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All Lone Pine Stampede photos and programs are from the archives of Ben Baker and Irma Cline unless otherwise noted. See USE NOTICE on Home Page. |
11/22The History of the Lone Pine Stampede
(Courtesy of the Lone Pine Film History Museum)
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08/22 |
1947 Bishop Rodeo (1947 Program and images courtesy of Rich McCutchan) |
 Dorothy Amon - Bishop Homecoming Queen - 1947 |
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Images from the 1948 Lone Pine Stampede Program |
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08/221948 Bishop Rodeo (1948 Program and images courtesy of Rich McCutchan) |
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 U. S. Vanadium Tungsten Mill at Pine Creek |
 Every "Small Town" celebration has a Queen . . . and Bishop is no exception. From the four queen contestants shown above with Parade Marshall L. J. Horton, one will be queen of our 14th annual show this year. The young ladies from L/R are: Barbara Clancy, Janice Kixmiller, Alice Stokley, and Dorothy Agrell |
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1849 - 1949 Bishop Rodeo / Labor Day Celebration (1849 - 1949 Program and images courtesy of Rich McCutchan) |
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 Main Street Bishop looking West towards Line Street. The Geo. W. Neill "French Candies" store occupied the present site of Black's Store. |
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 Main Street Bishop looking north |
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Lone Pine Stampede 1950 Program (1950 Program and images courtesy of the Lone Pine Film History Museum) |
Photos from the 1950 Lone Pine Stampede Program |
 20 Mule Team with Stampede President R. B. Spainhower on the wheeler at Furnace Creek Inn in Death Valley. |
 L/R: Russ Spainhower, Sonny Tufts in the Alabama Hills making a movie for Columbia Pictures, Inc. |
 Hoot Gibson (on horse), Director Linn Reyolds (seated holding boy) on location in Lone Pine, CA |
 William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy) - seated center without hat on location at the "hacienda" on the Anchor Ranch in Lone Pine, CA |
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Photos from the 1951 Lone Pine Stampede Program |
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 Cerro Gordo Tramway at Keeler, CA |
Sherman Stevens' Charcoal Kilns near the shore of Owens Lake |
 Inyo Lumber Company Mill in Bishop, CA |
 Natural Soda Products Co. Soda Ash Plant, Keeler, CA |
Pittsburg Plate Glass Co. Soda Ash Plant, Bartlett, CA |
 Sierra Talc Co. Mill, Keeler, CA |
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Images from the 1955 Lone Pine Stampede Program |
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 Eastern Brook Trout |
 Packing in the Sierra Nevada |
 Brahma Bull Riding |
 Bareback Bronc Riding |
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Images from the 1956 Lone Pine Stampede Program |
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 Bruce Morgan's Twenty-Mule Team in Death Valley |
 Pack Train returning from Lone Pine Lake |
 Tulainyo Lake - Highest lake in the United States - Near Mt. Whitney |
 Panamint Mountains - Wildrose Canyone Charcoal Kilns |
 Trail Riders passing one of the many lakes near Lone Pine |
 Trail Riders of the Wilderness in Crabtree Meadows |
 1956 Lone Pine Stampede Queen Canidates The queen is chosen by competition in Horsemanship, Personality, and Western Appearance |
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 Bruce Morgan on the summit of Mt. Whitney |
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 Lynne Bohnam, Runner-up |
 Roberta Morgan, Queen |
 Rosemarie Barton, Runner-up |
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Images from the 1957 Lone Pine Stampede Program |
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 Hunting at Tunnel Air Strip, Tunnel Meadow, Lone Pine, CA |
 Whitney Portal Pack Station, Lone Pine, CA. |
 1957 Lone Pine Stampede Queen, Lone Pine, CA. - L/R: Connie Lively, Queen Barbara Jefferson, Gale Cable |
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Images from the 1963 Lone Pine Stampede Program |
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 L/R: 1962 Queen Janet Barnes, 1963 Queen Barbara Getty |
 Keeler stage leaving for three day journey to Mojave - circa 1908 |
 Old soda works at Keeler - early 1900s |
 L/R: Bob Crosby, Ted Cook, Father John J. Crowley, Jack Hopkins, Allan Ramsey Campfire scene at Hitchcock Lakes west of Mt. Whitney during the "Wedding of the Waters" celebration. |
 One of the most photographed houses outside of the Hollywood studios is this old home on the Anchor Ranch, south of Lone Pine. |
 Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company plant at Bartlett on Owens Dry Lake |
