together and made the best of the situation!
We also took the opportunity to visit the Longhorn Ranch and learned valuable knowledge, not only about Longhorns, but also about the production of whiskey and other fine spirits!
In addition, Marcel Völkel from Sack's Distillery visited us again and provided the gin for the authentic cocktail evening, which probably some will not forget so quickly!
Follow us into the cocktail evening! Together with Sack's Distillery we held an authentic cocktail evening in Western style according to the Bartender's Guide by Jerry Thomas.
read more
As always, there was plenty of time for great photos, authentic music and just a good time among friends!
Thanksgiving in Beaver Creek Valley
In fall 2022 we came together for the last time this year to celebrate Thanksgiving in a small group. The mood in Beaver Creek Valley was cheerful and we celebrated together with good music.
But we also noticed the obvious harbingers of winter. The warm days had passed and we rounded off the 2022 hobby season in a cozy atmosphere.
What might 2023 bring?
As we look forward to 2023, we plan to enjoy life at Beaver Creek Valley to the fullest and make every moment a special one. What exactly we're going to do is yet to be seen at this point, but let us tell you: We have a lot in store!
Together with our loyal friends of the TRP, we have the chance to look forward even in dark times, to draw new strength and thereby create new things that we want to tell each other about at campfires even years later.
When a movie cowboy finally stops at a saloon to wet his dry throat after his long ride through the dusty wasteland, the order is usually obvious. In this scenario, the cowboy wouldn't even have to say what he'd like to drink; after all, it's written on his face: That's right, we're talking about whiskey!
Besides the usual beer, it appears to be pretty much all that the ladies and gentlemen consumed back then - if you believe the Hollywood myths.
It is true, of course, that whiskey and also beer made up a significant part of the alcohol supply of the time, but of course this wasn't all that the West had to offer.
In the book "Bartender's Guide - How to mix drinks" by Jerry Thomas from 1862, we discover a completely new world, of which many are surprised that it should have already existed at that time: Cocktails - in the widest imaginable variations!
Cocktails were certainly not found on every cattle trek, but they certainly existed in the cities, preferably in establishments where the noble society went in and out.
The book provides a very good compendium of recipes - reason enough for us to take a closer look!
Cocktails with the gins from Sack's Distillery
In January, Marcel Völkel, owner and operator of Sack's Distillery from Weißenstadt, visited us to shoot a new commercial for his new Illegal Outlaw Gin. Without further ado, we asked Marcel if he would like to offer his fine stuff for a cocktail evening in Beaver Creek Valley - which he eventually did!
Marcel Völkel of Sack's Distille visited Beaver Creek Valley to work with Panorama Video Production on a new spot!
read more
So we used our Authentic Camp in August 2022 to treat our guests with something special! We equipped Marcel and his partner Bea with authentic clothes and prepared everything for an unforgettable evening: Cocktails in the Wild West!
Authentic cocktails from 1770 - 1876
Then, in the late afternoon, "M.J." presented his liqueurs, spirits and gin and invited to a tasting. The Wild West had never experienced anything like this before - drinks to be tasted and for free on top of that! The spectacle was musically accompanied by the "Beaver Creek Valley Ramblers"! The mood was cheerful and merry - a nice prelude to the authentic cocktail evening to follow!
The Cocktails
While the tasting of the spirits and liqueurs was already a highlight, the following cocktail evening will remain unforgettable for many. This was ensured by our bartenders M.J. and Colton, as well as the barmaid Bea! On the cocktail menu of the newly established "Jolly Beaver Bar" were four cocktails to choose from.
During the evening, a new creation was created for one of our guests, which we would like to share here: Born was the "King Gin Fizz" – dedicated to our good friend, the "King"!
The King Gin Fizz
4cl Gin
2cl lemon juice
1cl Maraschino liqueur
2cl sugar sirup
Carbonated water
Berries
3-4 twigs of fresh mint
Add all ingredients (except the mineral water) to a shaker filled with ice and shake for about 15 seconds. Strain the contents of the shaker into a highball glass filled with ice and fill up with the mineral water. Garnish with berries and mint.
