top of page
COPYRIGHT MY MYSTERY PARTY.jpg

The presiding mayor of Gravestone, Arizona, must live in constant fear, for an unidentified killer has put bullet holes in the previous three sheriffs' backs. As a result, Gravestone is a lawless town run by a ruthless gang known as The Ranchers. 

The famous Wylie Arp retired early as the Duck City, Kansas, sheriff. Wylie is one of the most feared lawmen in the United States—a legend in his own right. He left his life as a law enforcer and traveled west toward Gravestone with his brothers and friends, planning to sink his life savings into a business in what he believed to be a quiet and safe town. He intended to live the rest of his days stress-free as a civilian, but little did he know what awaited him in Gravestone. 

The mayor caught wind of Wylie's arrival and immediately requested that Bella Starry invite the town for a celebration. The mayor hopes that Wylie and his brothers will consider taking over Gravestone's law enforcement. Moreover, with Wylie's untarnished reputation, the mayor hopes it will be easy for him to get The Ranchers under control - or, better yet - run them out of town.  

Wylie has a few days to settle in and get a feel for the town before everyone gathers for an exciting night at the Gravestone Saloon. Unfortunately, the sheriff's station is collecting dust, so it will be impossible to prevent The Ranchers or other outlaws from attending the event.

Not everything is doom and gloom, however. An elder in town has divulged that secret codes hidden around the city will lead to buried treasure in the Gravestone Cave on the outskirts of town. Many folks are already hunting for these codes but have yet to be discovered. The hunt has kept the outlaws busy, which has been good for the town.

Nevertheless, Bella Starry has an agenda to keep everyone happy during the gathering: festive beverages, delicious food, and a few Wild West party games. So, hopefully, everyone will keep their guns holstered and be on their best behavior. But the question is—will Wylie help Gravestone or slip away in the night to move on to the next town? 

You plan to attend the celebration at the Gravestone Saloon. This is where your story begins.

Guest List

 

Bella Starry

Waitress at the Gravestone Saloon

A recent widow, Bella Starry grew up on a Pug Valley farm in West Virginia. She was a member of the infamous Hatplain family amid a lethal feud over property lines with their Kentucky neighbors, the McToys.  On one side, Bella is an educated lady and an accomplished piano player. On her other side, she’s a notorious outlaw who has served time in federal prison for horse thievery and stagecoach robberies. After getting out of prison, Bella married a Native American man and lived with their tribe in Oklahoma. However, she was widowed soon afterward. She moved to Gravestone six months ago to get a fresh start. 

Suggested attire: A mock corset western saloon dress with a hair feather piece and Amelia black boots.  An alternative option is a western-style dress & cowboy hat/boots. A fake gun is an optional prop.

 

Wylie Arp

 Co-Owner of the Gravestone Saloon

An ex-lawman from Duck City, Wylie Arp recently moved to Gravestone with his brothers and long-time flame, Josephine Marco.  Wylie is a Civil War veteran who desperately needs a change of pace and a more relaxing way of life.  He recently gave up his twenty-year career as sheriff of Duck County to become the co-owner of the Gravestone Saloon. Wylie has made it clear that he doesn’t intend to be a lawman again.

Suggested attire: A black duster coat with a vest, a holster, and cowboy hats/boots. A (gunslinger) handlebar mustache is an optional accessory, and fake guns are optional props.

 

Josephine Marco

 California Gold Rush Entrepreneur & Girlfriend of Wylie Arp

Josephine Marco made a fortune as an entrepreneur in the California Gold Rush when she was only fifteen.  She later traveled in her stagecoach through the Wild West, searching for the next booming town. She eventually met her true love, Wylie Arp.  Ever since these two met, they’ve been inseparable. She’s the main reason Wylie left his career as the Duck City Sheriff. They moved to Gravestone to settle down, get married, and raise a family.

Suggested attire: Rhinestone western shirt, blue jeans, cowboy hat/boots. Gun holsters with fake guns as optional props.

