The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-02-18
Protest Voiced On Prohibition
OfRodeo Showing In KeyWest
Mrs. BalIentine
Tells OF ChiIdren's
Joy Over Sight
OF Cowboys Here

vi NOWDOyb mere
"Why are our children be-
ing deprived of seeing a
harmless, clean and educa-
tional rodeo?"
That question was asked today
By Mrs. Dorothy Vaudeville Bal.
lentine Of 34O2 Avenue +.
Mrs. BaIlentine brought a signed
statement to the Citizen office this
morning, urging that the rodeo be
allowed 10 play here.
Mrs. BsIIensine also said she
woUid rather have her child see
me Todeo Than walk down DvvaI
81. and pass me "strIpfssss ad-
versisamenfs which depict wc-
men In vsFievs stages 81 IN
dress"
The text Of Mrs. Ballentine's
statement follows:
A simple question:
why are our children being de.
prived Of seeing q harmless, clean
and educational rodeo?
by what quirk Of the mind was
it even necessary to bring 1t be,
fore the City Commissioners fol
voting PURPOSES?
AFTER seheel Yesterday, I rock
several little girls down 10 the
Stadium. n wss crowded with
eager youngsters. oil sswit over
The coming Fedeo event.
II talked with some of the soft
spoken cowboys who are part oil
the show. They are nice men
these men from the Western Plains
One Of them spoke up with, Lady
this Is hurting US. We've come q
long ways to join this show anc
the trip cost US money and We
need to make money
Aside from This, there are NOT
many parents In Key West who
esn afford The long trek to Mi.
ami % that their children can
zee hveklnu broneos, horses and
Tho Wild. YET graceful. riding Of
real cowboys from way out West
II have been told by one wht
saw this rodeo In Miami that II /:
good, wholesome, worthwhile en-
tertainment.
well, Key West has done i
again.
Il would rather that my child e
to this rodeo and thrill to cowboy
stunts than for her to walk dowr
Duval Street and pass the strip
tease advertisements which depict
women. In various stages of un
dress.
For days. these children of Key
West have talked rodeo, planned
rodeo. anticipated rodec with al
most feverish delight.
Thsn--all Of sudden-some
silly sFown.upt have, destroyed
these tingling sntieipstions--
sroWn-vps who seem to believe
that football Is The only pastime
for youthful enjoyment.
First it was the laughable case
Of Burdine's. Now 1t is another
and zanier-fait accompli.
"Shame Shame!
''And so it goes-another slap al
the stranger within the gates, an
other attempt at proving some
thing which Is nothing.
THE little glaueoma victim
would have profitsd by the rodeo
show. understand 10 per cent
Of HE proceeds were to be added
10 ths fund which will help her
10 gain her sight.
"Tell me. ! do not know. I an
only asking.
do any Of the gate receipts tax
en- at the football games go to
wards any charitable cause?
What a pity we have caused
another group Of people to become
disgruntled. / thought that the
Chamber Of Commerce wanted
everyone to like Key West; Il
praise and respect it as a broad
minded. kindly and hospitable city
"Oh, well, we continue to figh
against anything that is from othel
sections of the country.
I'VE do not want them to com,
here.
"0f course, the tourists are diff
ferent. They come in swarms anC
the merchants profit.
what harm would the rodet
have done?
There Is no answer to thi.
question because the attitude O
certain persons here has been sci
fish and higoted."
(Signed)
DorOthv Vaudeville RaIIantina