Title Convict cowboys : the untold history of the Texas Prison Rodeo / by Mitchel P. Roth

Published Denton, Texas : University of North Texas Press, [2016]

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Description 1 online resource Series Number 10 in the North Texas crime and criminal justice series North Texas crime and criminal justice series ; no. 10 Contents Texas prisons: a pattern of neglect -- A cowboy's a man with guts and a hoss -- The Simmons years (1930-1935) -- The only show of its kind in the United States (1936-1939) -- The war years (1940-1946) -- A sad state of affairs (1947-1949) -- The West as it ought to have been (1950-1953) -- Outlaw vs. outlaw (1954-1959) -- The fund just appeared footloose and fancy free (1954-1960) -- The Texas Prison Rodeo goes Hollywood (1960-1964) -- That's more bull than I'd like to ride (1965-1969) -- Huntsville Prison blues (1970-1979) -- The last roundup (1980-1986) -- Epilogue -- Appendix I: Texas Prison Rodeo timeline -- Appendix II: Top hand winners Summary Convict Cowboys is the first book on the nation's first prison rodeo, which ran from 1931 to 1986. At its apogee the Texas Prison Rodeo drew 30,000 spectators on October Sundays. Mitchel P. Roth portrays the Texas Prison Rodeo against a backdrop of Texas history, covering the history of rodeo, the prison system, and convict leasing, as well as important figures in Texas penology including Marshall Lee Simmons, O.B. Ellis, and George J. Beto, and the changing prison demimonde. Over the years the rodeo arena not only boasted death-defying entertainment that would make professional cowboys think twice, but featured a virtual who's who of American popular culture. Readers will be treated to stories about numerous American and Texas folk heroes, including Western film stars ranging from Tom Mix to John Wayne, and music legends such as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Through extensive archival research Roth introduces readers to the convict cowboys in both the rodeo arena and behind prison walls, giving voice to a legion of previously forgotten inmate cowboys who risked life and limb for a few dollars and the applause of free-world crowds Notes This book "recounts the history of not just the prison rodeo, but also of the evolving prison system and the men and women who made its success possible."--ECIP Introduction Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Print version record Subject Texas. Department of Corrections -- History Texas Prison System -- History Texas. State Penitentiary at Huntsville -- History -- 20th century SUBJECT Texas. Department of Corrections fast Texas Prison System fast Texas. State Penitentiary at Huntsville fast Texas Prison Rodeo -- History Subject Prisoners -- Texas -- Huntsville -- Social conditions -- 20th century Prisoners -- Recreation -- Texas -- Huntsville -- History -- 20th century PERFORMING ARTS -- Reference. Prisoners -- Recreation Prisoners -- Social conditions SUBJECT Huntsville (Tex.) -- History -- 20th century Subject Texas -- Huntsville Genre/Form History Form Electronic book ISBN 9781574416619 1574416618

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