28 | WINCHESTERCOLLECTOR.ORG • Fall 2022 western show, Col. Tim McCoy's Real Wild West. McCoy worked steadily in movies until 1936, when he left Hollywood, first to tour with the Ringling Brothers Circus and then with his own “wild west” show. His show was not a success and only operated from April 14, 1938, to May 4, 1938,—just three weeks. It was reported to have lost $300,000— $100,000 of which was McCoy's own money. It folded in Washington, D.C., and the cowboy performers were each given $5 and McCoy's thanks. The Indians in the show were returned to their respective reservations by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. McCoy’s prior career as a Hollywood movie actor could possibly explain the Paramount Studio/Stembridge connection mentioned by Madis. However, there are a couple of problems with this theory. As previously mentioned, most of these guns remained in very good condition, contrary to the vast majority of movie guns which saw hard use on the set. After all, these were movie props and needed to look the part. And as far as we know, studios would typically identify their guns with stampings in either the stocks and/or on the metal parts. Paramount Studios is known to have used Stembridge exclusively to handle their gun needs—obviously convenient since the Stembridge facility was located on Paramount’s property. Stembridge Above: Les Colvin performing at the Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., 1935 Opposite upper right: Stembridge Gun Rentals, Hollywood, California, 1969 Left: The Atlas Sports Store on the southwest corner of 9th and D Streets NW., Washington D.C., c.1965. Photo courtesy of the DC History Center
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