History

The first such celebration held in 1930 and celebrated every five years thereafter (except once) was spearheaded by the West Side Business Men's Club who believed the needed a grand-all-out birthday celebration. That year was the 20th year since incorporation. And, grand it was, as reported by the Daily Midway Driller, that attracted 20,000 people to viewed the parade of 200 entrants that extended for six miles.

Among the events was the American Legion '49 Camp, a combined service club's banquet, a tug of war, fireworks, a women's nail driving event and a water fights by the fire department. State Senator Samuel Shortridge was the speaker at the civic luncheon.

The 1935, 25th anniversary became known as the Taft "Silver Jubilee." A telegram was received from President Franklin Roosevelt. The first queen contest was held. In addition to the grand parade other events included a street dance, a barbecue, a rodeo, a '49 camp, a grand ball, horse races, polo game and horse show at Franklin Field, and the civic luncheon where Governor Frank Merriam was the speaker at the Women's Improvement Club at 629 North Street. He was also the Grand Marshall for the parade.

In 1940 the first Whiskerino Contest got its start, sponsored by the Ford City Merchants, and a Kangaroo Court was held to deal harshly, with those clean shaven lads who wouldn't grow a beard. Other events included a rodeo, the civic luncheon, the queen's contest and a talent show.

World War II caused the postponement of the celebration, but after the end of the war in 1946 the Chamber of Commerce was determined to have another celebration. They formed a permanent organization to plan and oversee the celebrations. Norman Crouse was the president of the Chamber of Commerce that year. Walter Keene became the first president of the newly formed Taft Oildorado, Inc. organization. A contest was held to name the celebration, and it was Bill Poff who won the contest with the name of Oildorado. The grand parade was reported to be six miles long. Besides the usual events, a Kentucky breakfast was held as well as an air show. An Old Timers' Barbecue was held at the Petroleum Club. All former mayors of Taft were honored during the celebration.

In 1947, an attempt was made to start a yearly celebration. The 1947 celebration included the usual events, plus a Soap box Derby, a model airplane show, a fashion show and a children's fair. The event proved too mush and to big for volunteers to handle on a yearly basis. It was decided that the next celebration would be held in 1950 and every five years thereafter.

Lt. Governor Goodwin Knight was the Grand Marshall in 1950. More than 1,500 old timers signed in for the festivities. A line-splicing contest was the special event; however, this was over-shadowed by the first of many wooden nickel robberies to come. The wooden nickels were manufactured and purchased as souvenirs or used as legal tender during the celebration.

In 1955 a special "Old Time Passenger Train" made a round trip from Bakersfield with 500 passengers from the East Bakersfield Progressive Club and others. The passengers were met by a very large group of West Siders at the train depot on Fourth Street. A barbecue was held on Center Street between Third and Fourth Streets where picnic tables were set up to accommodate the thousands who attended. The celebration included a liars contest and a golf tournament. A street dance was held in the 400 block of Center Street.

Clarence Williams was the president of the Taft Oildorado in 1960 when Taft's golden anniversary was celebrated. For that occasion it was decided to paint Center Street gold between Fourth and Sixth Streets. Another street barbecue was held between Third and Fourth Streets. The Grand Parade, one of the biggest ever held, consisted of 250 entries and over 1,400 participants. The parade took over two and a half hours to pass in review. An old fashion box lunch was held at the site of the Lakeview Gusher and a quick-draw contest was held on Center Street.

In 1965 William L. Warne, Director of the State Department of Water Resources, was Grand Marshall. Warne,Mayor Pete Gianopulos and Assemblyman John Williamson participated in the "ground breaking" ceremonies for the excavating the over 9 million cubic yards needed for the Buena Vista Pumping Plant and the ribbon cutting for the dedication of the State Department of Water Resources Field Headquarters at 601 Gardner Field Road. Another "Oildorado Special" train made the round-trip from Bakersfield to Taft. The first ever well-pulling contest was held at a well located at 4th and Calvin Streets. Over 30,000 people lined the streets to view the parade. Clarence Williams was the president of Oildorado that year and Jena Free was the Oildorado Queen.

The president of Oildorado, Inc. in 1970 was Glenn D. Black, who led the dedication of the completed Buena Vista Pumping Plant and the ribbon cutting ceremony opening the new stretch of road at Golf Course Road for the newly constructed Highway 119 over the Elk Hills. Supervisor Vance A. Webb led the preliminary ground breaking of Buena Vista Lake. Sheila Scholefield was the Oildorado Queen.

