Paul Colt's Blog, page 6
December 8, 2024
Other '30's Scott Notables
Frontier Marshal ’39 became one of Randolph Scott’s more notable films of the ‘30s. The film is a remake of a 1934 film by the same name, both based on Stuart Lake’s fictional ‘biography’ of Wyatt Earp. Frontier Marshal would be remade again in 1946 by John Ford, this time titled the better known, My Darling Clementine. What sets Frontier Marshal apart as notable? Litigation.
Scott is cast as Wyatt Earp with Cesar Romero cast as ‘Doc Halliday.’ No that is not a typo. Doc’s character name was changed to avoid a lawsuit threatened by the Holliday family. Even the film title attracted litigious interest. Lake’s book, Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal was so fictionalized as to offend Wyatt’s wife Josephine. (Thought about using her tintype as the Facebook visual, but this is a family friendly post.) Josie sued to force the ’34 film to drop Wyatt’s name from the title. She filed suit to stop the ’39 remake altogether, that suit settled out of court for financial consideration and removal of Wyatt’s name. Lake’s libertine treatment of Earp’s life story proved a financial boon … for lawyers.
Casting too comes in for some ’39 notability. Starting with Romero as Doc, ‘Halliday’ or not. Really? Most definitely no Val Kilmer. Eddy Foy appears among the supporting characters in the film. My books, Friends Call Me Bat and Lunger: The Doc Holliday Story both recount comic Eddie Foy having played Dodge City during Wyatt’s time there. What becomes notable about Foy’s role in the film is the actor who played him. Eddie Foy Jr., his son. Then we have Ward Bond who appeared in all three films, cast as Morgan Earp in Ford’s ’46 version.
While we are on the subject of notable talent, along comes ‘37’s High Wide and Handsome. A musical western for Scott, paired with Dorthy Lamour no less (not based on a novel by the other L’Amour), and Charles Bickford. If you are going to do a musical who better to write and compose than Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern? Variety panned the film for “Hollywood hokum,” if you can imagine that. Hokum aside, The New York Times called it “Richly spectacular” and among “The season’s best we are likely to see on Broadway.”
Sticking with critical acclaim blame we come to Wagon Wheels. A ’34 remake of ‘31’s Fighting Caravans based on a ’29 novel of the same name by (who else?), Zane Grey. Using stock footage from the earlier version, The Times saw “Pallid regret … for what might have been.”
Next Week: Enter the ‘40’s Virginia City
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Ride easy,
Paul
Scott is cast as Wyatt Earp with Cesar Romero cast as ‘Doc Halliday.’ No that is not a typo. Doc’s character name was changed to avoid a lawsuit threatened by the Holliday family. Even the film title attracted litigious interest. Lake’s book, Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal was so fictionalized as to offend Wyatt’s wife Josephine. (Thought about using her tintype as the Facebook visual, but this is a family friendly post.) Josie sued to force the ’34 film to drop Wyatt’s name from the title. She filed suit to stop the ’39 remake altogether, that suit settled out of court for financial consideration and removal of Wyatt’s name. Lake’s libertine treatment of Earp’s life story proved a financial boon … for lawyers.
Casting too comes in for some ’39 notability. Starting with Romero as Doc, ‘Halliday’ or not. Really? Most definitely no Val Kilmer. Eddy Foy appears among the supporting characters in the film. My books, Friends Call Me Bat and Lunger: The Doc Holliday Story both recount comic Eddie Foy having played Dodge City during Wyatt’s time there. What becomes notable about Foy’s role in the film is the actor who played him. Eddie Foy Jr., his son. Then we have Ward Bond who appeared in all three films, cast as Morgan Earp in Ford’s ’46 version.
While we are on the subject of notable talent, along comes ‘37’s High Wide and Handsome. A musical western for Scott, paired with Dorthy Lamour no less (not based on a novel by the other L’Amour), and Charles Bickford. If you are going to do a musical who better to write and compose than Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern? Variety panned the film for “Hollywood hokum,” if you can imagine that. Hokum aside, The New York Times called it “Richly spectacular” and among “The season’s best we are likely to see on Broadway.”
Sticking with critical acclaim blame we come to Wagon Wheels. A ’34 remake of ‘31’s Fighting Caravans based on a ’29 novel of the same name by (who else?), Zane Grey. Using stock footage from the earlier version, The Times saw “Pallid regret … for what might have been.”
Next Week: Enter the ‘40’s Virginia City
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
December 1, 2024
Randolph Scott '30's
Randolph Scott made fourteen western films in the decade of the 1930’s. While the occupant of the director’s chair changed over that period the first five not so classics were directed by Henry Hathaway based on novels by Zane Grey. One wonders what might have come of Scott’s film career if it hadn’t been for Grey.
