This Week in the West

This Week in the West: Charles Colcord at the center of Oklahoma history

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 42: Charles Colcord at the center of Oklahoma history
📢 Episode Summary:On this week’s episode we tackle the life of Charles Colcord. Colcord’s life reads like a frontier epic. Born in 1859, his early years were marked by illness, forcing his family to send him to Texas to recover. That move set him on a path toward cowboy life, the cattle trails, and eventually into the thick of the Oklahoma Land Run. His resilience carried him through personal and financial hardships, including the collapse of his family’s cattle business, pushing him toward new opportunities in the growing Oklahoma Territory.
Colcord’s role in shaping early Oklahoma City was pivotal. As the city’s first chief of police and later county sheriff, he worked alongside legendary lawmen like Bill Tilghman to rein in outlaws and establish order in the rough frontier town. His efforts in law enforcement were just the beginning—Colcord soon turned his energy toward development, investing in land, oil, and banking, becoming one of the city’s most influential figures.
Perhaps his most lasting contributions were in business and architecture. His part in discovering the Glenn Pool oil field cemented Oklahoma as a major energy hub. And in 1910, he built Oklahoma City’s first skyscraper, the Colcord Building, a 14-story landmark that symbolized progress and innovation. Beyond his business ventures, Colcord also championed cultural preservation, serving as longtime president of the Oklahoma Historical Society.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How Charles Colcord rose from cowboy beginnings to become a key figure in Oklahoma City’s law enforcement, business, and development.
The pivotal role Colcord played in discovering the Glenn Pool oil field, one of the largest in the world.
How the Colcord Building became Oklahoma City’s first skyscraper and a symbol of the city’s growth.
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
Colcord’s biography from the Oklahoma Historical Society: https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=CO020
An audio biography from VoicesOfOklahoma.com: https://voicesofoklahoma.com/interviews/colcord-charles/
The Colcord Hotel: https://www.colcordhotel.com/
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!

This Week in the West: When Henry Fonda Became a Western Bad Guy

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 41: When Henry Fonda Became a Western Bad Guy
📢 Episode Summary:In the newest episode of “This Week in the West” we tell the story of Henry Fonda, one of Hollywood’s most enduring actors, who left a lasting mark on the Western genre through roles defined by quiet strength and moral clarity. His breakout Western, The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), drew on his memory of witnessing a lynching at age 14, giving the role a haunting authenticity.
In the 1940s and 1950s, Fonda cemented his place in Westerns with My Darling Clementine, Fort Apache, and The Tin Star. He often collaborated with director John Ford, bringing depth and humanity to figures like Wyatt Earp and seasoned bounty hunters. He even ventured into television with The Deputy, continuing his connection to frontier stories.
In 1968, Fonda shocked audiences in Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West, playing the ruthless killer Frank. The role worked because it clashed with his “good guy” image, making the villainy unforgettable. Posthumously inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers in 2005, Fonda remains a towering figure in Western film history.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How Henry Fonda’s real-life experiences shaped the moral complexity of his Western roles
The significance of his collaborations with John Ford and his influence on the genre
Why his turn as a villain in Once Upon a Time in the West remains one of cinema’s most shocking transformations
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
[Link 1 - Relevant article, book, or resource]
[Link 2 - Sponsor or affiliate link (if applicable)]
[Link 3 - Any additional references]
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!

This Week in the West: Rodeo Cowboys on Strike? The Story of Herman Linder

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 40: Rodeo Cowboys on Strike? The Story of Herman Linder
📢 Episode Summary:This week on This Week in The West, we turn the spotlight on rodeo legend Herman Linder, remembered during the week of his birth on August 5. Known as the “King of the Cowboys,” Linder wasn’t just a champion in the arena—he was a driving force in reshaping the sport of rodeo itself. From humble beginnings in Alberta to record-breaking victories at the Calgary Stampede, his legacy stretches across borders and generations.
Listeners will hear the dramatic story of October 30, 1936, when Linder and 60 other rodeo cowboys walked out of Boston Garden in protest, effectively launching the first organized labor movement in rodeo. Their bold stand led to the formation of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association—so named because they were “slow but sure”—which would eventually become today’s Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Linder’s leadership helped bring structure, fairness, and accountability to a sport that badly needed all three.
Beyond the bucking chutes, Linder promoted rodeos across North America, represented Canada at Expo 67, and was honored with inductions into both the Canadian and American rodeo halls of fame. He even earned the prestigious Order of Canada before passing away in 2001 at the age of 93. His legacy isn’t just one of titles and trophies—it’s one of integrity, advocacy, and the enduring spirit of the West.
 
