Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Western Spectacle 1952
Souvenir Programme for the show that brought "America's most beloved cowboy" Tex Ritter to London after over twenty Hollywood movies - just before his world-wide success with the title song for the GGary Cooper/Grace Kelly movie High Noon (1951).
This was the last of the great live cowboy shows - with Tex Ritter performing with his "Wonder Horse" White Flash, rodeo stars Buff & Ruby Brady trick-riding and roping galloping horses, more trick-riding from "California's sweetheart" Pat Paul, a troupe of Asah indians from Oklahoma, the Canadian Cal McCord and Tex McCloud who was "a World Champion Rodeo Star prior to entering show business through the help of his great friend Will Rogers" who introduced him to the Ziefield Follies.
The show was devised and produced by Clem Butson.
Digital image © Harringay Online-
Comment by Hugh on November 16, 2021 at 7:44
-
Here's one man's memory of the event he saw as a boy:
This wasn't cinema - this was the real thing. Cattle thundered across the arena as cowboys demonstrated herding and driving. Roped them in for branding. Rodeo riders bucked on broncos and bulls. And the gunfights - I don't think that anyone had experienced the euphoria and the magic of that day - so much happening; so much to take in.
And the finale - who can forget that. The stagecoach running around the arena, kids on their feet roaring it on. Behind, rampaging Indians ever threatening to kill all on board - the tension rising until that bugle call that announced the arrival of the cavalry. And how we all stood and cheered.
In the midst of it all was Tex Ritter - the singing cowboy himself - astride Flash. The spotlight began to swing around the audience and when it stopped one lucky child received a twin holster and a pair of guns.
Broadcast on BBC TV on Sun 3rd August 1952.
Add a Comment
© 2024 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Harringay online to add comments!
Join Harringay online