The Official Website of Gene Autry, America's Favorite Singing Cowboy

Photo Album

2008 Founder's Day Exhibit Gene Autry's Contribution to Rodeo Sport

Subject:
Installation of the 2008 Founder's Day exhibit at the Autry National Center's Museum of the American West, Gene Autry, Contribution to Rodeo Sport. The exhibit runs August 18, 2008 through November 2008.

Date:
August 18, 2008

Photographer:
Juan Rojas, Autry National Center

Comments:
Every year the Autry National Center celebrates Gene Autry's birthday, September 29, 1907, with a special cameo exhibit in the museum's lobby that showcases one aspect of Gene's life and career. This year the Autry takes a look at Gene Autry's role in professional rodeo. In the 1940s, rodeo was one of America's biggest spectator sports. Gene Autry starred in several rodeos during the 1940 season and in 1941, built his own rodeo company, the Flying A Ranch Rodeo. He raised the level of rodeo competition and performance by standardizing competitive events, providing more prize money and better livestock, and creating greater excitement and entertainment in live rodeo acts. By the end of the decade, he was one of the sport's biggest producers.

This photo album provides a behind the scenes look at how such an exhibit is installed by the Museum's Collections Management, Conservation, Curatorial, and Exhibits departments. We hope you can visit the Autry Museum and see this exhibit in person.

Information on visiting the Autry National Center can be found here.

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