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How a 1936 cowboy strike in Boston led to the founding of modern professional rodeo organizations.
Why Herman Linder earned the nickname “King of the Cowboys” and how he dominated the sport in the 1930s.
The role Linder played in professionalizing rodeo, advocating for better conditions, and shaping its future in both the U.S. and Canada.
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
Western Horseman Magazine: The Tale of the Boston Strike: https://westernhorseman.com/rodeo/the-boston-strike/
The Canadian Encyclopedia entry on Herman Linder: https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/herman-linder
Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame entry on Herman Linder: https://www.canadianprorodeohalloffame.org/1982
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!

This Week in the West: Lane Frost, Bull Riding Legend

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 39: Lane Frost, Bull Riding Legend
📢 Episode Summary:This episode of This Week in The West honors bull riding legend Lane Frost on the anniversary of his tragic death in 1989. We tell the story of Frost’s early life, raised in a rodeo family and already winning events as a child. With a magnetic personality and unstoppable talent, Lane quickly rose through the rodeo ranks, winning a world title in 1987 and capturing fans' hearts across the country.
A defining chapter in Lane’s career came in 1988 with the Challenge of the Champions—an epic showdown between man and beast, as Lane faced the unbeatable bull, Red Rock. In seven matchups, Lane succeeded in doing what no cowboy had ever done: ride Red Rock for a full eight seconds. Their battle captivated national attention, symbolizing Lane’s grit and showmanship at the height of his career.
Tragically, Lane’s life was cut short at age 25 after a fatal accident at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Though he died young, his legacy has lived on—in safety innovations like the protective vest designed by his friend Cody Lambert, in honors like the PBR award named after him, and in the hearts of fans through the film 8 Seconds. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum proudly preserves Lane Frost’s memory with artifacts from his remarkable life.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
The story behind Lane Frost’s legendary matchup with Red Rock and how it changed bull riding history
How Frost’s tragic death led to major safety changes in rodeo, including the invention of the protective vest
Why Lane Frost’s legacy continues to inspire fans, friends, and fellow cowboys decades after his final ride
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
The Lane Frost Brand: https://lanefrost.com/
From PBR, “The Real Lane Frost”: https://pbr.com/news/2011/06/the-real-lane-frost/
The National Rodeo Hall of Fame located here at The Cowboy: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/collections/awards/rodeo-hall-of-fame/
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!

This Week in the West: The Groundbreaking Woody Strode

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 38: The Groundbreaking Woody Strode
📢 Episode Summary:This episode of This Week in The West highlights the remarkable life and legacy of Woody Strode—an athlete, soldier, actor, and barrier-breaker born on July 25, 1914. Strode was a pioneer in sports, playing on UCLA’s historic football team alongside Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington, and becoming one of the first Black players to integrate the modern NFL. His early achievements in track and field, professional wrestling, and his service in the Army Air Corps during World War II demonstrated his wide-ranging talents and dedication.
Strode transitioned from sports to Hollywood, where he built a career playing warriors, gladiators, and heroes. His breakout role in Spartacus and his lead performance in Sergeant Rutledge marked significant steps forward for Black representation in film, particularly in Westerns. Director John Ford became a mentor, casting Strode in multiple films and forging a personal bond with him that lasted until Ford’s death.
Despite his talent and charisma, Strode often found himself limited by Hollywood’s narrow view of Black actors, leading him to work internationally in European Westerns and action films. Still, his influence endured—he worked steadily into his seventies, and in 2021, he was inducted into our Hall of Great Western Performers. His legacy lives on quietly, even in pop culture, as the inspiration for Toy Story’s Sheriff Woody.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How Woody Strode broke racial barriers in college football, the NFL, and Hollywood.
The cultural and historical significance of his film roles, especially in Spartacus and Sergeant Rutledge.
Why Woody Strode remains an underappreciated but influential figure in both Western film and American history.
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
The Museum of the Moving Image - the Legend of Woody Strode: https://movingimage.org/series/the-legend-of-woody-strode/
UCLA Hall of Fame: https://uclabruins.com/honors/hall-of-fame/woody-strode/310
Men's Health: Woody Strode's Workout: https://www.menshealth.com/uk/building-muscle/train-smarter/a64849697/charles-bronson-workout/#woody-strodes-brutal-bodyweight-routine
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!

