The One and Solely ‘Booger’ Was Amongst Historical past’s Finest Rodeo Performers

The horse was as soon as as important to Western life because the six-gun, and breaking horses was as soon as a obligatory ability, even a enterprise for a couple of robust, enterprising souls. Ultimately it turned a aggressive rodeo occasion during which working cowboys pitted their expertise towards wild horses—and one another. The king of the Texas broncobusters was a diminutive fellow named Samuel Privett Jr., identified to historical past as “Booger Crimson.” Whereas sure particulars and dates of his life differ on account of defective recollections and inconsistent data, the central narrative of his life is constant—and, oh, what a life he led!

Samuel Thomas Privett Jr. was born on the TP Ranch in Williamson County, Texas, on Dec. 29, 1858—or perhaps it was 1862, or 1864. Once more, the data fluctuate. He grew up on ranches, driving and roping. As a boy of barely 12 Sam was already breaking horses, his conspicuous shock of pink hair touchdown him discover as “that redheaded bronc-riding child.” He was 13, or maybe 15, when a tragic occasion led to his lifelong nickname, “Booger Crimson.” He and a pal have been playing around with a home made firework, having packed a stump with gunpowder, when it blew up prematurely, killing the good friend and disfiguring Sam’s face. On catching sight of “Crimson” after the accident, one boy commented how “boogered up” his face was.

Amusing moniker apart, Crimson’s accidents have been something however humorous. The blast had scorched off his eyebrows and a part of his nostril. His eyelids have been diminished to slits, and he misplaced many of the sight in a single eye. It took six months and a number of pores and skin grafts to salvage what remained of his face. Anybody else would have retreated into seclusion, however Crimson was product of sterner stuff. For the remainder of his life, whereas he was understandably digicam shy and wore a wide-brimmed hat pulled low over his face, he embraced the nickname and even joked about it. His boogered-up face was simply one of many curves life threw at him. The subsequent curve was more durable. By his mid-teens each of his mother and father had died, forcing the orphan to strike out on his personal.

On his bowed legs Crimson stood about 5 ft 5 inches, and he weighed little greater than 150 kilos soaking moist. He was additionally soft-spoken, main many to underestimate him. Those that had seen him within the saddle knew higher, and Crimson discovered regular work breaking horses for ranchers. Along with his earnings he purchased a wagon yard and secure in San Angelo, although he “officed” out of a pool room in a saloon. He additionally broke horses for the U.S. Military, which for many years to return would mount its cavalry on animals slightly than motor automobiles. As for pay, the Military provided Crimson a alternative: $50 a month, or $1 a horse. He took the second provide, and by the tip of his first day was reportedly owed $75. The Military rapidly rescinded its provide. Anyway, Crimson may make extra freelancing for ranchers.

He quickly discovered an much more profitable and entertaining means of creating a residing—driving competitively in small-town festivals and inventory reveals. Ranchers and cattlemen introduced their wildest horses to such occasions and provided prize cash to anybody who may light them. There have been no arenas in these early days, only a patch of open prairie with poles caught within the floor and twine strung between them. Spectators stood or sat in buggies or on camp stools. The one “field seats” have been the saddles of these watching from horseback. Bets laid on each horse and rider have been collected solely when a rider went crusing or a horse give up bucking. The chances both means have been about even, until Booger Crimson was aboard. He took on any animals, even these with reputations as man-killers. Mounting was a problem in itself. As there have been no chutes—the side-opening chute got here alongside years later—a rider needed to get on whereas fellow cowboys held the animal by its ears and coated its eyes. As quickly because the rider was within the saddle, the others let go and scattered. Crimson rode one infamous bronc that pitched and bucked throughout a number of acres earlier than lastly coming to a halt, its sides heaving, its head low and mouth flecked with foam. Rider and horse have been equally exhausted, however Crimson walked away with a pleasant purse.

