Helen Gibson

Helen Gibson (August 27, 1892 – October 10, 1977) was an American film actress, vaudeville performer, radio performer, film producer, trick rider and rodeo performer; and is considered to be the first American professional stunt woman.

Rodeo riding

Born Rose August Wenger in Cleveland, Ohio; one of five girls to Swiss-German parents, Fred and Annie Wegner. Her father had wanted a son, and encouraged her to be a tomboy. Helen saw her first Wild West show in Cleveland in the summer of 1909 and answered a Miller Brothers 101 Ranch ad for girl riders in Billboard magazine. They taught her to ride, and she performed in her first 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show in St. Louis in April 1910. Said Helen: "( I ) was already practicing picking up a hand-kerchief from the ground at full gallop. When veteran riders told me I could get kicked in the head, I paid no heed. Such things might happen to others but could never happen to me, I believed. We barnstormed all over the US and the season ended all too soon. I was sorry when I had to go home, and could hardly wait to open in Boston in the spring of 1911."

Helen Gibson (teacher)

Helena Fannie Gibson (14 July 1868 – 24 July 1938) was a New Zealand educator and the principal of Rangi Ruru Girls' School in Christchurch for its first 50 years.

Early life

Gibson was born in Lyttelton, near Christchurch, in 1868. She was one of ten children of Frederick Gibson and his second wife, Mary. All eight daughters in the family became teachers or school principals - Mary Gibson became the principal of Christchurch Girls' High School, Beatrice became the principal of Nelson College for Girls, and Ethel, Alice, Ruth and Winifred taught at Rangi Ruru School. There were also two brothers, Frederick and Thomas.

Education

Gibson attended Mrs Crosby's private school in Christchurch, followed by Christchurch Girls' High School. She attended lectures at Canterbury College, and painting classes at the Canterbury College School of Art, but did not graduate with a degree.

Career

Gibson's father bought a school run by friends of his, the Greshams, in 1889. Gibson visited the families of the pupils and persuaded almost all of them to remain at the school under the new management of Gibson, her mother and her sister Alice. They renamed the school Miss Gibson's Private School for Girls, and began with 18 pupils. The school was developed as a place for teaching strong Christian values. Cooking and hand sewing were compulsory subjects, and the girls were expected to adhere to high standards of personal grooming and conduct.