Video Footage from the 1971 Horsecapades and 1972 National Western Stock Show, from alumna Ellen Bondurant
Please enjoy this footage from the 1971 Westernaires Horsecapades Show and the 1972 National Western Stock Show, including behind the scenes footage. This video content was submitted to us by alumna Ellen Bondurant. We celebrate the fact that it was shot some 50 years ago, and we profusely thank the Bondurant family for capturing these images, lovingly converting it to the digital environment, and kindly sending it to us to share with everyone.
Ellen’s content index is included below. This soundless video is a lovely picture of Westernaires life from the early 1970s. These movies were shot on 8MM film.
From Ellen:
“It was my sister Marie who did the filming, wanting to capture these memories knowing that these were my last shows. Marie was a few years older than I. She had never been an official member of Westernaires, but she was out there a lot. My dad was the Superintendent of the livery horses, and the Instructor for the Arab Patrol team for many years, and for a while drove the Stagecoach. So Marie often was out at Westernaires helping him and me with many things.
“And she (Marie) knew many of the riders and the volunteer staff. When she was about 14-16 years old, Marie was a "runner" for Mrs. Wyland at shows. (This was before cell phones.) Marie would sit behind the Announcer's booth, and when the Wylands needed to get a message through to somebody, like Jack Moore at the gate, or one of the team instructors, etc, etc, they would give the message to the runner who would run and deliver it, then return for the next message. (Things like if there was a last-minute change in the Show Schedule, etc., etc.) Because she spent so much time near the Wylands at shows, Marie knew how Mr. Wyland announced all the various acts, what words he emphasized, and what brought on the applause!!
“The boxes of the 5 Color rolls all say "Kodachrome Movie Film Regular 8mm". The boxes of the 3 B&W rolls say "Western Cine Movie Film, Black & White for Roll Cameras 8MM" (and there were 3 different ASA designations for those 3 rolls). All the little spools have a diameter of about 2 and 7/8 in. At least one of the rolls had started to disintegrate in places, so this might explain why certain acts of Annual Show did not appear, like ‘Parade Horse’, ‘Dance Exhibition’, ‘Cavalry & Indian Battle’, ‘Trick Horse’, ‘The Flaming Baton, ?? etc.”
When we asked Ellen if her family were frequent filmers of day to day life, Ellen replied: “My family did not film frequently. Not at all. ...I am SO happy Marie did this...”
Of note: the entrance to the NWSS Stockyards Stadium (where the Horsecapades annual show was held) used to be on the Northwest side of the building, up a ramp, and through a smaller garage door entrance. You’ll notice the riders having to tilt their flags backward to make it into the entrance, and this is why. The larger door on the West side of the Stockyard Stadium was added later in the 1970s. Currently, the Westernaires hold their Horsecapades annual show next door in the newer NWSS Event Center (as they have annually since 1992).
Video Index:
ANNUAL SHOW NOVEMBER 1971
In Color:
00:02 (Outside of Stockyards Stadium arena.) Riders waiting outside. Boys in black hats, on horses (Cowboys team?), Crimson Ranger girls.
00:07 (Image very dark) Figures in Stadium entry alley. I think one is Joe Bondurant (from profile, hat, and glasses)?
00:14 Barn area and stalls. Horse with nose over stall gate.
00:15 Perhaps Diane Early? in silver hat, barrette in hair, tacking up horse.
00:18 Riders waiting outside, red Westernaire tack truck visible. See many Indian team members.
00:34 In barns, two persons and horse with white blaze. I think maybe Joe Bondurant (Livery Horse Superintendent) on left. Vaquero team member passes.
00:42 Outside of stadium, Indian team circling, red & white Westernaire horse transport truck is in background.
00:58 Woman in red sweater looking at a posted schedule. I think perhaps Mary Rissacher?
01:06 Silver-colored Westernaires horse transport truck with red and white truck cab.
01:10 Riders entering into stadium entry passage, dipping flags behind them due to low clearance.
01:53 (Inside stadium arena.) Carribeanaires pony riding team.
02:00 Trick riders (Program shows this as "Flying Astronauts"?)
02:13 Specialty act. (Program shows this as "Canine Capers"?) Girl in blue sequin blouse, riding with dog on horse, then dismounted, various dog tricks, dog on her shoulders, etc. Then girl and dog on horse going over a jump.
