Just read a article in the Spring edition "Guns of the Old West" In a article by Jack Lewis it claims that Iron Eyes Cody the indian who did the commercial with the tear from his eye for the "Keep America Beautiful Campaign." was not a Indian at all but a Italian from Louisiana. (Born in 1904 and Christened Esperea De Corti) Iron Eyes played the fake for 8 decades and was a indian in movies and TV westerns. The truth came out in a newspaper article (New Orleans Times-Picayune) 3 years before his death in 1996. Cody died in 1999 at the age of 94. While a lot of white men portrayed indians in the movies and on tv you could sense that they were not indians and some of them were really noticeable. Not Cody he looked indian and played indian right to a T! The article stated that while some indians who worked for the movies and TV knew Cody was not a indian they never told his secret to the public. Cody lived his part to the fullest and was probably more indian in spirit than some indians. He took a indian wife and adoped 2 indian children to raise as his own. I found this interesting as he had me fooled I figured he was a indian in every thing I saw him play in. SO I thought I would just pass it on. Jim
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Iron Eyes a Fake
- Thread starter jh45gun
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I had read that some time ago that "Iron Eyes" was not an indian. I believe I read that he was adopted into one of the known tribes, (which one I don't recall), for his work and I'm sure he felt honored about that... It would not be the first time a "non indian" was adopted into the indian culture through honorary achivement's...
Still,,, some may look at his portraying an indian as living a big lie by keeping it a secret??? I think he lived as what he felt was right to him and the people he chose to portray. I don't ever recall seeing him diminishing the indian race, and you can't say that about everyone whose ever played an indian on T.V., or in the movies...
Still,,, some may look at his portraying an indian as living a big lie by keeping it a secret??? I think he lived as what he felt was right to him and the people he chose to portray. I don't ever recall seeing him diminishing the indian race, and you can't say that about everyone whose ever played an indian on T.V., or in the movies...
The Eastern Indian standard for adoption is far different from our legal standards today.
As mentioned earlier, James Smith was captured (during Braddocks field trip) and had the "white" washed from his blood. Robert Kirk(wood) of the 77th Montgomery Highlander was dressed as an Indian and had his hair plucked and face painted. He made no mention of the bath in his memoirs (oversight or embarassment?). Still, once adopted into the tribe (generally as a substitute for a lost relative), the individual was considered a full fledged member and had the rights and privileges of any natural born member of the tribe. That adoption was open to all races is evidenced by the "renegade Negro" Pompey who was adopted by the Shawnee and took part in the Siege of Boonesboro.
If I were to apply contemporary thinking, I would say that the Eastern Indian method is more liberal than what an immigrant to this country must undergo today.
As mentioned earlier, James Smith was captured (during Braddocks field trip) and had the "white" washed from his blood. Robert Kirk(wood) of the 77th Montgomery Highlander was dressed as an Indian and had his hair plucked and face painted. He made no mention of the bath in his memoirs (oversight or embarassment?). Still, once adopted into the tribe (generally as a substitute for a lost relative), the individual was considered a full fledged member and had the rights and privileges of any natural born member of the tribe. That adoption was open to all races is evidenced by the "renegade Negro" Pompey who was adopted by the Shawnee and took part in the Siege of Boonesboro.
If I were to apply contemporary thinking, I would say that the Eastern Indian method is more liberal than what an immigrant to this country must undergo today.
if he did it with respect to the people and there culture i don't see anything wrong with what he did....just look at history and what the white man did that to them that are in the history books that is documented....you could just call it what he did as "reanacting" so to speek....but did it to honor them.....thats my story and i'm sticking to it........................bob
I believe he deeply respected the Native American, he didn't just play the part for 50+ years, he lived it...
He was a great spokesman for the American Indian, and the fact that he was not born a Native American does not diminish the image he devoted his life's work to lift...
He was a great spokesman for the American Indian, and the fact that he was not born a Native American does not diminish the image he devoted his life's work to lift...
musketman,
The pictures of "Iron Eyes" you have posted would lead me to believe his "persona" was that of the plains indian... Sioux or possibly, Northern Cheyenne? Both, Sioux and Cheyenne cultures were so close as I understand it, that there is hardly any difference between the two tribes...
Those are nice pictures!
The pictures of "Iron Eyes" you have posted would lead me to believe his "persona" was that of the plains indian... Sioux or possibly, Northern Cheyenne? Both, Sioux and Cheyenne cultures were so close as I understand it, that there is hardly any difference between the two tribes...
Those are nice pictures!
I wonder if his Father or Mother was Italian, and the other a Cree-Cherokee??? I believe the Cree was a northern tribe weren't they, before being moved to, Oklahoma??? Somehow he was conected to the Italian race as evident with the picture of the, Pope... Further research is required...
Just wondering, does it matter if he was an Indian or not?
It's what he represented that really matters, he is/was an American icon, just like the Statue of Liberty, another American icon... (who was made in Paris by the French sculptor Bartholdi, in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel.)
What he stood for and has done with his life outweighs his nationality, he was, and still is an American Indian in my book...
It's what he represented that really matters, he is/was an American icon, just like the Statue of Liberty, another American icon... (who was made in Paris by the French sculptor Bartholdi, in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel.)
What he stood for and has done with his life outweighs his nationality, he was, and still is an American Indian in my book...
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Even today if you marry into one of our nations and live on a rez you are usually given a tribal card stating membership from that nation. If at later time you are adopted by a given family you become a clan member and are as one of us even as much as to have full say even in many of the enter- tribles
Most walk lightly for a time though LMAO
I always understood "eyes " to be of mixed birth. I heard him speak one time at a rally in the mid 70"s.
If he was a relative or not dose not really mater, he was in spirit ,was a strong man and one of us, maybe more so
Most walk lightly for a time though LMAO
I always understood "eyes " to be of mixed birth. I heard him speak one time at a rally in the mid 70"s.
If he was a relative or not dose not really mater, he was in spirit ,was a strong man and one of us, maybe more so
So, was he performing "Living History" or was he "Reenacting?"
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well mmmmmm i would have to say that while he was dressed up, he was reenacting. when he was looking at all the garbage or speaking out he was living history
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