 Last run of the "Sage Brush Rocket" on the narrow gauge from Lone Pine |
 Natural Soda Products Plant in Keeler |
 "Wedding of the Waters" celebration in Lone Pine - 1938 |
 Fr. John Crowley oints out to Dr. H. W. Deuker the inscription on the gourd which carried water from Tulainyo Lake to Bad Water, Death Valley at the "Wedding of the Waters" celebration. |
 Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Brigade - 1885 |
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 First airplane flight over Mt. Whitney - Christofferson Tractor Biplane - circa 1900 |
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08/221963 Bishop Tri-County Fair and Rodeo (1963 Program and images courtesy of Rich McCutchan) |
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 The Bishop Bishopettes Comprised of approximately 25 girls, the group is under direction of John Brown. The girls selected Denise Kixmiller as their president this year, Lynette Knight - vice-president, Cheryl Cooper - secretary, Barbara Joseph - gtreasurer, Carol Thorne - drill mistress, and Kay Coffee - sergeant-at-arms. |
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 Joe Steward, Owens Valley Pioneer - 1963 Homecoming parade marshal |
 In 1961 - The late Senator Charles Brown (center) places the regal Queen IMA robe on Co-Queen Leanna Dennison while Co-Queen Sandra Lund enjoys the proceedings. On the left is Sen. William Symons Jr, and in the rear is Alan Jacobs, Inyo country director on the fair board. |
 Homecoming President - Tony Jacobs is pictured here at the kick off dance with the four homecoming queen contestants. L/R: Lora Morris, Leslie Williams, Mary Ann Houghton, and Pat Bardonnex |
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| Mary Scronce writes: Mary Ann was the rodeo queen and Colonel was her horse. April 2021 |
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 Russell Spainhower First President - Lone Pine Stampede |
History of the Lone Pine Stampede |
| In 1963 the Stampede show was changed to a non-professional type show due to the increasing cost of procuring stock and professional participation, and the 1964 show will follow the same pattern with soe new innovations included. A group of local riders have formed the Lone Pine Stampede Roping club. Plans are under way to stage other events throughout the year including a quarter horse show this fall with tentative dates set for October 3 and 4. Officers for the 1964 show are Elmer Humphrey, president; Ben Casad, vice president; Marian Medford, secretary; Henry Olivas, Stock; Floyd Sweat, grounds; Ted Garcia, tickets; Deral Webb, treasurer; Al Stiller, publicity. Local citizens 25 years ago made plans to stage these spectacular days of the old west and bring visitors and champion cowboys from the far ends of the country to our unique little town for a chance to relive the wild west in a gala weekend celebration. many local businessmen may well be credited with its inception. Through the efforts and community spirit of a few local citizens, the first big show of rodeo fame was instigated. Wilfred Cline, stockman, and the lat Russell Spainnhower, Southern Inyo rancher and cattleman, started the ball rolling for what became a traditional spring event. Stock for the rodeo was provided by Cline and by a unanimous vote, at a meeting called for organization, Spainhower was elected Stampede president, a position he held for nine consecutive years. Directors appointed to serve with the new president were Ben Baker, Howard Miller, Fred Reynolds, Otto "Slim" Honerlab, Ted Cook and Wesley Logan. Walter Jones was elected secretary-treasurer, a ost he filled continuously for 21 years. Announcer for this first rodeo was Jack Hopkins, this spot is still occupied by him and he continues to cover the shows in paramount form. After eight years of fine performances the Stampede became an incorporated organization and then became a RCA show of top caliber. The first such show boasted prize money of $850 plus entry fees and during the years of growing popularity the last purses totaled $1800 plus entry fees, making prizes running close to $4000. As the Stampede continued to grow and become more widely known amongst the professionals , such top-notch names in the rodeo world as Casey Tibbs, Rex Connley, Bill Linderman, Ross Dollarhide, Chuck Shepard, Don Adams, Lawson Fore, Bill Hogue, Enoch Walker, famed Canadian cowboy, appeared on the rodeo program. Among other notables who have added mach to the local shows with their stellar performances have been Joaquin Sanchez, Fes Reynolds and Wes Curtis. Let us not forget that along with these professionals, our local businessmen have contributed much in making these shows the pride of the community. Following the nine year term of Russell Spainhower as president, by-laws were amended to read a one year term for each