Down and Out, But Not for Long!

       Spencer Hastings, Guest Contributor

In this story, Zane was married to an Asian woman, Alice. The couple had two young children, a boy and a girl. One morning, Alice answered the door to find the local “peace” officers standing there to arrest her for miscegenation.* As she was being handcuffed, Zane, the loyal ranch foreman and devoted husband and father, came running to her rescue. He was overtaken, beaten senseless and left for dead in front of his kids. Alice was taken off to jail.

This original sad tragedy was the third episode in Season 2 of the miniseries, Yellowstone 1923 which aired March 16, 2025 and titled Journey the Rivers of Iron.

In the fourth episode, Alice lingers in jail and Zane, now paralized from the waste down and unable to walk, is held in a “home” confinement hotel room, unable to care for himself. Jacob Dutton, anxious to come to the aid of his favorite ranch hand, confronts the county judge who was to preside over Alice's trial. After he realizes the good judge drinks forbidden alcohol (it's Proibition afterall in the United States at that time), he secures the release of Alice and Zane through a little extortion. After Alice's release, Jacob eventually gets their family back to his large ranch house, barely surviving a terrible blizzard on the way.

When a doctor makes a house call at the Dutton Ranch for a different reason, Jacob asks him to take a look at Zane who is still bedridden. The doc determines that Zane has swelling of the brain and will not survive much longer with out immediate hospitalization, the only place having resources to relieve the growing pressure. He needs to get to a major hospital immediately. This is impossible because roads and railroads are still closed due to the recent blizzard and large snow drifts blocking most travel.

The doctor informs the family that he has a drill, such as it is, but little anesthetic. But it is the only possible solution if Zane is to live. Still there is no guarantee that he will live let alone ever walk again. The decision is made to proceed.

So, Zane is undressed laid out in his union suit and socks on a bed to keep warm. 

 

He is strapped down as the doc prepares to get to work.  Special wooden blocks had been built to hold Zane's head steady during the procedure. Leather straps added to the bed frame to assist Jacob and his nephew, Jake Dutton, to firmly hold down Zane's head and body. 

  

With the straps secured and the head restraints fitted, the doctor and men are ready for emergency brain surgery.  The Duttons hold Zane straight and tightly so he doesn't inadvertently strain against the straps.

  

  

 

The doc places a rag drenched in chloroform over Zane's nose and mouth to put him under..... 

The family doctor becomes a surgeon as he reaches for antiseptic for cleaning the top of his shaved head and next his hand-cranked drill...The desperate work begins.

 

To Zane's great discomfort, the chloroform does not last through the operation. He wakes up screaming! But Jacob and Jake with all their strength hold him down and steady while the job is finished. But will it be successful? 

After a bit, the straps are loosened and taken off. Jacob assists Zane in setting up....carefully and slowly:  

  

Zane tells the men the pressure is subsiding. They want to see if he is able to stand. Will the release of the pressure on his brain result in him no longer being paralyzed?  

 

He is able to successfully stand and walk a few steps in his socks and long underwear with a large bandage wound around his head.  

 

   

Zane is anxious to see his wife, Alice, who has been through so much! Jacob is not so sure as he is still unsteady.  

 

The stressed out doc, pulls a bottle of prohibited booze from his medical bag for a shot. 

Clothes are too difficult for Zane, so Jacob throws a blanket around his shoulders and leads him outside in his union suit into the freezing cold where Cara is comforting Alice... 

 

The wives are surprised to see Zane up and around so soon after the procedure. But, so thankful!

 

Brian Geragty, Hollywood Actor

Brian Geraghty, American Actor, Age 51  

On set Yellowstone 1923

* Miscegenation refers to the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, relationships, sexual relations.

Thanks to Paramount+ and the cast and crew of a great western U.S. series.

Down and Out, But Not for Long!

