Born: 1892 (Cleveland, Ohio)
Died: 1977
Biography:
Helen Gibson (born Rose August Wenger; August 27, 1892 – October 10, 1977) was an American film actress, vaudeville performer, radio performer, film producer, trick rider, and rodeo performer. She is considered to be the first American professional stuntwoman.
Helen was born Rose August Wenger in Cleveland, Ohio, to Swiss-German parents, Fred and Annie Wenger. She grew up as one of five girls in her family. Her father wanted a son and encouraged Helen to be a tomboy. It was during the summer of 1909 that Helen saw her first Wild West show in Cleveland and became captivated by it. Intrigued, she answered a Miller Brothers 101 Ranch ad for girl riders in Billboard magazine. The Miller Brothers 101 Ranch taught her how to ride, and she performed in her first 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show in St. Louis in April 1910.
Helen’s determination and fearlessness were evident in her response to veteran riders who warned her about the dangers of riding, saying she could get kicked in the head. She paid no heed to their cautionary words, firmly believing that such things might happen to others but could never happen to her. Helen barnstormed throughout the United States with the 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show, but the season came to an end too soon for her liking. She eagerly looked forward to opening in Boston in the spring of 1911.
When the Miller-Arlington Show abruptly closed in 1911, many performers, including Helen, found themselves stranded in Venice, California. However, their fortunes quickly turned around when Thomas H. Ince, a producer for the New York Motion Picture Company, hired the entire cast for the winter at an impressive wage of $2,500 a week. Helen and the rest of the performers received $8 a week and were provided board and lodging in Venice, where the horses were stabled. They rode five miles each day to work in Topanga Canyon, where the films were being shot.
In 1912, Helen earned $15 a week for her first billed role as Ruth Roland’s sister in the film Ranch Girls on a Rampage. Like many cowboy extras, she continued to perform in rodeos between her film work. Her talents caught the eye of an investor at the Second Los Angeles Rodeo in 1913 during the Standing Woman Race. Impressed, the investor offered to finance a tour of rodeos for Helen, covering all expenses and splitting the winnings. It was during this time that Helen worked with the investor’s horses daily at his ranch outside Pendleton, Oregon, and learned new forms of trick riding.
In June 1913, Helen met Edmund Richard Hoot Gibson, and they began working together. At a rodeo in Salt Lake City, they achieved remarkable success, winning multiple events. Unfortunately, the promoter of the rodeo disappeared without paying them any prize money. Despite this setback, Helen and Hoot continued to thrive in their rodeo and film careers.
Throughout her career, Helen Gibson performed daring stunts and showcased her talent as a trick rider in numerous films. She became an influential figure in Hollywood, known for her daring and fearless approach to her work. Her pioneering achievements as a stuntwoman laid the groundwork for future generations of women in the film industry.