To the King!
An unforgettable day comes to an end
As is well known, even such beautiful days come to an end. We hope that we were able to serve a new favorite cocktail or two and would like to thank M.J. and Bea who made this wonderful day possible as well as helping to create it.
Maybe there will be an opportunity to repeat such a great day again next year. In any case, we would be very happy about it!
When you enter Beaver Creek Valley through the large wooden gate, you are immersed into another world. A sheriff stands on the porch overlooking the terrain, a cowboy heads to the chuck wagon to secure his portion of the freshly made stew that was just simmering over the campfire. In the background, you can hear the blacksmith working an iron and a banjo player plays his lonely song.
You get the impression that you are right in the midst of the Wild West, which has apparently come back to life - thanks to the performers who have taken on this historical period and authentically portray their roles here in Beaver Creek Valley!
But they are not the only ones living a dream in Beaver Creek Valley - others have the idea to use this scenery for themselves and their ideas, too!
So did a "moonshiner" from the countryside who approached us to do something out of the ordinary in Beaver Creek Valley.
Beaver Creek Valley is like a western movie set where all the performers can re-live their dreams in a historically accurate way.
How a Gin Enthusiast Came to Beaver Creek Valley
So today we want to tell you about an unusual shoot for a commercial, for which Robert came up with the idea. Robert is a good friend of TRP and studied media technology and media production with a master's degree.
In his company, the Panorama Videoproduktion, he turns the ideas and dreams of his clients into reality - a little piece of Hollywood for everyone, so to speak.
Robert had an assignment ready to go, which he described as requiring "Western-style" realization.
So what better place to do it than Beaver Creek Valley?
And as it happens in the film business, this would have to be done very soon, of course, since the spot was also to be distributed very quickly. The shooting date was therefore set for January 2022.
Robert's client at that time was the operator of a distillery from the Fichtelgebirge, whose tradition dates back to 1864: Marcel Völkel fromSack's Distillery in Weissenstadt
The owner and manager of Sack's Distillery in Weißenstadt - Marcel Völkel
Marcel contacted Panorama Videoproduktion, as his new gin creation "Outlaw" from the series of "Illegal Gins" was to be presented in a promotional film.
As a gin lover, this was already Marcel's third gin creation, in addition to the already existing varieties "Bandit" - with real vanilla from Madagascar - and the "Rebel" - a culinary firework of woodruff and lemon.
An Outlaw does not abide by any laws. Especially not the Illegal Gin "OUTLAW", which simply disregards the rules of mass production and mass taste. He knows only a fine individual taste. Be curious about a unique gin pleasure. Real gin impresses with a pure and rounded touch of juniper. Therefore, this unfiltered gin from our distillery contains only fresh and natural ingredients.
The names are of course very fitting for the "Western genre", which is why we were happy to help produce the commercial. We also liked the idea of supporting a regionally located business.
So we dressed up, polished our revolvers and got ready for an exciting day of shooting on set: "Beaver Creek Valley"!
Cast and Plot: The Actors and Storyline of the Commercial
Marcel Völkel – M.J. Morningstar, Outlaw BossAndreas Niemczyk - Zach, M.J.'s right hand manWerner Schmidt – Chet McCay, U.S. Marshal in Beaver Creek ValleyRobert Neuber - producer and camera operator
Outlaw boss M.J. Mornigstar" is imprisoned in the Beaver Creek Valley jail. "Zach", his most trusted associate, one night decides to free his boss. But can he get past the watchful eyes of U.S. Marshal "Chet McCay" without getting into a shootout?
Pictures of the movie
It's hard to believe that behind a 30-second commercial, there's a whole day's work.
Here are a few impressions of the shooting day:
The Shooting Procedure on Set: Beaver Creek Valley in January
First, every single scene was discussed with the protagonists before shooting began. You can certainly imagine that not everything goes as our cameraman would have liked. It happened that a scene had to be repeated many times. For example, the light or the setting didn't fit, there were things in the picture that didn't belong there, the movements were too impetuous or too awkward, and there were smiles where a serious expression was desired.