Heritage of the Desert ’32 claims first film of note, kicking off partnership between Hathaway, Grey, and Scott in a string of films produced for Paramount. Heritage of the Desert was a talkie remake of a 1924 silent version of Grey’s story, setting a remake pattern for films to follow. Having a film made of a book is like winning the lottery for the author. Then you have Grey who probably ended up owning the lottery.
The following year gave us another remake, this one The Thundering Herd tale of two buffalo hunters played by Scott and Harry Carey. The film is notable on several accounts. It marked the beginning of something of an ensemble cast including Buster Crabbe, Noah Berry, and Ray Hatton. The remade 1925 silent film reused scenes from the original to hold down production costs. This had Scott cast in the role played by Jack Holt in the original. Scott was made to pass for Holt by darkening his hair and growing a moustache. Variety thought the film a cut above the usual western fare, though for all its admirable qualities, “A western unable to live it down.” Critics, what would we do without them? Leave ourselves to count box office receipts.
1933 brought Hathaway, Grey, Scott, and cast together for To The Last Man, a ‘Hatfields and McCoys’ style family feud set against a post-civil war backdrop. Themes included vigilantism vs law and order with star crossed lovers tangled from both sides of the fight. Uncredited roles were played by John Carradine and Shirley Temple as a five year old child whose doll’s head is shot off. Those bad guys were really bad. Critics found more to like with a cast rated worthy of an ‘A’ feature film, a story to model the best in western genre under Hathaway’s creative direction.
Other titles in Scott’s ‘30s include Wild Horse Mesa ’32, Sunset Pass ’33, Last Round-Up, Home on the Range and Rocky Mountain Mystery ’35, and The Texans ’38. Of these, little record of note remains.
Next Week: Other Scott Notables of the ‘30s
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Ride easy,
Paul
Heritage of the Desert ’32 claims first film of note, kicking off partnership between Hathaway, Grey, and Scott in a string of films produced for Paramount. Heritage of the Desert was a talkie remake of a 1924 silent version of Grey’s story, setting a remake pattern for films to follow. Having a film made of a book is like winning the lottery for the author. Then you have Grey who probably ended up owning the lottery.
The following year gave us another remake, this one The Thundering Herd tale of two buffalo hunters played by Scott and Harry Carey. The film is notable on several accounts. It marked the beginning of something of an ensemble cast including Buster Crabbe, Noah Berry, and Ray Hatton. The remade 1925 silent film reused scenes from the original to hold down production costs. This had Scott cast in the role played by Jack Holt in the original. Scott was made to pass for Holt by darkening his hair and growing a moustache. Variety thought the film a cut above the usual western fare, though for all its admirable qualities, “A western unable to live it down.” Critics, what would we do without them? Leave ourselves to count box office receipts.
1933 brought Hathaway, Grey, Scott, and cast together for To The Last Man, a ‘Hatfields and McCoys’ style family feud set against a post-civil war backdrop. Themes included vigilantism vs law and order with star crossed lovers tangled from both sides of the fight. Uncredited roles were played by John Carradine and Shirley Temple as a five year old child whose doll’s head is shot off. Those bad guys were really bad. Critics found more to like with a cast rated worthy of an ‘A’ feature film, a story to model the best in western genre under Hathaway’s creative direction.
Other titles in Scott’s ‘30s include Wild Horse Mesa ’32, Sunset Pass ’33, Last Round-Up, Home on the Range and Rocky Mountain Mystery ’35, and The Texans ’38. Of these, little record of note remains.
Next Week: Other Scott Notables of the ‘30s
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
November 24, 2024
Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede bills itself as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Lofty claim they seem to back up. Today the modern show features one of the largest rodeos on the circuit complete with chuck wagon races, stage shows, parade, vibrant First Nations celebrations, and the ever popular midway. The ten day celebration of western lifestyle extravaganza each July draws more than a million visitors to Calgary Alberta. It wasn’t always that way.
Stampede roots go back to 1886, when Calgary held its first agricultural show and fair. Rodeo, billed as a Stampede, joined the party in 1912. The next stampede had to wait for 1919’s Victory Stampede, in honor of soldiers returning from WWI. The event became annual in 1923.
The Calgary Stampede came into a golden age in the 1950’s, attracting star power with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby serving as parade marshals. Not to be out done Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made the first of two visits to the Stampede in 1959. The Queen returned to open the Stampede in 1973.
