Chief Redfeather

Greetings family and friends!  Today's "memorable character" is pictured on the attached vintage postcard. You may have crossed paths with Chief Red Feather as well during his 35 years greeting guests and providing photo opportunities at Knott's Berry Farm...Bill

CHIEF RED FEATHER 

Hundreds of characters have found a home at Knott’s Berry Farm through the years going all of the way back to the construction of Ghost Town in 1941. Some of the characters have been carved from wood or cast in plaster while others have been actual costumed actors roaming the streets greeting guests reinforcing the feeling of a old western mining town. While Sad Eye Joe, Whiskey Bill, Handsome Brady and Wing Lee could be found on Main Street, Chief Red Feather, dressed in full ceremonial Native American costume, posed for pictures with guests throughout the popular roadside attraction. Street actor James Brady was born in Shiprock N.M. in 1902 and was given the name Chief Red Feather during tribal ceremonies in 1934. Before getting the Knott’s gig in 1948 Brady worked as a laborer, boxer, rodeo rider, deputy marshall and appeared in 18 films with many of the popular “B” cowboys of the era. His role as a greeter at the Farm spanned 35 years and at the time he may have been one of the the worlds most photographed Native Americans, certainly the most photographed street character at Knott’s Berry Farm. Brady made his own silver and turquoise jewelry and his wife designed his imposing attire, beadwork, and the headdresses that lucky kids wore when they had their photos taken with Chief Red Feather. I first crossed paths with this memorable character in the early 1950’s during one of our early visits and I recall him roaming the farm greeting guests and letting them know that a “tip” would be expected for his photo, not by speaking, but by not-so-subtly clicking a couple silver dollars together  -Bill     

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