Searching for Artemus Gordon

Conventional wisdom is that the 19th Century West was a time and region of extraordinary violence and lawlessness. But was it? If you listen to numerous researchers who've studied the topic at great length, the answer would be, no; that land clubs, private protection agencies, mining associations, and various other formal and informal institutions (all of which were PRIVATE) were more than enough to keep the peace and resolve disputes (threats of ostracism apparently enough).........................................................................................So, then how did this asinine myth of the wild, wild west ever get started? I mean, is the thing simply a Hollywood phenomenon? I would probably have to say, no (that it isn't SIMPLY a Hollywood phenomenon), and point instead to a couple of other factors; a) that the view securely fits the progressive narrative of humans in a constant state of anarchy and hence utterly needful of a strong state to restrain them and b) the harsh reality that there actually WAS violence but that the violence was perpetrated not by the citizens but by the government in their war of extermination on the plains Indians (this, to clear them out for the railroads).........................................................................................I mean, I know that this all kind of disappointing on a number of levels for folks but, hey, you can still watch "Shane", "Red River", "The Wild Bunch", and "The Magnificent Seven" and nobody's really gonna crucify you for it. I sure as hell wouldn't.