02:29 Stagecoach (I think pulled by lead team King and Queen, wheel team Strawberry and Poncho?)
02:37 Precisionettes Carousel drill, in a red, white, and silver costume (Costume was white cossack hats, red pants, red bib fronts with white horizontal lines, silver icicle drape on back, small white & red pennant flags). Near end, see drill feature with riders circling team carrying various state flags, and then Colorado flag. (I think Judy Hudgins, Melissa Smith would have been on that team?)
03:40 End of roll of film.
In Color:
03:41 (Outside of stadium, next to brown Stockyards building.) Riders entering stadium arena, likely for Grand Entry Serpentine. See Crimson Rangers team, then boys in cowboy hats (Cowboys team?)
03:47 Serpentine Riders coming down slope leaving arena, Cindy Parsons passes from right to left on dark horse with plume on bridle (likely ready for Dressage). See various alumni exiting towards left. Then various team riders to right: Precisionettes in red & white lace vests and hats, Dressage team, some boys in satiny blue shirts, Indian team, boys in gold vests with lariats, a team with light blue costume and flags (Mustangs?), Bedouin team.
04:15 American Flag riders Bob Parson and Tom McMahon pass as a pair, leaving arena after Grand Entry. I think Bob is on right side of image, Tom on left. Behind them, Red Team flag line exits, in red blouses with gold triangle bibs, white & red hats. Then Grand Entry team in white cossack hats with red plumes, red blouses and white jackets, silver icicle drape on back, red pants, red flags).
04:52 (Inside stadium arena.) Dressage. Side pass at canter maybe was Katie Strawn? Levade was Cindy Parsons?
05:31 (Outside stadium.) Red Team members in "Stripes" costume on foot, enjoying their wait time. White hats with pink sashes. Various riders visible: Ann Smith, Brenda Ferraro, Ellen Bondurant, Debbie Caldwell?
05:40 Red Team girls dancing as if in a chorus line. Perhaps Pam Nylander with the pigtails.
05:48 Red Team girls in Stripes doing something at Bunny Clement's feet. (Red Team Monitor.) Bunny has many Stripes costume skirts draped over her shoulder, as usual. Then riders waiting on horses in the sunshine.
06:00 Cavalry dads in costume pass from right to left (riding on caisson horses and the caisson).
06:03 Red team riders waiting on horses, in sunshine, in shadows. Can see Colorado flag Charles Strawn? at left on light-colored horse.
06:24 Bunny Clement passes from left to right. Then I think Hazel Lillard (Wardrobe Chief) in foreground.
06:37 A blue pickup passes; girl passenger smiles and waves.
06:38 Again, Red Team on horses, in Stripes costume with striped flags, waiting outside next to stadium.
06:42 Two men holding a pony hitch (Program said it was an 8-pony hitch.)
06:43 Red team riders move up into entry passage, with flags dipped behind.
06:51 (Inside stadium arena, likely a Pre-show act.) Various singing groups on foot in arena.
07:10 Ropers in arena, on foot, are in various different costumes, depending on their next act.
07:21 End of roll of film.
In Black & White:
07:22 (Inside stadium arena.) See 8-pony hitch briefly.
07:24 Red Team Firelite drill. See American flags entering, then turning team, then various maneuvers.
09:29 (In some dressing room at the Stockyards Stadium?) A rider sitting, Ellen Bondurant in glasses smiling.
09:36 (On tack truck.) See three or four tack men at right, Bob Clement? looking over the top of his glasses. Two riders with tack, 2nd is Loreen Lillard with hair in braids, smiling.
09:43 (In barns.) Ellen Bondurant's horse (Princeppi) tacked up with white & red saddle cover.
09:53 (Inside stadium arena.) Grand Entry. Then see Serpentine riders circling arena. Two American flags leading are likely Bob Parson and Tom McMahon. Then Serpentine goes around all posted riders, many riders in arena at one time.
10:34 Two American Flags now posted in center of arena.
10:35 Grand Entry exits.
10:40 Alumni introductions and line-up.
10:46 Dressage ("Equidrills")
11:30 Numerous single riders slowly passing in arena at a walk.
11:34 End of roll of film.
In Black & White:
11:36 Some riders in pairs visible; appears to be perhaps Crimson Rangers briefly?
