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.
Return to Facebook to comment.
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
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