Montie Montana

"Monte Montana" redirects here. For the mountain, see Monte Montana.
Lobby card for The Circle of Death (1935) with Tove Linden and Montie Montana

Montie Montana (born Owen Harlen Mickel; June 21, 1910 – May 20, 1998) was a rodeo trick rider and trick roper, actor, stuntman and cowboy inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1994.[1]

Biography

Montana was born in Wolf Point, Montana, in 1910. He was a perennial participant in the Tournament of Roses Parade until his death in Los Angeles, California, in 1998.[2] Television viewers know him from more than 60 appearances, waving to the crowd from his silver saddle. He can be seen as a contestant on the May 7, 1959 television broadcast of You Bet Your Life, along with his horse Rex.[3]

Montana would go to elementary schools and perform with Rex. He was at Camellia Avenue Elementary School in North Hollywood, California, in 1959, and he would talk about the rubber horseshoes Rex would be fitted with so Rex would not slip on the asphalt playground while Montie was riding Rex. He performed rope tricks on and off of Rex, and would pass out photos of him and Rex to the students at the end of his show.

In 1996, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.[4] He was buried at the Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth, California.[5]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1932 The Saddle Buster Rodeo Performer Uncredited
1934 Stand Up and Cheer! Rope Spinner Uncredited
1935 The Circle of Death Little Buffalo, alias Jim Little
1935 Border Vengeance Montie Montana, Trick Rider Uncredited
1935 Melody Trail Rodeo Rider Uncredited
1936 Comin' Round the Mountain Roper Uncredited
1936 Gun Smoke
1939 The Kid from Texas Trick Rider Uncredited
1943 Riders of the Deadline Ranger Kelton
1944 Take It Big Show Performer Uncredited
1944 Man from Frisco Montana Uncredited
1949 Down Dakota Way Sheriff Holbrook
1952 The Story of Will Rogers Trick Roping Double for Will Rogers Jr. Uncredited
1954 The Boy from Oklahoma Roper Uncredited
1960 The Rifleman Stage Driver
1962 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Cowboy on Pinto Pony Uncredited
1963 Hud Cowboy Uncredited
1964 Cheyenne Autumn Trooper Uncredited
1968 Arizona Bushwhackers Stage Driver
1972 The Young Rounders (final film role)

Honors

References

  1. ^ a b "Montie Montana - Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame". Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  2. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Montie Montana". Great Falls Tribune. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  3. ^ "Montie Montana, dead at 87". May 26, 1998.
  4. ^ "Palm Springs Walk of Stars". PalmSprings.com. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  5. ^ Amy Oakes (May 27, 1998). "Montie Montana Given Cowboy Send-Off". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ "Montie Montana | Rodeo Hall of Fame". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  7. ^ "Montie Montana" (PDF). Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame. pendletonhalloffame.com. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  8. ^ "Montie Montana | Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame". erhof.com. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  9. ^ "Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame Inductees". Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  10. ^ "2015 Inductee Biographies - Montie Montana". Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center. Retrieved May 20, 2017.