 

Abby Oakley

 Exhibition Sharpshooter

Abby Oakley is a feisty exhibition sharpshooter in Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show. Known by her show's fans as Abby Sure Shot, she is rumored to be able to shoot the ashes off a cigar from across the room! However, Abby has recently become quite intolerable due to her egocentricity.

Suggested attire: Lace-up faux buckskin cowgirl dress, cowboy hat, fake rifle /guns, and cowboy boots.

 

Doc Galaday

 Doctor & Co-Owner of the Gravestone Saloon

Doc Galaday is Wylie Arp’s right-hand man.  Doc rides the fence on both sides of the law. His reputation has made him a terror in the hearts of the lawless.  Doc is a physician by trade, but his tuberculosis has drastically reduced his patients. He often supplements his income with gambling.

Suggested attire: A black duster coat with a vest, a holster, and cowboy hats/boots. A (gunslinger) handlebar mustache is an optional accessory. Fake guns are optional props.

 

Katie Fishman

 Waitress at the Gravestone Saloon

Katie Fishman helped put the wild in the phrase the Wild West!  As Doc Galaday’s longtime girlfriend, she’s also struggled to stay on the right side of the law.  Doc’s solid friendship with the ex-lawman Wylie Arp has proven to be a positive force with this pair. However, Katie has a rather shady past. She was initially from Gravestone and used to date Wavy Will Bronchus as a teenager. After breaking up with him, she moved in with her aunt and uncle in Duck City. That's when she met Doc Galaday. She refuses to talk about her former flame with her boyfriend and worries about what Doc will do when he discovers the truth! 

Suggested attire: A mock corset western saloon dress with a hair feather piece and Amelia black boots.  Another option is to wear a western-style dress & cowboy hat/boots. A fake gun is an optional prop.

 

Wavy Will Bronchus

Leader of The Ranchers

Wavy Will Bronchus is the leader of the loosely organized criminal faction called The Ranchers.  A sorted group of cattle rustlers, thieves, and even murderers, this group has invaded the now lawless town of Gravestone.  The townsfolk have high hopes that Wylie Arp can reinstate law and order on the streets, but Wavy Will has vowed never to let that happen.

Suggested attire: Stetson hat, leather vest bandanas, spurs, and buckskins with a fake revolver as an optional prop.  (Gunslinger) handlebar mustache as an optional accessory.

 

James Jesse

 American Outlaw

The poetic James Jesse has always veered on the wrong side of the law since he could walk!  He’s a member of the Jesse-Young gang, comprising a band of brothers.  During the Civil War, he engaged in guerilla warfare. Today, there’s a huge reward offered for his capture by the U.S. government for his many crimes of bank robbing, horse thievery, and murder.

Suggested attire:  Stetson hat, leather vest bandanas, spurs, and buckskins with a fake revolver as an optional prop.  (Gunslinger) handlebar mustache as an optional accessory.

 

Calamity Janie

 U.S. Army Scout

The tall-tale-telling Calamity Janie is a force to be reckoned with! A Former Great Plains cattle herder turned U.S. scout, this rugged lady used to be a trick shooter in Bronco Bill’s traveling Wild Western Show. You should never double-cross her, as she’s not called Calamity Janie for nothing.

Suggested attire: A brown duster coat with a vest, a holster, and cowboy hats or boots. Fake guns are optional props.

 

Bronco Bill

 Traveling Entertainer

Bronco Bill always had a knack for the arts.  He’s a cool, self-contained individual with a great sense of humor.  He’s assembled a nomadic brigade of entertainers called Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show.  His troupe travels around the U.S. to perform their eclectic show of bronco riding, roping, trick shooting, and even Civil War reenactments.

Suggested attire: A brown duster coat with a vest, a holster, and cowboy hats or boots. An optional accessory is a (gunslinger) handlebar mustache.

