Thof's Dragon on YouTube

Ethan Rigss as Medicine Bill Comstock and Carson Norton as Dr. Theophilus Turner climb the steep butte that overlooks the ravine where they discovered an historic fossil. The film is now available on YouTube.

A few years ago, we at the Fort Wallace Museum determined to make a film about the discovery of our elasmosaurus platyurus, the casting of which hangs from the ceiling of our museum. Rather than a documentary, we hoped to do a feature film. We are so fortunate that even with a small population, we have a disproportionate amount of talent and generosity. One of those talented people is Brenda Tropf who teaches art at the high school in Sharon Springs. She used the project to teach students film-making, having already produced some pretty cool student videos on history.

We produced three trailers with no money and hoped to raise money to do a full-on feature film. We didn't raise that. But we were already hooked and through our Logan and Wallace County Foundations, the Lyle Finley Trust, and many generous individuals, we went ahead and made a feature on a shoestring budget.

As Jayne Pearce said, "it's homemade but done very well!"

There are things we would have done differently. For example, the trailer was made to sell the idea and had we gotten more funding, we would have re-shot some scenes with more period-correct details (some of the harness and bits, some clothing details, those little elements really show up to folks who know history). Fact is, we gathered volunteers who showed up on that first incredibly cold morning to ride across the prairie of Wallace County. There were scenes we just had to scrap because we needed professional actors or sets beyond our abilities. 

But what we did achieve, and what is forever preserved on screen, is love and passion for this story. You can buy skills and props; you cannot buy commitment and passion. I am so very proud of Thof's Dragon.

Michael Martin Murphey, the legendary performer/songwriter/actor, generously allowed us to use his version of the classic western song, "Blue Prairie." The result, in my opinion, is priceless. I had this vision for so long--the wagons, the soldiers, and that boundless prairie that had once been a sea. When Brenda was editing that part, she slowed the action, ever so slightly, so that the mules are walking in time to the music, the picks are swung in time to the music, and the result makes my heart soar.

My friend, Ian Hall, a very talented writer and jewelry maker who lives in Topeka but is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, agreed to narrate the film. I love Ian's voice but I also wanted viewers to understand how many immigrants were in the army at that time. 

On screen, the figure of the narrator is so powerfully portrayed by rancher Donald Geist of Wakeeney. As he walks across the landscape, recalling the thrilling days gone by, his face says it all. We could not have selected anyone better to portray the fictional character who told our story.

I had never met Carson Norton (from the Norton Art Studios family of incredibly talented folks), until we began filming. The first time I saw him he was wearing the uniform of an 1860s era army surgeon. It took my breath away. His resemblance to Dr. Theophilus Turner was uncanny.

Ethan Riggs portrayed scout William "Medicine Bill" Comstock after months of my stalking him. I first met him at a wedding where he and his own future bride, Merabeth, were our tablemates. I couldn't stop staring at his blue eyes and asked if he ever re-enacted. Finally, I convinced him I was not entirely a crazy woman and he gave in. He was wonderful.

Of course, the foundation for the film project is the story itself--the discovery of an incredibly important fossil in present-day Logan County. The Fort Wallace post surgeon, Dr. Turner, along with Comstock, made this discovery and a few years ago, some of Dr. Turner's letters were discovered and published in an article in the Kansas historical quarterly. Kenneth Almy's article shared the letters from his wife's ancestors that brought the story of this discovery to life.

I was so fortunate to visit the Drexel Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and read those letters, actually hold them, and actually touch the fossilized bones of the creature found in western Kansas.

Any story of paleontological significance in Kansas must rely on the expertise of Mike Everhart. Mike has long been a friend to our museum as well as so many other institutions. His research and personal discoveries add to the richness of this story and provide necessary background. For anyone who is not familiar with Mike's work, visit the website http://oceansofkansas.com. It not only contains information about Dr. Turner and the details of his find, but so many other important discoveries and personalities involved.

Mike's book, Oceans of Kansas, is simply unmatched in its scope and depth and should be on the shelf of every family in the state. 

Our film ends with the music of Valarie Smith, whose original songs express so eloquently the emotional impact of this story. Other musicians who gave so generously of their time and talents were Steve Kilby and Kendra and Josiah Akers.  

There is no way here to list all the people who came together to make this happen. It is not a documentary; it is a feature with solid history and a rich story and so much love and commitment put into it. To watch, find the link on the Fort Wallace facebook page or simply search for Thof's Dragon on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/v-b_zmlLQ9o