Rose Wanger and her blue moose, Bob, were a popular rodeo act of the 1920's. Blue Bob has the Guinness record for being the only trained moose ever in rodeo. Rose was originally from Circle Back, Texas, a community that produced many fine show biz people, including the silent film star, Bora Bora1.
When Rose formed her act, she had a trained hippopotamus, but the relationship was not good. The hippo loved the trick riding part of the act but refused to jump through the burning hoops. Rose dismissed the hippo2 and found Blue Bob in a traveling tent show in Muleshoe, Texas.
Through a generous contribution to the traveling evangelist, Rose obtained Blue Bob. Bob was a quick learner and even mastered burning hoops. If he had a fault, it was that he would buck every time the rodeo band would play "Nearer My God to Thee".
This was something that he had learned in the traveling tent show, and it could not be unlearned. Fortunately for Rose, the rodeo band almost never played "Nearer My God to Thee"; therefore the rodeo fans never saw this darker side of Blue Bob.
History tells us that Rose and Blue Bob's act continued through the 1920's until 1929 when she retired to Ebenezer, Texas, where she operated a small bait shop and worm farm until her death in 1938.
Bob went back to Canada after Rose's retirement and became famous in the chuck wagon races in Calgary. His long legs made him a consistent winner, and his warm smile made him many friends.
Visitors to the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma
City will see a large portrait of Rose Wanger and her trained
blue moose, Bob, near the south entrance. It was painted at the
peak of their careers.
1 Bora Bora starred in the silent screen epic, "Last Wagon
out of Need More".
2 The hippo later joined a swimming act at the Underwater Aquarena
in San Marcos, Texas. He was an excellent diver and the main attraction
of the show through the early 30's.