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Spanish influence was emphasized in these early rodeos. In fact,
"old timers" still say "Ro-day-oh" while others
pronounce it as Ro-dee-oh. The show was well advertised, and people
dressed in either Spanish or western attire. Trips to Oakland
and San Francisco were planned. Groups would parade down the streets
in costume carrying signs announcing the date's of the rodeo.
They were accompanied by riders on horseback
Once
the Oakland Auditorium was used as a hospitality house and "mini"
rodeo museum. Rooms there were decorated and staffed with people
serving refreshments to all who attended.
Rodeo
time was "Big Time" in Livermore; everyone was getting
involved in some way. The local merchants were glad to have the
influx of people and dressed "western" weeks preceding
the show. There were decorations everywhere. Barnard Mouterot
remembers going out to the Ruby Hill Winery to cut palm fronds
to decorate the light poles on First Street. Banners were strung
across First and Second Streets, and on Lizzie Street out of the
rodeo grounds.
Many
store fronts had rodeo scenes painted on their windows and stores
were decorated. It was a colorful display. Weeks earlier, the
men in town started growing beards for the "Whiskerino Contest."
High school students were an important part of advertising. Photographers
from the Oakland Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco
Examiner would take pictures of the girls in western or Spanish
garb. These pictures were used for publicity purposes. Later the
girls were ushers at the show. Their "pay" was free
admission. High school boys placed advertising posters along the
highways from Livermore to Stockton and to San Francisco, and
on the Dunbarton and Antioch bridges.
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