WIKI TIKI WEDNESDAY - THE BARON OF ARIZONA

When I wrote up the similarities between episodes of 'Maverick' ("The Marquesa") and 'Bonanza' ("The Spanish Grant"), I claimed the story of "Anastasia" was the inspiration for both script writers.  However, I remembered seeing the story of James Addison Reavis dramatized in two unconnected episodes of 'Death Valley Days' and I think now that this was the original influence, but influenced by the movie.

'DEATH VALLEY DAYS'
"THE BARON OF ARIZONA"
[Season 4, Episode 11]

From the IMDb:
Two Arizona newspaper men have doubts when a Spanish gentleman claims to own millions of acres in the territory. His papers date to colonial times appearing authentic but Tom is determined to prove fraud.

IMDb trivia: Based on the true life exploits of adventurer, forger, and convicted swindler, James Addison Reavis, this subject would be revisited in the 1968 episode "The Pieces of the Puzzle", with Robert Taylor playing the Reavis role.

"THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE"
[Season 16, Episode 25]

From the IMDb:
"The Baron of Arizona," James Reavis, files a claim against the government.

IMDb trivia: This subject was also covered some twelve years previous in this series, in the February 6, 1956 episode, "The Baron of Arizona".

O'BSERVATION 1: Robert Taylor, who was hosting 'Death Valley Days' at the time, played the role of Reavis in this second episode.

O'BSERVATION 2: 'Death Valley Days', like 'The Twilight Zone' in being an anthology series which isn't always taking place in the dimension of Earth Prime-Time.  These two episodes are a good example.  The first one, "The Baron of Arizona", takes place in the main Toobworld.  "The Pieces of the Puzzle" takes place in Toobworld2, the Land O' Remakes.

Here's more about Reavis from Wikipedia:

James Addison Reavis (May 10, 1843 – November 27, 1914), later using the name James Addison Peralta-Reavis, the so-called Baron of Arizona, was an American forger and fraudster. He is best known in association with the Peralta land grant, also known as the Barony of Arizona, a pair of fraudulent land claims which, if certified, would have granted him ownership over 18,600 square miles (48,200 km2) of land in central Arizona Territory and western New Mexico Territory. During the course of the fraud, Reavis collected an estimated USD 5.3 million in cash and promissory notes ($156 million in present-day terms) through the sale of quitclaims and proposed investment plans.

Under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Gadsden Purchase, the United States was required to recognize and honor existing land grants made by either the Spanish or Mexican governments. Reavis utilized this provision by manufacturing a fictional claim and then generating a collection of documents demonstrating how the claim came into his possession. The documents were then covertly inserted into various records archives. In his initial claim, Reavis claimed title to the grant via a series of conveyances. When serious challenges to this claim developed, Reavis developed a second claim by marrying the purported last surviving lineal descendant of the original claim recipient.

During the course of his deception, Reavis managed to convince a number of prominent persons to support his efforts. He obtained legal and political support from Roscoe Conkling, Robert G. Ingersoll and James Broadhead. Business leaders such as Charles Crocker and John W. Mackay in turn provided financial support. Initial exposure of the fraud occurred when an unfavorable Surveyor General report caused the claim to be summarily dismissed. In response to this action, Reavis sued the U.S. government for US$11 million in damages ($324 million in present-day terms). The suit in turn prompted the U.S. government to perform a detailed investigation that fully exposed the forgeries Reavis had planted in a variety of locations.

Reavis' exploits have been dramatized, and highly fictionalized, in motion pictures and on television. A fraudulent land claim similar to the one created by Reavis was used as a plot device in the 1939 film The Night Riders.  Reavis' life served as the basis for "The Baron of Arizona", a 1950 movie in which Vincent Price played the title role. 

For more on Reavis, click here.

Happy trails!