Sam Garrett Trick Roping Photographs

Collection — Folder: 1 (SC 4-1)

Identifier: 1986-011

Staff Only

Digital Images from the Sam Garrett Trick Roping Photographs

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Scope and Contents

This small 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.

Dates

Creation: 1920 - 1950

Creator

Garrett, Sam (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The Sam Garrett Trick Roping Photographs has no restrictions and is available for research. If you are interested in researching the materials, please contact the Dickinson Research Center to make an appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

The Sam Garrett Trick Roping Photographs is the property of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Materials, even if owned by the NCWHM, may be protected under third party copyright. It is the patron’s responsibility to research and secure any such additional copyright and pay any required fees or royalties. It is not the intention of the NCWHM to impede upon any third party rights, and the NCWHM cannot be held responsible if the patron is involved in legal action due to violation of third party copyright claims.

Biographical / Historical

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.