Attendance records were broken year after year in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, topping the million mark for the first time in 1968. Financial success attended growth in attendance and popularity of the event. Success funded continual efforts to upgrade facilities and expand Stampede park. Throughout growth and expansion, the Calgary Stampede maintained its western heritage celebration even as the community left its agricultural and ranching roots with the discovery of oil. Wealth followed oil to finance further growth and expansion.
Today the Calgary Stampede occupies a place of prominence on the professional rodeo circuit on par with the likes of The Houston Stock Show and Rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days and even the PRCA National Finals Rodeo. Calgary draws the best rodeo has to offer in terms of contestants and livestock. They make the Calgary Stampede one of the greatest outdoor shows on earth and bucket list must for rodeo fans everywhere.
Next Week: Randolph Scott, the ‘30’s.
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Ride easy,
Paul
Stampede roots go back to 1886, when Calgary held its first agricultural show and fair. Rodeo, billed as a Stampede, joined the party in 1912. The next stampede had to wait for 1919’s Victory Stampede, in honor of soldiers returning from WWI. The event became annual in 1923.
The Calgary Stampede came into a golden age in the 1950’s, attracting star power with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby serving as parade marshals. Not to be out done Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made the first of two visits to the Stampede in 1959. The Queen returned to open the Stampede in 1973.
Attendance records were broken year after year in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, topping the million mark for the first time in 1968. Financial success attended growth in attendance and popularity of the event. Success funded continual efforts to upgrade facilities and expand Stampede park. Throughout growth and expansion, the Calgary Stampede maintained its western heritage celebration even as the community left its agricultural and ranching roots with the discovery of oil. Wealth followed oil to finance further growth and expansion.
Today the Calgary Stampede occupies a place of prominence on the professional rodeo circuit on par with the likes of The Houston Stock Show and Rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days and even the PRCA National Finals Rodeo. Calgary draws the best rodeo has to offer in terms of contestants and livestock. They make the Calgary Stampede one of the greatest outdoor shows on earth and bucket list must for rodeo fans everywhere.
Next Week: Randolph Scott, the ‘30’s.
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
November 17, 2024
Steamboat
Start researching the iconic bucking horse Steamboat and next thing you come to is a legend as iconic than the horse … a license plate. The plate of course identifies the State of Wyoming, with a legend all its own. Let’s start with the horse.
Steamboat was the quintessential bucking horse. You know the old bromide, ‘Never a horse that couldn’t be rode …’ Well, the black gelding with three white socks came pretty close. Get on him, and pretty sure you became, ‘a cowboy couldn’t be throwed.’ He bucked violently. Sunfish on a horizontal plane. Land stiff legged. Launch with a twist, forelegs gone one way, hind the other. Go ahead. Stay on. It’s only eight seconds. Not many did. They called him ‘steamboat’ for a whistling sound he made courtesy of a broken nose. Night train might a worked too.
Steamboat made his way to Cheyenne Frontier Days from the Tyrrell ranch courtesy of rodeo general chairman Ace V. Tyrrell. Legend has it the Wyoming license plate image is that of Clayton Danks who rode Steamboat at the 1909 Frontier Days Rodeo. Legend has it. Steamboat is buried in Frontier Park near the bucking chute he made famous, the only livestock competitor ever to be so honored. Steamboat was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City in 1975 and the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame at Colorado Springs in 1979.
Now about the license plate. The Bucking Horse and Rider emblem owes its origin to WWI military design. It all started when 1st Sgt. George Ostrom who, with the help of a procurement officer, finagled army ‘enlistment’ for a Crow Agency Montana horse he owned called Red Wing. Red Wing caught the eye of the unit commander who selected him for his mount. All went well until unit mascots entered the parade ground. A pair of bears set Red Wing to bucking. No report on unit commander dignity. The image stayed with Ostrom who had some obvious artistic talent, winning a design contest for an emblem to signify Wyoming units among the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe.
Enter the University of Wyoming Athletic Department. In 1921 the ‘Cowboys’ (and girls) adopted a bucking horse and rider emblem for their uniforms. The image, possibly based on a third horse, Deadman eclipsed Ostrom’s Red Wing to become the icon we admire today. In 1935 Wyoming adopted the image for its official license plate and the legend of Steamboat was born.
Next Week: Calgary Stampede
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
Steamboat was the quintessential bucking horse. You know the old bromide, ‘Never a horse that couldn’t be rode …’ Well, the black gelding with three white socks came pretty close. Get on him, and pretty sure you became, ‘a cowboy couldn’t be throwed.’ He bucked violently. Sunfish on a horizontal plane. Land stiff legged. Launch with a twist, forelegs gone one way, hind the other. Go ahead. Stay on. It’s only eight seconds. Not many did. They called him ‘steamboat’ for a whistling sound he made courtesy of a broken nose. Night train might a worked too.
