REVIEWS

From LIBRARY JOURNAL, March 1, 2004

Getting Reno-vated. From 1931 to the early 1960s, Reno, NV, with its six-week residency requirement, reigned as the quickie divorce capital of America. William McGee, born on a Montana ranch, landed a job as wrangler at the renowned Flying ME dude ranch in Washoe Valley in 1947. Much of his job was taking the divorce-seeking ladies out riding the Nevada mountain trails to lift their spirits. (If one of his charges, carried away by the mountain air and her impending freedom, made a pass at the young cowboy, well, he was only human.) The book is filled with candid shots of East Coast women with names like Rockefeller or Roosevelt or du Pont modeling their crisp, new Levis and silver belt buckles. And inserted period press coverage turns up visiting stars like Rita Hayworth going native. The real star of this scrapbook/memoir, however, is the longtime owner of the Flying ME ranch, Emily Pentz Wood, who entertained, even mothered her wealthy clientele of "six weekers" for more than three decades. Though it is put together rather patchily, this casual, heartfelt history of the Nevada divorce ranch era is a fascinating social document spangled with many of the period's socialites and movie stars at their most vulnerable. With a handy Reno divorce glossary, it is recommended for social history collections.

—Nathan Ward, Associate Editor, LJ

From SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS, June 20, 2004

The Nevada gold rush: D-i-v-o-r-c-e. In the bad old days, divorce was a long and grueling process: In a few states the wait was five years; in many (including California), the divorce process took a year. When Nevada shortened its waiting period to a six-week residency, the rush was on. Many divorce seekers came and worked for the duration of their stay, some stayed in minimal accommodations, but much of the divorce trade consisted of the wealthy who spent their waiting time reflecting and often partying in the relative comfort of secluded dude ranches.

William McGee, fresh from the Pacific Theatre of World War II, was a full-of-life and himself 22-year-old who came home and worked as a horse wrangler in Wyoming until a malaria relapse put him in the Reno-area VA hospital. He did a stint as a Tahoe hunting guide and then landed a job as a dude wrangler at the Flying ME dude ranch between Reno and Carson City.

Mr. and Mrs. McGee have quilted together an account of the Reno area, the dude ranches and the people who ran and stayed in them during the heyday of the Nevada divorce. Names of the rich and famous fall like rain in this often gossipy kiss-and-tell, but the McGees’ book is also a folksy ramble through part of the domesticating of the Wild West.

In theory, a dude wrangler deals with and doles out the horses for riders of different skill levels. Mr. McGee was also entertainer, imparter of local history and lore, and escort and driver to the bars and casinos of the area. And, despite the “no fraternization” rule of Emily Pentz Wood, the extraordinary woman who ran the ranch after her husband departed with a young woman divorcee, Mr. McGee grazed sexually among the rich and famous who apparently understand that “Men are men, and some women are glad it.” He was a “full-service” wrangler.

Emily Pentz Wood, proprietor of the Flying ME, and Clark Gable. Gable was a frequent visitor to the dude ranch. He and other visiting celebrities and socially prominent names knew that Emmy and the ranch staff would guard their privacy from the public and the press. (Authors' Collection)

The McGees pull together accounts from local writers and historians, and these bits and pieces form much of the most engaging prose. The nicely culled passages include tongue wedged firmly in cheek bits from A. J. Liebling and the outrageous dandies Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg who arrived in their private train car and promptly decided: “The alcoholic proof is so high, the moral tone so low, that we can be absolutely inconspicuous. Let’s see if there is a house for sale.”

The drill for the divorce seekers, mostly women, was fairly standard. They’d arrive at the train station and be quietly met by someone from the ranch. The first stop would be the attorney they’d been referred to, then Parker’s shop for full-blown western duds, and then onto the ranch to start their stay. Most had decided and were resolved to make the best of taking the “cure” in Nevada.

Emmy Wood was a great friend and social worker to those who sought out her ranch, and she eased many transitions. Her reputation for empathy and great discretion brought her an exceptional clientele; many such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Clark Gable came simply for the private relaxation in this “bit of the Ritz dropped down in Nevada.”

For those divorce seekers ready to get on with life (some even brought their spouse-in-waiting for a quick Nevada wedding following their six minutes in divorce court), their time was a great vacation and partying was part of the legend.

Emmy’s Wood’s right hand gal, Allie Okie, took a varying group of “Allie Cats” out to drink and gamble each evening. Often they’d venture out to The Old Corner Bar in nearby Carson City to mix with locals, but the Cal-Neva Lodge, which straddled the state border, was a favorite for swank celebrity spotting.

Over 500 photographs chronicle the place and its history. The McGees have pulled from dozen of sources for period pictures that enliven this account. The leading attorneys of the time, the other dude/divorce ranches of the era, the famous local private railroad and the characters both prominent and notorious receive their full due.

