Iowa History Journal Volume 5, Issue 1, Now Available

Tuesday, January 1st, 2013 | Iowa History Journal

In 1937, Universal Studios selected Stanley Leland Weed of Forest City, Iowa, to be its new singing cowboy star of the movies . They picked him over a group of other candidates, including a young fellow who would go on to movie fame as Roy Rogers. Stanley Leland Weed became Bob Baker and rode into Hollywood history, leaving a series of question marks about the direction of his career. Mike Chapman’s article explores the background of this one-time cowboy movie star from Iowa.

Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the empire of Japan, the United States enacted a daring bombing raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Led by Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, the daring raid has become a part of American military folklore – and three Iowans were among the pilots who risked their lives. Michael Vogt, a civilian pilot and curator at the Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge takes Iowa History Journal readers on this trip back into history.

Also included in this issue:

• The amazing journey of Casey’s General Store
• The Iowan who made history with Lincoln
• Iowa’s Field House boasts 85 years of fine memories
• Story of trampoline founder George Nissen: book review
• Sioux City actress Constance Towers
• Columns by our regulars – Arvid Huisman, John McNeer and Mike Chapman
• Iowa History quiz
• Letters to the editor

…and much more!

Contents
3 – Publisher’s Perspective: It’s tiny but Leland, Iowa, has lots to brag about by Mike Chapman
4 – Iowa’s singing cowboy Bob Baker once outranked Roy Rogers by Mike Chapman
8 – Sioux City actress starred with Baker
9 – World War II’s most daring raid included three Iowa fliers by Michael W. Vogt
13 – Country Roads: Phone service has seen huge changes by Arvid Huisman
14 – Iowa’s Field House boasts 85 years of fine memories by Tork Mason
19 – One man’s vision starts amazing chain of Casey’ stores
23 – The Way We Were: Terrible drought hit Iowa hard in 1934 by John McNeer
24 – The Iowan who made history with Lincoln by Jerry Harrington
26 – What’s In a Name: History abounds in this city on a slight mound called Mount Pleasant by Jessica Lowe
29 – Book reviews: Story of trampoline founder George Nissen has lots of bounce by Michael Swanger
31 – Iowa History Quiz
35 – Letters to the Editor

Tags: Bob Baker, Casey's, Constance Towers, George Nissen, Iowa Field House, Jimmy Doolittle, Michael Vogt, Stanley Weed

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