Steamboat made his way to Cheyenne Frontier Days from the Tyrrell ranch courtesy of rodeo general chairman Ace V. Tyrrell. Legend has it the Wyoming license plate image is that of Clayton Danks who rode Steamboat at the 1909 Frontier Days Rodeo. Legend has it. Steamboat is buried in Frontier Park near the bucking chute he made famous, the only livestock competitor ever to be so honored. Steamboat was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City in 1975 and the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame at Colorado Springs in 1979.
Now about the license plate. The Bucking Horse and Rider emblem owes its origin to WWI military design. It all started when 1st Sgt. George Ostrom who, with the help of a procurement officer, finagled army ‘enlistment’ for a Crow Agency Montana horse he owned called Red Wing. Red Wing caught the eye of the unit commander who selected him for his mount. All went well until unit mascots entered the parade ground. A pair of bears set Red Wing to bucking. No report on unit commander dignity. The image stayed with Ostrom who had some obvious artistic talent, winning a design contest for an emblem to signify Wyoming units among the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe.
Enter the University of Wyoming Athletic Department. In 1921 the ‘Cowboys’ (and girls) adopted a bucking horse and rider emblem for their uniforms. The image, possibly based on a third horse, Deadman eclipsed Ostrom’s Red Wing to become the icon we admire today. In 1935 Wyoming adopted the image for its official license plate and the legend of Steamboat was born.
Next Week: Calgary Stampede
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
November 10, 2024
Once Upon a Pair of Bulls
This tale of two bulls borders on fairy ‘tail.’ It begins with 007 a 1,700# red brindle Brama-Herford cross called Red Rock. Red for the color and rock for the muscle pack he bunched before busting out of the chute. Some say the name came from a rock formation on his home ranch, but 309 riders he tossed over the course of his career while never giving up a qualified ride, might buy the former explanation.
He was a remarkable competitor to say the least. Bulls are strong. Some are fast. Some are smart. Red Rock laid claim to all three. A gentle soul in the pasture, you could put a child on his back. In the chute he knew his business, sensing what the rider would do. Few made it past his first jump and spin. With the would be rider bucked off, Red Rock would turn to the pen and trot off finished, occasionally preceded by a victory lap around the arena. He retired in 1987 PRCA Bucking Bull of the year, unridden at age eleven. This is where the fairy ‘tail’ begins.
As you may recall, PRCA’s World Champion Bull Rider in 1987 was Lane Frost, previously profiled in this series. Red Rock came out of retirement in 1988 for a Challenge of Champions, seven round match between Red Rock and Frost. Frost won the match riding Red Rock in four of the seven ‘outs’ (out of the chute). You’ll also recall the following year 1989, Lane Frost was thrown, hooked by a horn and died while competing at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Fast forward to the National Finals Rodeo that year.
Enter our second all time great bull, Mr. T. Another 1,700#er Mr. T was considered one of the meanest toughest bulls ever to grace the sport from a bucking chute. Like Red Rock, Mr. T spent much of his career unridden, though three cowboys earned qualified rides. Marty Staneart set the arena record in Cheyenne on him at 93 points. Ty Murry and Raymond Wessel also got their :08 money’s worth, before Murry went ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
Which brings us to the 1989 NFR. Jim Sharp needed one more qualified ride to win the World Championship. He drew Mr. T. The fairy stepped in. Mr. T threw Sharp, giving the title to Tuff Hedeman, Lane Frost’s traveling partner. Hedeman took the title with a second :08 added on in tribute to Frost. NFR held a memorial for Lane Frost that year. Red Rock came out of retirement to attend. In turn, Mr. T retired, joining Red Rock as happily ever after, pasture pals. The End.
Next Week: Steamboat
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
He was a remarkable competitor to say the least. Bulls are strong. Some are fast. Some are smart. Red Rock laid claim to all three. A gentle soul in the pasture, you could put a child on his back. In the chute he knew his business, sensing what the rider would do. Few made it past his first jump and spin. With the would be rider bucked off, Red Rock would turn to the pen and trot off finished, occasionally preceded by a victory lap around the arena. He retired in 1987 PRCA Bucking Bull of the year, unridden at age eleven. This is where the fairy ‘tail’ begins.
As you may recall, PRCA’s World Champion Bull Rider in 1987 was Lane Frost, previously profiled in this series. Red Rock came out of retirement in 1988 for a Challenge of Champions, seven round match between Red Rock and Frost. Frost won the match riding Red Rock in four of the seven ‘outs’ (out of the chute). You’ll also recall the following year 1989, Lane Frost was thrown, hooked by a horn and died while competing at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Fast forward to the National Finals Rodeo that year.
