"Pretty Boy" Floyd as presented by Ken Hammontree (Mayhem, Mystery, Murder: Living History Nights)

It is time for Mayhem, Mystery, and Murder!

Join Depression-era gangster Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at 7:00 PM in the library's Riverside Room as he recounts his life story and criminal exploits. Learn about his descent into crime and the robberies and murders he committed in the state of Ohio.

Musical entertainment will be provided from 6:15 - 6:45 PM. Ken Hammontree's living history portrayal of Floyd will begin at 7:00 PM. A Q & A session will follow the performance. Questions can first be asked to Hammontree as Floyd, and then Hammontree as himself.

Refreshments will be available for a donation from 6:00 - 6:45 PM and after the Q & A session.

If at all possible, attendees are asked to park in the gravel lot directly across from the library on Spruce Street.

What is "Living History Nights"? Performances that bring history to life. Each night a scholar/living historian will assume the role of a notable historical figure and perform a monologue based on the life of that individual. This will be followed by an audience Q & A session with questions addressed to both the character and the scholar/living historian.

This event, presented by the Gallipolis Chautauqua Committee, is suitable for all ages and is free and open to the public.

Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd (1904-1934): Born in Bartow County, Georgia, Floyd spent his early years in Akins, Oklahoma. Pursuing a life of crime at an early age, Floyd was arrested at the age of 18 for theft. Three years later he was arrested for robbery and sentenced to five years in prison.

Once paroled, he join the Kansas City underworld and committed a number of bank robberies and various other crimes. It was during this time he was nicknamed "Pretty Boy," although there are disputes as to whether he was named for his good looks or for his fancy dress. Either way, Floyd despised his nickname.

In 1930, Floyd was arrested in both Akron and Toledo, Ohio for robbery and murder. In Sylvania, Ohio he was convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to the Ohio State Penitentiary. Escaping enroute to the penitentiary, Floyd became a fugitive on the run. 

Due to the belief that during his robberies Floyd destroyed mortgage documents held by banks during these Depression years, he was considered by many to be a modern-day Robin Hood. Protected by local Oklahoma citizens, Floyd continued his criminal activities for the next few years.

In 1933, Floyd was accused of having participated in the Kansas City Union Station massacre where three police officers, an FBI agent, and a prisoner were killed. At that time, this event was considered one of the deadliest attacks on law the nation had ever seen. Both Floyd and his family denied his involvement and there are many historians who agree with them.

Named "Public Enemy No. 1" by the FBI in 1934, the FBI increased its efforts to apprehend Floyd. In October of 1934, after spending time in New York, Floyd and some friends were on their way back to Oklahoma when Floyd wrecked the car near Wellsville, Ohio. After officers became suspicious, the FBI and local authorities began an intensive search in eastern Ohio. On October 22, south of Clarkson, Ohio, Floyd was spotted by the FBI and the East Liverpool police. Stopped by the officers, Floyd emerged from his car with his gun drawn and was shot, dying 15 minutes afterwards. (Biographical information courtesy of biography.com and fbi.com).

Ken Hammontree, historian, lecturer, and author, is an established "presenter" through his company "Living History Productions." A former history teacher, Mr. Hammontree decided to make history more exciting and relatable to his students by dressing as historical characters after realizing how disinterested his students were in learning about the nation's history.

Mr. Hammontree's first historical portrayal was Johnny Appleseed, but he has since portrayed a variety of historical figures, including, but not limited to: General George Washington, General Dwight Eisenhower, Daniel Boone, Harry Truman, Aaron Burr, and Oskar Schindler.

He prides himself on portraying each historical figure with authenticity and detail. For "Pretty Boy" Floyd, Mr. Hammontree spent a number of years in researching the 1930's and the role of the FBI in hunting down criminals on the 10 most wanted list. He has spent several days in East Liverpool where Floyd was killed and even spent the night in the local funeral home, now a B&B, where Floyd was taken after his death. Mr. Hammontree lives in Ashland, Ohio.