The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo history
On this abc13’s Dave Ward’s Houston, we look back at how The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo started with much humbler beginnings.
1931 The Houston Fat Stock Show debuts on April 30, 1932.
1938 The show moved from Sam Houston Hall to the new Sam Houston Coliseum on Bagby in downtown Houston (this is where the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts stands today). A downtown parade, nightly rodeos and a carnival were added to the schedule.
1942 The first ever calf scramble and the show’s first big name entertainer – Gene Autry “the singing cowboy.”
1958 Channel 13 was the first Houston station to televise the rodeo’s opening ceremonies. It broadcast the rodeo parade the next year and has done so ever since.
1961 The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo becomes the new name of the event.
1966 The show moved into the eighth wonder of the world the Astrodome.
2002 George Strait plays the final show in the Astrodome.
2003 Reliant Stadium (now NRG) becomes home of the 71st rodeo.
You can see more historical facts on rodeohouston.com.
