PERFORMANCE DATES

Thursday, January 30, 7:30 p.m

Rodeo celebrates 75^th anniversary

LAKE CHARLES – Celebrating 75 years of bucks, broncs and a taste of the Old West, the Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo gallops into Burton Coliseum January 30 through February 1.

Professional rodeo competitors, including pro world champions and national finals contestants from across the nation, will vie for $250,000 in prizes beginning at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, January 30 and Friday, January 31, and 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Saturday, February 1.

The annual livestock show, which hosts more than 2,500 4-H and FFA exhibitors and awards more than $50,000 in scholarships, begins Wednesday, January 29.

A prelude to the biggest show on dirt is the Western Heritage Rodeo Parade, 4:00 p.m., Thursday, January 30. The parade begins on Ryan at E. LaGrange Street in Lake Charles, and travels south on Ryan before ending at McNeese Stadium. 

This year’s parade Grand Marshal is actor-turned-artist Buck Taylor, who is easily recognized after more than 50 years in movies and on television. One of Taylor’s watercolors, which celebrates the heritage of the American West, has been chosen for the Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo’s 75^th anniversary commemorative poster.  

Taylor may be best remembered for his role as Newly O’Brien, gunsmith-turned-deputy during the last eight seasons of the television series Gunsmoke (1955 to 1975), or as Turkey Creek Jack Johnson in Tombstone (1993), starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer. But Taylor didn’t limit himself to Westerns. He also had recurring roles on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Ben Casey, My Favorite Martian, Combat!, Barnaby Jones, General Hospital, Dallas and T.J. Hooker.

But it is his recurring role as artist that most occupies Taylor now. His private commissions hang in the Loomis Fargo and DeLucca Liquor headquarters, as well as the Franklin Mint, John Wayne Enterprises, and American Quarter Horse and National Ranching Heritage museums. In addition, his work is in the hands of private collectors, such as Sam Elliott, James Arness, Roy Clark, Val Kilmer, Roger Staubach, and Powers Booth.

Tickets for the rodeo performances are $12.00, $17.00 and $22.00 for adults, and $9.00, $14.00, and $19.00 for children 12 years or younger. Children under three are admitted free. Coupons for $1 off the price of a child’s ticket and $4 off the price of an adult’s ticket are available at all Jeff Davis Bank locations. These coupons cannot be used with any other discount or promotion. Admission to the livestock show is free.

Tickets are currently available at Boot Barn, Cotton’s Western Wear, and Patton’s Western Wear, Burton Coliseum, and Ticketmaster.

For more information, call (337) 944-9710 or visit www.lakecharlesrodeo.com.

• Venue: Burton Complex
• Address: 7001 Gulf Hwy, Lake Charles, LA 70607
• Times: Thurs. & Fri. 7:30 p.m.; Sat. 2:00 & 8:00 p.m.
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