 

Posey Bassett

Girlfriend of Hutch Cassaday

Posey Bassett is Hutch Cassaday's girlfriend. She grew up on a large ranch in Utah and attended a prominent boarding school for a few years before dropping out to return to her father’s ranch. Her father does business with the outlaws of the Wild West by supplying them with beef and fresh horses. Posey was destined to end up on the wrong side of the law.

Suggested attire: Gunslinger costume with cowboy boots.  Fake guns and a cowboy hat are optional props.

 

Hutch Cassaday

Leader of the ‘Rowdy Bunch’

Hutch Cassaday would rather engage in a gunfight than have a civil conversation.  He’s an unstable outlaw of the Wild West and the leader of a newly-formed gang of outlaws called The Rowdy Bunch. Hutch has recently been released from the Wyoming State Prison, where he served time for horse thievery and running a protection racket among the local ranchers in Wyoming.

Suggested attire: An Old West-style vintage 3-piece suit and a derby hat. A handlebar mustache is an optional accessory. Fake guns are optional props.

 

Suzanne B. Anthony

 American Civil Rights Leader

Suzanne B. Anthony is a determined American civil rights leader traveling across the Wild West to give speeches on women’s rights.  She has devoted her life to the cause for American women to have equal rights with men and to be allowed to vote.  In 1869, she created the National Women’s Suffrage Association, the first organization to gain women’s right to vote. Suzanne has the courage and tenacity to overcome any hurdle.

Suggested attire: Vintage Old West day dress with hair slicked back into a bun.

 

Virgo Arp

 Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Arizona Territory

Virgo Arp, Wylie Arp's older brother, has spent his entire adult life in American law enforcement. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War before he became a U.S. Marshal for the Arizona Territory. He has been visiting Gravestone with his wife since his brother Wylie moved there. Virgo is not known for his tolerance of outlaws and always gets his man.

Suggested attire: *One arm is to be bandaged up &/or in a sling since you were shot yesterday.

Wild West bounty hunter/gunslinger costume with a fake U.S. Marshal badge and fake guns.

 

Elvira Packington Arp

 Seamstress & Wife of Virgo Arp

Elvira grew up in Colorado. As a young woman, she met, fell in love with, and married a Union Army officer named Virgo Arp during her family's travels. She is currently visiting Gravestone with her husband. By trade, she is a seamstress and loves to dress up in her best creations. She often hangs around saloons to show off her garments and enjoy the nightlife. This Western diva is also a known compulsive gambler.

Suggested attire: A saloon dress, Lucille walking suit, or anything trendy for the late 1800s. Amelia boots and a fake gun are optional props.

 

Dom Horn & The Pinkertoons

 Detective, Pinkertoon Agency

Dom Horn is the top detective at the Pinkertoon Detective Agency.  His motto is ‘I Don’t Sleep’ and is often hired by the U.S. Army to retrieve elusive outlaws. The Pinkertoons is a private U.S. Security Guard and Detective Agency that provides security guards, military contract work, bounty hunting, and private investigation services. Currently, there are more agents in the Pinkertoon Agency than in the standing army of the US!

Suggested attire: Men Pinkertoon Detectives: Old West style vintage 3-piece suit.

Women Pinkertoon Detectives: Old West Style walking jacket and skirt, Amelia boots.

Fake guns and Pinkertoon badges as optional props.

 

Lora Engel Wilder

Farmer and Aspiring Writer

Laura Wilder moved from various rural communities in the Midwest, finally settling down with her family in the peaceful town of Gravestone.  Her past is sprinkled with crop failures, fires, and illnesses, but she claims these hardships have only made her stronger.  She has recently started writing for a local farming magazine and plans on writing a series of books in the future.

Suggested attire: A saloon dress, Lucille Walking Suit, or anything trendy for the late 1800s. Amelia boots and a fake gun are optional props. 

 

Victoria McMurtry

 Singer at the Gravestone Saloon

Victoria McMurtry is a long-time performer at the Gravestone Saloon. Victoria was overcome with enjoyment upon hearing that Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show was making its way toward Gravestone!  Victoria dreams of joining this infamous traveling show and leaving Gravestone’s turmoil in her dust!

