Charles Floyd: America's Robin Hood, or Ruthless Criminal?
“If you'll gather round me, children,
A story I will tell
'Bout Pretty Boy Floyd, an outlaw,
Oklahoma knew him well.
…
Yes, he took to the trees and timber
To live a life of shame;
Every crime in Oklahoma
Was added to his name.
But many a starvin' farmer
The same old story told
How the outlaw paid their mortgage
And saved their little homes.
Others tell you 'bout a stranger
That come to beg a meal,
Underneath his napkin
Left a thousand-dollar bill.”
Those words come from “The Ballad of Pretty Boy Floyd,” a song by American folk icon Woody Guthrie. And it perfectly encapsulates the complex and controversial legacy left behind by one of America’s most notorious outlaws. Pretty Boy Floyd was a robber and a killer, no doubt about that. He became the country’s new “Public Enemy #1” after the death of John Dillinger.
And yet, many people remember him as the so-called “Robin Hood of the Cookson Hills” for his generosity towards the needy and, most famously, for allegedly burning mortgage documents whenever he robbed a bank to get people out of debt. But was this reputation deserved or did Floyd simply benefit from good post-mortem PR?
→ Subscribe for new videos at least twice a week!
kzhead.info...
Love content? Check out our other KZhead Channels:
Geographics: / @geographicstravel
TopTenz: / toptenznet
Karl's Socials:
Fact Fiend: www.youtube.com/ @FactFiend
Wiki Weekends: www.youtube.com/ @wikiweekends
Untitled Side Channel: www.youtube.com/ @untitledsidechannel
Twitter: / karlsmallwood
Further Reading:
Jeffery S. King - The Life and Death of Pretty Boy Floyd
Crime Library
www.fbi.gov/history/famous-ca...
www.carnegie.lib.oh.us/Floyd
www.history.com/this-day-in-h...
www.odmp.org/officer/2512-spe...
www.findagrave.com/memorial/2...
www.biography.com/crime/charl...
Karl's Socials: Fact Fiend: www.youtube.com/@FactFiend Wiki Weekends: www.youtube.com/@wikiweekends Untitled Side Channel: www.youtube.com/@untitledsidechannel Twitter: twitter.com/KarlSmallwood
Please make a video on the life of Pele.
I do love the start with, 'O DEAR GOD WE WROTE THIS OURSELVES, WERE ONE OF THE GOOD ONES'
"no iilluminaughtii here"
@16:21 1993? Dang geriatric bank robbers.😅
1:55 - Chapter 1 - Early years 5:30 - Chapter 2 - Start of the spree 8:35 - Chapter 3 - Cold blooded killer 11:20 - Chapter 4 - Robin hood of the cookson hills 15:30 - Chapter 5 - The kansas city massacre 18:25 - Chapter 6 - End of the road 20:15 - Conclusion
Doing an amazing job Karl. I look forward to your videos now, just as much as I look forward to Simon's. Keep up the work and don't listen to the small brains.
I grew up in this area of Oklahoma. When I was quite young, I do remember people of grandparenting age speaking fondly of Floyd, although I doubt any of them ever actually encountered him. More likely, the Oklahoma Dust Bowl days created a real hatred for banks and bankers, hence the 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' attitude. Choc beer is still available today, still being brewed by one place that used to make it on the sly during prohibition.
I like this guy. He’s growing on me
I always love your documentaries! Can you do next Andres Bonifacio?
Martin Sheen portrayed him in the TV movie The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd (1974). Channing Tatum portrayed him in Public Enemies (2009) starring Christian Bale and Johnny Depp, in which he is falsely depicted as being killed before John Dillinger.
don't always like simon whistler but still its not the same without him doing these videos.
I agree
COOL and Informative! 😎👍 "i thought at first your shirt only had one sleeve!!!" loud tats loud shirt lol Great Commentary im on board 🤩
please make karl smallwood the permanent host of this channel. his presenting style is extreamly enjoyable. @biographics
I was suprised they had a new host... It had been several months since I last heared biographics...I assume Simon retired from the show.
Phenomenal! I loved it.
Thanks for the video my fault I didn't watch it yesterday
Thanks,
Love the shirt that Karl is wearing whiling I am learning about someone new 😊
Floyd was my grandmother's first cousin. I've always taken pride in that. The outlaw runs deep in us still
Interesting 😮😮😮
Suggestion: mikhail gorbachev, the last leader of the soviet union. Love your content karl! Keep going 😊😊😊😊❤❤❤
Do one on Woody Guthrie
Good job Karl. You were so much better this time. You slowed down a bit, and did not run your words together. Awesome brother
Like deployed 👍
Great video as always. I've said before you should drop the "interim", but I'll give one bit of critique. Maybe every 3rd video, don't remind us that's your real name :) Nothing wrong with that name!
I’ve been watching Karl’s channel for years, so this is a wonderful crossover to witness!
You are getting very good at presenting Karl. You seem very comfortable in front of the camera.
Did any catch the mistake of the host saying 1993. At approximately 16:22 into the video?
Anyone*
Yep time travel 😇🤣
Another badass Okie….
Please make a video on the life of Pele.
Love karl as the new host, but this ep felt a bit of a rush to get through the info. Love your style in fact fiend when you can feel how interested you are in the topic your exploring. Keep up the good work of finding your vibe for this channel. Hope interim isnt too interim
Do a vid on General Pershing.
Interesting biography 😮😮😮
Do Nelson Rockefeller next
16:20 1993?