Last week, I heard again from friend and union suit wearer, Spencer Hastings. He was a "Guest Contributor" in past years to my companion blog, Union Suit Fan. His memorable contributions included Abe's Long Underwear which ran on August 20, 2023. And an article about Grant Wood, American artist, who had created a 1939 lithograph, Midnight Alarm. This one of a farmer descending the stairs late one night in his union suit was featured on April 4, 2018. The long underwear clad farmer was followed up by postings of other Wood creations, including one on April 20, 2018 of native Americans stealing union suits from a pioneer woman's make shift clothes line.

This time around, Spencer is recommending a classic televison series to us.... 

Chris: Back in June, 2018, a superb television show, Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner, began a multi-decade run, including two “prequels,” Yellowstone 1883 and Yellowstone 1923. I didn't miss a single episode. I dutifully recorded the ones I otherwise may have missed because like millions of Americans, I followed the lives of the Dutton family from the time they journeyed west to Montana. I believe the prequels were even better than the original show.  

The story is of these travelers, settlers, and finally a prestigious family overcoming great perils that could have consumed them. Through perseverance they became very powerful Montana land owners in the 1920's.

For Union Suit Fans, like you and me, I've pulled out one scene of loyal ranch foreman, Zane Davis, played by actor, Brian Geragty. He worked for Jacob Dutton, Yellowstone ranch owner starring Harrison Ford in this period drama. Jacob's wife, Cara played outstandingly by Helen Merrin, deserves special mention. She is one of the greatest actresses ever to grace large and small screenes. She was vital in the success of this exceptional story. Yellowstone 1923 was created and written by Taylor Sheridan and co-directed by Ben Richardson and Guy Ferland. The production companies include Bosque Ranch Productions, Linson Entertainment, 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios. This drama aired from December 18, 2022 through April 6, 2025 on Paramount+.  

Zane had been beaten and left for dead in Yellowstone 1923's second season. Boss man, Jacob Dutton, rescued Zane, bringing him and his family back to the ranch for recovery. But life for Zane just became worse....

After reading Spencer's email, I was so interested that I asked him if he would review the aforementioned episode of Yellowstone as a guest contributor to Union Suit Fans in the Limelight. He consented. 

So look for the trials and tribulations of ranch foreman, Zane Davis, in next week's blog. After which, I'm betting you'll want to see this prequel and the Yellowstone trilogy....Chris

 

Hunting deer in his Union Suit ...Coming in July, Watch for It!

Belgians In Heaven, Really?! 

This past week I received an email with photos from Jacob of Madison, Wisconsin who told me he recently discovered my blogs, Union Suit Fan and Union Suit Fans in the Limelight.  Jacob mentioned he's 25 years old and has been wearing union suits himself since the age of 10. 

In his correspondence, he inquired if I would be interested in a musical he had attended, popular near his hometown. It featured two brothers who were farmers. One of whom, particularly, was partial to red union suits. So much so, he always wore one under his overalls.  

Jacob sent me a couple scenes from the American Folklore Theatre in Peninsula State Park, Wisconsin. The Book and Lyrics are by Lee Becker and Frederick Heide; Music by Frederick Heide and James Kaplan. The setting is of Southern Door County's Belgian community.  

The two brothers in this popular show, Roger and Leo, are Wisconsin farmers who can not get along with each other. Their personalities being so different, they bicker, complain and downright dislike one another. The show also features a couple of angels, a talking chicken, St. Peter and a couple of other folks. I was able to find more photos from this musical which has had a long run at the American Folklore theater.

In short the brothers end up in heaven, hence the title of this show. No surprise there. One of the brothers is reduced to just his union suit underwear up in heaven. By the conclusion of Belgians in Heaven, the boys relationship has been mended and they acturally see value in each other. 

  

 

 

It's not long before Leo loses his overalls! 

 

And bewildered, realizes he ends up in Heaven wearing only his union suit underwear, boots and a hat! 
 

 

 

  

 

  Thanks to the production company, theatre, 

cast and crew of Belgians in Heaven!