EPISODE · May 12, 2026 · 1H 6M
The Legend of Billy The Kid: Murder, Myth and Reality in the Old West
from History's Devils · host James Crossland
In this episode, James is joined by Jem Duducu (author of The History of the Western Movie) to tell the story of a teenage gunslinger who became a legendary figure wrapped in folklore, media exaggeration, and historical debate – Billy the Kid.Tracing the story of Billy’s criminal career and involvement in the Lincoln County War, we discuss how Hollywood films and pop culture transformed a young outlaw into a Wild West icon, generating the myth that he somehow survived his deadly encounter with the lawman Pat Garrett in 1881, and went on to live into the 1950s as a mysterious drifter and adventurer named Brushy Bill Roberts.This episode is perfect for fans of true crime, American history, film history and Wild West legends. Whether you're curious about outlaw myths, frontier justice, or the real story behind Billy the Kid, you’ll discover surprising facts, historical insights, and the truth behind the legend. Check out Jem’s book – The History of the Western MovieFollow Jem @jemduducuThanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween"Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevilshttps://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/On Substackhttps://jamescrossland.substack.com/Follow JAMES CROSSLANDOn Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.socialTag HISTORY's DEVILS@historysdevils#HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #Podcast #History #DarkHistory #HistoricalBiography #TrueHistory #HistoryDocumentary #Deepdive #Storytelling History's Devils is a history podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures.History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of:Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce LockhartThe Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism...
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In this episode, James is joined by Jem Duducu (author of The History of the Western Movie) to tell the story of a teenage gunslinger who became a legendary figure wrapped in folklore, media exaggeration, and historical debate – Billy the Kid. Tracing the story of Billy’s criminal career and involvement in the Lincoln County War, we discuss how Hollywood films and pop culture transformed a young outlaw into a Wild West icon, generating the myth that he somehow survived his deadly encounter wi...
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The Legend of Billy The Kid: Murder, Myth and Reality in the Old West
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