Prison Rodeo
Since 1940, except for a handful of years during World War II and during the 1970s inmate uprising, OSP has held a prison rodeo. A two-day event held in August, or on Labor Day weekend (accounts differ), the rodeo is a joint venture between the city of McAlester and the state Department of Corrections. The McAlester Chamber of Commerce contracts with the city to coordinate and market the event, which was not held in 2010 due to a state budget shortfall. Inmates from several prisons through the state compete. Attendance at the 12,500-seat arena is down in the 2000s from the 65,000 who routinely attended during a four-day version of the event in the 1960s. The animal-rights group PETA has denounced the rodeo on grounds of animal cruelty.
Female convicts began competing in 2006, leading to the documentary film Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo (2009), about the co-ed competition.
Read more about this topic: Oklahoma State Penitentiary
Famous quotes containing the word prison:
“They are sworn enemies of lyric poetry.
In prison they accompany the jailer,
Enter cells to hear confessions.
Their short-end comes down
When you least expect it.”
—Charles Simic (b. 1938)