Enter our second all time great bull, Mr. T. Another 1,700#er Mr. T was considered one of the meanest toughest bulls ever to grace the sport from a bucking chute. Like Red Rock, Mr. T spent much of his career unridden, though three cowboys earned qualified rides. Marty Staneart set the arena record in Cheyenne on him at 93 points. Ty Murry and Raymond Wessel also got their :08 money’s worth, before Murry went ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
Which brings us to the 1989 NFR. Jim Sharp needed one more qualified ride to win the World Championship. He drew Mr. T. The fairy stepped in. Mr. T threw Sharp, giving the title to Tuff Hedeman, Lane Frost’s traveling partner. Hedeman took the title with a second :08 added on in tribute to Frost. NFR held a memorial for Lane Frost that year. Red Rock came out of retirement to attend. In turn, Mr. T retired, joining Red Rock as happily ever after, pasture pals. The End.
Next Week: Steamboat
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Ride easy,
Paul
November 3, 2024
Frontier Days 'Fandango'
Sally Rand performed at Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1935. Not generally known for breathtaking attire, she arrived wearing a stunning white buckskin outfit the rodeo committee was so impressed they made it tradition. Cheyenne’s Miss Frontier rodeo queen wears white buckskin. The outfit evolved over the years that followed with styles and tastes of the queens who wore them, but white buckskin remained the signature look.
Sally Rand was better known for white ostrich feathers than buckskin, she used those feathers in the act she took to Cheyenne’s entertainment stage. Her famous fan dance performed fanciful illusions between fans to the accompaniment of Clair de Lune. The dance made its first appearance at the Paramount Club in Chicago and later gained notoriety at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, where her act, illusion or not, ruffled the feathers of decency for an arrest or two. No convictions resulted as the judge, after examining the evidence, decided he liked the show.
Rand’s career was colorful to say the least. She got her start in showbiz early, performing as a chorus girl at thirteen. She worked her way to Hollywood in part performing as an acrobat in Ringling Brothers Barnum & Baily Circus. In Hollywood she caught on in silent films where none other than Cecil B. DeMille came up with her stage name inspired by Rand McNally’s Road Atlas. The name stuck in more ways than one.
A deceptive football play called ‘Sally Rand’ borrowed her moniker. It featured a run fake flowing in one direction while the ball carrier, usually the quarterback carried the ball in the opposite direction without blockers on what some to this day call a naked reverse. Sally had her moments on the small screen too, appearing on 1950’s game shows, ‘What’s My Line?’ and ‘To Tell the Truth,’ using her given name Helen Beck. Neither panel was stumped.
A brief romantic fling with Charles Lindbergh made for a life long interest in flying. She earned her pilot’s license and flew herself to performances crisscrossing the country. Deeply in debt, Rand died of congestive heart failure in 1979. Sammy Davis Jr. paid her final expenses.
Next Week: Full of Bulls
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
Sally Rand was better known for white ostrich feathers than buckskin, she used those feathers in the act she took to Cheyenne’s entertainment stage. Her famous fan dance performed fanciful illusions between fans to the accompaniment of Clair de Lune. The dance made its first appearance at the Paramount Club in Chicago and later gained notoriety at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, where her act, illusion or not, ruffled the feathers of decency for an arrest or two. No convictions resulted as the judge, after examining the evidence, decided he liked the show.
Rand’s career was colorful to say the least. She got her start in showbiz early, performing as a chorus girl at thirteen. She worked her way to Hollywood in part performing as an acrobat in Ringling Brothers Barnum & Baily Circus. In Hollywood she caught on in silent films where none other than Cecil B. DeMille came up with her stage name inspired by Rand McNally’s Road Atlas. The name stuck in more ways than one.
A deceptive football play called ‘Sally Rand’ borrowed her moniker. It featured a run fake flowing in one direction while the ball carrier, usually the quarterback carried the ball in the opposite direction without blockers on what some to this day call a naked reverse. Sally had her moments on the small screen too, appearing on 1950’s game shows, ‘What’s My Line?’ and ‘To Tell the Truth,’ using her given name Helen Beck. Neither panel was stumped.
A brief romantic fling with Charles Lindbergh made for a life long interest in flying. She earned her pilot’s license and flew herself to performances crisscrossing the country. Deeply in debt, Rand died of congestive heart failure in 1979. Sammy Davis Jr. paid her final expenses.
