This well-produced silent, amateur 16mm home movie shows part of a Montana dude ranch trip made in the 1930s. It starts with images of what we believe to be the Allan Ranch near Augusta, which was run by Ralph Allan, a licensed guide and packer who advertised that he could “pack you into good game country.” It also shows the Bones Brothers Ranch in Birney, Montana, also known as the Z.T. Cox Ranch. The footage includes fairly standard imagery in terms of showing the experience that a “greenhorn” tourist might have visiting Montana in this era — going riding, meeting Native Americans, and getting a taste of cowboy culture. Some visual highlights include:

0:00 Rodeo probably at the Allan Ranch, with cowboys trying to rope steers

1:02 Native American women watch the rodeo

1:44 Bucking bronco competition

3:29 Bones Brothers Ranch title card

3:37 Black Pullman porter greets tourists boarding a train. The station is not known. Riding on the train, and arriving in Montana to be picked up by what might be a Hudson Motor Car. from Bones Brothers Ranch

4:33 images of the ranch buildings, and skull of a bull at the Bones Bros. ranch

4:42 Cowboys at the ranch working on tack

5:15 rounding up horses at the ranch

6:30 tourists groom horses prior to riding

7:30 tourists saddle up and prepare to ride

10:11 Native American man and his wife pose for the camera

12:48 family poses in front of a car, showing off the results of fishing — some small prizes.

15:02 The church in Birney, Montana, and shots of horses arrayed in front of a mercantile store, also likely in Birney, Montana

According to the Internet, Birney, Montana boasted a two-room school, a church, a store, a ranch supply store which also housed the post office, a saloon, and the Corral dance hall which served as a community center where Saturday night dances were held.

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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