Hi, check out some past threads we have:

• Would it be possible to lead a quiet and "safe" life in the "Wild West?": An expert discusses the realities of life in the West, especially the fact that violence has been exaggerated.

• In the mid 1800's, during the time of Western American expansion (the "wild, wild West,") how did two people randomly meeting in a significant expanse approach one another? Especially in regards to ensuring ones own safety?: From the same expert above. The answer is, well, "a lot of different ways."

• How common were western movie style shoot outs and duels in the wild west?: No flaired answer, but still accurate! The answer is, well, "Not really."

• How did the the crime rates of the "Wild West" compare to today?: Pretty similar to above.

• Were bank robberies as common in the wild west are they're portrayed in westerns?: Again, similar to the two above threads, and the answer is again just "NO."

• How common were train robberies in the US during the latter part of the 19th century? Were they frequent enough to be a concern to passengers when travelling by railroad?: Sort of informative, but not really high-quality.

• How prominent were gangs and outlaws in the wild west?: Not high-quality.

• Was the 'Wild West' as lawless as it is made out to be in movies?: Just ignore the first, deleted answer. The second answer is pretty good.

• Just how much has my view been skewed by typical Westerns (films)? Was there really so much active violence between civilians and Indians?: The top answer, using the little-known Paiute War as the example, is informative about the realities of the Indian Wars of the West.

Some of my answers to this sort of question appear in the links provided, with thanks, by /u/Hinmatoowyalahtqit. If you have additional questions after reviewing those answers, please ask.

Before the "Hollywood flair" as you call it, there were the dime novels, which also celebrated and amplified the idea of the "Wild West," so we can't blame Hollywood entirely - just partly.