In the heydays of the Reno “quickie divorce”, publicity about the Reno divorce colony generated its own terminology.
Excerpted from Reno Divorce Glossary, THE DIVORCE SEEKERS: A Photo Memoir of a Nevada Dude Wrangler by William L. McGee and Sandra McGee.
The Spare The euphemistic name for the man or woman a divorce seeker brought with them to Reno for six weeks. The divorce seeker provided accommodations for “the spare” and usually intended to marry them when the divorce was final. Another term for “the spare” was “the cousin”. “Spares” and “cousins” kept the divorce seekers company during the six week residency period.
Alimony Park The park across the street from the Washoe County Courthouse.
Bridge of Sighs The Truckee River Bridge where divorcees were said to toss their wedding rings into the Truckee River.
Divorce From the Latin divortium, to turn different ways, to separate.
Divorcé A man divorced
Divorcée A woman divorced
Divorce Capital of the World Reno, Nevada
Divorce Mecca Reno
Divorce Mill Reno
Divorce Trade Reno
Divorce Ranch A term used by the national media during the quickie divorce era for a dude ranch catering to divorce seekers, usually from the wealthy or upper-classes.
Divorcée Special Any train bringing divorce seekers to Reno
Divorce seekers Males or females coming to Reno for a six-week divorce.
Going Reno A term for divorce seekers on the loose in Reno.
Golden Age of Divorce 1930s – 1960s. Also: Heyday of Divorce.
Graduation Day The day a divorce seeker — or “graduate” as they were called — receives their divorce decree.
I’m Going to Reno! A popular phrase used by a wife or husband to announce to their spouse that they’re going to Reno for a divorce.
Quickie Divorce A divorce granted after a six-week residency in Nevada.
“The Reno” A type of bra that both “separates and supports.” The idea is attributed to Ruth Lusch, a colorful Reno publicist in the late 1940s.
Reno Divorce Colony The Reno social set composed of locals and visiting divorce seekers.
Reno-vation A term coined by Walter Winchell for the change that despondent spouses went through in Reno. Also: “Reno-vated” and “Get Reno-vated.”
Separation Center of the West Reno
Severance Stay Six weeks in Reno
Sin City Reno
Six-weekers Divorce seekers
State of Easy Divorce Nevada
The Cure Synonym for divorce. Also: “To Take the Cure”.
The Separator Washoe County Courthouse
The Women’s Exchange Washoe County Courthouse
Widow’s Corner The Corner Bar at the Riverside Hotel, located down the street from the Washoe County Courthouse, where the Reno divorce colony met.
“The Six-Week Cure – Remembering the era when Reno ‘divorce ranches’ helped unhappily married women start new lives” by Priya Jain
Kudos to Bust Magazine (Dec/Jan 2010) and Priya Jain for this compelling, six-page feature story written from the woman’s point of view and capturing what it was like to get a Reno divorce. Especially compelling is author Marilu Norden’s own recollection of staying at Pyramid Lake Ranch in the 1950s (later thinly-veiled in her novel Unbridled: A Tale of a Divorce Ranch).
“The Divorce Seekers – An old-time wrangler recalls Reno, the ‘city of broken vows,’ through his days at the Flying M E ranch” by William L. McGee
TRUE WEST (June 2010) features a four-page story written by former Nevada dude wrangler, Bill McGee, who gives a firsthand account of life in the post-war 1940s on the Flying M E, an exclusive divorce ranch outside of Reno catering to wealthy Easterners. As McGee puts it, “I may be the only dude wrangler ‘still above ground’ who saw the six-week Reno divorce era up close and personal.” Click here to read…
(L to R) TRT's Janice Barbour, Director of Development; Mark Kimbrough, former Executive Director; and (far right) Mary Bennington, Executive Director, present Adopt-a-Mile Commemorative Plaque to Bill and Sandra McGee.
Incline Village, Nevada — Bill and Sandra McGee are presented with a commemorative plaque for their sponsorship of an Adopt-a-Mile on the Tahoe Rim Trail.
The McGees dedicated their sponsored mile to Emmy Wood, the legendary Nevada divorce ranch proprietor on the famous Flying M E 20 miles south of Reno where Bill McGee worked as a dude wrangler in the post-war 1940s. The mile is the Connector Trail from Mt. Rose Summit Trailhead to Relay Peak Road. For more on the TRT Adopt-a-Mile program, visit Tahoe Rim Trail.
On a chilly fall morning, Bill and Sandra McGee gathered with friends to dedicate the McGee’s Adopt-a-Mile on the Tahoe Rim Trail. The McGees dedicated their mile to the memory of Emmy Wood, the legendary Nevada divorce ranch proprietor on the famous Flying M E where Bill worked as a dude wrangler in the late 1940s. The mile is the Connector Trail from Mt. Rose Summit Trailhead to Relay Peak Road.
View of Lake Tahoe from the McGee's Adopt-a-Mile.
Bill first saw Lake Tahoe in the early 1940s while cowboying in the West. Following his discharge from the Navy after World War II, he returned to Northern Nevada and worked as a dude wrangler and deer hunting guide at the Bob Scates stables outside of Tahoe City. Then, in 1947, Bill was hired as the head dude wrangler on the Flying M E, an exclusive divorce ranch south of Reno that catered to wealthy divorce seekers who came to Nevada for a six week divorce. Bill led the ranch guests on pack trips and overnight camping trips to the Lake. In 1950, Bill left cowboying and made a successful transition into the broadcasting field. However, he always returned to Lake Tahoe – as a hiker, a skier, and a writer. In the 1980s, while living in Incline Village, Nevada, Bill was one of the early volunteers on the Tahoe Rim Trail.
The Tahoe Rim Trail Association’s Adopt-a-Mile programs make it possible for families, individuals, organizations and businesses to honor a friend or loved one while ensuring the continuing legacy of the Tahoe Rim Trail.
Sandra McGee has been accepted for membership in Western Writers of America, an organization whose 600+ members derive their livelihood, in whole or in part, from writing about the land and the peoples of the American West, past and present. The membership includes novelists, historians, essayists, journalists, poets, screenwriters, editors, agents, and others.
Sandra is the co-author of THE DIVORCE SEEKERS: A Photo Memoir of a Nevada Dude Wrangler.
WWA was founded in 1953 to promote and recognize Western literature. Since 1953, prestigious panels of judges have presented WWA’s annual Spur Awards to honor each year’s best western literature. Previous winners include Jane Smiley, Larry McMurtry, Dorothy M. Johnson, Stephen E. Ambrose, Tony Hillerman, Red Shuttleworth and Elmer Kelton.
On Saturday, September 19, Bill McGee and Sandra McGee were among a host of Nevada authors invited to sign books at the Carson City Library’s 11th Annual Oktoberfest.
That evening the McGee’s celebrated their 29th anniversary at one of their favorite restaurants, Adele’s in Carson City. Bartender Mark Nadreau always takes good of his bar patrons. 
Two cowboys share a quiet moment at Adele’s bar.