Next Week: Full of Bulls
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
October 27, 2024
Chris LeDoux
Chris LeDoux credits his rodeo career to Cheyenne Frontier Days. Might ought a credit his music career that way too. LeDoux’s Frontier Days credits begin when his family moved to Cheyenne while Chris was in high school. He attended Cheyenne Central High School. Competing in high school rodeo bareback bronc riding he twice won the Wyoming State Rodeo Championship in that event. From there he went on to win the Intercollegiate National bareback riding title as a Junior at Eastern New Mexico University. In 1970 he joined PRCA and turned pro.
What do you do traveling the pro rodeo circuit to defray expenses? Write songs. Cut tapes and sell them out the back of your pick-up between events. Actually, his introduction to music started with a family booth below the Frontier Days grandstands. He made it to Cheyenne as a contestant in 1974, realizing a boyhood dream of competing in the ‘Daddy of ‘em All. Along the way he became the only person to participate in and perform for crowds at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In 1976 he won world championship honors with its coveted gold buckle at the National Finals Rodeo. He hung up his spurs in 1980, moving his family to a ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming.
Music followed Chris into retirement. He played concerts accompanied by a mechanical bull he rode between songs. In 1989 his work caught the eye, or should we say ear of Garth Brooks. Following a duet with Brooks Chris LeDoux found his place on the country music walk of fame. His vocal collaboration with Brooks was honored with Grammy a nomination in 1992 and similar recognition by the Academy of Country Music. Thirty six albums later, two gold, one platinum, earned him ACM’s Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award.
Chris LeDoux was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs in 2005, the only person so honored in two categories, bareback bronc riding and notable music entertainer. He died of cancer that same year. The sculpture titled Good Ride Cowboy stands in a memorial park in Kaycee Wyoming dedicated to his honor. Good ride indeed.
Next Week: Cheyenne Frontier Days ‘Fan…dango’
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Ride easy,
Paul
What do you do traveling the pro rodeo circuit to defray expenses? Write songs. Cut tapes and sell them out the back of your pick-up between events. Actually, his introduction to music started with a family booth below the Frontier Days grandstands. He made it to Cheyenne as a contestant in 1974, realizing a boyhood dream of competing in the ‘Daddy of ‘em All. Along the way he became the only person to participate in and perform for crowds at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In 1976 he won world championship honors with its coveted gold buckle at the National Finals Rodeo. He hung up his spurs in 1980, moving his family to a ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming.
Music followed Chris into retirement. He played concerts accompanied by a mechanical bull he rode between songs. In 1989 his work caught the eye, or should we say ear of Garth Brooks. Following a duet with Brooks Chris LeDoux found his place on the country music walk of fame. His vocal collaboration with Brooks was honored with Grammy a nomination in 1992 and similar recognition by the Academy of Country Music. Thirty six albums later, two gold, one platinum, earned him ACM’s Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award.
Chris LeDoux was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs in 2005, the only person so honored in two categories, bareback bronc riding and notable music entertainer. He died of cancer that same year. The sculpture titled Good Ride Cowboy stands in a memorial park in Kaycee Wyoming dedicated to his honor. Good ride indeed.
Next Week: Cheyenne Frontier Days ‘Fan…dango’
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
October 20, 2024
National Treasure Icons
Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo is a national treasure for giving the sport of rodeo roots. The history of this iconic event led to a list of stars, those with two legs and some with four. The stories of these stars deserve their own telling so let’s spend a couple of posts or a few on some of the more interesting. To illustrate the point, we’ll start with bulldogger Bill Pickett.
Bill Pickett was born in Williamson County Texas in 1870, a generation removed from slavery. The whereabouts of Jenks Branch, the community where Pickett was born, is best left to GPS location. Pickett left grammar school to ranch hand. Ranch work led to … his calling.
Bill Pickett’s claim to fame? He invented ‘bulldogging,’ forerunner to the event we now know as steer wrestling. What’s the difference? Pickett didn’t grab the bull by the horns. He grabbed the bull by the neck, twisting the animal’s snout to his, enabling him to bite the startled critter’s lip until it stopped in its tracks and dropped to the ground. The run ended with Pickett raising his arms like a tie down roper, holding the steer subdued on the ground with only his teeth. Really.
In 1905 Picket took his act to Cheyenne Frontier Days as part of the famed 101 Ranch Rodeo. The sport of bulldogging was born. Cowboys competed in the event for several years using Pickett’s ‘lip-lock’ technique until some clever soul decided grabbing the bull by the horns worked better than a snoot full of … snot. With that innovation bulldogging became steer wrestling as we know it today.
The 101 Ranch Rodeo claimed more than Bill Pickett to its fame. Buffalo Bill Cody came along for the ride along with the likes of Will Rogers, Tom Mix, and other notables of the time. Pickett continued his rodeo career until retiring from the ranch wild west show. He died in 1932, after being kicked in the head by a bronc. He is buried on the 101 Ranch in Texas.
