So random family trivia, Ryan's great-great-grandfather was in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. (I think that's right, someone correct me if I'm wrong.) I've posted all the pics I can find of him online, but the family has more memorabilia safely stored away. Granny and Renee are even more interested in this than I am. On our trip out to Washington, Renee and I stopped at Buffalo Bill's house in Nebraska. Check it out. If you choose not to, the only significant photo you're really missing out on is this one. That's Renee, the funnest mother-in-law ever. She will kill me for posting this picture. But you should know we have a no-holds-barred sort of a relationship, like friends. It's great.
These pics were all pulled off an auction listing that sold over the summer. I so wish we'd caught it sooner so we could've added these photos to those already stored. It really makes me wonder who had all these pics of him specifically. Someone who could've been a distant relative? (Anyway, some photos blow up nicely, but others not so much. Enjoy.)
There was a bit of scandal on set, with rumors of women dressed as men to get close to their boyfriend cowboys. And Ryan's great-great-grandfather was pulled into it! Here's a copy of the letter sent to his wife, explaining the mishap.
The letter is dated for June 25, 1913 is addressed to L.T. Sasseen's wife and reads, "My dear Madam: I regret very much that through a mistake of our press agent, the name of Mr. Leonard Sasseen, appeard in an article which went the rounds stating that some old sweetheart of his from the west had followed him in male attire. This being the first season of Mr. Donalson with us, he was not familiar with the cowboy riders, and in this way got the name of Leonard Sasseen when he should have used Mr. Thomas Collins. I regret this very much as Mr. Sasseen has been with me a great many years, and his conduct has always been above reproach. I can assure you that your husband, Mr. Sasseen, had absolutely nothing to do with this story, and I am very sorry by mistake his name was used and that it has caused you and his family any annoyance. I have written the Messenger who carried the story making a full explanation to them, and I trust that their denial of the article may fix everything all right. Yours respectfully, (not sure of the first signature and) Pawnee Bill (Buffalo Bill)".
