Tag: Silver Dollar Tabor
The Silver Screen and The Silver King: Carl Erickson, Silver Dollar, and the Legend of Baby Doe Tabor
The 1932 biographical film Silver Dollar, produced by First National Pictures (a subsidiary of Warner Bros.), offers a fascinating window into early Hollywood’s attempt to capture the dramatic, rags-to-riches-to-rags saga of Colorado’s legendary silver baron, Horace Tabor. At the heart of this adaptation was the source material—David Karsner’s 1932 biography of the same name—and the creative hands of screenwriters, including the relatively young and promising Carl Erickson.
The Cabin’s Child: Silver Dollar and the Lonely Echoes of the Matchless Mine
The name "Silver Dollar Tabor" rings with the sound of immense, fleeting wealth—a perfect encapsulation of the Gilded Age that birthed her. Born Elizabeth Bonduel Tabor in 1889, she entered the world as the daughter of the celebrated Silver King, Horace Tabor, and the stunning, scandalous Baby Doe. Her childhood was supposed to be a fairytale of high society, glittering jewels, and grand mansions.
Instead, Silver Dollar’s story became a stark, heartbreaking lesson in the fragility of fortune. By the time she was ten, the silver crash of 1893 had stripped her family bare. Her father died in poverty in 1899, leaving Baby Doe with a singular, desperate promise: "Hold on to the Matchless."
Crazy Coincidence? Did Silver Dollar Tabor Name her killer?
Crazy Coincidence?
Silver Dollar Tabor was tragically scalded to death on September 18, 1925. According to police reports, she had named her killer on the back of a photograph in her apartment. She wrote, “In case of my death, this man is directly or indirectly responsible."
Video: Silver Echoes Adventures by The Book Launch Party
Today, we revisit the wonderful Silver Echoes virtual launch party hosted by Adventures by the Book. Grab a favorite beverage, sit back, and enjoy the conversation. You'll learn more about the history of Silver Dollar Tabor.
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Dreaming Up the Cast of Silver Echoes, Part II
My new novel, Silver Echoes, takes us on a wild ride through the Roaring Twenties, from Denver to Chicago and back to Leadville, Colorado, following the tumultuous life of Silver Dollar Tabor and her mother. It’s a story bursting with ambition, betrayal, love, and a quest for identity, and as I read it, I couldn’t help but picture which modern movie stars would bring these incredible characters to life on the big screen.
So, grab your popcorn, because here’s Part II of my dream cast for a Silver Echoes movie adaptation, complete with a little fun and flair!
Carl Erikson: Chris Pratt
Why he’s perfect: Carl is the earnest script boy who transforms into a rising Hollywood screenwriter, a man of integrity who deeply loves Silver Dollar despite her unpredictable nature. He has blond curls. Chris Pratt has that charming, wholesome appeal that would make him instantly likable as Carl. He can play the supportive, heartfelt friend, but also convincingly convey the pain of betrayal and the quiet strength of his convictions. His transition from “script boy” to “Hollywood screenwriter” would be perfectly showcased by Pratt’s natural charisma and ability to show growth in his characters.