Bill Pickett was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1971 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. In 1989 he was recognized by induction into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Still waiting for some hall of fame to induct his dentist. The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo tours the country recognizing the achievements and contributions of Black cowboys.
Next Week: Chris LeDoux
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Ride easy,
Paul
Bill Pickett was born in Williamson County Texas in 1870, a generation removed from slavery. The whereabouts of Jenks Branch, the community where Pickett was born, is best left to GPS location. Pickett left grammar school to ranch hand. Ranch work led to … his calling.
Bill Pickett’s claim to fame? He invented ‘bulldogging,’ forerunner to the event we now know as steer wrestling. What’s the difference? Pickett didn’t grab the bull by the horns. He grabbed the bull by the neck, twisting the animal’s snout to his, enabling him to bite the startled critter’s lip until it stopped in its tracks and dropped to the ground. The run ended with Pickett raising his arms like a tie down roper, holding the steer subdued on the ground with only his teeth. Really.
In 1905 Picket took his act to Cheyenne Frontier Days as part of the famed 101 Ranch Rodeo. The sport of bulldogging was born. Cowboys competed in the event for several years using Pickett’s ‘lip-lock’ technique until some clever soul decided grabbing the bull by the horns worked better than a snoot full of … snot. With that innovation bulldogging became steer wrestling as we know it today.
The 101 Ranch Rodeo claimed more than Bill Pickett to its fame. Buffalo Bill Cody came along for the ride along with the likes of Will Rogers, Tom Mix, and other notables of the time. Pickett continued his rodeo career until retiring from the ranch wild west show. He died in 1932, after being kicked in the head by a bronc. He is buried on the 101 Ranch in Texas.
Bill Pickett was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1971 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. In 1989 he was recognized by induction into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Still waiting for some hall of fame to induct his dentist. The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo tours the country recognizing the achievements and contributions of Black cowboys.
Next Week: Chris LeDoux
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Ride easy,
Paul
October 13, 2024
Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo
Cheyenne Frontier Days, ‘Daddy of ‘em All,’ owes its start to Frederick Angier, Union Pacific ticket agent in Cheyenne. In 1890 he got the idea for a frontier days celebration to draw passengers out of Denver. One hundred thirty-four colorful years later you have one of the world’s iconic redoes. Some history let me tell you.
The first Frontier Days featured a sham battle staged by the U.S. Army 8th Infantry under Captain William Pitcher who had temporary command while the commanding general was out on maneuvers. The Captain and his men put on quite a show while the boss was away and without War Department authorization. Still Frontier Days’ historic military tradition was born.
The following year Frontier Days went big time when Buffalo Bill Cody brought his Wild West Show to town for the first of several Frontier Days performances. Cody’s Wild West featured dramatic reenactment performances with cowboys, a band of Sioux showcasing tribal culture, along with events soon to become rodeo tradition. The parade beginning the show included the original Cheyenne to Deadwood stagecoach. Know that one well. Have held it up a couple of times in my books.
What do you do with a frontier park when you’re not hosting frontier days? Use it for an aerodrome. That’s what they called ‘em before they were ‘ports.’ Aeroplanes were a spectator curiosity in 1911 when Guy Stoddard attempted to fly a home built wonder out of frontier field. The exhibition never got off the ground back then. A little later that year race car driver Harold Brinker flew his plane out of frontier park and continued to use it as an airfield until 1913.
There’s plenty more history when it comes to Cheyenne Frontier Days. That rodeo has given us iconic stars with two legs and four. Last week we profiled the life and times of bull rider Lane Frost, who tragically lost his life competing at Cheyenne. Frontier Days has a museum dedicated to the history of this rodeo national treasure.
Next week we’ll take a look at some of the stars memorialized in the lore that is the Daddy of ‘em All.
Next Week: Icons of a National Treasure
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
The first Frontier Days featured a sham battle staged by the U.S. Army 8th Infantry under Captain William Pitcher who had temporary command while the commanding general was out on maneuvers. The Captain and his men put on quite a show while the boss was away and without War Department authorization. Still Frontier Days’ historic military tradition was born.
The following year Frontier Days went big time when Buffalo Bill Cody brought his Wild West Show to town for the first of several Frontier Days performances. Cody’s Wild West featured dramatic reenactment performances with cowboys, a band of Sioux showcasing tribal culture, along with events soon to become rodeo tradition. The parade beginning the show included the original Cheyenne to Deadwood stagecoach. Know that one well. Have held it up a couple of times in my books.