Robin Hood and Little John Walkin' through the forest Laughin' back and forth At what the other'n has to say Reminiscin' this 'n' that And havin' such a good time Oo-de-lally, Oo-de-lally Golly, what a day.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I live one block from his house
Don’t Forget Butch Cassidy… The Most Famous Gentleman Outlaw. 😊
16:21 ... Skipped ahead a few decades, maybe?
This was the guy who got shot in the back by Christian Bale in Public Enemies.
1993? I don't remember that ....
You’re doing fine. Happy Yule
Oh my comment disappeared... odd Oh well... Day I'm not sure which of asking for a Mileva Maric biographics already! I'll write it! I already have a script outline lmao. Just.. someone, anyone, cover that woman!
I live about 5 mins from where he died. There is an exhibit with his death mask down town
Who is this guy?
He killed Simon and took the channel, didn't you knew that?
Karl Smallwood, was invited to host after Simons departure. He is one of the major reasons Simon became successful
Smallwood 🤭 every time 🤷🏻♂️😳
1993? 16:15
This is like when Ray croc spandex McDonald’s and the quality went down we don’t want to hear this voice we want the bald guys voice you just sound like the replacement
1:58 Wow Karl, you look well for 119 ;)
Karl, I enjoy all of the videos that you narrate, but KZhead is killing this medium. There were commercials every 5 minutes in this video, which seems to be what they're doing all over the platform. It is definitely a detriment to all of you who work hard to create entertaining content. I don't mind one at the beginning, but the constant interruptions are frustrating.
Get feeling Karl likes saying Oklahoma.
ps, who's Simon? not that it matters 😁
He used to present this channel as well as another 8 or so lol Simon whistler
90% of the YT content creators say the "like subscribe blah blah" at the beginning of the video....but definitely don't need to explain WHY they are doing that. Just say "if you like these videos, please drop a like and subscribe to help the channel grow" and get on with it. We don't need to be reminded about the studies that show doing it earlier is better. It's annoying. Keep it short and sweet
Your tattoo looks like your shirt🤭
Suggestion: Henry II of england, the first Plantagenet king and founder of the Angevin Empire! You're amazing karl! 👑👑👑👑🔥🔥
Where’s Simon!!
He has other channels
NOT ROBIN HOOD !
Did he time travel to 1993? 😳🤣😇
Please bring Simon back your killing off biographics looking at the viewer count, the host is as important as the content and Simons the host we all want
70th
Rip this channel! where’s Simon?
Charles Floyd, the American Robin Hood, not to be mistaken with George Floyd, the African American Robbing Hood
Free Derek Chauvin
What happened to Simon? This new guy is not cutting it for me😔
First
Where’s fact boy?
I no long follow this channel because no Simon
Karl Smallwood, such a popular and palatable personality it only took him 4 months to reduce this channel's views to about 5% of what they were before Simon left.
The drop in views is down to the channel having a three month long break. This means that the algorithm for youtube drops the channel, causing subscribers to not see the new videos, and for the videos to not be pushed. This is down to the awful algorithm at YT (which many have gone on about over the years), and not the host
Are we sure Karl has to be interim? Like, are we *sure* sure? Somebody make this man an offer he can't refuse.
Give the man the job as permanent host already he has grown on me and you switch now I am out, enough is enough. Pay the man his worth before you end up losing him as well to someone who will do exactly that on an opposing channel to yours
do analytics show that repeating the same shite every vid intro is good for retention? aka adios..
Where's Simon? This guy sucks!
I’m sure he’s a nice guy but he sounds like he’s eating peanut butter. I can’t understand him… 😕
No this isn’t it
The reason being told to comment and like is suggested at the beginning of videos is due to people leaving early. You finish up your story, before making comments like that and they have clicked off the video. I'm 3 minutes in the video and you are reading like a madman. At first my issue with you was you kept trying to interject to much and not stick to the script. Like Simon has Brain Blaze if you want a channel for your comments. February 2nd is your birthday Karl. 😑 Doesn't add to this story. Pretty Boy Floyd and you don't have much in common. Now you are sounding unintelligible. You seem like you forgot a video project at school and the deadline was midnight. So in order to get it done you read it as fast as you could. Your writers give you fantastic scripts. You ended up with Simon's best channel in most people's opinion and this will turn them off. We come for a story about a person or duo on history. Not to pause and rewind the video 10 times due to missing important information because you are rushing through sentences. I am amazed you didn't pass out from lack of oxygen. Karl, you seem like a great guy who does genuinely enjoy his work and cares about this channel and image of yourself. This is hard to watch, I enjoy crime and the 1930s. Karl, if you read my comment in 45 seconds that's what the video sounds like. Just very rushed. I'm going to keep coming back, please understand I am as harsh in person as online. You are improving though. Have a great day. Also, Adam Richetti and 1993 when it was 1933. Just watch the video before it's released. I don't know if script or reader error.
Shut up and get off my lawn
I like the channel, but not you
You are not Simon. Oh well. There is a book called Bloodletters to Badman. Two volumes. You should probably read it. And let Simon know he should stop desperately spamming channels. Merry Christmas. Bye.
Hi I’m just a thirty something not good at the internet.. what does spamming channels mean?
Martin Sheen portrayed him in the TV movie The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd (1974). Channing Tatum portrayed him in Public Enemies (2009) starring Christian Bale and Johnny Depp, in which he is falsely depicted as being killed before John Dillinger.