RODEO CLOWN REUNION DELIGHTS DEADWOOD

Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the town of Deadwood gets a little more western and wild for the week the Days of ’76 Rodeo is held. To add to the rip-roaring good time the Rodeo Clown Reunion came to town and gave even more laughs and excitement to the citizens and the fans. The honorees at the Reunion donned their familiar make-up, which is unique to each individual rodeo clown, and their costume, that some wore for forty-some years, and had great fun with everyone they saw and met.

During the Days of ’76 rodeo the honorees of the Reunion were everywhere. They signed autographs at various gambling establishments downtown, plus several places in nearby Spearfish. They also signed autographs prior to each rodeo performance. Shortly before the rodeo started several old rodeo clown acts were performed by the senior laugh-getters. Jim Hill, Wayne Cornish, and Reunion mascot, J. D. Hill, got lots of chuckles performing the ‘Hat Cleaning’ act, when they borrow a perfectly good hat from someone in the audience and end up returning it with the top blown out! Jess Franks and assistant, Jerry Travis, gathered a bevy of youngsters they instructed in how to fall dead when shot (with blanks, of course). The children were informed that the winner would win a trip to Hollywood to be in a movie. When Jess, wearing two foot long spurs, shot his gun they would dramatically fall to the dirt, one by one. His assistant piled the ‘dead’ kids in a pile, where they lay perfectly still, until some secret ‘dust’ was sprinkled on them which made them come alive. The audience voted on the ‘best death scene’ and enjoyed it immensely. The levitation act by George Doak, assisted by several other honorees, used John Stokes as his ‘subject’. When Stokes levitated some four feet above the ground the audience was amazed. However the honorees had to chuckle when Stokes walked around with one arm rigidly held high because an unseen catch wouldn’t release. Regardless, the audience applauded loudly. Timber Tuckness also performed his “The Village People” routine to the music and song of “YMCA” to a standing ovation. Later in each rodeo performance all forty rodeo clowns filed in to the arena and were introduced by announcer, Randy Corley.

The day before the rodeo began the honorees and their families boarded two buses and traveled to Crazy Horse Monument where they were given a private tour and had lunch a visited the Rodeo Clown Museum at their Heritage Center. Many of the honorees and family members wore the Reunion t-shirt which was a drawing of the Presidents on Mount Rushmore, wearing red noses. While at Mount Rushmore, our group got much attention with our unique t-shirts. The day ended at the High Plains Western Heritage Center for a private dinner. At seven o’clock a Campfire Program was held for the public where the honorees, in their costumes and makeup, were asked questions about their careers in the rodeo arena. Their answers were quite varied, some with complete seriousness and others with total humor. Of course, many laughs were shared with the audience. At the end of the program the entire group of Honorees surrounded the Chairman, Gail Woerner, who was asking the questions, and presented her with a beautiful custom made belt buckle, made especially for her in thanks for her efforts on their behalf. It was inscribed “Rodeo Clown Historian, Gail Woerner” and on the back of the buckle on a copper plate were the names of the honorees that were responsible for the buckle. She was speechless, and couldn’t have been more surprised. Woerner wore the buckle throughout the Reunion.

In addition to touring the area and seeing the magnificent Black Hills the purpose of the Reunion is to honor these men, and one woman, Dixie Reger Mosley, for their time spent in the arena getting laughs and saving cowboys and cowgirls from harm. Each honoree and their wives received various gifts donated by numerous sponsors during the event. Television, radio and newspaper interviews were held, as well as being part of two parades. The hosts and sponsors provided the honorees with everything necessary for a wonderful stay. During the event the honorees handed out over 2,000 red noses to youngsters and adoring fans.

When the Reunion was over and the last honoree and family left Deadwood, it felt much like the feeling rodeo people get when a rodeo ends. An empty arena when no one is around is a very lonely place. Everyone had a great time, but it’s hard to leave good friends. So, until the next one . . . . . Happy Trails and God Bless.