These impromptu, open-air gatherings ultimately morphed into organized rodeos that charged admission and programmed the assorted occasions—bronc driving (saddle and bareback), steer wrestling (aka bulldogging), roping and trick driving. Because the frontier light into historical past, rodeos and Wild West reveals sprang as much as preserve the reminiscence of the outdated days alive. Such reveals have been a mixture of nostalgia and real cowboy expertise.

Beginning a Household and a Enterprise

In 1895 Booger Crimson discovered love. He was 37 (kind of), whereas Mary Frances “Mollie” Webb was, by one account, simply 15 years outdated. Sources fluctuate on how outdated every was and when precisely they married, however by any reckoning it was a Might-December romance. Crimson met “Mollie” at a church singalong, for which he supplied musical accompaniment on the harmonica. On the time she hailed from the little city of Bronte, in Coke County, and was the prettiest factor he had ever seen. To his shock she additionally was taken with him, and to his additional delight he discovered she was an achieved rider. Apparently, her mother and father had no downside with their teen daughter relationship a person greater than twice her age, and the couple tied the knot earlier than the yr was out.

They settled down in San Angelo, the place Crimson continued to function his wagon yard and secure and break horses on the aspect. They finally had seven youngsters, beginning with Roy in 1896, adopted by Ella, the twins, Tommy, Invoice and, lastly, Alta in 1909. Solely one of many twins, Luther, survived. The opposite was buried as “toddler daughter.” Not one of the youngsters made it previous the eleventh grade in class. Regardless of their ever-expanding parental tasks, Crimson and Mollie resolved to begin a brand new enterprise. (The settled life had by no means been for him, and Mollie was sport for something.) Promoting the wagon yard and secure, Crimson used the cash to begin Booger Crimson’s Wild West & Vaudeville Present. By 1907 he had the operation off the bottom.

By the flip of the century Wild West reveals have been all the fad, Buffalo Invoice’s representing the gold commonplace. However there was all the time room for one more. Folks couldn’t get sufficient of seeing the Outdated West recreated in arenas. Mollie sewed costumes for the present, and he or she and the youngsters have been a part of the act. Mollie carried out as a trick rider. Ella, the oldest, did a driving and roping act. Tommy was a “fancy roper,” adequate to ultimately land a gradual gig with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Invoice was a born jockey within the saddle. However the principle attraction was Booger Crimson, bronc rider of all bronc riders, who rode any horse dropped at him, in addition to a couple of steers and a bull he named “Andy.” Crimson bragged he may experience something on 4 legs and made a standing provide of $100 to anybody who may carry him a horse capable of throw him. Although many took him up on that provide, Crimson reportedly by no means needed to repay.

The co-star of the present was Crimson’s horse, Montana Gyp, who had as soon as belonged to a Montana showman who introduced Gyp to San Angelo and provided to pay $1,500 to anybody who may keep on his “outlaw horse.” Crimson accepted the guess, rode Gyp to a standstill, then used the prize cash to purchase him. Rider and horse have been inseparable for the subsequent 23 years, as a lot a workforce as Roy Rogers and Set off or Gene Autry and Champion.

Montana Gyp was greater than a mere present pony, as Booger Crimson’s Wild West traveled between cities not by particular practice however by horseback and wagon. When not on tour, the Privetts wintered on a ranch north of San Angelo. By 1915 they have been making common appearances in Oklahoma, so Crimson bought their San Angelo unfold and acquired a ranch close to Miami, Okla., at which the household may winter and recoup. Round 1920, when the present acquired to be an excessive amount of of a enterprise, Crimson bought out to the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Actual Wild West. For the subsequent a number of seasons he and the youngsters carried out at others’ reveals—together with the Ringling Bros., Al G. Barnes and Hagenbeck-Wallace Bros. circuses—whereas Mollie remained on the ranch. The center-aged Crimson remained on the circus and rodeo circuit a couple of extra years, faithfully sending his winnings house to Mollie, who had taken to calling him “Outdated Man.”