11:39 A small cart drawn by a pony.
11:43 Many riders moving slowly in some mass formation (Perhaps was a grouping of the younger teams at the show? In program, this was perhaps called "Cavalcade of America"?)
12:03 El Latigo Diablo: Tom McMahon, Charles Strawn? visible. (Ellen Bondurant with morning newspaper, and all 10 fingers.)
12:57 Carribeanaires pony riding team.
13:08 Trick riders (Program shows as "Flying Astronauts"?)
13:46 Stagecoach.
13:54 Precisionettes Carousel drill (again in costume with white cossack hats, small pennant flags).
14:32 Interpretive Indian dancers.
14:45 Roman rider (I'm rather certain this was Kathy McKeage.)
14:58 Horse types display.
15:14 Liberty.
15:33 Barn Duster clown act; then Mr. Wyland visible at announcer's booth.
15:47 Cavalry inspection, dismounted on foot (Bob Parson visible as officer?)
End of roll of film.
In Black & White:
15:55 El Latigo Diablo (image very fuzzy).
16:51 Carribeanaires pony riding team.
16:57 Briefly a trick rider?
17:00 Girl and dog specialty act (In program was called "Canine Capers"?)
17:02 Stagecoach and special guest introductions.
17:11 Briefly see some team, I believe is Precisionettes Carousel drill.
17:19 Barn Duster clown act.
17:32 Ropers.
18:03 Equitation "Saddle Seat" display.
18:17 Mr Wyland at announcer's booth, Mrs Wyland behind him, and an assistant to the side.
18:20 Trailers enter arena for Alumni Trailer Race.
19:30 Outside in staging area (image very grainy) See a few horses.
19:38 Red team riders with "Stripes" flags waiting on their horses before drill: Smiling Debbie Easley on her horse Chantilly Lace, then see Allison Sainsbury?, then a group of several others. It might be Mr. Ramer in the black hat?
19:47 Red Team riders advancing towards entry passageway, dipping flags back.
20:01 (Inside stadium arena.) Red Team Firelite drill: brief segment with propeller, spin, mariner's cross. (Note that the next roll of film begins abruptly here, but is not Annual Show but rather NWSS in color, see below.)
20:04 End of roll of film.
(THAT IS END OF ANNUAL SHOW NOVEMBER 1971.)
NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW JANUARY 1972
In Color:
20:05 Red team Grand Entry, red & white flags. Silver hats, silvery blouses with red velvet bib with white tassle; white satin skirts. (Note the American Flags circling arena in Grand Entry were carried by the Rodeo queens, not Westernaire riders.)
21:03 Budweiser Clydesdale hitch.
21:47 Team roping briefly.
21:55 Red team Firelite drill, red & white flags.
23:43 End of roll of film.
In Color:
23:44 (Is perhaps in Coliseum barn area.) See a banner that says Westernaires? Various brief blurred images.
23:59 (In dressing room.) See various riders, Mrs. Clement, Mrs. Ducsai?
24:19 See bulletin board in dressing room; posted papers showing line-ups.
24:26 Dark image, likely in barn area, can vaguely see riders in sequin costumes passing on foot.
25:37 Dark image, barn area, can vaguely see riders on horses with flags.
25:52 Grand Entry, red & white flags. Standing Apache rider was Barb Sheridan? on Quincy? (American Flags circling arena are carried by Rodeo queens on matched horses with broad white blazes.)
27:04 Dark image, in barns, see some ceiling lights. Vaguely can see several Saddlebreds? warming up before entering arena.
27:23 End of roll of film.
In Color:
27:24 See various blurred images of riders passing on foot.
27:34 Red team Firelite drill, red & white flags, red puffy-crinkly skirts. Segment ends at 29:11, after thread the needle single and team starts to circle American Flags for finale. (The next segment begins abruptly here, but is instead a Grand Entry, see below.)
29:12 Red team Grand Entry: Brief segments showing Do-si-do's, line-up, and exiting from arena. (The next segment begins abruptly here, but is Firelite drill, see below.)
29:33 Red Team Firelite drill, red & white flags, again appear to be red puffy-crinkly skirts. Segment ends at 30:58, just as team is circling American Flags for finale.
30:58 End of roll of film. (White dots on image.)