The First Stampede of Flores LaDue: The True Love Story of Florence and Guy Weadick and the Beginning of the Calgary Stampede

by Wendy Bryden

Overview

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede, Bryden presents this #1 Calgary Herald bestseller detailing the fascinating true story of the romance that started the Stampede.

The love story of rodeo promoter Guy Weadick and trick roper Flores LaDue began among the rough-and-tumble vaudevillians preserving the frontier way of life in the first Wild West shows. Their love endured through North American performances in the small-time and big-time circuits to the audiences of Europe and culminated in 1912 with the most spectacular of accomplishments—the establishment of the greatest outdoor show on earth, the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede. That was one hundred years ago, and this is their story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781451609332
Publisher:	Touchstone
Publication date:	06/05/2012
Pages:	201
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Wendy Bryden is the author of Canada at the Olympic Winter Games and The Glencoe Club Story: 70 Years of Sports History. She studied journalism at the University of Montana and later taught skiing at the Ernie McCulloch Ski School at Mont Tremblant, Quebec. She is the founder of the Bryden Bursaries that provide funding for disabled athletes to attend the Olympic Academy of Canada. The Alberta Centennial Medal was conferred on her in recognition of her outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta. She is also the recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation, conferred on her by the Governor General of Canada in recognition of her contribution to her community and to Canada. Wendy Bryden resides in her native Calgary with her husband, and their four sons and respective families live in Calgary, Vancouver and London, England.

Table of Contents

Prologue 3

Chapter 1 Whisky and Wolfers-The Belle Epoque in Western Canada 1

Realizing the Romance-The Calgary Stampede Is Born 14

Chapter 2 Real Partners 17

At the Calgary Stampede, 1950 21

Seeking Redemption 29

Winding Down 31

Chapter 3 A Gift for Lenore 41

Y Cross Ranch, West of Longview, Alberta, August 1952 43

Chapter 4 The Birth of Flores LaDue 53

Montevideo, Minnesota, 1891-1898 55

Chapter 5 Raping Her Way to Jame, 1898-1904 63

Chapter 6 An Irresistible Force Meets an Unimpressible Object 75

Guy Presumes 78

Chapter 7 The Wedding Ring 83

A Couple of Runaways Meet 87

The Runaways Fall in Love 90

Chapter 8 A Seed Is Planted 95

The 1908 Dominion Exhibition, Calgary, Alberta 97

Chapter 9 Fair Weather and Funds 103

Chapter 10 Travels on the Continent 109

Chapter 11 The Seed Germinates 121

Chapter 12 George Lane Appears on the Scene 131

Chapter 13 New Hybrids 131

Chapter 14 George Lane Circles the Wagons 151

Chapter 15 The First Calgary Exhibition and Stampede 1912: A Star Is Born 157

The Ladies Take the Stage 169

Chapter 16 The Big Four Would Approve 179

Epilogue 185

Acknowledgements 197

2005 Alberta Gentennial 203

Bibliography 205