A stroll through the history of the National Western Stock Show

Mid Century

1930s - 1960s

Silver Jubilee - 25th Anniversary

1931 was the Silver Jubilee or 25th anniversary year of the National Western Stock Show and Horse Show. In recognition of this anniversary, the National Western introduced rodeo to its visitors. Now the Stadium Arena was home to livestock, horse, and rodeo events.

January 10, 1931: Denver Post, Horse Show - Rodeo Cartoon

Since then the National Western Rodeo has included most of the great contestants of rodeo, human and animal.
Two of the greatest horses to appear at the National Western were Midnight and Five Minutes to Midnight who drew spectators to the rodeo in the 1930s.

1932 Horse Show And Rodeo Program, featuring world champion buckerMidnight

1935 Horse Show and Rodeo Program, featuring Five Minutes to Midnight

Catch-it-Calf begins

In 1935, the Catch-It-Calf program began with 4-H boys completing. Now known as Catch-A-Calf, it is one of the more popular events at the rodeo and livestock show. In 1974 girls began completing in the program.

1950 Program, page 50, featuring Catch-It Contest Rules

After the construction on the “Hill” during the stock show’s early years the main buildings used by the stock show would not significantly change for many years.

Patrons in the courtyard1950

In 1939, construction began on the WPA Concrete Barn just west of the Stadium. It was completed in 1941 in time for the 1942 show.

National Western Cattle Barn and Stadium Arena1941

As a side effect of increased machination of farming interest in draft horses began to wane. As a result, draft horse competition would leave the Horse Show in the early 1940s.

As it did during World War I the Stock Show would continue during World War II. All the 1943 profits would be invested in War Bonds.

Hellspopper

In 1943, Hellspopper was the Grand Champion Steer of the show. He was sold traditionally, but then things changed. He was resold, and resold, and resold in Denver and elsewhere in the country, each time raising more and more money for Father Flanigan’s Home for Boys in Nebraska.

Hellspopper, Grand Champion Steer1943

In 1944 the first National Western American Quarter Horse Association show was held.

The 1945 stock show would be a history-maker. Entries filled the facilities. The show would be expanded to nine days and nearly 400 junior steers were sold at auction in the Yards the Friday before the show started.

Horses in the Stadium Arena

Another first happened in 1945 with two bulls owned by Dan Thornton selling for $50,000 each. They would be stalled in the lobby of the Brown Palace Hotel. This tradition continues to this day when the Champion and Reserve Champion Junior Steers are shown in the Brown Palace’s lobby on the day of the Auction of Junior Livestock Champions.

1945, Dan Thornton & TT Regent entering Brown Palace

What was the stock show like in the 1940s and early 1950s? Here are some photos to help you visualize what it was like in a cattle barn at the 1946 stock show.