Nostalgic, indulgent and well researched, this slice of our history will appeal to those who knew or participated in it.

—Lin Rolens, News-Press Correspondent, SBNP

From ST. HELENA STAR, June 24, 2004

…The book's pages are packed with historic photographs, interviews with oldtimers, caricatures and snapshots spanning 30 years....

From LAS VEGAS SUN, May 10, 2004

…The photos show East meeting West in a way most people don't envision, but in a manner that documents a chapter in how the modern migration West actually happened….

From NEVADA APPEAL, April 4, 2004

…McGee's book is full of history, and even better, short tales about his time at the ranch giving us a glimpse, from a wrangler's point of view, into Nevada's world of divorce, divorcees, and romance....the book is filled with Nevada--its memorable characters who might otherwise have been forgotten….

From THE NEVADA TRAVEL TRIP REPORT #31, March 2004

In 1947, Wyoming cowboy Bill McGee was recently discharged from the Navy and driving a cab in Reno when he got a job wrangling dudes at Lake Tahoe. This in turn led to a job with Emmy Wood at the famous Flying ME Ranch in Washoe Valley, which led, eventually, to this monumental and fascinating memoir of the Nevada divorce ranch era. Bill's recall is phenomenal, and the people he brings to life with his warm and detailed prose are icons of another age. The hundreds of photographs assembled by Bill's wife and co-author Sandra make this a highly desirable addition to your Nevada bookshelf.

From RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, March 23, 2004

…THE DIVORCE SEEKERS is the story of an era as well as of a man….

From NEVADA MAGAZINE, March/April 2004

Bill McGee spins funny and fact-filled tales of his days as a young wrangler at the Flying M E, a Washoe Valley ranch for prospective divorcées, in the late 1940s. The reader meets Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, New York heiresses, and other ranch visitors at their most relaxed. The excellent photos, like the words, capture the rustic glamour of that bygone era.

TESTIMONIALS

Praise for the Slide Show Presentation of images from THE DIVORCE SEEKERS...

"Following a highly entertaining slide show with commentary by Bill and Sandra McGee, I received enough feedback from the more than 125 members in attendance to nominate THE DIVORCE SEEKERS for the Westerners Award for 'Best Book' of 2004. A must read for anyone truly interested in Western history."
— Neal Cobb, Sheriff, Westerners International Nevada Corral

"The McGees have documented a significant period in Nevada's history with splendid research, photographs and personal stories. Their slide show presentation holds the attention of the audience and converts any doubters that the subject matter is not only worthy of historical review but essential to understanding an important aspect of Nevada and national history."
— Mary Ellen Conaway, Director, Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center

“The McGees’ slide show presentation of THE DIVORCE SEEKERS was one of the more interesting, informative and entertaining programs that the museum has hosted. The heretofore little-known story of the 'divorce ranches' is also covered in their book by the same name--a treasure trove of photographs depicting life and times at these Nevada institutions during the 1940s and ‘50s. Bill McGee’s knowledge of the era is encyclopedic-–after all, he was there! The book is highly recommended.”
—John Frink, Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City, NV

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WHAT OUR READERS ARE SAYING…

“THE DIVORCE SEEKERS is not only a fascinating memoir, richly evocative of its time and place, but it is also the best book yet about Nevada's famous dude-divorce ranch business.”
—Eric Moody, Nevada Historical Society, Reno, NV

“Bill and Sandra McGee recount a magical (and untold) story of Nevada during the 1940s-1950s, the good old, bad old days of Café Society. This book is an absolute must for any western, literary or social historian’s bookshelf. Not unlike Mark Twain’s recounting of his own Nevada days, Bill’s stories are “filled to the brim with the wine of life.” (Mark Twain letter to Robert Fulton, May 24, 1905.)
—Andria Daley-Taylor, biographer of Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg,

“We were always a bit jealous of dude wranglers. What was really going on in those dude ranches? And wouldn't that be the job for a young fella like me? THE DIVORCE SEEKERS is a wonderful sharing of an inside perspective. The internal working of the dude ranches was something we, as locals, along with the rest of the nation, were extremely curious about. Real cowhands, famous Hollywood actors, high-ranking politicians, the business powerful, the low profile rich, the watering holes, and the special sightseeing areas. It's all here with the best of photos and the colorful commentary that brings them to LIFE. A must read for its entertainment and historical value."
—Neal Cobb, Sheriff, Westerners International Nevada Corral

“THE DIVORCE SEEKERS is delightful reading about bygone times and glamorous people, but it is also a valuable history of a unique epoch of the West.”
—Barnaby Conrad, author of Matador and Last Boat to Cadiz

