Possum Trot: The Life and Work of Calvin Black, 1903-1972

[OneBadCoach]

Sometimes, patrollin' the Mojave makes you wish for a nuclear winter.

[xabixnaq]

I knew Cal and Ruby. I lived in the place behind them in my early twenties. You can see my old place in the areal shot at the beginning of this "trailer". The actual film is longer. The place is gone now. Only charred wood and heaps of sand. The dolls are being sold for big bucks- the last on on eBay for 93,000 dollars. Cal wanted them all burned.

He was once bitten by a rattler and lay in a coma for a month. Oh the stories and memories. I have about 2o photos of the place.

[sunshine021453]

@xabixnaq I would be so interested in your photos and any stories about Calvin and Ruby. I only find out about the film and everything November 27, 2010. I am the daughter of Calvin youngest brother,Jimmie Black, I only hear very few stories about him because I was very young.

[shf84]

@xabixnaq

There was a store across from Calvin's place owned by a man named Handel I believe.

[xabixnaq]

@shf84 I don't remember any store. The closest store was in Yermo as I recall. Maybe this store was before or after my time there.

[gnatpiz]

Friends and I found Ruby back in the mid 70's and photographed her for college projects. I have a number of B&W pix of her and Possum Trot.

I also make sure that when I travel to Las Vegas, I stop and tend their grave. I took some biker friends there and at first they thought I was nuts, but they all enjoyed the story and the grave tending. I have pis of that too.

[shf84]

I'm interested in starting a Calvin Black group on Yahoo groups where we can go to reminisce about Calvin and the Possum Trot If any one is interested I'll start it up. Yahoo groups is fun you can post photos stories etc and new messages can be sent to your e mail box when someone posts you can answer right from your e mail as well if you choose.

[shf84]

My parents knew Calvin and Ruby back when I was like 6 or 10 they were over to the possum trot a lot. The red tuck at the beginning when they zoom in is my dad's old dodge. Me and my sister grew up in the desert around Barstow in travel trailers with no electricity or running water. I remember that black dog, I petted that dog a number of times. Ruby said it could jump really high about to a persons waist. all four feet leaving the ground.

[sunshine021453]

@shf84 just let me know if you start a Calvin Black group, because I am Calvin's niece ahere in TEnnessee

[shf84]

@sunshine021453

Haven't started the group because no one seems to be interested, I do remember the possum trot though, the red truck in the video was my dad's dodge before we got our blue D200 dodge pickup, Calvin's old Willys panel truck was broken down even back then though it did run early on.

I am in the process of researching designing a wind car that uses a Calvin Black style vertical turbine. The reason being that the car should drive no matter which way you point it.

[amboysaltus]

I remember this place as a kid. It was on the road up to Calico Ghost Town. I always tried to get my dad to stop there. He would step on the gas.

[chappybolo]

@amboysaltus haha I happened to watch this video and There you are haha.

[xabixnaq]

@amboysaltus

Have you lived in Amboy?

[midgenesmith]

Ruby Ross Black' sister, Bertha Ross Almond was our neighbor (& distant cousin). Cal & Ruby brought part of there show here in the early 70's

[magicwill25]

That place looks kinda creepy.

[shf84]

@magicwill25 It was kind of different but it never came across as creepy. I remember it was really run down and had a certain smell to it old, but not musty because in the desert it's just to dry for that.

[TheRenegadePriest]

WHY DID you remove your comment?

Was it not true?

I am confused.

[TheRenegadePriest]

Who is singing?

[room7609]

@TheRenegadePriest

Calvin Black is giving voice to the dolls and singing

[stellabelle]

This is fantastico!!!!