This Week in the West

🤠This Week in the West

📢 Episode Summary:

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.

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🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

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🤠This Week in the West

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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.

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🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

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🤠This Week in the West

📢 Episode Summary:

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.

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🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

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🤠This Week in the West

📢 Episode Summary:

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.

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🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

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🤠This Week in the West

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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.

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🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

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🤠This Week in the West

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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.

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🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

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🤠This Week in the West

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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:

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🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

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🤠This Week in the West

📢 Episode Summary:

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:

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🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

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🤠This Week in the West

📢 Episode Summary:

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:

👥 Behind the Scenes

🔗 Further research:

📬 Connect With Us:

🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

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🤠This Week in the West

📢 Episode Summary:

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:

👥 Behind the Scenes

🔗 Further research:

📬 Connect With Us:

🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!