FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information: Ellen Sue Blakey, 307 864 3391

DIME NOVELS AT OLD WEST WAX MUSEUM
Thermopolis - Before the comic book, "dime novels" -- with their colorful cover art -- satisfied young readers' thirst for adventure, intrigue and mystery.

Examples, along with a history of their development, can be seen in "Dime Novels and Penny Dreadfuls," a new exhibit at the Old West Wax Museum.

From 1880 to 1916, the dime novels set the tone for the times -- hard work, honesty, and violence only when necessary. If this sounds like the formula for early movie days when good guys wore white hats and bad guys rode black horses, you're right. Dime novels set up the standard situations and characters that have been used in early radio programs, movies and novels -- from mystery and spy stories to Westerns. We owe the character of Buffalo Bill to the dime novels that embellished his exploits.
Dime novels were first printed in the 1860s when American cities filled up with poor immigrants from Europe. They learned to read in public schools, but there were no paperback books, and hardcover books were expensive. Most magazines appealed to middle and upper-middle classes.

Enter the dime novels. They were so successful that publishers were soon turning out a novel every week. Unfortunately, the novels were printed on high-acid paper that caused them to deteriorate rapidly. Today, few are to be found in good condition.
The exhibit discusses the impact of new technology on the development of the new medium.

The display is sponsored by Big Horn Basin Foundation and Dancing Bear Folk Center. The Old West Wax Museum complex is open daily 10 am-5 pm.