The Day The Cisco Kid Rode Into MY Town!

Don’t you just know that the kid at the far right of the front row is SO jealous that HE isn’t the one who gets to hold Cisco’s sombrero?! He’s even chewing on his finger in jealousy! I know it’s true, ’cause that kid is me! And that little girl to my right – the one with Cisco’s hand on her shoulder – that’s my 15-months-younger sister.

The Cisco Kid, for those of you who have not yet advanced to a certain age, played three afternoons a week on the local TV station here in southeast Missouri, and I was a rabid fan. It was running in syndication and sponsored by the grocery distribution warehouse where my dad worked, where this photo was snapped. Cisco (aka Duncan Renaldo) was apparently touring the country in support of his show. This event was for warehouse employees & their families. Just after this photo was snapped, Cisco moved about 30 feet away, drew his revolver, pointed it straight up, and fired it! BANG!

To this day, Cisco is still the most famous person to shake my hand.