Welcome to Gail Hughbanks Woerner's Official Website
A New Year – But Rodeo History Revisited
Well hello, I just took down my Christmas letter here from Foghorn Clancy printed years ago. I am hurrying because Easter is just a few weeks away. Time flies when I am having fun, and although we have been through a dreadful time with the pandemic and such, I still find time to research and find wonderful things to write about. I’ve turned into a rodeo historian because I have been at it so long and can’t quit! But let me tell you, once I got this title, given me by some important western organizations, it made me realize how much I don’t know about rodeo history!! I really won’t ever finish this task, which gives me a real good feeling. I now know what I will be doing ‘when I grow up’!
I do feel that the things written about the history of rodeo are important to some people, and these people are important to me. It may be a small group when you consider the number of people in this universe, but they are my kind of people. They love the land, and the animals that roam it. They are genuine in their nature, and never try to be someone they are not. Being a westerner is all that is important to them. But they strive to do the best they can, whether it is in a rodeo arena riding a bronc or tying a calf or throwing down a steer or rounding a barrel. They may be in the middle of a pasture counting their herd and making sure they are sound. Or simply watching the sun rise or set from the top of a horse, their best friend. Regardless, it’s a great way of life, and I’m sad for the people who never have had the opportunity to experience it because they’ve spent their time in a cement jungle.
I’m currently researching the history of the rodeos that were held in Madison Square Garden, Boston Garden, and in London, England, between 1922 until 1959. For the last 30 years I have felt that the Madison Square Garden rodeo was the ‘unofficial predecessor to the PRCA National Finals Rodeo. Not because it was just for the top fifteen in each event, but it was at the end of the rodeo season each year, plus the top fifteen and over a hundred more cowboys and cowgirls were there. It was such fun and good money, too. What a way to end the season.
The book is not just about those rodeos, but it is also about the cowboys and cowgirls that were there to compete, perform and experience something a bit different than at the smaller rodeos, and the west. At first they were treated like celebrities and wined and dined in an atmosphere no westerner would choose, but it was appreciated. It was a new way and a new area in which to promote rodeo, and the people that live it.
So far I’ve spent a year on the research and the writing, but I had collected bits of information and photographs during previous years on these rodeos. They are a big part of the evolution of our sport, as are the people that lived it. I still have a lot to do before this project is finished. Back in those days, there were very few people, or written material, that had the foresight to keep records. I will name Foghorn Clancy as a rodeo person who was forward thinking and did some important things to preserve some of the history of rodeo. This includes his book, “My 50 Years in Rodeo”, as well as his column written in Hoofs & Horns monthly, and later his books on Rodeo Records.
I want to thank everyone that comes to my website and is interested in reading what I write or uncover from the past. I hope your life is busy and fulfilling and that you may find our world may change in many ways, some due to the pandemic, but other ways as well. But one thing never changes, and that is our beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Happy trails!
I do feel that the things written about the history of rodeo are important to some people, and these people are important to me. It may be a small group when you consider the number of people in this universe, but they are my kind of people. They love the land, and the animals that roam it. They are genuine in their nature, and never try to be someone they are not. Being a westerner is all that is important to them. But they strive to do the best they can, whether it is in a rodeo arena riding a bronc or tying a calf or throwing down a steer or rounding a barrel. They may be in the middle of a pasture counting their herd and making sure they are sound. Or simply watching the sun rise or set from the top of a horse, their best friend. Regardless, it’s a great way of life, and I’m sad for the people who never have had the opportunity to experience it because they’ve spent their time in a cement jungle.
I’m currently researching the history of the rodeos that were held in Madison Square Garden, Boston Garden, and in London, England, between 1922 until 1959. For the last 30 years I have felt that the Madison Square Garden rodeo was the ‘unofficial predecessor to the PRCA National Finals Rodeo. Not because it was just for the top fifteen in each event, but it was at the end of the rodeo season each year, plus the top fifteen and over a hundred more cowboys and cowgirls were there. It was such fun and good money, too. What a way to end the season.
The book is not just about those rodeos, but it is also about the cowboys and cowgirls that were there to compete, perform and experience something a bit different than at the smaller rodeos, and the west. At first they were treated like celebrities and wined and dined in an atmosphere no westerner would choose, but it was appreciated. It was a new way and a new area in which to promote rodeo, and the people that live it.
So far I’ve spent a year on the research and the writing, but I had collected bits of information and photographs during previous years on these rodeos. They are a big part of the evolution of our sport, as are the people that lived it. I still have a lot to do before this project is finished. Back in those days, there were very few people, or written material, that had the foresight to keep records. I will name Foghorn Clancy as a rodeo person who was forward thinking and did some important things to preserve some of the history of rodeo. This includes his book, “My 50 Years in Rodeo”, as well as his column written in Hoofs & Horns monthly, and later his books on Rodeo Records.
I want to thank everyone that comes to my website and is interested in reading what I write or uncover from the past. I hope your life is busy and fulfilling and that you may find our world may change in many ways, some due to the pandemic, but other ways as well. But one thing never changes, and that is our beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Happy trails!