American Fracture Association, Houston 1954 - Huntsville Prison Rodeo

About this item

Description	In 1954, the American Fracture Association held its annual meeting in Houston, Texas. The film opens on the First National Bank marquee welcoming the attendees. Phil checks out of the hotel pool, and then goes to a picnic hosted by the AFA . After the meeting, he heads to Huntsville, Texas to see the 23rd Annual Huntsville Prison Rodeo. The rodeo was an annual celebration for inmates and became a Texas tradition. Phil gets shots of large crowd, inmates on horseback flying the Texas flag, and even dogs on a see-saw. The first half of the rodeo features calf roping and bronc riding, Then the women get a turn, and they do flips and handstands on their horses while they gallop across the stadium. Not to be outdone, a cowboy rides into the stadium standing on the backs of two horses. They jump over a fire in tandem, and then over a convertible, all while the cowboy stands on their backs. After those death defying acts, the bull riding begins. A man is carried out of the stadium on a stretcher. The show continues with clowns doing tricks on horseback and they even get a horse to drive a car. The scene changes to shipping yard, and the Philip is aboard a ship at sunset. He films the other passengers and passing ships. The film ends with a view from the window a plane looking out of the clouds beneath the wings. (Description written by IULMIA staff)
Date	1954
Contributor	Philip Todd Holland
Coverage	Houston, Texas Huntsville, Texas
Original Format	8mm
Duration	18:21
Color/Black & White	Color
Sound/Silent	Silent