Xd72344 ” THE CALIFORNIA RODEO AT SALINAS ” 1940’S PROFESSIONAL RODEO COWBOYS COMPETITION FILM

This film depicts the California Rodeo at Salinas circa the late 1940s. This rodeo continues to this day as a major stop as part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit. This particular rodeo began in 1911 as a Wild West Show. The film was made by the Motion Picture Film Service of San Francisco and presented by the Standard Oil Company of California

(:15). A welcome sign hangs over Main Street in the city of Salinas (:24). Visitors from all sectors of the country travel here for the famed Rodeo at Salinas (:34). This was to be the 32nd annual California Rodeo (:37). A young girl spins wildly in a white dress before street bands (:41). The rodeo ran from June 17th to June 20th (:53). 650 Delegates from International Labor Organizations representing 70 countries were in attendance (:59). Elmer Robinson, the former San Francisco mayor (1:02) shakes hands upon arrival. The crowd filters through the main gate (1:08). About 400 cowboys and cowgirls compete here for over 45,000 in purses and prizes (1:19). The traditional and festive western attire of the guests and participants is noted (1:19). The massive stands are jammed (1:22). The opening parade moves down the dirt roadway (1:27). General Mark W. Clark (1:36) heads the parade. Clark saw service during the first and second World Wars as well as the Korean War. At this rodeo, his famed 6th Army was to be honored (1:42). A brass army band follows (1:52). Championship bareback riding (2:57) is the first event as bucking broncos stream from the gate. Pickup men ride alongside the rider to pluck them off the bucking horse (3:32). Championship calf roping follows (3:48). A rider ties a calf’s hooves rapidly in the dirt (4:14). Another calf is lassoed (4:27). Trick riders swing from side to side of a brisk pony (5:29). A female trick rider blazes against the wind as her horse gallops down the line (5:49). Championship Bronc Riding is the next event (6:10). Cowboys must hang on for at least 10 seconds (6:24). The labor delegate from Rome, Italy witnesses his first rodeo (6:56). Brahma bull riding follows (7:03). The bull; originally from India, jostles a rider into the air (7:07). The clown is used to distract the bull as the cowboy drops to the ground (7:55). The next event is to be Championship bulldogging (8:27). Two cowboys rush from the gates after a steer (8:36). This particular event originates from 1903 (8:53). A hazer keeps the steer in a straight line (8:59). Pageant girls proudly wear sashes and rodeo gear (9:58) to compete for the title of Sweetheart of the California Rodeo. The winner Dolores Udell is interviewed (10:07).