"#DavidHalimi grew up #Jewish in #Tehran, watching #Bonanza. He now produces #rodeos in Northern #California and owns a bar modeled on Cheers.

At 73, Halimi is known around #Chico as the man behind a #Westernwear store stocked with thousands of #cowboyboots, a #rodeo circuit that draws #bullriders from across the region, and a U-shaped bar where locals joke about who might be the town’s version of Norm. Less obvious — but no less central — is that he is also a longtime #synagogue president, a #Hillel board leader, and a professor who teaches #businessanalytics at the local university.

Asked how an #Iranian #Jew learned the rhythms of the #American West, Halimi doesn’t mystify it. “I’m a quick learner,” he said."

https://forward.com/news/799020/david-halimi-iran-jewish-chico-western/

A year ago, former #Oprah TV talk protégé, turned #MAGA minion, Dr. Phil was flying high amidst partnering with #Christian programming empire #Trinity Broadcasting and launching his own media #network... a year later, he's buried in #bankruptcy and blaming his former partners...

#Variety spills the tea at the link...

The jist of the tale is Phil MacGraw's on-air programming never found carriage on any major platforms like #Hulu , #Comcast or #YouTubeTV , and his #OverTheAir programming went from exclusives from the Professional #BullRiders & #NancyGrace to tired low rated reruns of old Dr. Phil episodes. Last year the Bull Riding Network pulled out abruptly, moved to the #Fox subscription platform and is now suing #DrPhil for failing to pay his #AltRight rights fees.

In fact, tone of the article documenting the multiple failings and fading popularity of Dr Phil make him sound like kinda beaten alpha male loser that would go on the Dr Phil show to talk about his many embarrassing #Texas sized probs to Dr Phil

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/dr-phil-merit-street-media-bankruptcy-2-1236309158/

AMERICAN HATS
From my gallery of rodeo images. Here, a young bull rider sporting an American Hat. Contemplation before the dangerous ride.

https://renata-natale.pixels.com/featured/american-hats-renata-natale.html

#bullriders #portraits #cowboyart #ayearforart #art #buyintoart #photo #MastoArt #artmatters #sports

#throwbackthursday I missed the day, but was thrown back to my love of portrait photography. It taught me to see the beauty in every single person. I was shooting a rodeo and drawn to the way the riders meditated before the ride. I hope you enjoy! It's here: https://pixels.com/featured/before-the-ride-renata-natale.html

#cowboys #rodeo #bullriders #western #art #MastoArt #ArtMatters #AYearForArt #sports #portraits #vintage #BuyArtNotCandy #BuyIntoArt #artcollectors