In 1975 under Oildorado President Jerry Free, the celebration got into the record books. Leonard Gentieu, local restaurateur, created the world’s longest sandwich. With many volunteers the continuous 464 foot loaf was baked in a trench in an open field on the east side of Fourth Street and north of Calvin Street. The workers carried the loaf on a special carrier to Third Street between Kern and Center Streets where crews worked through the night applying the dressing and cold cuts. Over 2,700 slices were sold for $1.00 each, and the proceeds were donated to the West Side Training Center for Retarded Citizens. A 10K race was held starting from the world famous site of the Lakeview Gusher and ending in Taft. The West Kern Oil Museum was dedicated by the Museum Association and Native Daughters of The Golden West - Miocene Chapter. Kim Spence was the Queen.

Under President Vic Borrecco in 1980 the first World Backhoe and Welding Championships were held and were covered nationally when the TV show "Games People Play" devoted their entire program to that Oildorado event. The new Taft College Athletic Center and the new West Kern Water District Office at 800 Kern Street were dedicated. A cornerstone laying ceremony for the West Kern Recreation and Park District Community Center was held. Suzie Wilson was the Oildorado Queen.

Among the events held during the 1985 celebrationunder president Jerry Peavyhouse, was the dedication of the Veteran’s Memorial at the Civic Center Park, under the chairmanship of Jess McCarty and Art Carlton, and the old 25 Hill Midway Cemetery restoration project. An art faire and classic car show were added to the events. All of the usual elected officials and all former mayors of Taft were invited to attend the Civic Luncheon which is always a sell-out. Our U.S. Senator, Dianne Feinstein, was invited but could not attend because of pressing business in the U. S. Senate. Feinstein's father, Leon Goldman, was a 1922 graduate of Taft Union High School, who became the head of the University of California San Francisco Medical School. Karen Hatch was the Queen for the celebration.

In 1990 the U. S. Post Office offered a special hand-stamped collectable Oildorado issue. Vance Webb was the Grand Marshall and the Oildorado was dedicated to Ray Bradley, the CEO of the Berry Holding Company. Misty Brown was the Oildorado Queen. The West Kern Water District offered a special show at the Fox Theater - a film of the 1913 Taft Sam Langford/Kid Lester boxing match and a program called "Dancing Waters." The melodrama was a presentation called "Lurking On The Railroad." A Casino Night was presented by the Soroptimist. Darrell Fauke was the president in 1990.

In 1995 Randy Miller was the president of Taft Oildorado, Inc. with a theme called "Gushing with Pride in '95." Roy Garrett, a member of a pioneer family and founders of the Garrett Electric Company in Taft, was the Grand Marshall. Special guests at the Civic Luncheon included television celebrate, Huell Howser, and the John Gardner sisters, Delores W. Gardner and Consuela Garner-Nichols. The two Gardner sisters were the daughters of John Gardner for whom the Gardner Field, the WWII Air Force Base near Taft was named. They and Huell Howser participated in the dedication of the permanent plaque at special ceremony at the former entrance to the air base which was located about seven miles east of Taft. The plaque was designed, constructed and donated John J. Miller. A special musical, "Oklahoma," was presented. The Wiskerino and the Tessie Garrett Pony Tail contests and costume judging were held at a Sunday afternoon social at The Fort. Kristy Thompson was chosen to be the Oildorado Queen.

The next celebration was called "Blowout 2000." Jim Swearengin was the president of the Taft Oildorado celebration during that year, and what a celebration it was. It was judged that best ever. Spectators will never forget the flight of the F-18 fighters from the Lemoore Air Force Base that flew over Taft during the parade, joined by two B-25 World War II bombers and the two trainers that had been used for training the cadets at Gardner Field. Brandy Shelby was chosen the Oildorado Queen. The melodrama was called the "Saloon Keeper's Daughter." An Arm Wrestling Championship contest was introduced for the first time. The Taft Lions Club and The Fort Preservation Society collaborated on a number of events that were held at The Fort. The included a barbecue, dances and entertainment. The Taft Rotary Club staged a wine and microbrew tasting. The Fox Theater offered a special showing of the historic film called "Boom Town," staring Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert, Frank Morgan and Chill Wills, that had been filmed on the West Side. Two minor league professional football teams played one of their games at the high school Marion Martin Memorial Stadium. An old fashion street dance was held at the corner of 5th and Center Street. Motorcycle racing came into the Oildorado program for the first time at Franklin Field. The Grand Parade under the direction of Randy and Ginny Miller and Eric Cooper was turned out to be the biggest parade in the county with about 2000 participants viewed by upwards of 30,000 people. The rodeo was once again held at Franklin Field with a good crowd on hand to view the various events. The World Championship Oil Field Skills contest was held at Westec to crown the champions in welding, Top Hand (Pipe-Fitters) and crane operators. Many other events, to numerous to mention were held during the celebration.

The 2005 Taft Oildorado celebration will be headed by Glenn W. Black and a large committee which promises once again to be a great celebration.