"The dude ranch culture seems now like part of a bygone culture, although perhaps it isn't. It feels like a past more colorful than the present (but most everything is these days). I can't think of it now without envisioning Clark Gable meeting a new divorcée or two beneath the tall pines, and romance developing. It was a special culture where marriages ended and new romances began. Maybe today no one needs to get away to get divorced; they just divorce. But certainly Nevada as a place to split, is a legend of our time."
—Charles Champlin, former film critic and Arts Editor of the Los Angeles Times 

“We are thrilled that Bill and Sandra McGee have documented the Flying M E’s robust history in what is now the most complete history known to exist. THE DIVORCE SEEKERS will have a special place in our home for all of our guests to view."
—Norman and Rhonda Azevedo, current owners of the Flying M E, Franktown, NV

“The McGees have combined personal memoirs with extensive interviews and historical research, and have uncovered hitherto unknown information and photos. Growing up in Washoe Valley, I can say that the divorcés themselves contributed to our community. Many of them were from the East and they either stayed when they came here, or returned with their spouses to make a life here. Our community was vastly enriched by their presence because they helped found institutions or contributed to the arts in many ways. Our ranch and our lives were very much enriched by having divorcés come here. Now, with the McGee’s new book, we will have new information to bring to our discussions.”
—Tina Bundy Nappe, grew up on the Bundy Ranch, Washoe Valley, NV

“What an attractively packaged, fascinating story. I’ll bet that my dear, departed sister, Valerie, is rejoicing that her photographs and prose are contributing to the McGees’ sparkling saga of a unique era of Nevada history.”
—George A. Vondermuhll Jr., Bloomfield, CT

"THE DIVORCE SEEKERS contributes in its own fascinating way to the culture of America's post-World War II period. The research and photos are priceless."
—Janice Goodhue, Reno, NV (The Goodhue story is featured in Chapter 36, "Eastern Gentleman Weds Western Lady.")

“The TH Ranch history is exciting, well done and very accurate. I’m looking forward to reading about the other dude ranches.”
—Jack Horgan, current owner, TH Ranch, Sutcliffe, NV

“THE DIVORCE SEEKERS was a book waiting to be written about an era that will never be repeated and will go down in history as one of Nevada’s fascinations. The McGees’ research, stories, and photographs are priceless Nevada history.”
—JohnD and Kay Winters, Ophir Mill Ranch, Dayton, NV

“Bill and Sandra McGee accurately portray the otherworldly, crazy, emotional yet refined scene that I found at Joan and Harry Drackerts' Silver Circle Ranch in the early 1970s. Nevada divorce ranches were truly a unique and fascinating slice of western Americana—never seen before, or since.”
—Don Ross, St. Helena, CA

“THE DIVORCE SEEKERS is not only entertaining, it is historical, and it portrays a fascinating era—national and international in scope—which was here, is now gone, but will never be forgotten.”
—Harry B. Swanson, Attorney at Law (Retired), Reno, NV

“My parents, Michael and Ruth Demas, met at the Flying M E. My mother was staying at the dude ranch waiting for a divorce, and soon after her divorce was final, she married my father. Your book gives me insight into a time in my parents’ lives that I did not know, and want to learn more about.”
—Nikki M. Demas-Butz, Carson City, NV

"Chapter 16, ‘Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg, Enterprising Journalists,’ recounting the early days of my brother and Lucius Beebe, brought back vivid memories of my first visit with them in Virginia City in 1949. I had been curious about the dude ranches we drove by in Washoe Valley and now at last, thanks to Bill McGee's remarkable reminiscences, we can learn what really went on there…and it promises to be very entertaining reading."
—Ann Clegg Holloway, Virginia City, NV

"There's one less hole in the Nevada bookshelf and now it's filled with gold (or silver). THE DIVORCE SEEKERS captures one of the last great glimmers of Nevada's history."
—Paul Cirac, 5th generation Nevadan, Virginia City, NV

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WORKSHOP SEMINARS

“I would like to thank Norwegian Cruise Line for inviting the McGee’s to lead a book publishing seminar, HOW TO WRITE & SELF-PUBLISH YOUR BOOK. I had my manuscript with me on the cruise; however, I did not know this seminar was going to be offered. So imagine my delight when I found two people who were definitely experts. William and Sandra were superb. They have given me the confidence to finish my book and get it published.”
—C. Grayer, CAGS Enterprises, GA

“I submitted a rather lengthy comment on the cruise evaluation sheet stating how much I enjoyed the McGee’s four part seminar, HOW TO WRITE & SELF-PUBLISH YOUR BOOK, and would highly recommend them for future cruises. The McGee’s presented a clear plan for all those who hope to write and self-publish. I believe that most of us have a book inside us and with skilled training, such as the McGee’s have, it can come to realization. Even though my son and I have ‘been there and done it,’ I learned a great deal from Bill and Sandra’s extensive writing and self-publishing experience.”
—COL (Ret) W. T. Coffey Sr., co-author More…Patriot Hearts