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"Chief Thundercloud" at Frontier City at Virginia Beach, Va.
L. Douglas Waldorf performed as "Chief Thundercloud" in the Western Theme Park "Frontier City" at Virginia Beach, Virginia in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Here, as "Chief Thundercloud," L. Douglas Waldorf became one of America's top Wild West performers, excelling in trick and fancy horseback riding. L. Douglas Waldorf, as "Chief Thundercloud," was equally skilled in tricks with bullwhips, performing with two 16-foot whips, one in each hand. He also did trick shooting with rifle, pistol and bow and arrow. Thousands of spectators held their breath as he threw 12 inch long steel knives within inches of a young girl standing in front of a large circular target. The Skicoak Indian Dancers were employed and performed authentic Native American Dances.
L. Douglas Waldorf, as "Chief Thundercloud" seated on his horse "Chief" in front on the "Long Horn Saloon" at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia in the late 1950's and early 1960's. The Caption of this photo as it appeared in a local newpaper reads: "EARLY AMERICAN"--A French sailor meets one of the original Americans at the Wild West Show at Frontier City. Accustomed to the Hollywood version of Americana, the Frenchman felt at home at the reproduced western town."
L. Douglas Waldorf, as "Chief Thundercloud" looks into the spring that flowed between the Old West Town and the Indian Village at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia in the late 1950's and early 1960's.
L. Douglas Waldorf, as "Chief Thundercloud," in full dress costume, introduces to the spectators the Skicoak Indian Dancers as they await to perform an authentic Native American Dance at the Indian Village at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
L. Douglas Waldorf, as "Chief Thundercloud", in full dress costume, at the Indian Village at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" demonstrates his skill as he cracks two 16' bullwhips over his head, one in each hand, one after the other, during the nightly rodeo at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia. As far as we know, no other Bullwhip Exhibitionist has ever accomplished this feat.
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" demonstrates his trick shooting skill with a pistol to a Scout Group. This exibition of shooting skill was also a featured part of the entertainment performed daily at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia. "Chief Thundercloud's" assistant is his daughter,"Wakea" - One Who Shoots, (Debbie Waldorf Norris).
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" takes aim with his pistol while holding his rifle as he performs his trick shooting act for a group of scouts. This exibition of shooting skill was also a featured part of the entertainment performed daily at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud," trick shooting with his pistol while holding his rifle, shoots a hunting knife which cuts the bullet in two and puts out the flame of two candles on each side of the hunting knife with only one shot, as he performs his trick shooting act for a group of scouts. This exibition of shooting skill was also a featured part of the entertainment performed daily at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" shows the open rifle to a group of scouts to prove to them that he is using "real bullets" during a trick shooting exhibition. This exibition of shooting skill was also a featured part of the entertainment performed daily at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" shoots an aspirin ("because this trick gives me a headache") with his rifle upside down on his head as he performs his trick shooting act for a group of scouts. This exibition of shooting skill was also a featured part of the entertainment daily performed in the nightly rodeo at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" throws knives at "Betty White Dove"(Betty Counts Cornwell), one of the Skicoak Indian Dancers, during his famous knife throwing act performed at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In all the performances over the years they never had an accident, except once, when the knife came so close it pinned the sleeve of "Betty White Dove's" dress to the target. "Betty White Dove" looked at the knife, looked at "Chief Thundercloud" and said "That's close enough, Chief." "Betty White Dove" was only upset about the cut in her sleeve. "Chief Thundercloud's" reputation followed him for years, and in 2003 L. Douglas Waldorf was inducted into the International Knifethrowers Hall of Fame, in Austin, Texas. In 2004, when "Betty White Dove" (Betty Counts Cornwell) was asked why she volunteered to stand before the target and allow L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" to throw knives at her, she simply replied, "Because I trusted him".
The Skicoak Indian Dancers performed Authentic Native American Dances every hour each day to large crowds of spectators at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The Mandan at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia housed exhibits for the public to view as well as the live snakes used by the Skicoak Indian Dancers when performing the Snake Dance.
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" "smokes the peacepipe" at the fireplace in the Mandan at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
"Chief Thundercloud", L. Douglas Waldorf, and "Gwen Spotted Fawn", one of the Skicoak Indian Dancers, by the fireplace in the Mandan Exhibit at the Indian Village of Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Mandan contained exhibits of the Native Americans of the Plains.
This portion of the Mandan Exhibit at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia features a Papoos board in which the Native American mothers of the plains kept their babies, allowing the Native American mothers to work with their hands free, keeping their babies on their backs, or sometimes hanging from a tree or post as seen here. "Chief Thundercloud's" war bonnet is seen hanging behind the papoos, and "Gwen Spotted Fawn" is in the center rear perpared to answer the visitors' questions.
The Mandan Exhibits in the Indian Village at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The Mandan Exhibits in the Indian Village at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The Mandan Exhibits in the Indian Village at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Frontier City was a favorite Amusement Park featuring an Old West Town and was visited by many people in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Frontier City was located in Virginia Beach, VA and brought the Old West to life for many visitors, young and old alike. Frontier City featured not only the Old West Town, complete with saloon, sheriff's office and jail, hourly street gun fights, stage coach rides, train rides, and horseback rides; but an Indian Village as well. The Indian Village featured a Mandan full of exhibits (including the Bull Snakes, Black Snakes, and Diamond Back Water Snakes used in the Snake Dance), Tipi's, Indian Dances, Indian Colored Sand Paintings, and much more; all presided over by Chief Thundercloud, (L. Douglas Waldorf) assisted by the Skicoak Indian Dancers.
Some of the Skicoak Indian Dancers on the street of Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia. L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" is center.
The Skicoak Indian Dancers performed authentic Native American dances hourly each day at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia. L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" beats the drum at the entrance to the Mandan, with his son, "Chosatonga"-meaning Little Big Man" (Ivan Roderick Waldorf) at his side (upper left).
One of the Skicoak Indian Dancers prepares to dance the Snake Dance as he calms the live snake in this hands by one of the Tipis at the Indian Village of Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" poses before the "Covered Wagon" backdrop at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The "Covered Wagon" Photo was a popular with the visitors of Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia in the late 1950's and early 1960's.
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" poses with a young man visiting Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Young and old alike enjoyed visiting "the old west" at Frontier City.
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" takes a moment to reflect standing beside one of the Tipi's at the Indian Village of Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Notice the Eagle Wing fan in Chief Thundercloud's hand.
L. Douglas Waldorf as "Chief Thundercloud" visits with a young man visiting Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The bridge between the Indian Village and the Old West Town at Frontier City in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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