This Week in the West: Jim Bridger, Mountain Man

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 37: Jim Bridger, Mountain Man
📢 Episode Summary:In this episode of This Week in The West, we explore the adventurous and often unbelievable life of Jim Bridger, one of the most iconic mountain men of the 19th century. Born in 1804 and orphaned young, Bridger’s journey into the wild began early. By 18, he had joined a fur trapping expedition that would lead him deep into the rugged, uncharted American West. His early explorations, including the discovery of the Great Salt Lake—which he mistook for the Pacific Ocean—helped define the frontier era.
Listeners learn how Bridger developed close relationships with Native tribes, learned their languages, and even married into Indigenous communities. Known for his resourcefulness and resilience, Bridger also had a flair for storytelling. Tales of petrified singing birds and glass mountains became part of his legend, blurring the lines between fact and frontier folklore. While these embellishments sometimes undermined the credibility of the lands he described—like Yellowstone—they also cemented his mythic status.
Bridger’s influence extended far beyond exploration. He co-founded Fort Bridger, a critical outpost for westbound pioneers, and later served as a U.S. Army scout. His knowledge of the land contributed to the development of major travel routes like the Overland Trail and even helped shape the path of the transcontinental railroad. Despite controversies—such as his alleged advice to the ill-fated Donner Party—Bridger remained a key figure in Western expansion.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
The real-life adventures and tall tales of mountain man Jim Bridger, including his mistaken discovery of the Great Salt Lake.
Bridger’s relationships with Native American tribes and his pivotal role in mapping routes through the Western frontier.
How Fort Bridger, the Donner Party, and the Overland Trail connect to Bridger’s complex legacy in American history.
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
Jim Bridger, Yellowstone’s Spinner of Tall Tales: https://www.usgs.gov/news/jim-bridger-yellowstones-spinner-tall-tales
Utah’s history of Jim Bridger: https://historytogo.utah.gov/bridger-james/
Legends of America: Jim Bridger
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!

This Week in the West: Uncovering the Life of Jake McClure

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 36: Jake McClure
📢 Episode Summary:This week on This Week in The West, we dive into the remarkable yet often overlooked life of Jake McClure, one of the first five inductees into what was then called the Cowboy Hall of Fame. While names like Theodore Roosevelt, Will Rogers, and Charles Goodnight are well-known in Western lore, McClure remains a bit of a mystery to many. This episode honors his legacy during the anniversary week of his untimely death in 1940.
Born in 1903, McClure was a roping prodigy from an early age, perfecting a unique, fast-paced style that set him apart in the rodeo world. By the 1930s, he was a dominant force, winning major titles from Pendleton to Phoenix and even setting records in London. Known not just for his skills but also his humility and trademark necktie, McClure became a respected figure in both rodeo and ranching circles. Though his life was tragically cut short at age 36, his legacy lives on through the Jake McClure Arena in Lovington, New Mexico, and his influence on generations of ropers, including his great-nephew Jake Barnes.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
Why Jake McClure was one of the inaugural inductees into the Cowboy Hall of Fame
How McClure revolutionized calf roping with a fast, compact loop
The lasting legacy of McClure’s life, from championship rodeos to a namesake arena in New Mexico
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
[Link 1 - Relevant article, book, or resource]
[Link 2 - Sponsor or affiliate link (if applicable)]
[Link 3 - Any additional references]
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!
 

This Week in the West: Ralph Doubleday and the Birth of Rodeo Photography

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 35: Ralph Doubleday and the Birth of Rodeo Photography
📢 Episode Summary:In this episode of This Week in The West, we take you back to the dusty arena of Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1910, where a single photograph would help define the visual legacy of rodeo in America. Behind the lens was Ralph Doubleday, a tenacious and inventive photographer whose work transformed rodeo into a national spectacle. 
Listeners will learn how Doubleday, raised far from the frontier in Iowa, embraced early photography as his ticket to adventure. From photographing foreign lands and presidential safaris to braving bucking broncs and raging bulls, Doubleday’s career was as wild and unpredictable as the sport he helped to immortalize. His distinctive approach to photography—favoring blur over freeze-frame—captured the energy and emotion of rodeo like no one else.
You’ll also learn about the remarkable Ralph R. Doubleday Rodeo Photograph Collection held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Dickinson Research Center—and how this treasured archive keeps his story alive for future generations.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How Ralph Doubleday helped establish rodeo as a significant American sport through his innovative action photography.
Why his gritty, handcrafted approach to capturing the moment set him apart from other photographers of the era.
Where to find thousands of Doubleday’s original images today, preserved at the Dickinson Research Center here at The Cowboy.
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
The Ralph Doubleday Rodeo Photograph Collection at our Dickinson Research Center: https://archives.nationalcowboymuseum.org/repositories/3/resources/16
The photo that started it all, Gus Nylen thrown off by bucking bronco Teddy Roosevelt on The Cowboy’s page on Google Arts & Culture: https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/teddy-roosevelt-gus-nylen-going-down-ralph-r-doubleday/lAHobLDO8JfkNg?hl=en
A short video created by The Cowboy about Ralph Doubleday: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/explore/ralph-r-doubleday-capturing-rodeos-golden-age/
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!

