Born on August 24th in 1917 to Samuel and Rita Roamer, Arthur Elliot Roamer was quick to learn the ways of ranch life and western living. His father and grandfather (also named Arthur) operated the sprawling A&R Ranch, just southeast of Utah Lake, near the tiny town of Thistle, Utah.
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When young Arthur was only nine, his grandfather dispatched the boy to long-time friend, Colonel Henry Ryder, owner and operator of the legendary Ryder Rodeo and Wild West Revue. It was during this formative period of Arthur's young life that he learned the trick roping and knife throwing skills that would later become so important to him and his reputation. The Ryder Rodeo and Wild West Revue had long since seen its heyday by the time little Art found himself under the watchful instruction of Colonel Ryder, but many of the Revue's stars were eager to impart their several tricks of the wild west to the eager Utah boy. Art found himself in many jobs as the Revue made its way across the country. Among the most noteworthy of these jobs was when he took a temporary job at a nearby amusement park as a professional drowner, filling in for W.C. Fields who had taken the day off in order to attend a bar grand opening. |
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By the time Art was sixteen, he had become a stunt double for Pacific Cowboy Pictures, and at one point worked as a stunt double for the famous Smiley Bob Whitler, star of over fifty-four Pacific Cowboy motion pictures. Whitler was so fond of the boy that he presented him with his own won cowboy hat, which had been worn in every Pacific Cowboy Picture that Smiley Bob had starred in.
During his later teen years and into his twenties, Art Roamer continued to do movies, but later mostly television work.
It is not widely known, but Art's voice was the one used for Pete the Talking Burro, a short-lived TV show from 1959. Art also did bit parts for Beamer Chili Bean television ads from 1960 to 1963.
From 1963 to 1979, Art Roamer traveled throughout the United States performing his roping tricks for various charitable causes. He also was called upon for his technical advice for several films and television shows.
From 1979 to the present, Art has lived at the A&R Ranch in Thistle, Utah; but makes frequent appearances at celebrity and charity events. His performances no longer feature knife throwing and roping tricks, but are limited to his brief recollections of his movie and TV days.
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One event of recent years that cast a cloud of scandal over Art Roamer was his campaign for Governor of the state of Iowa. It was during this campaign that he was caught allegedly in a compromising position with a stripper - a rumor that he denies to this day, despite photographic and video evidence to the contrary. Needless to say, he didn't win the gubernatorial race for that year.  |
