Rodeo as a Profitable and Popular Form of Entertainment

The rodeo as it is known today has changed somewhat since it began in the Southern borders of the United States and Mexico. Then, it was just a pastime for the cowboys, as their lifestyles on the ranches didn’t provide an abundance of entertainment. They showed off their skills to each other, of tying animals and riding untamed mustangs or horses for as long as possible without being thrown off. This provided entertainment, not just for the cowboys and vaqueros, but also for the local people. For them it was a novelty, and provided a new and exciting form of entertainment.

Between this time and the present day many changes have taken place within the world of the rodeo in the progression of it becoming a professional sport, and one which is known nationally across the United States, and also internationally. How did all this happen? When, where and why did the rodeo become a successful and profitable form of entertainment for the people of the United States?

‘Being remote from towns for the greater share of their working lives, cowboys relied upon the materials at hand - the elements of their work and environment - for their diversions.’ It was natural for them to find entertainment from the livestock around them, as it was a chance to practice their working skills and also to show off to their companions. This form of entertainment was an innate part of the cowboy. ‘Such diversions reflected the cowboy’s way of life, and helped to express his attitudes and feelings that gave him a place in his particular sphere.’

Yet, cowboys showed that they were also adaptable. As their way of life changed, so did the way that they socialised and entertained themselves and each other. The round-up not only changed the way in which the cowboys worked; it also affected the community. Twice a year, all the men would gather in the same area to reclaim cattle that had been lost in the previous months. ‘Just as the nightly campfire gatherings of the trail drives had offered an opportunity for common forms of expression and sociability, so now the range round-up became a kind of ritual - the harvest for cattlemen.’ At such gatherings, the cowboys would compete against each other in such competitions as riding untamed horses for the longest time possible, racing or roping. It was much the same concept as it had been around the campfires, although now there were bets being placed and more people were involved in the competitions and watching them. These were the first stages of the modern day rodeo. Although not as grand or as organised, it was a twice-yearly event held by groups of cattlemen and provided competitions and entertainment for the cowboys and the neighbouring people.

By this time, the earliest of rodeos had already started to take place in 1869 and 1872. Although there weren’t any of the common features of the rodeo present, such as prizes, and admission charges, it wasn’t long until a more organised and profitable rodeo was held in Prescott, Arizona, in 1888. The emergence of admission fees and prizes shows that the rodeo as a sport was starting to become more popular in the South and West of the United States.

Business in these areas experienced an increase in their profits as a result of the rodeos being held in their towns, as well as the cowboys who were now competing for cash winnings:

‘Cash prizes were posted, and the leading ropes from each ranch were selected. Morgan Livingston of the NA ranch took first money, and Trav Windham second. There was a barbeque, and the town was crowded with people. Business was booming, especially around the saloons.’

The success of these rodeos led to the creation of the Wild West Show first produced by Colonel William Cody, or “Buffalo Bill”. At this time, in the 1880s, there were many cowboys who had found themselves jobless, as a result of the enclosures of the rangeland. Also, many of them refused to work in any other profession, which meant that ‘the out-of-work cowboy might choose to hire out to one of the many wild west shows that flourished after Colonel Cody’s success. By 1885 there were more than 50 of them.’

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show was so successful that many other men decided to run their own shows, which in turn heightened the publicity and popularity of the rodeo.

Even though ‘the cowboys were not the whole of Cody’s show...[they] shone particularly in the program assigned to them. From the first performance to the last section of the program...”Cowboy Fun” was exclusively theirs.’

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show was a success while it lasted. He ‘proved that such western events as roping, bronco busting, and branding had a tremendous appeal and fascination.’ It was because of this that the Wild West Show failed and the rodeo succeeded. People came to see the cowboys perform their tricks and use their