What do you do with a frontier park when you’re not hosting frontier days? Use it for an aerodrome. That’s what they called ‘em before they were ‘ports.’ Aeroplanes were a spectator curiosity in 1911 when Guy Stoddard attempted to fly a home built wonder out of frontier field. The exhibition never got off the ground back then. A little later that year race car driver Harold Brinker flew his plane out of frontier park and continued to use it as an airfield until 1913.
There’s plenty more history when it comes to Cheyenne Frontier Days. That rodeo has given us iconic stars with two legs and four. Last week we profiled the life and times of bull rider Lane Frost, who tragically lost his life competing at Cheyenne. Frontier Days has a museum dedicated to the history of this rodeo national treasure.
Next week we’ll take a look at some of the stars memorialized in the lore that is the Daddy of ‘em All.
Next Week: Icons of a National Treasure
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
October 6, 2024
8 Seconds
8 Seconds is a contemporary western, biographical film chronicling the life of bull riding legend Lane Frost. While the film is an excellent tribute to a rodeo star, there is more to Frost’s legacy than film would allow. His contributions to the sport and friendships with traveling partners Tuff Hedeman and Cody Lambert exemplify the qualities that make rodeo so special.
Lane Frost grew up riding bulls, starting with calves around age six. He turned pro after graduating high school in 1982, qualifying for his first National Finals Rodeo (NFR) four years later in 1986. The following year at the NFR he became PRCA World Champion bull rider at age 24. He would return to the NFR each year for the next five years. As you may recall, competitors qualify for the NFR by being one of the top fifteen money winners for the year in their event.
The film follows Frosts professional career with a focus on something called the Challenge of Champions. In 1988 the Challenge matched Frost against Red Rock, 1987 PRCA Bull of the Year, unridden in 309 attempts. Frost and Red Rock would go one on one through seven showdown rides at selected rodeos across the west. Frost, the only man ever to ride Red Rock, did so in four of seven attempts. The only footnote – they brought the Red Rock out of retirement for the Challenge, though he was only one season removed from retiring undefeated.
The following year 1989, found Frost matched against a rank Brama, Takin’ Care of Business at the ‘Daddy of ‘em All’, Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Cheyenne Wyoming. Frost rode the bull to a muddy dismount. The bull turned on him knocking down and pinning him to the ground on the business end of a horn. Bleeding internally, Frost died where he fell.
The film ends as it did in real life later that year with Frost’s friend and traveling partner Tuff Hedeman riding for his second NFR World Championship. He capped off his :08 second qualified ride by staying aboard :08 seconds more in memorial tribute to his pal. Never done before or since. The real life story doesn’t end there either. The ‘third pard’ in the trio, Cody Lambert designed the protective vest professional bull riders wear to this day.
I have it on good authority, Montez Farrell-Wilkerson, one of our regular readers here, Mt. Olivet cemetery where Lane Frost rests in Hugo Oklahoma, is well worth a visit.
Next Week: Daddy of ‘em All
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
Lane Frost grew up riding bulls, starting with calves around age six. He turned pro after graduating high school in 1982, qualifying for his first National Finals Rodeo (NFR) four years later in 1986. The following year at the NFR he became PRCA World Champion bull rider at age 24. He would return to the NFR each year for the next five years. As you may recall, competitors qualify for the NFR by being one of the top fifteen money winners for the year in their event.
The film follows Frosts professional career with a focus on something called the Challenge of Champions. In 1988 the Challenge matched Frost against Red Rock, 1987 PRCA Bull of the Year, unridden in 309 attempts. Frost and Red Rock would go one on one through seven showdown rides at selected rodeos across the west. Frost, the only man ever to ride Red Rock, did so in four of seven attempts. The only footnote – they brought the Red Rock out of retirement for the Challenge, though he was only one season removed from retiring undefeated.
The following year 1989, found Frost matched against a rank Brama, Takin’ Care of Business at the ‘Daddy of ‘em All’, Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Cheyenne Wyoming. Frost rode the bull to a muddy dismount. The bull turned on him knocking down and pinning him to the ground on the business end of a horn. Bleeding internally, Frost died where he fell.
The film ends as it did in real life later that year with Frost’s friend and traveling partner Tuff Hedeman riding for his second NFR World Championship. He capped off his :08 second qualified ride by staying aboard :08 seconds more in memorial tribute to his pal. Never done before or since. The real life story doesn’t end there either. The ‘third pard’ in the trio, Cody Lambert designed the protective vest professional bull riders wear to this day.
I have it on good authority, Montez Farrell-Wilkerson, one of our regular readers here, Mt. Olivet cemetery where Lane Frost rests in Hugo Oklahoma, is well worth a visit.
Next Week: Daddy of ‘em All
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