Suggested attire: A saloon dress, Lucille walking suit, or anything trendy for the late 1800s.  Amelia boots and a fake gun are optional props. 

 

Sir Norman McDermot

 Owner, Red River Fur Traders

 With extensive knowledge of the Northwest terrain and his ability to make relationships with Native Americans, Sir Norman McDermot has grown his fur trading company to be an expansive operation in Northern America! Sir McDermot has a hardnosed team of loyal fur traders who travel with him across the land in search of new trapping grounds and Native American tribes to increase their fur trade markets. 

Suggested attire: Old West style vintage 3-piece suit.  Faux fur pelts/attire are optional props.

 

White Deer

 Medicine Woman 

White Deer is a traditional Native American healer with the ability to summon the help of the spirit world when she needs to render aid to her community.  White Deer left her tribe long ago and signed on as the hardworking healer for the traveling variety act Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show.

 Suggested attire: Faux leather/suede dress with fringe and bead details.  Straight hair in pigtail braids.  

 

Standing Bull

 Traveling Entertainer

Standing Bull is a former tribal chief who gave up his leadership reign to join the nomadic brigade of entertainers called Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show. He is a highly loyal and humanitarian man until you double-cross him. That is when you’ll see his wild side rise to the surface.

Suggested attire: A beige or brown faux suede shirt or pants with fringe, brown shoes or sandals, and a toy tomahawk, which is an optional accessory. 

 

Lilly Smith

Traveling Entertainer

Lilly Smith is a performer with the nomadic brigade of entertainers called the Bronco Bill’s Traveling Wild Western Show.  Thus far, the fans haven’t noticed her, as she can’t seem to evade the huge shadow behind the star of the show - Abby Oakley. Lilly is known to be pretentious and flashy but lacks the skills to back up her personality.

Suggested attire: Lace-up faux buckskin cowgirl dress, cowboy hat, fake rifle, and cowboy boots.

 

Ace ‘Shootout’ Angus

 Gunsmith, Ace's Trade House

Ace Angus owns Ace’s Trade House, a gun shop in Gravestone.  Ace knows everything there is to know about guns and has undergone many gunfights with The Ranchers, a band of outlaws who’ve been taking over the town.  Ace hasn’t lost a fight yet, but his close friends know his day is coming unless Gravestone can return to law and order.

Suggested attire: A brown duster coat with a vest, a holster, and cowboy hats or boots. A (gunslinger) handlebar mustache is an optional accessory.

 

Seward Filmore

 Traveling Gambler

Seward Filmore is a true gentleman. He’s a former U.S. Marshal and U.S. Army scout.  After an unfair gunfight with another lawman over a lady, he retired from his law career.  He ended up with a career-ending injury to his leg but soon found an unknown talent with gambling.  Seward travels across the country, winning huge pots from the biggest gaming tables.

 Suggested attire: White shirt, satin vest, arm garter, and bow tie. Optional to wear a cowboy hat.

 

Mabel Bly

 Saloon Girl at the Gravestone Saloon

Mabel Bly is a dedicated saloon girl at the Gravestone Saloon. She keeps the peace between the cowboys and outlaws, or at least one of her duties is keeping the patrons civil. Mabel has wanted to escape Gravestone since The Ranchers took over but doesn’t have the means to leave.

Suggested attire: A mock corset western saloon dress with a hair feather piece and Amelia Black boots.

 

Poker Elly

 Poker Player

Poker Elly is an infamous poker player in Gravestone. Originally hailing from England, she is the daughter of an inflexible and conservative schoolmaster.  Her family moved to America when she was young, and she was raised in a proper boarding school.  She rebelled against her family’s beliefs about gambling and headed west to earn her fortune.  Elly has dreams of opening a gaming saloon one day and wishes to name it The Poker Palace.

 Suggested attire: Wild West cowgirl attire. Cute cowboy hat and glitzy cowboy boots. Playing cards in your pocket(s) as optional props.

bottom of page