The 101 Ranch Wild West Show
Posted By thecircusblog on May 3, 2009
In 1926 the 101 Ranch Wild West Show was one of the most popular shows on the road. Traveling with it were some of the “Dangest, Wildest, Ruffest, Ridenest, #1!*(^)%+Kicking Cowboys you’ve ever seen. I will be publishing more photos of this great show and it’s performers very soon. This stage coach and most all of the 101 equipment was sold in later years to James L. Woods, fondly known as “Jimmy”. He and his backers took out the second 101 Ranch Show in the mid 1940’s. They added circus performers to the western theme which fit right in with the times. Many of the old cowboys came on the new 101 including Zak T. Miller, youngest of the Miller brothers, Big Loop Jack Wright and Harold Fisher who was a wrangler. There were others but I can’t remember their names. The Clifford Henry family was also on the show with three acts. I remember riding in this very same stagecoach with Berrie Sugarbrown, the granddaughter of Chief White Cloud Sugarbrown. We were part of the Grand Western parade at the beginning of the show. The Sugarbrowns were Native American dancers and performed in western show reenactments of the old west. I remember one show in particular. During the western parade the horses got spooked and took off at a full gallop leaving the arena and the lot and was heading off into the wild blue yonder. My dad, Jack Wright and Mark Smith rode after the stage coach and finally brought the horses to a stop and discovered the driver was drunk and he had passed out in the boot of the stage coach. It was quite a ride!
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thecircusblog
My name is Ivan M. Henry and I am the 4th generation of a circus/show business dynasty. I hope you enjoy the blog.Comments
4 Responses to “The 101 Ranch Wild West Show”
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Hi, interesting site, Bill Caress was with the 101 Ranch Real wild west show, 1908-1916, a clown & mule trainer, with Billy Lorette, Dan Dix etc?
He was my Dads cousin.
He later starred in “Hello Cheyenne” with Tom Mix, and was in movies “Black Jack” and “Chain Ligthing”.
Pasted away 1938, French Lick springs hotel.
If you know of any information about him I will surly appriciate hearing.
Thanks much!
Marty Caress, Alaska
Hello,
I am the nephew of Clyde Elmer Miller (Dan Dix) cowboy clown and showman with his trick mule Virgil with the 101 Ranch Wild West Shows early 1900s. We live in central Oklahoma and as a child, Uncle Clyde (Dan Dix) would visit our home at times, usually on Christmas Day. (surprise visit 1950s) Dan Dix 1883-1965 died in California. I am currently working on my mother’s ancestery (Genealogy) and would appreciate any additional information on my uncle Clyde who lived an interesting and fascinating life. Enjoyed your site.
Regards
Frank Lattimore
Hello!
So great to find your website and blog! I am one of Jimmie Wood’s 13 children and love coming across these old stories of my dad. He lived a very colorful life (1898-1972) and unfortunately, a lot of the memorabilia from his days in Vaudeville, his many years in the circus world, movies and t.v, were lost to our family in a flood back in the mid ’70’s. I have found information on some other circus websites as well as some books about Jungleland where he was a general manager for Louie Goebel back in the late ’50’s. If anyone out there has any other stories to share about my dad, I would love to hear them!
Thank you, Maureen (Wood) DePaoli
Great-great grandaughter of Billy Lorette here… looking for info.