In addition, the camera had to be rebuilt for each new shot, whether outdoors or indoors.
For the final scenes, we had to wait for evening to capture the campfire setting properly and authentically.
It all happened on Sunday, January 23, 2022. It was a typical winter day for our area; it was freezing cold, wet and the terrain accordingly muddy. But it was magnificent and we are glad we were there!
Such an interesting and exciting day is not experienced too often. Despite the wetness and cold, the shoot with Sack's Distillery was great fun. In the end, we drove home in the middle of the night - frozen to the bone - but satisfied with the result.
For over 150 years, Sack's Distillery has been producing fine spirits and spirituous beverages. Marcel, the current owner and operator continues this tradition.
He produces F.U.K. gin and Feuerwasser for the renowned metal band Hämatom.
By now the distillery can look back on several awards, including the "Company of the Year" awards in 2021 for Bavaria and in 2022 for Germany.
Marcel was in front of the camera again for the Oberfranken-TV. For the cooking show "Einfach Lecker" he provided tasty tips for fine digestifs after dinner.
On Instagram and Facebook Marcel shares news and updates about the distillery!
Besides M.J. is guitarist and founder of the post-apocalyptic metal bandWasteland Clan
Zach Volcanic - aka Andreas Niemczyk In his professional life he is a mechanical engineer and material scientist, in his spare time he is the bass player of the post-apocalyptic metal band "Wasteland Clan".
With Sack's Distille we had another highlight in 2022: The tasting of authentic cocktails straight out of the Wild West!
The Beaver Creek Pioneer will be reporting on this shortly!
Howdy folks and friends of the TRP! Today we want to share our small, internal Authentic Camp 2021 with you, which we held at the beginning of August, on Beaver Creek Valley.
We were very sorry that the big camp - like last year - unfortunately did not take place due to Corona. So the Authentic Camp 2021 took place in a small group of our members, even if we would have liked to have our guests with us!
In this post, we're all about motivating you and keeping you going until next year, when hopefully we can once again greet our guests with a warm:
Welcome to Beaver Creek Valley!
The preparations for our event were initially overshadowed by concerns about Corona. Long discussions with the local office were necessary to find out in which scope we would even be allowed to meet. Some restrictions followed, but thanks to the understanding and great members of the TRP, we could enjoy our time travel Corona-compliant and light-hearted.
We want to tell you about this beautiful week today.
The week started with a summer rain
The first weekend of our Authentic Camp started with a lot of rain! Mud roads and puddles as far as the eye could see. However, the roads to Beaver Creek gave a very authentic picture.
It was quite common back then for the main roads of settlements to be full of mud and dirt at all times. Due to the constant traffic of stagecoaches, carts and other wagons, the grass hardly had a chance to grow back. These roads were usually paved much later, by the turn of the century. In larger cities, people were fortunate enough to walk on paved roads. And so the weather contributed to a characteristic picture at the beginning of the week!
However, the rain soon bid us farewell with a gigantic rainbow, announcing beautiful weather that would hold for the rest of the week. The mood rose and drove away the worry about a rainy camp.
Authentic cuisine - Like the old days
The week began with an extraordinary meal. For this purpose, some settlers foraged for mushrooms in the nearby forests. Of course, thanks to the rain, they found plenty and we were able to add a good portion of freshly collected chanterelles to our meal.
If you are wondering at this point if the pasta in this dish will fit the era, we can reassure you!
Back in the 1780s, none other than Thomas Jefferson himself enjoyed his first serving of pasta in a Paris restaurant. Jefferson was a big pasta fan ever since and even had shipments of boxes sent back to America.
In 1798, the first pasta factory finally opened in Philadelphia. At that time, however, pasta dishes were reserved for the wealthy bourgeoisie, as their availability was very limited. The working class, on the other hand, only began to enjoy macaroni around the time of the American Civil War (starting in the 1860s), when more factories opened and imports from countries like Sicily were no longer necessary.
During this week, there were many more excellent meals that we prepared and ate together at a large community table.
