THE
RENO RODEO SILVER SPURS AWARD SADDLE
The Top Western Movie Stars of 1950s & 1960s sat atop and/or rode in this saddle!
What's the Price? For this rare (the only one!) and historical monument to the West.
The answer: It is Priceless.
To put it in perspective the famous $10,000 dress that Marilyn Monroe wore sold 
for $4,800,000 in 2016. And 1 of Wizard of Oz slipper sets said to be worth $$millions.
One of Babe Ruth's dozens of $25 jerseys sold for $4,600,000 in 2019. 
This Saddle is an iconic antique heirloom. And is of a similar magnitude of monetary worth. 
This Iconic Saddle should be worth at least as much as Marilyn's dress.
So have your offers ready! (see commission below)


Brief History of the Saddle! (click)

Below is plethora of evidence of Historical Provenance.
Nevada's Historic "Reno Rodeo" Saddle - Ridden by Reno Rodeo Grand Marshals from 1950 to 1965
Saddle may be seen by appointment at security vault facility in Reno, Nevada.
Click Here To Contact The Owner

Very generous Commission available to person who finds a good Home for this prestigious Saddle:




Historic silver saddle needs a home
Reno Gazette-Journal
Guy Clifton - Saturday August 12th, 2000

Last week’s column about the effort to start a Reno Rodeo museum caught the
attention of quite a few people, including Reno's Sam Dehne.

Many people know Dehne as the man who regularly takes to task the Reno City
Council, Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, and other government
agencies for their policies and spending practices.

The 59-year-old retired airline pilot also owns a piece of Reno’s history — the
Silver Spurs Saddle.

The saddle was made in the 1950s for Harold's Club owner Raymond A. Smith. It
was made to be used by the winner of the Silver Spurs Award in the Reno Rodeo
Parade.

The Silver Spurs Award was started by the Reno Chamber of Commerce in 1949
to honor the western film star whose work best kept the Western spirit alive. The
first winner was the Duke, John Wayne, who won with director John Huston for
his work in the movies “Red River” and “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.”

Other winners of the award included Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stewart, Gary
Cooper, Alan Ladd, Spencer Tracy, Glenn Ford, Fred MacMurray, James
Arness, Richard Boone, Dan Blocker, Lorne Green and Michael Landon, among
others.

Hollywood celebrities, and the press that followed them, were regulars at the
Reno Rodeo in the 1950s and ’60s and a major reason why spectators packed
the streets 10 or more deep to watch the Reno Rodeo parade. Blocker, Green
and Landon were especially popular with the fans since their television series,
Bonanza, was set at the Ponderosa Ranch in Incline Village.

Blocker won the Silver Spurs award twice. Landon later returned as the parade’s
grand marshal.

The saddle reportedly was used sparingly as some of the Silver Spurs winners
elected to ride in automobiles or horse-drawn wagons during the parade.

Dehne said he has owned the saddle for about 15 years, keeping it in his small
condominium and wondering what to do with it. It is a beautiful saddle with silver
inlays and hard carving.

He said he would love if arrangements could be made for it to be displayed in a
museum.

“The truth of the matter is, there has been nothing for me to do with it,” Dehne
said. “I would be delighted to put it in a museum.”

He has also considered putting the saddle up for auction.

“Other than the museum, it would probably be better off in someone else’s
hands,” he said.

* * * * *
Guy Clifton’s column on local history and lore runs weekly in this section. You
can call him at 788-6337 or e-mail him at gclifton@@rgj.com.

©2000 Reno Gazette-Journal

A Short History of "The Silver Spurs Award" Reno Rodeo Parade Saddle

The Silver Spurs Award Parade saddle was dedicated to a very exclusive group of movie stars...
including John Wayne, Gary Cooper, and many others (possibly Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe)...
most of whom sat in the saddle during the Silver Spurs Reno Rodeo Parades.
(It's rumored that Marilyn [and Clark Gable] sat atop this Saddle during filming of "The Misfits" in Reno in 1950)

The unique saddle was showcased at Reno, Nevada's once a year Reno Rodeo Parade by each year's recipient
of the "Silver Spurs Award". The award consisted of a custom made pair of silver spurs that was given to the
outstanding cowboy or cowgirl of the year from 1950 to the mid 1960s.

This one-of-a-kind saddle was custom made for Raymond A. Smith by master saddle maker Russ Vaughn.
[Raymond A. Smith was the son of Harold I. Smith... of Harold's Club Casino (weblink) fame.

The list of recipients also includes:
Gregory Peck
Jimmy Stewart (2 times)
Gary Cooper
Alan Ladd
Spencer Tracy
Glenn Ford (2 times)
James Arness
Richard Boone
Dan Blocker
Hoss Cartwright
Michael Landon
John Wayne (again)

Sam Dehne

Note:
John Wayne also won the award twice.

  

  

 

MORE PROVENANCE
(Provenance: record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to demonstrate authenticity or quality)

.

Answer to last question on page! Saddle was not sold.. per se.
Sam DEHNE took possession of the saddle as collateral for a huge loan that was never repaid.
Sam has been the sole owner of the Silver Spurs Saddle since 1980. (see extensive provenance above)

A Top Quality Saddle Historian

Read all about the Reno Rodeo (click).