Rivan Western Page 2

Rivan Western Page 2
SASS Cowboy Action Shooting members SASS 353 & 354
Shop Rivan Western for Cowboy Stuff! Phone us at 602-957-0855 or email: rivanwestern@cox.net

Dr Tarr & Prof Fether with Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
Who Are
Doctor Tarr & Professor Fether?
by
Peter & Paul

The elevator climbed to the top floor and slowed to a gentle stop. The doors parted and out stepped two cowboys dressed alike from boots to hat. Their matching "lucky star" spurs jingled as the pair approached the Arizona Ranger guarding the door to the suite. "Peter and Paul to see Roy and Dale," said one of the twins to the ranger...
Wow! Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether's meeting with the King of the Cowboys and the Queen of the West, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans! It was an honor and a delight to have met them in person at last. The picture that "Dusty" took of us with his mom and dad became our Christmas card for 1994.
The story of Doctor Tarr & Professor Fether began more than a hundred and fifty years ago through the creative genius of Edgar Allan Poe. The fictional characters were introduced by Poe in his "The System of Dr. Tarr & Professor Fether," a short story circa 1840. The story takes place in the 1800s at a certain Maison de Sante or private mad-house in the south of France where a curious young man out on horseback rides to visit this gloomy dilapidated chateau. Although, referred to as the coauthors of a "new system" for treating the insane, the learned Dr. Tarr and the celebrated Professor Fether never materialize as Poe characters, but as one might guess, the literal "tar & feathering." The custom of "tar & feathers" as punishment for con men and other assorted ne'er-do-wells was practiced in America especially the western frontier of the 1880s. However, Monsieur Millard, the superintendent of the house insists that the two famous men are real!
From Poe we get these two marvelous personalities, but no description of what they look like, or any information whatsoever! Then in the mid 1970s the story was revived, at least in our minds, by a group called the "Alan Parsons Project." Take the dream of Eric Woolfson, add talent, with Alan Parsons' help and you have The Tales of Mystery and Imagination Edgar Allan Poe. Set to popular music and introducted to a new generation of Poe fans, one of the tracks on the recording was titled (The System of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether, which has the lyrics, "Just what you need to make you feel better..."
Then along came the twins, "cowboy action shooting" and the search for the best possible aliases for Peter and Paul. We knew that we would partake wholeheartedly in the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting. But, we needed aliases, new identities and costumes to go with them. Since we are identical twins the "thought occured" that shouldn't our aliases go together somehow? "So what should they be?" asked Paul. "Why not, Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether." said Peter. "of course!" Replied Paul. "With fringe and flashy cowboy costumes." So at End of Trail 1993 we joined SASS as life members and became Doctor Tarr & Professor Fether forever... "Hold on there. Who are these two?" Santa wants to know. "Its Dr. Tarr & Prof. Fether," said Rudolf. "They want to help pull the sleigh." "Ho Ho Ho, Well," said Santa as if he were John Wayne. "Thems the funniest lookin' reindeer I ever saw...Lets get 'um to Tucson," and with a wave, "Hooo oh!"

RIVAN WESTERN Phone 602-957-0855 in Arizona

email rivanwestern@cox.net

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