Thurkel (Turk) Greenough Red Lodge, Montana cowboy 1930's
My father gave me a 1931 scrapbook that has newspaper clippings of the time concerning cowboys and the rodeos. This article was in the scrapbook with a picture of Turk Greenough age 36.
Sally's, Hubby-to-be Already Has a Wife
Los Angeles(UP) Mrs. Helen Greenough said Friday the handsome cowboy to whom Fan Dancer Sally Rand is engaged is her husband.
She said she married Thurkel (Turk) Greenough in Red Lodge, Mont., on April 5, 1933, and lived with him until last June. He is a prfessional bronc rider.
Mrs. Greenough, pretty and frail, consulted Attorney Lewis A. Schaffer.
"How can he marry that fan dancer if he's married to me?" she asked. "Turk and I were married in Red Lodge, and I went with him everywhere. We use to come out here so Turk could ride in the movies."
She said she had received two letters from him, from Montana. One informed her he was 'in love with someone else." She said he told her they could not be happy because she disliked living on a ranch.
Miss Rand announced from Kentucky Wednesday she intended to marry Greenough and "live on his ranch." She added, however, she would continue her fan and bubble dancing.
Mrs. Greenough said the dancer met her husband in 1935 at a rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyo.
"Turk, won the prize, and afterward she came running up to him to get his autograph," she told her attorney. "It's just the glamour of the rodeo business that gets 'em. These society women just get attracted to cowboys.
Mrs. Greenough indicated she would be willing to give her husband a divorce if he would make finacial provisions for her.
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Re: Thurkel (Turk) Greenough Red Lodge, Montana cowboy 1930's
Accoriding to the book RED LODGE, SAGA OF A WESTERN AREA REVISTED by Shirley Zupan and Harry J. Owens. page 212, Turk Greenough and Sally were married 6 January 1942 in Glendora, Ca. Sally moved to the Red Lodge, Heaven Ranch as she called it. But after a brief marriage Sally returned to her fans and career and Turk resumed his rodeo career. Sally Rand died 31 Aug. 1979 at Glendora, Ca. age 75. Much is noted about the Greenough family in the book page 199 to 212.
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Re: Thurkel (Turk) Greenough Red Lodge, Montana cowboy 1930's
Thank you for posting the information. I caused quite a stir when I posted information about Sally on the Rand message Board. On several websites that I found about Sally, it said Rand was her stage name given to her by Cecille B. Demille. Her real name is Helen Gould Beck. I have since heard from a relative looking for information concerning Helen (Sally). I will make her aware of your posting. Eellitta
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Re: Thurkel (Turk) Greenough Red Lodge, Montana cowboy 1930's
I didn't know Sally's real name was Helen, too. The part of the story that doesn't get the publicity is that Turk went back to his first wife (Helen "Honey" Stewart) post Sally and stayed with her until she passed away, I think it was 1976 or 1977, I can't remember off the top of my head. He never did marry again and Turk never had any children of his own. I know on the surface Sally's the more interesting story, but once the glamour faded, the fact that he ended up with the less glamorous wife for the long haul always seemed to me to be the better love story. If anybody has any questions, feel free to ask me, I stumbled on this post by accident and just had to add my 0.02.
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Re: Thurkel (Turk) Greenough Red Lodge, Montana cowboy 1930's
Thank you for the lovely story. I have been corresponding with a relative of Sally Rand. She didn't realize there were so many pictures of her on line. Also the movie "Right Stuff" had a dancer portraying Sally Rand. Turk's family was very famous in the rodeo world. I am glad he finally found what he was looking for. Thank you for posting.
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Re: Thurkel (Turk) Greenough Red Lodge, Montana cowboy 1930's
My husbands' step father was Bob Woodward (the rodeo and Stunt guy for the old westerns, not the one that rat'd on Nixon). The same general thing happened to his mom. The mom and Bob had lived together and gotten married, they were always traveling to the sites for the movies and jobs. They had a little girl and that limited her traveling with him but they lived in Shasta with one of Bob's Friend and wife. One day his mom found out that Bob was still married to another lady and she left not knowing what to do at that point. Those old western stars were way overwhelmed with their job and the fans. Its a shame but check the current hollywood stars/happenings.. same thing.
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Re: Thurkel (Turk) Greenough Red Lodge, Montana cowboy 1930's
We have a very interesting picture of Turk Greenough. Signed by him to My hubby's mom and Bob Woodward. Is this considered a collectible?
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