Knott's Steak House Indian Room Paintings by Paul Von Klieben - 1948

The road to the Steak House circa 1949 to early 1950's. (picture comes courtesy of the OC Archives)

 Steak House Register Room entrance circa 1949.  (photo courtesy of OC Archives)

 Photo of the Steak House Indian Room circa 1949 (courtesy of the OC Archives)

Rare picture of the less photographed right-hand side of the Indian Room courtesy of the OC Archives.

Real Photo Post Card (RPPC) of the Indian Room of the Steak House circa 1949

Real Photo Post Card (RPPC) back showing it was printed at the Ghost Town "Pitchur Gallery"

This picture above appears to be the earliest Kodachrome (color) image of the Steak House Indian Room circa 1949 (courtesy of OC Archives)

This is the earliest color brochure photo I've been able to locate of the Indian Room of the Steak House from the 35 page booklet entitled "Knott's Berry Farm and Ghost Town - Buena Park, CA" from 1949.

Scale diorama of the Buffalo Steak House most likely circa 1945-1946 (note Indian Room at the upper left-hand side of model - from jericl cat on Flickr) 

Family eating in the Indian Room of Steak House circa 1949 - 1950 courtesy of the OC Archives.

 1.  Geronimo (1829-1909. Chief and Medicine Man of the Apaches) - measuring 4'-0" wide x 5'-0" high

Original Geronimo art photo courtesy of OC Archives.

Geronimo painting in the Indian Room circa 1949 with the cross frame only.

Geronimo painting found by Beatnikantiques in late 2018.  Unfortunately it wasn't kept in the best condition but its cool that it at least survived.

Original Chief White Horse Eagle art photo courtesy of the OC Archives.

2.  Chief White Horse Eagle - measuring 5'-0" wide x 6'-0" high with added wooden board frame (mid 1950's addition)  Note:  Rain in the Face name tag is incorrect and was likely switched years ago with the Rain the the Face painting mistakenly while in the Knott's archive.

Steak House Indian Room circa 1955 showing the wooden backing board frames newly added to the paintings.

Beautiful Steak House Indian Room color photo circa early 1960's courtesy of the OC Archives.

3.  Sitting Bull (Chief) - measuring 4'-0" wide x 5'-0" high.  Name tag must have been lost while in storage in the Knott's archive but likely read:  "Sitting Bull 1834 - 1883.  The great chief of the Sioux Tribe" (see second picture called Art in Indian Room).

4.  Rain in the Face (Sioux Warrior Chief) - measuring 4'-0" wide x 5'-0" high.  Note:  Chief White Horse Eagle name tag is incorrect and was likely switched years ago with the Chief White Horse Eagle painting mistakenly while in the Knott's archive.

5.  Winnetou (Chief of the Apaches) - measuring 4'-0" high x 5'-0" wide

6.  John Big Tree (Chief of the Seneca Nation) - my best guess is this painting measures 4'-0" high x 5'-0" wide.  Interesting to note, Big Tree claimed to be the sole model of  James Earl Fraser's famous sculpture, "End of Trail." This picture is courtesy of the OC Archives' Knott's Berry Farm Collection.

Close up of the John Big Tree painting in the Party Room.

Above is a photo of the original Chief John Big Tree painting as it hung in the Party Room, adjacent to the Indian Room (picture comes courtesy of the OC Archives)

Chief John Big Tree painting found by Beatnikantiques in late 2018.

7.  Navaho Maiden (the misspelling of Navajo is pretty comical!) - measuring 3'-1" wide x 3'-2" high

Navaho Maiden painting's location circa 1949 with wood cross back frame only (courtesy of OC Archives)

You can can see the Navaho Maiden's position on the wall here circa the mid 1950's or early 1960's with the wooden backing frame (photo comes courtesy of the OC Archives)

8.  Ha La (Kiowa Maiden) - measuring 4'-0" wide x 5'-0" high

9.  Washoe Indian Papoose (in cradle board) - measuring 4'-0" wide x 5'-0" high and must have been displayed with the scary looking model rendition shown below.

10.  Acomas Dancing Buffalo Hop - Arizona - Appears to be the 10th and final painting by Paul Von Klieben in the Indian Room. Interestingly the 1949 brochure states there are twelve paintings by Von Klieben inside the room so I'm not sure what the other two are?  (this picture and the one below come courtesy of the OC Archives)

All auction images come courtesy of Heritage Auctions and video below comes courtesy of the OC Archives.

Paul Von Klieben was Knott's art director and painter from 1941 to his death in 1953 (picture from Ghost Town News # 5 from June 1942) (courtesy of the OC Archives)