Ultimately, even these occasions turned a chore. The time spent away from house, the limitless succession of performances, the gypsylike life—all turned an excessive amount of, and Crimson determined to retire. He had no regrets. He remained on the prime of his sport, and it gave him pleasure and paid the payments. However he was pushing 60, which made him virtually prehistoric amongst rodeo performers. He had skilled the brilliant lights and large instances, performing on the 1904 Louisiana Buy Exposition, in Chicago, in addition to the 1915 Panama-Pacific Worldwide Exposition, in San Francisco, at which he was named the “World Champion Bronc Rider.” There have been no extra worlds to beat.

A forgotten determine from Crimson’s life story is the younger protégé he mentored, identified professionally as Booger Crimson Jr. Junior was no relation; it was Privett who gave him that deal with. “That’s the one child I’ve ever seen that has the makin’s of as ugly a person as I,” Crimson declared the primary time he laid eyes on the younger man. Junior, whose actual identify has been misplaced to time, was described as an “all-round product of the Texas vary,” identical to his mentor. A prime rider in his personal proper, junior appeared on quite a few applications with the unique Booger.

One in all Crimson’s favourite stops in later years was Fort Value, the place he frequently appeared on the annual Fats Inventory Present. In March 1916 he got here to city by practice for the present and left his grip within the baggage room on the Santa Fe depot. When the attendant provided him a verify, he stated he didn’t want one. “This grip belongs to the ugliest man in Texas—on the earth,” Crimson replied. “If anyone uglier than ‘Booger Crimson,’ of Tom Inexperienced County, reveals up, give him the grip. He’s welcome to it.”

In 1918, when the present promoters added a rodeo to the Fats Inventory Present, Crimson signed on as a competitor. Held within the Grand Coliseum (later renamed the Cowtown Coliseum), it was the world’s first indoor rodeo. Rather a lot had modified within the intervening years. Crimson recalled having ridden broncs on a close-by patch of prairie cordoned off by rope. Whereas spectators then weren’t anticipated to pay a dime to observe cowboys compete, 1000’s now crowded into the coliseum, paying 25 cents a head. Although by far the oldest entrant competing for the $3,000 in prize cash, Crimson may nonetheless outride all challengers. For the subsequent few years he returned to compete. Whereas he liked the eye, nonetheless, he retained his aversion to being photographed or filmed. It was the daybreak of Hollywood, and movement image firms frequently got here calling, hoping to make a star of Booger Crimson. For probably the most half he managed to dodge their cameras.

“Give us Booger Crimson!”

Crimson was exceptional for extra than simply his superior years and scarred visage. For one, he by no means touched liquor, reportedly to maintain a promise made to his mom on her deathbed. A rodeo performer who didn’t drink was akin to a canine that doesn’t bark. Protecting his promise wasn’t a easy matter of abstinence. There was little else moreover liquor to drink on the ranching frontier, whereas rodeo performers used liquor to each move the time and ease aches and pains. (No report stays of whether or not Crimson’s vow coated beer.) The bronc rider was not fully tamed and curried, nonetheless. Crimson smoked a corncob pipe, chewed tobacco and boasted a capability to spit a stream of tobacco juice with accuracy and distance.

Regardless of how good one is within the saddle, driving half-wild horses (and steers) is harmful work. Crimson suffered his share of damaged bones over time. At one Wild West efficiency a bronc struck a corral submit and fell on Crimson, breaking his leg. However the showman refused to crawl off. He remained within the saddle when the horse regained its ft. No damage ever saved him from driving. That toughness helps clarify why he was so admired by fellow cowboys. He was the true McCoy, not some fancy-pants trick rider.

