In the August 23, 1937 edition of the Idaho Statesman, Walt Beesley wrote, “Goin to heaven on a mule,” that’s a song. “Goin’ to New York on a bull,” that’s an idea.
Some accounts say this loony idea started as a bet. Beesley wrote that it was all a promotional stunt to advertise Ketchum.
The stunters, or betters, whichever you prefer, were Ted Terry, of Klamath Falls, Oregon; H.G. Wood, of Boise, and Vic Lusk of Butte, Montana. They aimed to ride a bull to Madison Square Garden for the 1939 World’s Fair. They would give theatrical and radio performances as the Sawtooth Range Riders along the way to pay expenses.
The expedition included Josephine, the pack mule, a horse named Silver Sally, and a dog named Skipper. The cowboys—bullboys?—would take turns riding the Durham-Herford bull they paid $50 for. They figured it would take 18 to 25 months to complete the trip.
The bull started with the name Ohadi, which clever readers will notice is Idaho spelled backward. Somewhere along the line, Ohadi became known as Hitler, after the German dictator who was about to plunge the world into war.
Ernie Pyle, who would soon become a famous correspondent in that war, wrote a column about the adventure. He wrote that the Sawtooth Range Riders wore “three ten-gallon hats, checkered shirts, flowing bow ties, overalls, bright gloves, and high-heeled cowboy boots. They look just the way New Yorkers think cowboys look.”
Pyle noted that Ohadi had to be broken to ride all over again every morning.
Three years and 3,000 miles later, Ted Terry and his menagerie (the others gave up on the stunt) rode into the World’s Fair in 1940. Sally, Skipper, and Ohadi/Hitler were all in good shape. No word about what happened to Josephine the Pack Mule. No word, either, about any huge increase in visitation to Ketchum, Idaho, due to the bull-riding stunt. Quite a few began visiting the newly built Sun Valley Resort, though. And that’s no bull.
Some accounts say this loony idea started as a bet. Beesley wrote that it was all a promotional stunt to advertise Ketchum.
The stunters, or betters, whichever you prefer, were Ted Terry, of Klamath Falls, Oregon; H.G. Wood, of Boise, and Vic Lusk of Butte, Montana. They aimed to ride a bull to Madison Square Garden for the 1939 World’s Fair. They would give theatrical and radio performances as the Sawtooth Range Riders along the way to pay expenses.
The expedition included Josephine, the pack mule, a horse named Silver Sally, and a dog named Skipper. The cowboys—bullboys?—would take turns riding the Durham-Herford bull they paid $50 for. They figured it would take 18 to 25 months to complete the trip.
The bull started with the name Ohadi, which clever readers will notice is Idaho spelled backward. Somewhere along the line, Ohadi became known as Hitler, after the German dictator who was about to plunge the world into war.
Ernie Pyle, who would soon become a famous correspondent in that war, wrote a column about the adventure. He wrote that the Sawtooth Range Riders wore “three ten-gallon hats, checkered shirts, flowing bow ties, overalls, bright gloves, and high-heeled cowboy boots. They look just the way New Yorkers think cowboys look.”
Pyle noted that Ohadi had to be broken to ride all over again every morning.
Three years and 3,000 miles later, Ted Terry and his menagerie (the others gave up on the stunt) rode into the World’s Fair in 1940. Sally, Skipper, and Ohadi/Hitler were all in good shape. No word about what happened to Josephine the Pack Mule. No word, either, about any huge increase in visitation to Ketchum, Idaho, due to the bull-riding stunt. Quite a few began visiting the newly built Sun Valley Resort, though. And that’s no bull.
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