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Sam Garrett

Sam Garrett Collection

Sam Garrett Trick Roping Photographs, 1920s-1950s
1 folder
Collection SMS009
Accession 1986.011

Biography

Sam Garrett
Sam Garrett was born on December 8, 1892, in Mulhall, Oklahoma. Garrett began performing at the age of 14 after being discovered by Will Rogers who was impressed by his trick roping. Rogers himself taught Garrett a few rope tricks.

Starting in 1905, he travelled with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, Texas Cattle Theatrical Show, Pawnee Bill’s Show, and the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Garrett also starred in over 90 films, especially during the silent era, and taught many Hollywood stars how to trick rope, including Debbie Reynolds as pictured in this collection. He kept a ranch with his wife Ruby near Burbank, California. He was a headliner act at the Madison Square Garden rodeo for four straight years during World War I. He was also an active participant in steer wrestling, steer roping, calf roping, and trick roping. He was world champion trick roper at Cheyenne Frontier Days seven times from 1916-1926. As All-Around Champion at Pendleton in 1914, he won the Police Gazette belt. From 1915-1916, he was All-Around Champion Cowboy at Billings, Montana.

He died on April 4, 1989, in his home at Fallbrook, California, at the age of 97.

He was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the Rodeo Historical Society at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in 1985.

Scope & Content Note

This collection contains four photographs and two copy negatives. All of the photographs represent Sam Garrett, mostly of him trick roping. Debbie Reynolds is represented in one autographed photograph.

Subject Terms

Personal Names
Garrett, Sam
Reynolds, Debbie

Subject Headings
Actress
Rodeo
Trick roping

Processing Information

This collection was accessioned in 1986.

Preferred Citation

Sam Garrett Trick Roping Photographs, Box ##, Folder ##, Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Container List

All Series

Series 1: Sam Garrett Collection
Items have been cataloged in the Image Archive Database, but none have been scanned yet.
Box/Folder # Accession # Folder Title/Description
1 1986.011.18 Sam Garrett winner of roping contest six times, Livermore, California Rodeo. 1920 ca. Photograph, b&w, 6.5×8.5 in.
1986.011.19 Sam Garrett with horse, trailer and automobile. 1940 ca. Photograph, b&w, 8×10 in. (Copy negative available)
1986.011.19N Sam Garrett with horse, trailer and automobile. 1940 ca. Photograph, b&w, 8×10 in. Negative of 1986.011.19.
1986.011.20 Sam Garrett with movie star Debbie Reynolds, whom he taught to rope. 1950 ca. Rothschild Photo. Photograph, b&w, 10×8 in. Photograph is autographed by Debbie Reynolds.
1986.011.21 Sam Garrett holding a photograph of himself. 1950 ca. Photograph, b&w, 8×10 in.
1986.011.21N Sam Garrett holding a photograph of himself. 1950 ca Negative of 1986.011.21.

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