Editing Calgary Stampede (section)

===Calgary Exhibition and Stampede===
While the 1919 Stampede was successful, it was again held as a one-time event. Richardson was convinced that it could be a profitable annual event but found little support for the concept within the board of directors of the Calgary Industrial Exhibition. However, declining attendance and mounting financial losses forced the exhibition board to reconsider Richardson's proposals at their 1922 annual meeting.<ref name="Kennedy28">{{harvnb|Kennedy|1965|p=28}}</ref> Richardson proposed merging the two events on a trial basis. Weadick agreed, and the union created the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.<ref name="Dixon36">{{harvnb|Dixon|Read|2005|p=36}}</ref>

[[File:1923 Calgary Stampede parade.jpg|thumb|1923 Stampede parade|alt=Hundreds of men on horseback march down a city street as people observe from the sidewalks and rooftops.]]
The combined event was first held in 1923. Weadick encouraged the city's residents to dress in western clothes and decorate their businesses in the spirit of the "wild west".<ref name="GuysDream" /> Civic leaders truly supported the event for the first time: Mayor [[George Harry Webster|George Webster]] followed the costume suggestion and allowed downtown roads to be closed for two hours each morning of the six-day event to accommodate street parties.<ref name="Dixon36" /> The new sport of [[chuckwagon racing]] was introduced and proved immediately popular.<ref>{{citation |title=2009 Calgary Stampede Evening Show Program |publisher=Calgary Stampede |page=8}}</ref> 138,950 people attended and the event earned a profit.<ref name="Dixon36" /> Over 167,000 people attended in 1924 and the success guaranteed that the Stampede and Exhibition would be held together permanently.<ref name="Dixon38">{{harvnb|Dixon|Read|2005|p=38}}</ref>

Attendance grew annually throughout the 1920s, peaking at 258,496 in 1928, but the onset of the [[Great Depression]] resulted in attendance declines and financial losses. After consecutive years of losses in 1930 and 1931, the exhibition board was forced to make cutbacks, a decision that strained the relationship between the board and Weadick.<ref name="Kennedy41">{{harvnb|Kennedy|1965|p=41}}</ref> Furthering the divide was Weadick's growing resentment of the board's control of what he considered his event. The issue came to a head in 1932 when Weadick and Richardson engaged in a loud argument over the situation, ending with Weadick's threat to quit entirely.<ref>{{harvnb|Livingstone|1996|p=110}}</ref> One month later, the exhibition board announced that it had relieved him of his duties.<ref name="Kennedy41" /> Angered by the decision, Weadick sued the exhibition board for $100,000, citing breach of contract and unfair dismissal.<ref>{{harvnb|Livingstone|1996|p=111}}</ref> His claim was upheld in courts, but he was awarded only $2,750 plus legal fees.<ref>{{harvnb|Kennedy|1965|p=42}}</ref> Embittered by the events, Weadick remained at odds with the board for 20 years until he was invited to the 1952 Stampede as an honoured guest and parade marshal.<ref>{{harvnb|Livingstone|1996|p=120}}</ref>

At least seven movies were filmed at the Stampede by 1950. The most profitable, the 1925 [[silent movie|silent film]] ''The Calgary Stampede'', used footage from the rodeo and exposed people across North America to the event.<ref name="Foran10">{{harvnb|Foran|2008|p=10}}</ref> [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] stars and foreign dignitaries were attracted to the Stampede; [[Bob Hope]] and [[Bing Crosby]] each served as parade marshals during the 1950s,<ref name="Dixon42">{{harvnb|Dixon|Read|2005|p=42}}</ref> while Queen [[Elizabeth II]] and Prince [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Philip]] made their first of two visits to the event as part of their 1959 tour of Canada.<ref>{{citation |url=http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/07/09/ |title=A royal Calgary Stampede |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=2010-05-18 |archive-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629022020/http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/07/09/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Queen also opened the 1973 Stampede.<ref name="Dixon43">{{harvnb|Dixon|Read|2005|p=43}}</ref>