SeeCalifornia.com

As folks get ready for the Cowboy Festival in Santa Clarita, or plan to attend or participate in a California rodeo, it’s evident that the West was won through true grit, yes, but also a lot of charisma, character and style–all the way down to the boots! Museums often have boot exhibits but we saw all these boots in one single show at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage.  Pictured are some famous cowboy boots that were worn in the White House and on the Big Screen. Left to right:

President Ronald Reagan Boots with Presidential Seal made circa 1984 by Tony Lama Boot Company
Gene Autry’s Bluebird Boots 1930s with American Flag Shirt mid-1900s, made by Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors
Lyndon Baines Johnson Black Boots with Presidential Seal

About the flag shirt, middle picture:  Everyone knows about Gene Autry, but Nudie Cohn (of Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors) was possibly more famous among celebrities. The signature gold lame’ suit worn by Elvis, rhinestones on fancy outfits, fringe leather jackets, and  one-of-a-kind jackets, boots and clothes worn by  John Wayne, Gene Autry, Cher, John Lennon, Ronald Reagan, Elton John, Robert Mitchum, Pat Buttram, Tony Curtis, Michael Landon, Glenn Campbell, Hank Snow, Hank Williams Sr.,and groups such as, America, Chicago, ZZ top, and the Flying Burrito Bros  (well known Marijuana leaves suit worn by Gram Parsons) were all Nudie’s creations! To add to the flashy style of the Russian immigrant tailor, Nudie created a fleet of 18, silver studded, gun toting, cattle stampeding automobiles. Nudie died at the age of 81 in 1984. Dale Evans was there to give the Eulogy. Everyone he had ever clothed was there to pay their respects. The Autry Museum has an extensive archive of patterns, customer sizes, photos, etc. from Nudie Cohn’s collection. Nudie started out a penniless Russian Jew escaping tyranny. He worked hard in the U.S. and made a big splash. But he always wore  non-matching boots to remind him of when he was poor.