Wild Wilde West

Wild Wilde West celebrates Denver and Colorado history, with special emphasis on some of its notable characters and one of Denver's most noteworthy visitors.  In April of 1882, Oscar Wilde came to Denver to lecture on the European aesthetics movement; this tour was funded by Gilbert and Sullivan to generate interest in their newest operetta, Patience. Wilde caused a stir wherever he went, starting with his quip upon disembarking in New York – when asked by the customs officer if he had anything to declare, Oscar replied, “I have nothing to declare but my genius."

While in Colorado, Oscar lectured in Denver, Leadville and Colorado Springs. He was welcomed at Union Station by such a large crowd of curious onlookers that it delayed his curtain time at the Tabor Grand Opera House by thirty minutes. When he lectured in Leadville several days later, he was hosted by Silver King Horace Tabor, who treated Oscar to a tour of Mineshaft No. 8 on Fryers Hill. 

When he returned to England, Wilde summed up his trip to Leadville and his tour of the Matchless Mine in his own words for his lectures Impressions of America: “I had hoped that in their grand simple way they would have offered me shares in “The Oscar" (a carbonate vein christened in honor of his visit), but in their artless untutored fashion they did not." And when Wilde was served supper at the bottom of the mine, he wrote, “The amazement of the miners when they saw that art and appetite could go hand in hand knew no bounds."  

Oscar Wilde, and his Leadville host Horace Tabor, believed that fortune is for the bold.  Each lived remarkable and charmed lives; and both of them faced great adversity and weathered tragic turns of fate. Wilde and Tabor embodied the great spirit necessary for exploring unknown frontiers. We hope this series of events and workshops represents a bit of that spirit of the Wild Wilde West as well.

Happy Trails!
Chris Loffelmacher & Audrey Sprenger
Fresh City Life

To purchase a limited edition signed print of Ed Adler's original work, Oscar Wilde in Denver (shown above), contact Dr. Audrey Sprenger at 720-865-1206. To see more of Adler's work, go to edadler.com or call 212-619-2480.

View the complete Wild Wilde West schedule (PDF).

Go to the Ed Adler page for details and an interview with the artist.

Pop Mythologies to Plato's Cave, (Which May or May Not Contain a Chicken), An Odyssey In Art: Ed Adler New Works - May 16

Wilde, Horses and Cowboys: Ed Adler Exhibit - May 17 - May 26

On the Trail of Oscar Wilde In Denver and Paris -
May 17

Beyond Words: The Art of Jack Kerouac and the Beat Generation - May 18

Go to the Thinkologies page for details.

American Girls Playing Cowboy - April 26

Scoundrels & Scallywags - April 28

The Second Mrs. Tabor: Floozy or Folk Heroine? - May 10 - Registration Required

The Buffalo Bill Nobody Knows - May 11

Go to the Wilde on Film page for details.

The Picture of Dorian Gray - May 4

The Canterville Ghost - May 11

Go to the The Reel West page for details.

The Ox-Bow Incident - April 29

Seven Men From Now - May 6

Winchester '73 - May 13

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - May 20

The Professionals - May 27

Go to the Augusta Tabor’s Mercantile page for details.

Rag Rugs - May 3 - This class is full, registration is closed.

Knit & Lit: Jim Lehrer's Eureka - May 5

Indian Market and Powwow - May 17 - 18

Spinning Wool Workshop - May 25 - This class is full, registration is closed.

Go to the Storytellers page for details.

Migration Patterns – Author Gary Schanbacher - April 28

Family Legacy Workshop - May 24 - Registration Required

Go to the Chuckwagon and Campfire page for details.

Blueberry Pudding and Frybread - May 3

Pioneer Foods From the Santa Fe Trail - May 10

Denver's Birthday Chuckwagon - May 24

Go to the Oscar in His Own Words page for details.

Wilde Lecture at Byers-Evans House - April 30 - Registration Required

Stories That Could Be True: Oscar Wilde's De Profundis - May 12

Go to The New West page for details.

Ramble Colorado with Eric Peterson - May 19

The Rocky Road to Nashville: Music Business Basics with Mark Bliesener - May 24

I Wanna be a Cowboy, and You Can be My Cowgirl: Rockmount Ranch Wear and Liberty Boot Company Exhibit - May 5 - 30

Call to filmmakers of every stripe! Make a short film that describes your world and your core values and upload it to our site, believe.denverlibrary.org and the whole world will see what you believe.

Partnering with Denver Open Media, and sponsored by Westword and Westwood College, Fresh City Life launches its newest interactive, community venture. Submit films beginning April 4. EyeBelieve Independent Filmmakers Festival will be held on September 26. Check out believe.denverlibrary.org for details, award information and an application.

View the EyeBelieve Photo Gallery as seen in Westword.

Check out these great classes hosted by our partner, Denver Open Media, to get you started making a standout short film. 

See a sneak preview of Carrier, a new, character-based PBS documentary that follows the crew of a nuclear aircraft carrier. The 10-part series follows characters from the admiral of the strike group to the fighter pilots to the youngest sailors as they navigate personal conflicts around their jobs, families, faith, patriotism, love, the rites of passage and the war on terror.

Tuesday, April 22, 7 - 9 p.m.
Central Library, Level B2 Conference Center

Thursday, April 24, 7 - 9 p.m.
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
7711 East Academy Blvd., Denver, CO 80230

View the complete Wild Wilde West schedule (PDF).

Join Fresh City Friends to support the 2007-2008 Fresh City Life classes and events.

In appreciation for your gift, you'll receive:

• Special recognition in the Fresh City Life brochures
• Invitations to VIP events
• Acknowledgment in the Annual Report

Fabulous Fresh City Friends $1,000+
Fresh City Friends $500+

Thank you to our first Fabulous Fresh City Friends, Steve Savageau and Reba Lee!

For membership information, contact Laurie Romer, Denver Public Library Friends Foundation, at LRomer@denverlibrary.org or call 720-865-2050.

For information about Corporate Sponsorship, contact Brenda Cook at 720-865-2046 or bcook@denverlibrary.org.