Posted By thecircusblog on May 5, 2009
Jack and Edith Wright in 1933 at the World’s Fair in Chicago. Jack had these fancy borders put around many of his pictures and they used them as post cards to mail to his friends and for publicity. He often autographed them for his fans.
Posted By thecircusblog on May 5, 2009
The picture is of Jack Wright and the niece of Tom Mix. This photo could have been taken either on the Tom Mix circus or on the 101 Ranch. It is a back yard shot.
Ken Reno needs help. Please read his comment.
Posted By thecircusblog on May 5, 2009
These three Native Americans were the Chiefs of the different families on the 101. I use the name Chief in a respectful manner. There were many different tribes that traveled with the show. To name a few Cherokee, Lakota, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Sioux and Pawnee. They all played a very important part in the show because they were a genuine part of the old west. I wish I knew the names of these three in this photo.
Posted By thecircusblog on May 5, 2009
The Native Americans in this photo were part of the of the 101 Western show. They danced and sang different types of ceremonies to entertain and educate the audience to Native American customs. During the performance a Native Amerrican person would interpret and explain to the audience the different dance customs. Jack Wright is last on the right. On the far left is Chief Holly Bear.
Posted By thecircusblog on May 3, 2009
This is Jack Wright in his early 20’s. This picture is his first professional photo. Jack was born October 15, 1891 in Hazen, Arkansas. He died June 8, 1973 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. His father was Samuel Taylor Wright and his mother was Lucy Elizabeth Wright. Jack’s career started very early in his life. He grew up a cowboy and handling a rope was second nature to him. Jack was self- taught and he learned his trade well. As time went on he worked in rodeos with his rope spinning act and trick roping. He was asked to join the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Wild West Show in the 1920’s where he worked for quite some time . Then he got into the movies doing bit parts playing himself and was a pretty good actor. On one of the movies he met Tom Mix and was asked to doubled\ for him. Tom Mix and Jack became good friends. He also worked with Yakima Knutt doing stunt work. Jack Wright perfected his trick riding, but his claim to fame was his roping. He joined the revised 101 Wild West Show in the mid 1940’s……. I want to thank his Grand Nephews for supplying me with these wonderful pictures that you are about to see. Thanks Billy and Bob Wright.
Posted By thecircusblog on May 3, 2009
Jack Wright on his horse Toney in the center and the cowboy with the big hat is Tex Cooper. Jack performed in the Wild West Show at the World’s Fair and produced some of his own Western shows. He was a very popular figure in those days.
Posted By thecircusblog on May 3, 2009
This is the way a Cowboy said “I like Coca Cola”. Although he did like a little something extra in it….I believe the stuff started with a W….. Jack Wright’s popularity led the way for him to do a substantial amount of advertisement for a lot of different products….. and the money was good.
Posted By thecircusblog on May 3, 2009
In 1926 the 101 Ranch Wild West Show was one of the most popular shows on the road. Traveling with it were some of the “Dangest, Wildest, Ruffest, Ridenest, #1!*(^)%+Kicking Cowboys you’ve ever seen. I will be publishing more photos of this great show and it’s performers very soon. This stage coach and most all of the 101 equipment was sold in later years to James L. Woods, fondly known as “Jimmy”. He and his backers took out the second 101 Ranch Show in the mid 1940’s. They added circus performers to the western theme which fit right in with the times. Many of the old cowboys came on the new 101 including Zak T. Miller, youngest of the Miller brothers, Big Loop Jack Wright and Harold Fisher who was a wrangler. There were others but I can’t remember their names. The Clifford Henry family was also on the show with three acts. I remember riding in this very same stagecoach with Berrie Sugarbrown, the granddaughter of Chief White Cloud Sugarbrown. We were part of the Grand Western parade at the beginning of the show. The Sugarbrowns were Native American dancers and performed in western show reenactments of the old west. I remember one show in particular. During the western parade the horses got spooked and took off at a full gallop leaving the arena and the lot and was heading off into the wild blue yonder. My dad, Jack Wright and Mark Smith rode after the stage coach and finally brought the horses to a stop and discovered the driver was drunk and he had passed out in the boot of the stage coach. It was quite a ride!
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Posted By thecircusblog on May 3, 2009
In 1927 the 101 went East and played near the Boardwalk at Atlantic City. At that time there was a building large enough to accommodate the show instead of having to set up the show on vacant land. Jack Wright is to the right. of photo.
Posted By thecircusblog on May 3, 2009
A day off from the show to explore the Boardwalk , but most likely the performers were being explored by the locals. People in the East were not in the habit of seeing this type of clothing. In this photo Jack Wright is on the far left, looking the right in a white shrit is Bill Piggott, famous for his bull dogging. Photo: 101 Ranch, 1927.
