Douglas Rodeo

Southern Arizona's big event in May is the Douglas rodeo in which the Cochise county border city goes western in a big way.

The colorful music and costumes of Mexican dancers add to the merriment during the annual Douglas rodeo.

DOUGLAS colorful Arizona community on the Mexican border, situated in the heart of a vast cattle empire in two nations, stages its third annual rodeo May 9-10-11. Sponsors of the first rodeo held in 1939, coined a happy phrase when they termed it "The Biggest Little Show in the Southwest," for they have been able to make the shows live up to their name and each year the venture grows in prestige and patronage. Fulfilling their promise of a "bigger and better" show than ever this year, directors of the Douglas Rodeo Association are introducing three new features, a night horse show, Indian Days' program, and the use of Brahma steers from a Texas ranch in the bucking contest.

These new events will supplement three days and nights of rodeo performing on a brilliantly lighted field with both amateur and professional cowboys in quest of gold and glory. Top flight hands participate in the Douglas rodeos, assuring patrons the best in this line of entertainment which can be obtained.

Captain John H. Healy of Carr Canyon Ranch in the Huachuca Mountains will manage the Horse Show. Director of the Sonoita Horse Show and other similar events, he brings to the supervision

Photographs By Max Kegley

of the Douglas event a background of experience and enthusiasm for horse shows. The Horse Show will be held the night of May 10 and will present competition in eleven divisions or classes. There will be the saddle class, children's class, model cow pony and model stallion competition, contests for the ladies and among polo ponies, and a division featuring the best foal of 1940. John Salem, one of the original boosters of the Douglas Rodeo, is in charge of the Indian Days program, featuring the descendants of the fierce Apache warriors of bygone days in dances. The redskins are being brought here from the San Carlos reservation. Certainly no community in the Southwest enters so gaily and so enthusiastically into rodeo preparations as Douglas. The carnival atmosphere prevails weeks before the actual staging of the event. For weeks scores of men have been growing beards. They are of all sizes and shapes. The different types will be judged in the annual whiskerino contest to be held the day before the rodeo opens. Then, big boots, "ten gallon" hats, loud colored shirts, and other forms of western attire are very much in evidence on the streets of the city. Known as the "Cow Country on the Border," headquarters for stockmen and cowboys coming from a large range area, Douglas is used to this display of western garb but not in such numbers as during rodeo time.

The women and even boys and girls play their part in creating the necessary atmosphere. There is a highly respected rule that all women must display some article of western or old fashioned attire either a handkerchief, large hat, boots or special blouse, and the men must present at least two articles of western garb. The edict is highly respected because the Vigilantes insist on it. The vigilantes swing into action a few days before the rodeo with their badges of authority and their patrol car and woe unto those who do not, to use the ancient expression, "when in Rome do as Romans do." The offenders or "slackers" are promptly hailed before a court, held on the principal street, and embarrassing questions asked as to why they failed to enter into the spirit of the occasion. No excuses are tolerated and the offender is fined by a stern judge. The fine for the second offense is more severe butthere is seldom a second offense.

Each year both the Rodeo Association and the various merchants and individuals use their ingenuity in planning novel decorations that are "different." Last year, large fabric steer heads were strung above G Avenue, the city's principal thoroughfare, supplementing other street decorations. To these are added the displays planned by the merchants. The casual visitor entering the city cannot help but be impressed by the colorfully decorated town and he does not need to inquire as to the reason. The rodeo theme is emphasized sufficiently to tell its story to all.

Douglas citizens overlook nothing in the way of telling the world about their show. Through trains on the Southern Pacific Railroad are met at the station every Sunday afternoon for a month preceding the rodeo with music, dances, and crowds, staged on the platform to the delight and entertainment of the thrilled passengers. An old time cowboy shooting is thrown in for the benefit of the pop-eyed passengers. The programs are always a treat for the camera fans and they make full use of the opportunity to add something different to their collection. The passengers are told by loud speaker of the "Friendly City on the Mexican Border," and as their train pulls out to the blare of music by a western orchestra, they are impressed by this fact.

(Turn to Page 39) Caballero with a beard in Spanish-rodeo costume.

A lovely little miss in gingham dressed up for the Douglas celebration.

Riding high and hard in the Douglas show.