Shot during WWII, this silent home movie shows the Cheyenne Municipal Airport when it was used as an air base, and scenes shot at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, as well as scenes shot at an informal gathering of airmen and local gals. The Cheyenne Frontier Days outdoor rodeo and western celebration which is shown, has been running annually since 1897 in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
The film opens with footage of soldiers or U.S. Army Air Force personnel playing horseshoe (:11) at a corral or ranch. It’s likely a “social”, and local women are visible coyly eyeing the men in uniform (:26). Advertisements for 7-Up and Coca-Cola are viewed in the background (1:05) as one soldier addresses the gathering with a loud speaker. At (1:12), a woman guards the door of the privy or outhouse for a friend. Various shots follow of couples drinking from glass beer bottles and sitting in semi-circles enjoying themselves and smoking tobacco (1:29-2:35). USAAF personnel are then seen operating jeeps (2:39). A female participant tosses a horseshoe (2:58). The film moves over to the outdoor rodeo as one man rides a bull in the center of the stadium (3:31). Another cowboy jumps from his horse to rope a calf (3:39) as a horse race runs around the outer track (3:55). Bronco riders are thrown from their horses (4:23). As a simulation of a bucking bronco, a man rides a barrel attached to the back of a truck (4:47). Two men race on horses to rope a full-grown cow (5:34). Next, footage shot at the Cheyenne Municipal Airport, which during the war was used as a completion and modification center for B-17s (the tail turret on the B-17 is known as the “Cheyenne” turret because it was invented at Cheyenne.) B-24 tail turret (6:24). Within the base in the Operations Headquarters room, enlisted men look over paperwork (7:16). The Ready Room entrance is seen in the background (9:02). The expanse of the tents set up here is shown (10:06) as well as a water reservoir with many jerry cans around it (10:42). Some of the supplies within a tent are visible (10:56). Men who are operating a photo printer mix chemicals and use the printer (11:12). One man sits within military communications truck marked “for authorized personnel only” (11:22). Wide shot of the airport with many B-24s shown (11:47). Enlisted men are seen hammering down pegs of tents in order to secure them properly (12:20). One of the men plucks at a sunflower, she loves me, she loves me not (13:14). A Native American teepee marked “Cheyenne Frontier Days” is shown with a feathered headdress hanging outside (14:01). Two women are pictured with a Native American man of the Cheyenne tribe (14:11). One of the young women is pictured with the headdress on her own head (14:30). The brass section of Army band marches through the Cheyenne Frontier Days stadium followed by the drummer (15:17). Horses pulling carriages (15:56), and oxen pulling covered wagons move through the stadium (16:03). Slow motion footage shows a cowboy being thrown about as the horse bucks violently from under him (16:45). The film begins to wrap up as large battalions’ parade through the Cheyenne Frontier Days stadium (16:57).
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
