Classic Cowboy Hats

There is little doubt that the overall impression made by any hat is by the clothing worn with it, and even more importantly the person standing under it.

So why did the wearing of a good quality hat virtually stop in the 1970s?

There are a number of theories as to why this happened, but we have a different thought. Throughout human history the majority of people lived on farms, or ranches, and generally worked outside for part or all of a day. In all weather conditions. More heat loss occurs through the top of the head than any other spot on our body, making a good hat to retain warmth and protect you from the elements a necessity.

By the 1960s this rural population trend was reversed. Today something like sixty-five percent of North Americans live in a city or town. In the city people tend to work and live in climate controlled buildings.

Our need to stay warm and protect our face and eyes from the weather just does not have the same urgency it had a hundred and fifty years ago.

Authentic Designs from The Last Best West

Our custom hats are made the old fashioned way, by hand and one at a time. We start with the best fur-felt hat body available – made in the USA – and we will fashion as fine a custom hat as you can find.

You’ve worn the rest – now own the best!

Dodge City Cowboy Movie Hat in long haired frontier fur-felt

FRONTIER FUR FELT

The Dodge City shown is made with long hair Beaver fur-felt. Some call it SHAGGY and some call it GRIZZLY; we prefer the name FRONTIER fur-felt to describe it, as the hat is unsanded and would have been what the very first beaver fur-felt hats would have been like. All about hats and how we do it. :: Testimonials

You’ve likely seen this look before in a western movie. You can generally spot a long haired fur-felt in most of the westerns filmed in the 1930s and 40s. Errol Flynn wore it in several of his western movies. Click for more about our Dodge City Hat.

Has all the same characteristics as our fine, standard hat bodies – just a longer finish to the fur of the hat.

You can request Frontier Fur Felt for any of our hats. Just add it to the comment window on the order, or ask when your hat details are confirmed with Sonja, within a day of your purchase being made. No extra charge.

Destry Rides Again

Classic Cowboy Movie from 1939

Brian Donleavy plays a crooked businessman with the town of Bottleneck in his pocket. As a joke Donleavy has his corrupt Judge appoint the town drunk, Dimsdale, to be the new sheriff.

But little do the bad guys realize that Dimsdale used to work for Legendary Sheriff, Tom Destry. When Destry shows up, the town toughs are so impressed they call the new deputy Cup Cake.

1939 is often referred to as the Movies Greatest Year. Some other classic films from that year include: Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Stagecoach, Wuthering Heights, Mr. Smith goes to Washington, and Dodge City.

The Westerner 

Classic Cowboy Movie from 1940

Gary Cooper is one of our favorite old time movie stars, and once again he excels as every man, Cole Hardin, opposite Walter Brennan in The Westerner.

In the movie, Cole Hardin drifts into Vinergaroon, Texas and falls into the hands of self-appointed Hanging Judge, Roy Bean, played by Brennan. Hardin claims to have met Lilly Langtree, one of the most famous singers of the day, and whom the Judge idolizes.

This saves Cole from being hung, and the two men enter into an unlikely friendship that dovetails to the movie’s end. Shot in black and white, the movie moves at a good pace and is quite engaging. Cooper made a ton of great westerns, and is likely best remembered for his role in High Noon, with Grace Kelly.

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