Although Crimson formally retired in 1924, he couldn’t keep away from the sector. Like an actor returning to the footlights or a jock drawn to the fitness center, he got here again to Fort Value that yr for the annual Fats Inventory Present & Rodeo, however as a spectator. His performing days have been behind him, or so he thought as he sat within the stands watching the Monday matinee rodeo that March 10. He had a nondescript cap pulled low over his face and hoped nobody would acknowledge him. All was working to plan till a “hell pitchin’ hoss” named Romeo broke away from handlers, electrifying the sparse crowd. “Give us Booger Crimson!” the spectators started chanting. A girl within the stands beside Crimson instantly stood, pointed at him and shouted, “Right here he’s!” The group went wild. Moments later, his blood racing, the almost bald outdated artificial his means down the coliseum steps to the sector ground, swapping his cap for a Stetson earlier than climbing aboard the outlaw horse. Romeo promptly broke throughout the sector, Crimson hanging on with one hand and waving the hat with the opposite. Soaking within the scent of the horse and roar of the adoring crowd, he tipped and pivoted with every buck and twist. The experience ended with him firmly within the saddle, preserving alive the legend of by no means having been thrown.

Not Forgotten

Simply two weeks later, again house in his personal mattress, Samuel “Booger Crimson” Privett died of Vivid’s illness, the identical ailment that had taken his father. He was 66 years outdated—or perhaps 62, and even 60. His final phrase to relations gathered bedside started with, “Boys, I’m leaving it with you,” and ended with, “Have all of the enjoyable you’ll be able to when you reside, for when you’re useless, you’re a very long time useless.” Crimson was buried within the Grand Military of the Republic Cemetery in Miami, Okla. (In response to household lore, Mollie couldn’t afford a gravestone, so his grave remained unmarked till Ella had a slab put in in 1980.) Mollie lived one other 45 years, dying on Sept. 26, 1969.

Gone however not forgotten, Booger Crimson lived on in Western lore. For many years afterward old-timers associated tales of his exploits. It appears everybody in Fort Value was within the stands for his final experience in 1924. Famend Texas poet Whitney Montgomery wrote verses concerning the celebrated bronc rider, and Crimson was written up in a 1944 challenge of the Southwest Evaluation literary journal, a narrative picked up by Reader’s Digest. Famed folklorist J. Frank Dobie saved his story alive, and 70 years after Crimson’s loss of life Fort Value journalists have been relating the story of “Booger Crimson’s Final Experience” to new audiences. The legendary bronc rider was inducted into Oklahoma Metropolis’s Nationwide Rodeo Corridor of Fame in 1975, and in 1991 the cumulative years of curiosity lastly prompted a biography. Crimson and Mollie’s final surviving little one, Alta, was nonetheless residing when her father’s biographer got here calling. However Charlsie Poe bumped into acquainted obstacles confronted by all biographers—specifically, fallible recollections, inflated legends and contradictory sources.

Guests to the historic Fort Value Stockyards might acknowledge the identify Booger Crimson, for when proprietors of the 1907 Stockyards Resort reworked the place in 1984, they named its restaurant-bar Booger Crimson’s Saloon. (By no means thoughts the irony of naming a saloon after a person who by no means drank.) Patrons don’t stomach as much as the bar for his or her “tanglefoot”; they climb up on saddle-topped stools, usually asking, “Who or what the heck is ‘Booger Crimson’? Is he an actual individual?” The reply, after all, is sure, he was an actual individual, a real cowboy and rodeo performer who made his final experience solely steps down the street in Fort Value. Half a block away, at 121 E. Trade Ave., is the Cowtown Coliseum, wanting a lot because it did a century in the past when Booger Crimson carried out for 1000’s of cheering rodeo followers.

As one fan summed it up years earlier than, “There’ll solely be one Booger Crimson.”

Richard Selcer is a frequent contributor to Wild West who has written 11 books about his hometown of Fort Value, Texas. His main sources for the article have been the privately printed 1991 e-book Booger Crimson: World Champion Cowboy, by Charlsie Poe, and articles from early Texas newspapers.

Initially revealed within the Spring 2024 challenge of Wild West.