London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
This film is part of Free

Rodeo Cowboys in London
Scenes both comic and daring, as American cowboys arrived in London ahead of their landmark performances at Wembley Stadium for the Empire Exhibition.
From the collection of:

Overview
The cowboys, in London for the Empire Exhibition, arrive in a stretched, open-topped car. We then meet Tex Austin, the “rodeo boss”, Maud Elder, a laughing cowgirl, and “Skeeter” Bill Robbins, who acted in Westerns and here impersonates an Englishman, with monocle and cigar. The rest of the film consists of dramatic footage of cowboys riding bulls and bucking broncos to demonstrate “the sort of thrill that tingles the blood at Wembley”.
The cowboys made an impact as soon as they arrived in London, when one, sitting on bonnet of a car, yelled, "I want to rope a red-headed girl" before lassoing a blonde. Hats of passing Londoners were also lassoed. The show was spectacularly popular, drawing 40,000 twice a day, but caused some controversy – and cost the promoters a few dollars – when the RSPCA alleged cruelty after an animal’s leg was broken during steer roping. The cowboys were forced to take to court to defend their show.
Related

Trip to Wembley Trip to Wembley
Amateur film 1982 3 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
Fans celebrate as Hull FC take home the Rugby Challenge Cup trophy after the rematch declares their victory.

Coronation Cup Final Preston North End Versus Sunderland Coronation Cup Final Preston North End Versus Sunderland
Non-Fiction 1937 10 mins Silent Location: Wembley Stadium
Rare footage of Sunderland’s impressive victory against Preston North End in the 1937 FA Cup Final.

Cup Final 1927 Cup Final 1927
Non-Fiction 1927 3 mins Silent Location: Wembley Stadium
Cardiff City Football Club takes on Arsenal in the 1927 FA Cup Final at Wembley. King George V and 100,000 spectators see Cardiff win 1-0.

Saturday Fever Saturday Fever
Cinemagazine 1961 9 mins Location: Tottenham
A snapshot of Saturday afternoon football watched by thousands of adoring fans, plus contrasting scenes of Southport and Spurs players in training.

Fall of a Great City Fall of a Great City
Non-Fiction 1927 1 mins Silent Location: Wembley Stadium
There’s not a hard hat in sight, as cameras record the tragic destruction of the stunning spires, minarets, columns and arches of the Empire Exhibition at Wembley.

Cup Final 1923 Cup Final 1923
Non-Fiction 1923 5 mins Silent Location: Wembley Stadium
The 1923 FA Cup Final between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham was the first at Wembley Stadium. The headlines were not about the football but the crowd!

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.

Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.

All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.

Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.

Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.

Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.