Rodeo Queen Judy Anderson Interview - Ogden Utah Pioneer Days

Judy Anderson was Miss Rodeo Ogden (Utah) in 1959. Today, the 67 year-old stay-at-home mom with a Master's Degree from Brigham Young University is working on a book titled, A Grand Celebration! Ogden Pioneer Days and the Rodeo Queens. We spoke recently about the book project and her amazing collection of rodeo queen ephemera.

ephemera: When did your passion for rodeo mascot ephemera begin?

Anderson: My interest in Ogden Pioneer Days began prior to my becoming rodeo queen for the event, but I didn't begin to collect programs and pictures until after winning the title. At the time I won, my father thought it a good idea to have a reunion of all former queens, and I helped him with the research in locating them for a reunion in 1962. While here they organized The Ogden Rodeo Queens' Association that helped with the queen contest for many years. I was the Historian for the group, and that's when I really started accumulating data concerning Ogden Pioneer Days for use in the scrapbooks.

After the organization became inactive, I still had all the items I had accumulated and no one seemed interested in them, but for some reason, I just kept collecting. This year I decided to compile a book on the Queens, using much of what I had collected as a source for information. Things snowballed and my effort turned into a history of Ogden Pioneer Days and the Queens. In fact, the book will be called A Grand Celebration! Ogden Pioneer Days and the Rodeo Queens. It will cover a period of time from 1934, when Pioneer Days as we now know them, were organized by the Mayor Harman W. Peery, and will go through 2008. In 2009, it will be the 75th Anniversary of Ogden Pioneer Days, but I won't be able to get the 2009 queen in and have it published in time.

ephemera: What challenges or obstacles do you encounter in finding new items related to the Queens?

Anderson: Because the first rodeo queen originated with Ogden Pioneer Days--Lorene Donaldson--and her picture was sent around the world twice to more 1400 newspapers--there has always been an interest amongst the locals, especially for items that relate to what became the symbol of Ogden Pioneer Days and was known as The Whoopee Girl.

Lorene's photo was based on the pinup art of Enoch Bolles, who sent his original painting of the rope-twirling beauty to Mayor Peery. Her photo and name became synonymous with the symbol, which is still used for advertising purposes locally during Pioneer Days.

Last year, the Coca Cola Company had cardboard posters all over Ogden utilizing the Whoopee Girl to advertise their product. I asked the gas station on the corner if I could have theirs after the celebration, and they gave it to me. Sometimes we find items at the local swap meet; and others know I am interested in Pioneer Day related items and give them to me. I have to say, I don't make it a point to amass a large collection, and if Ogden ever gets the Heritage Museum they would like to have, what I have collected will probably be donated to it as a legacy of Ogden Pioneer Days.

ephemera: What are your favorite items?

Anderson: I have a silk neckerchief produced for the rodeo in 1935; and the belt buckle that was made for the rodeo queens' reunion in 1964 that has the Whoopee Girl, plus my dad's Bolo tie with the Whoopee Girl that he received when he served on the Pioneer Days Committee. Next would come several programs that I have whose cover is illustrated with the Whoopee Girl, and a copy of the original photo of Lorene Donaldson, as well as a poster that was made of a newspaper spread that appeared in 1936, given to me by Lorene's daughter. I also have the negatives and a number of photos taken of the various queens who attended the 1962 reunion.

ephemera: What resources and tools do you recommend?

Anderson: There are no published resources to help in collecting something that is a local phenomenon, but if the items that are showing up on eBay lately, and the prices they are going for, are any indication, there is interest beyond our boundaries. When I first started putting together scrapbooks for the rodeo queens, archival materials weren't something you heard much about. So, sad to say, many of the newspaper articles or photos weren't mounted on something safe. I have tried to correct that as much as I could, but some items were mounted to stay. That was the impetus for doing the book, so that the historical information would be in a safe format for the generations to come. The other reason was to earn money that would help in financing the local rodeo queen competition in behalf of The Ogden Rodeo Queens' Association. Now, I mount on acid- free paper or put the items in an acid free sleeve or page cover. Better late than never!

ephemera: The Rodeo Queen is certainly a wonderful part of Americana. Best of luck with the book, Judy, and thank you for sharing your collection with us.

Comments

[Jack R]

A very interesting interview and I can personally attest to Judy's expertise as she's helped me immensely in my quest to learn more about the history behind the famous Whoopee girl painting.

[cindy leech]

I am lookin for pictures and the name of the old ice rink and coliseum on wilson lane by the old stock yards it id my paqrents 50 wedding anniversary I was wondering if you could tell me about it my e mail is [email protected]

[Judy Anderson]

I don't check this site very often, so perhaps it is too late to respond to your request about more information about the Ogden coliseum and ice rink. I'll check back in the next day or two to see if I have a message from you.