Relief Rodeo Carnival, more than 70,000 spectators turned out to watch professional rodeo riders perform their feats, and men, in the form of Marine cowboys, pit their talents against horses, bull and calves. In 1957, an estimated 65,000 people turned out to view the festivities and to aid the Navy Relief Society. In 1958, the audience almost doubled, with an estimated 120,000 spectators turning out to watch the rodeo and see the Hollywood celebrities, as the rodeo began to attract numerous celebrities. For decades, Hollywood personalities known for Western roles attended the Camp Pendleton rodeo. The stars were often guests of the base’s commanding general and typically rode in the grand entry, headed by the base commanding general. The range of notable celebrities attending and entertaining at the Camp Pendleton Rodeo during its heyday included Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and Trigger; Montie Montana (between 1953 to 1970); James Arness and Dennis Weaver (1957); “Gunsmoke” stars Amanda Blake and Milburn Stone (1957, 1958); Leo Carrillo, star of the “The Cisco Kid” (1956, 1958); the entire Cartwright family of “Bonanza,” - Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon (1960, 1961); “Rawhide” cast members Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, James Murdock, Steve Raines, and Rocky Shahan (1960, 1961); Frank McGrath and Terry Wilson of “Wagon Train” and Glenn Ford and Bob Denver (1961); Don Collier from “The Outlaw” (1962); the “Lawman” John Russell (1963, 1964); and Judy Canova and John Agar (1964). For the first four decades, the rodeo was free to the public
Congratulations to Camp Pendleton on
75 years of Excellence
and billed as “the world’s largest and best free rodeo”. The base began charging admission in the early 1990s to help offset the cost of running the rodeo. The Camp Pendleton Rodeo Grounds, named after Col. Allen C. “Ace” Bowen, were dedicated in his name on June 5, 1982. Col. Bowen was a horse lover who wanted to revive the equestrian traditions of the Marine Corps. He was influential in instituting the Camp Pendleton rodeo and the Mounted Color Guard with the primary goal of representing the Corps’ tradition of Marines on horseback and was influential in the revival of the base’s Western heritage. The last rodeo was held in 2002 before the vacant rodeo grounds were converted to a paintball park (concession) in January 2011. The base rodeo represented the early days of rodeos when vaqueros performed their feats of skill in annual roundup events during the 1860s when the present Camp Pendleton was Rancho Santa Margarita. In those early days, these “rodeos” were large, formal, social events and an opportunity for vaqueros to show off their expert roping skills and horsemanship. Sources: Marines of the Margarita: The Story of Camp Pendleton and the Leathernecks who Train on a Famous California Rancho, Robert M. Witty and Neil Morgan (Frye & Smith, Ltd, 1970); First Pendleton Rodeo Started as 4th of July Barbecue, Blade-Citizen newspaper, June 3, 1992; Village News newspaper, http:// villagenews.com/sports/garrett-pendleton-rodeo-included-in-new-book-on-rodeoand-hollywood/, 2007; Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) web site - http://www.mccscp.com/stables/; Officials Ponder Dwindling Rodeo Attendance, Pendleton Scout newspaper, June 13, 2002; Program, 12th Annual Navy Relief Rodeo, 1959
MCRD Command Museum Where the Past Touches the Future
FLYING LEATHERNECK AVIATION MUSEUM
Come View the Aircraft and Bring the Kids
27 vintage aircraft flown by US Marine pilots, displayed outdoors 8 galleries of artifacts from WWI to present
Free Admission Tuesday – Sunday 9am – 3:30pm Public Entrance on Miramar Rd 4203 Anderson Ave, PO Box 45316 • San Diego, CA 92145
www.FlyingLeathernecks.org 56
CAMP PENDLETON – Celebrating 75 years
Museum Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8:30AM-4:00PM Free and Open to the Public Visit our website mcrdmuseumfoundation.org to learn more about our programs for recruits, Marines, veterans, their families, and the local San Diego community. For information on program sponsorship or advertising with us, contact the Foundation at (619) 524-4426.
858-693-1723 www.oceansidechamber.com
