Hollywood

Out West” (Hollywood, S1E9, 1980) is a documentary episode on the origins and development of the American silent Western, using archival clips and interviews with surviving filmmakers and stars. Iron Eyes Cody, who is interviewed in this episode, was known for teaching and demonstrating Plains Indian Sign Language – a visual communication system used between different Native American tribes who spoke different spoken languages. This was a lingua franca of the American West, not a sign language for deaf people.​ The episode also discusses how actor William S. Hart used Plains Indian Sign Language in his silent Western films to add authenticity.