This Week in the West: Bettina Steinke and the Prix de West

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 34: Bettina Steinke
📢 Episode Summary:This episode of This Week in The West celebrates the life and legacy of Bettina Steinke, one of the most influential women in the history of Western art. We take listeners back to 1938, when Steinke was sketching live performances of the NBC Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini at Studio 8H—now known as the home of Saturday Night Live. Her early work at NBC, including portraits of major radio stars, quickly earned her national attention and launched a career that would span portraiture, murals, and illustrations.
Steinke’s artistic journey took her from Connecticut to the world stage during World War II, where she painted American leaders and sketched wounded soldiers in hospitals for their families. After marrying photojournalist Don Blair, she eventually settled in the American Southwest. There, her passion turned to Western themes and portraiture. Her home, "The Compound," in Santa Fe became a thriving creative space, and her role as a mentor to young artists earned her the affectionate nickname “Mother Blair.”
The episode also highlights Steinke’s deep ties to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Her painting Father and Daughter at the Crow Fair won a prestigious Purchase Award at the Prix de West, and she helped found the National Academy of Western Art. The museum honored her with retrospectives and a lifetime achievement award. Steinke passed away in 1999, but her artistic legacy continues to inspire through her portraits, mentorship, and contributions to elevating Western art to fine art status.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How Bettina Steinke rose to fame through her portraits of major figures in entertainment and wartime America.
The pivotal role she played in shaping and legitimizing Western art as fine art.
Her lasting legacy at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and her influence on generations of artists.
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
More about the 2012 Exhibition of Steinke’s work at The Cowboy: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/explore/faces-bettina-steinke/
Buy a print of Steinke’s Purchase Award-winning painting “Father & Daughter at the Crow Fair.” https://persimmonhillstore.com/products/father-daughter-at-the-crow-fair-by-bettina-steinke-unsigned
Don Hedgpeth’s biography of Bettina Steinke: https://www.amazon.com/Bettina-Portraying-life-Don-Hedgpeth/dp/0873581695
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!

This Week in the West: Bert Geer Phillips, A Broken Wagon Wheel & Taos

🤠This Week in the West🎙️ Episode 33: Bert Geer Phillips, A Broken Wagon Wheel & Taos
📢 Episode Summary:In this episode of This Week in The West, we share the remarkable story of Bert Geer Phillips, whose broken wagon wheel in 1898 led not to a setback, but to the founding of a new American art movement. Alongside fellow artist Ernest Blumenschein, Phillips intended to journey to Mexico for inspiration but ended up staying in Taos, New Mexico—a decision that transformed the course of Western art. Phillips immersed himself in the local culture, married into a respected family, and painted the people and landscape with romantic realism that honored both tradition and beauty.
Listeners will learn how Phillips helped found the influential Taos Society of Artists in 1915, advocating for both art and the environment throughout his life. His legacy lives on in Taos, which remains a thriving art community, and at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, which currently houses some of his work. The episode also highlights the ongoing celebration of Western creativity with the 53rd Annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
How a broken wagon wheel in 1898 led to the birth of the Taos art colony
Why Bert Geer Phillips became a central figure in the Taos Society of Artists and Western realism
How the legacy of Phillips and the early Taos artists continues today in modern Western art communities and exhibitions
👥 Behind the ScenesHost: Seth SpillmanProducer: Chase SpiveyWriter: Mike Koehler
🔗 Further research:
A biography of Phillips from the Medicine Man Gallery: https://www.medicinemangallery.com/blogs/biographies/bert-geer-phillips-1868-1956-biography
More history of the Taos Artist Colony: https://www.theartistsroad.net/articles/taossocietyofartists
Information on visiting Taos, N.M.: https://taos.org/discover/taos-society-of-artists/
📬 Connect With Us:🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/📩 Email: podcast@nationalcowboymuseum.org📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum
🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map
💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!