The Straight Shooter
Joe Bowman

A video review by "The Durango Kid"
SASS Badge #66592

Do you still have an affection for the days of growing up at the Saturday Matinees watching all of those Cowboy Heroes that helped form our childhood ideas of the "Code of the West?" What great screen heroes they were, and O'Boy, the Flashy Outfits they wore! On screen they rarely missed a shot from the hip and they were faster with a six gun than a meanest gunslinger. In real life I expect some of them weren't too good with a Cold Shootin' Iron. Time has taken its toll and there are not many Silver Screen Cowboys left around anymore.

But Wait! There sure is! And he lives right here in Houston, Texas - the one and only "Straight Shooter" Joe Bowman! He is the best showman with a six gun that ever rode across the original Silver Screen. The reason is obvious when you see him shoot - and now you can. Joe finally has made his first VHS Video tape of fast and fancy shooting and film clips of his life. Along with a fine voice narration by Joe, it is complimented by an original western song by Rusty Richards of "The Sons of the Pioneers," this background music almost brings a nostalgic tear to your eye.

"The Straight Shooter" depicts Joe currently shooting and spinning his six guns and intersperses clips from the past when he was (and still is) "The Ambassador of Goodwill for the State of Texas." He travels by requests to shoot for Kings, Queens, and Government Leaders world wide. He has been involved with Hollywood, teaching movie stars gun handling and shooting techniques since the close of World War II. Since Joe came out of the front line combat with two Bronze Stars, one Purple Heart and four Battle Stars with a Combat Infantry Badge. The movie folks have listened to him!

A vintage clip of Joe, shooting at the Houston Rodeo a few years back is really worth seeing to note the difference in public sentiment on shooting events in those days.

This is not a "How To Shoot" film. It is an hour and a quarter of what Joe does best - shoot! At the end of the film you come away knowing who Joe Bowman is, and you feel good about it and want to see it again and again.

"The Straight Shooter" is a documentary that touches all people - women, children and most of all, not-gun people. This is one of my many reasons he was twice nominated for the prestigious "American Outstanding Hand Gunner Award." I previewed it with a close friend who has no use for guns. He loved it and enthusiastically asked for a copy of it for his children. Soon after, he called me to say he saw it again with his wife. He explained that his wife was so enthused, she wanted him to introduce her to Joe. So men, if you see the show at home, be sure you are ready to calm down your wife - because Joe Bowman is not a movie image - "he is real!"