president. The following citizens served well as leaders of the Stampede Inc.: Jack Hopkins, Ben Baker, Fred Reynolds, Tom Noland, Norvil Aigner, Henry Olivas, Lefty Edmonston, C.M. Richards, Bob Rutherford, Gwen Gardner, Bud Slater and Joe Bonham. Other names, to mention a few, who have played major roles in the successful celebrations are Frank Chrysler, Ted Cook, John Morris and Howard Miller. Calendar of events during these many years of celerations lists scores of activities as well as the rodeo. Parades have been of rist class quality with as many as seven bands competing for prizes and trophies; whiskerino contests, sponsored by the Lions Club, brought keen rivalry; outstanding pet parades for the kiddies have been the pride and joy of youngsters; carnivals too came in for a share in the excitement; a businessmen's burro race for several years was a stimulating part of the annual weekend; barbecues of highest quality, staged by local organizations, drew hundreds of guests and the coveted crown for the "Stampede Queen" was cherished by many popular young belles. Jean Noland was one of the first quens and numerous other young teenagers have since held the honor. In the beginning rodeos were held on what is now known as the town ball park and as they continued to gain omentum plans materialized for the present grounds which are one of the best. Hundreds of persons may be seated on the fine grandstands, and monies from the annual shows have been used for improving the grounds to the present high standards. What more picturesque setting could any arena boast than the spectacular snow clad peaks of Mt. Whitney fronted by the pictorial Alabamas for a contrasting background? Where in these United States could this be equaled? |
Images from the 1964 Silver Anniversary Issue |
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 1964 Lone Pine Stampede Queen and her court. L/R: Ann Marie Mike, Claudia Behling, Kathy Hastings (Stampede Queen) Cheryl Butler, Jean Amick |
 Floating dredge used in the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. |
 The late Hoot Gibson with the cast and crew during the filming in Lone Pine in the early 1920s. |
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 Advertisement for the El Capitan Lodge and Casino in Hawthorne, Nevada. |
 A group of workers in front of the bunkhouse while building the Los Angeles Aqueduct - Circa 1913 |
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Lone Pine Stampede 1970 Program (1970 Program and images courtesy of the Lone Pine Film History Museum) |
Images from the 1970 Lone Pine Stampede Program |
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 Last run of the "Sagebrush Rocket" on the Carson & Colorado Narrow Gauge Railroad from the Lone Pine (Mt. Whitney) siding. |
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 Harry Reynolds Saloon in Lone Pine, CA |
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Images from the 1971 Lone Pine Stampede Program |
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 William Bonham - 1970s Lone Pine Stampede grand marshal, passed away this past year. |
 Richard Webb - 1971 Lone Pine Stampede Guest Richard is an author and star of television and movies. He is shown in his "Captain Midnight" uniform, the role that made him the idol of millions of youngsters. He is the author of a book on western ghost towns. |
 1970 Stampede Queen - Denise Kuyendall |
 1971 Stampede Queen - Pam Schou |
 1971 Stampede Princess - Marion Ruiz |
 1971 Stampede Princess - April Giles |
 Rodeo Scorecard |
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 Stampede Princess - Mindy Lasky |
 Stampede Queen - Phyllis Schou |
 Stampede Granny - Annie Jefferson Annie is a native Paiute, Shoshone. She was born in Owens Valley in the 1880s. Her parents were Lucy and Frank Bellas. Her late husband, Harmey, rode in all the rodeos before his death in 1937. Annie had ten children - among them are Cardelia Hancock, Ella Payne, Ethel Maillett, Martha Joseph, Dorothy Joseph, Tom Jefferson, and Thelma Gilmore |
Images from the 1973 Lone Pine Stampede Program |
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 Team Roping |
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 Calf Roping |
 Bull Riding |
 Bareback Bronc Riding |
 Steer Wrestling |
 Saddle Bronc Riding |
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Owens Valley and Owens Lake |
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Near Owens Valley |
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Bishop Mule Days | |
Glacier Lodge and the Palisade Glacier |
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Laws and Laws Railroad Museum |
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Reif Kipp Mt. Whitney Pack Trains Archives |
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This page was last updated on
30 Ap;ril 2024