There was, for example, a tasty chicken stew or the legendary "Irish Stew", to name just a handful. So there were all kinds of delicacies again at the Authentic Camp 2021!
Of course, we didn't just eat, but passed the time with all kinds of amusements.
Poque, photo shootings and cozy saloon evenings
We have newly discovered the game of poque for ourselves! "Poch", as it is also called, was already a popular amusement in the Middle Ages and was first mentioned in Strasbourg as early as 1441. French immigrants brought "poque" - as it was called there - to America, from which the later poker developed.
Throughout the camp, young and old were quickly at the gambling table when someone called for a game of poque!
With such beautiful weather, it was natural that our cowboys returned earlier than planned from their "hard working day" and, in compliance to their cowboy code, invited their ladies for a walk into the evening.
But not only for the cowboys the warm light invited to great photos.
After a hearty evening meal together, the party relaxed as they pleased. When the evening came, we got all dressed up and met again for a visit to the saloon.
After the day's toil and trouble, everyone met here to celebrate, discuss, laugh, play cards, have a drink or two and, of course, make music together. Everyone who could play an instrument was invited and many beautiful songs came out, such as this one:
Lil’ Liza Jane – Beaver Creek Valley Ramblers – Live at the Frontier Tavern
Visit to the Museum of Military Tradition in Weidenberg
After a hearty breakfast we started into a new day!
We reserved this day for a planned museum tour and returned to the present reality at short notice for this purpose. The visit to the Museum for Military Tradition in Upper Franconia, Weidenberg, was organized by our friend and museum director Martin Götz. He guided us through the various eras, up to modern times.
Many of the exhibited pieces were accompanied by miniatures. These, meticulously handcrafted figures, were placed in dioramas and complemented the overall picture.
As a visitor, you could thus get a better picture of how the armies and militias were positioned. One also got a good impression of how clothing and equipment interacted and also how the war sites of the time were like.
We can recommend a visit to the museum without any restrictions! Not only military enthusiasts will enjoy it, but also all those who have always wanted to learn more about the area in general.
We were also able to learn a lot and would like to thank Martin very much for taking the time for us!
Campfire Stories & High-Tech in the Wild West
As evening fell that day, everyone gathered around the campfire and listened to stories told by local mayor Hans Walter a.k.a. Mr. Catlin.
He told us about times long past, when Napoleon's troops made the region around Kastl unsafe and how the war changed both the area and the people. But also a few bizarre inn stories, as well as mystical legends around the Rauen Kulm, characterized the evening.
The following day we had a lot planned! For this we invited our friend and photographer Robert of the Panorama Video Production to Beaver Creek Valley. With the help of a large technical setup consisting of video and photo cameras, as well as lighting and microphones, TRP members momentarily became protagonists in a short short film.
What exactly we have realized there, remains a secret at this time! However, we can already reveal this much: It has to do with the publication of a book whose author is a very good friend of TRP.
But that's wasn't all: Robert also highlighted the Indian Territory of Beaver Creek Valley in great detail! There he accompanied a Lakota lady with the preparation of an authentic meal. We are very much looking forward to the finished material, which we will of course present in the Beaver Creek Pioneer!
Very nice pictures were taken again during the Authentic Camp 2021, for example the series "The Law of Beaver Creek Valley", where the law enforcement officers of Beaver Creek Valley presented their strength in front of the Sheriff's Office.
The end of our trail
Just before the general mood of departure spread on the last day, we received a visit from the far north. A delegation of Canadian Mounties visited Beaver Creek Valley. Of course, the "Red Serges" caught the attention in front of our Fort McKenzie and we were able to take some very nice pictures here as well!
We would like to thank all those who squeezed into their uniforms during what felt like the warmest day of the week - but the result certainly speaks for itself:
All in all, we can say that we had a brilliant, beautiful and eventful time at the Authentic Camp 2021. It felt very good to come together once again as a community, to exchange ideas and experience a wonderful time together. We are looking forward to next year, when hopefully we will be able to spend this time with our honored guests again!
Stay safe and keep your powder dry!
So long, Chet McCay & Colton White – Beaver Creek Pioneer