Early Grand American Trapshooting Programs

Some early Grand American Programs from the 20`s and 30`s...

Trap3

 

Now that's a pretty sight for those who love trapshooting history.

Thanks Trap3

 

Does anyone know who conceived the idea of staging a "Grand American Handicap" tournament?

A clue: The person's initials were H. A. P. and in my opinion, they should be inducted into the Trapshooting Hall of Fame.

HB

 

A Shooter maybe, I`m guessing... Henry Pendergast?

Trap3

 

Good guess but Henry was only 9 years old when the idea of a GAH was conceived .

Henry James Pendergast, of Phoenix, NY was born October 23, 1883.

The first Grand American Handicap at Live Birds was scheduled to start on January 10th, 1883, but was postponed and rescheduled for the second week in march due to the death of H. A. P.'s wife.

The GAH at live birds was again postponed and finally took place at Dexter Park, Long Island, New York, April 5-7, 1893. The event was at 25 birds, 24-32 yards handicaps, 21 yard boundary, and a $50 entrance fee.

A clue: H. A. P. was President of a target manufacturing company, was considered a top shooter and who also was a tournament manager.

 

Hello HB... thanks for the additional clue. Halleck A. Penrose of the Keystone Target Company. As always, great research!

Thanks buddy,
Trap3

 

BINGO ! Good job Trap3

Hallack Adams Penrose was born August 22, 1857 in Michigan.

He became a notable trap shot. He lost a $1500 live bird match to Doc Carver in March 1885, by a score of 76 to 75 live birds.

He shot matches with Gwynne Price and Captain Andy Meaders.

He got into the manufacture of targets, became President of the Keystone Target Company that later became the Standard Keystone Target Co., was a representative of the Corry (Pa.) Arms and Ammunition Co., organized and was the first President of the Pennsylvania State Sportsmen's Association (1890), organized and was President of the Interstate Manufacturers' and Dealer's Association, (1991), Vice President of the Connecticut State Trapshooter's League (1892), incorporator of the Excelsior Target Co. (1895), incorporator of the A. G. Alford Sporting Goods Co., (1895), President of the Coast Pigeon Co. (of Baltimore, MD) in 1896, President of the Baltimore (Md.) Shooting Association, incorporated the Maryland Sportsmen's Exposition (1900), incorporator and President of the American Manufacturing Co., (1901), an inventor and patent buyer of targets and traps.

Mr. Penrose was a well-known capitalist.

I've never found out when and where he died (before 1926). Has anyone ever found his Obituary or report of his death?

HB

 

Amazing.

 

Who says Trap is not a spectator's sport? Check out the 38th Grand American program that Trap 3 posted above.

 

Everything at Vandalia was for the spectators. Thousands walked up and down the midway. Tractors and the wagons often had problems getting thru.

All that changed when Bradford, Winston, and pals got into power. jmho

It looks like Bradford got to vote himself into the HOF. Great accomplishments.

 

You are correct about the wagons. I can remember the drivers "riding the clutch" waiting on people who were trying to get out of their way. The big loading and unloading stop was at the "beer tent".

 

Yes the beer tent. A place and time when you might brag as I did about shooting a 90 or better.

It was also comical to hear and see the spectators waving to the shooters that were on the wagons heading to their traps. And there was mastering the art of hopping onto a moving wagon with gun and bag.

 

Really cool collection Trap3. Back in the day when they had a "Grand Marshall". Must have been a really neat experience back in those days. I often look through the 100th Anniversary book of the Grand.

 

At the 100th Grand, I had the honor of meeting and talking at length with Rudy Etchen. He signed my anniversary book. Will never forget that moment.

 

A 121 year old program from The 8th Grand American Handicap at Live Birds...

Trap3

 

Krieghoff-80,I remember back in the late 40's thru the 1950's when Herb Parsons( until he passed away) would put on his show the spectators would be around the area he was shooting in much the same as in the picture of the old Grand program. I also remember I believe it was in 1951 when the wooden bleachers right in front of the entry building colapsed during the shootoffs one evening. Lots of noise and screaming,but no one lost their life, but there were some broken bones. After that they were replaced with the steel framed bleachers that were there until the Grand left.

Dave Berlet

 

Recently added a few other early Grand programs...1911 June 20- 23 Columbus Ohio. 1915 Aug. 16-20. Chicago Illinois. 1922 Sept. 11-16 Atlantic City, N. J.

Trap3

 

And I thought Dysinger was the only one to wear his hat backwards.

 

I really didn't think that he thought of that all by himself. Brad better hope that the ec doesn't see that or they will get him for plagiarizing. LOL

Dave Berlet

 

A question for Trap 3. Do you or anyone else know if there was a printed program for the 1943-44-45 Grand American. Maybe HB would even have an answer for this question. I was asked this question by a friend who collects Grand programs and he said that there were no programs for these years in the Trapshooting Hall of Fame and he has never been able to find out if any of these years programs ever existed.

Dave Berlet

 

Dave...I don`t know for sure. I went and looked through most of my programs and do not have a 1943, 44, or 45 GAH program. Could be because
of the war... Although I did have the Average books from those years...

RD

 

Yes, there was a printed program for the 1943-44-45 Grand American Handicap tournaments. These would have been the so-called 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wartime Grand Americans. The first being 1942. These three GAH Championships were all 3-day shoots of only 500 total targets and shooters were warned to "bring your own shells".

My records show that the Trapshooting Hall of Fame has a program book for the 1942 and 1945 GAH tournaments. The 1945 GAH program could also be seen in the August 4, issue of Sportsmen's Review.

Program booklets were never produced for 1943 & 1944. They could only be viewed in one issue of Sportsmen's Review, i.e., August 7, 1943 and August 5, 1944.

So, collectors won't find any long-lost GAH program booklets for those two years.

Enjoy Our Wonderful History !

HB

 

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Recent addition to the collection... 13th Grand American Program, held June 18 - 21, 1912 Springfield Illinois...

 

From the pages of 4TH Interstate Association program... Entry form and conditions governing The Grand American Handicap at Targets...
Held at Blue River Shooting Park, Kansas City Mo. April 16, 1903...


Trap3

 

Cover of the 4th GAH at Targets. Held 120 years ago... Blackbird Targets

 

Interstate Association Tournaments in 1903...

 

The Winners and some participants of the 1903 GAH...

 

Spectator sport? --Can't get the high school kids off their cell phones to even watch fellow teammates!

 

A couple from the late 40`s and early 50`s... Aerial view and entry info from the 1950 Grand American...

 

The 1902 Grand American at Live Birds was very well attended and is the last Grand American at Live Birds. Do any of us have the program for that historic shoot?

 

Have seen at least one program... It was a 10x13 string bound black booklet with gray pigeon and date on the cover...

Trap3