7. The emergence of the western dime novel
Following the American Civil War, and lasting until the beginning of the 20th century, a new form of American entertainment became popular with men, women, and children. It was the dime novel, and those exploiting the American West became known as westerns. Tens of millions of such books were produced. The railroad boom gave those traveling time to read. Those at home had few other entertainments of an evening. The western stories created a genre which has remained for over 150 years. They also created a fictional version of the American West which also remains, having bing reinforced by later forms of entertainment.
There was nearly always a damsel in distress, threatened by an evil villain, in the form of an outlaw wanted by authorities. Hostile Indians, and occasionally friendly natives, were standard pieces of the story. At its center was a strong, silent, hero, handy with a gun, who saved the day (and the damsel). The novels presented an enduring image of the west which never really existed, and as names of western personalities became known in the east they appeared in the stories. Frank and Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickock, Buffalo Bill Cody, Billy the Kid, and many others were featured in completely fictional tales, which were devoured as true history.