"Full House"

In the Maverick episode "Full House" (25 October 1959) Bret Maverick gets mixed up with many of the most famous western outlaws at Denver, Colorado.

Foxy Smith "The Brain" has invited a bunch of famous western outlaws for a caper he plans. If each outlaw is as old as the actor who portrays them the known birth dates of the outlaws would indicate the possible date of the episode. They include:

Belle Starr (February 5, 1848-February 3, 1889) portrayed by Jean Willes (April 15, 1923-January 3, 1989). Since Jean Willes was 36 years, 6 months, and 10 days old when "Full Hand" was first broadcast, "Full House" should happen on August 13, 1884 when Belle Starr was that age.

William "Billy the Kid" Bonney (September 17 or November 23, 1859-July 14, 1881) portrayed by Joel Grey (born April 11, 1932). Since Joel Grey was 27 years, 6 months, and 14 days old when "Full House" was first broadcast, "Full House" should happen on May 1 or June 6, 1887 when "Billy the Kid" was that age - six years after "Billy the Kid" was killed.

Sam Bass (July 21, 1851-July 21, 1878) portrayed by Kelly Thordsen (January 19, 1917-January 23, 1978). Since Kelly Thordsen was 42 years, 9 months, and 8 days old when "Full House" was first broadcast, "Full House" should happen on April 29, 1894 when Sam Bass was that age - almost 16 years after Sam Bass was killed.

Cole Younger (January 15, 1844-March 21, 1916) portrayed by Gregory Walcott (January 13, 1928-March 20, 2015). Since Gregory Walcott was 31 years, 9 months, and 12 days old when "Full House" was first broadcast, "Full House" should happen on December 27, 1875, when Cole Younger was that age.

Charles Earl Boles "Black Bart" (1829-1888?) portrayed by George Barrows (February 7, 1914-October 17, 1994). Since George Barrows was 45 years, 8 months, and 18 days old when "Full House" was first broadcast, "Full House" should happen between August 19, 1874, and August 18, 1875, when "Black Bart" would be that age. "Full Hand" (25 October 1959)

Frank James (January 10, 1843-February 18, 1915) portrayed by Jack Gordon (December 5,1906-February 3, 1976). Since Jack Gordon was 52 years, 10 months, and 20 days old when "Full House" was first broadcast, "Full House" should happen on November 30, 1895 when Frank James was that age.

Clay Allison (September 2, 1841-July 3, 1887) portrayed by Mike Lally (June 1, 1900-February 15, 1984). Since Mike Lally was 59 years, 4 months, and 24 days old when "Full House" was first broadcast, "Full House" should happen on January 26, 1901 when Clay Allison was that age - 14 years after Clay Allison was killed.

Ben Thompson (November 2, 1843-March 11,1884) portrayed by Rusty Wescoatt (August 2, 1911-September 3, 1987). Since Rusty Wescoatt was 48 years, 2 months, and 23 days old when "Full House" was first broadcast, "Full House" should happen on January 25, 1892 when Ben Thompson was that age - 7 years after Ben Thompson was killed.

Yes, that's a "Full House" of famous western outlaws.

Note that the dates when the outlaws would have been the same ages as their actors range from 1874/75 to 1901, a full 25 years.

So one could assume that the outlaws could be up to 25 years older than their actors in the cases of Cole Younger & "Black Bart" to have "Full House" happen as late as 1901.

Or maybe assume that the outlaws could be up to 25 years younger than their actors in the cases of Frank James, Clay Allison, Ben Thompson, & Sam Bass, so the events could happen as early as 1875.

So when were all of the criminals active at the same time?

The criminal career of Clay Allison lasted from about 1870 to 1887.

The criminal career of Belle Starr lasted from about 1874 to 1886

The criminal career of "Black Bart" Boles lasted from 1875 to 1883.

The criminal career of Frank James lasted from about 1868 to 1882.

The career of Ben Thompson as a gunfighter and sometimes criminal lasted from about 1868 to 1881.

The criminal career of "Billy the Kid" lasted from about 1875 (minor crimes) or 1878 (murders) to 1881.

The criminal career of Sam Bass lasted from 1877 to 1878.

Therefore might deduce that the only time when a gang of all those outlaws would be possible was in 1878.

But Cole Younger's criminal career lasted from 1868 to 1876, ending with the Northfield, Minnesota bank robbery attempt on September 7, 1876. Cole Younger was in prison from 1876 to 1901.

So there is actually no possible date when all of the gang in "Full House" were criminals, thus putting "Full House" firmly in the Wild West of fiction instead of having any possible place in real history.

And if that seems like a humiliating writing failure to you, try figuring out out the dates of the criminal careers of all the outlaws captured by Jim Hardie in Tales of Wells Fargo (1857-1962) or Matt Clark in Stories of the Century (1954-1955) and you will find those heroes would need long careers to meet all those criminals!