The Exposition wanted a Wild West show to relieve the Zone's more earnest attractions, and it offered the Oklahoma 101 Ranch unusual terms. The Exposition put up the buildings and guaranteed the expenses, which were heavy because of the size of the troupe and the hay bills. Construction on its space was one of the last three major starts, on January 19, 1915.
In return the ranch's Native American performers, cowboys and cowgirls, its old stagecoach and its cowboy band led a daily parade around the grounds, livening the Esplanade and the Avenue of Palms. The show itself drew poorly. After a spell as a free attraction the management gave up. The big corral and seating stands then stood empty for the rest of the season, save for barbecues and similar occasional use. The arena also held the Zone Day sports of May 27: climbing the greased pole, riding the greased pig and a fat man's race.
No photograph of 101 Ranch Wild West has turned up yet in the public-domain archives this site draws on. If you know of one, or hold one, send it over and it will be credited here. Meanwhile the photographs page holds 410 pictures of the fair, more than the film uses.
Where it stood
Loading the map…
101 Ranch Wild West stood at about 37.80342 N, 122.42732 W on today's map. The whole fairground over the city →