Tales from the Morgue: The first Fiesta de los Vaqueros

The very first Fiesta de los Vaqueros began Feb. 21, 1925, the brain child of Leighton Kramer and the Arizona Polo association.

Tales from the Morgue: Visitors crowd hotels for opening of rodeo in 1925

Parade prizes for everything from the most typical cowboy to the fattest and skinniest horses and 25-cent taxi rides for those without cars were some of the incentives for the first rodeo parade.

Tales from the Morgue: Rodeo contestants included some of the 'best boys in the game'

Contestants and performers in the first Fiesta de los Vaqueros included many who were considered the best in the business. Among them were an Indian chief, a woman and a clown.

Tales from the Morgue: Bulldogging from an automobile

The rodeo parade heralding the first Fiesta de los Vaqueros, Feb. 21-23, 1925, was a hit, as was the first day of the rodeo itself, attended by approximately 5,000 people.

Tales from the Morgue: Even the British are enthusiastic about the rodeo

"It is not easy to move a stolid race like the British to lyric enthusiasm," but Tex Austin's rodeo exhibition in Wembley, England, did just that.