Before Oildorado: How Taft’s 1930 Twentieth Birthday Celebration Set the Stage for a West Side Tradition

Written collectively by the Taft Heritage Class (Damian Rangel, Mylee Wooton, Hannah Morris, Noah Mock, Jose Garcia Rianos, Amy Hampton, and Patricio Herrera-Lopez)

When Taft turned twenty in November 1930, the community didn’t just mark a milestone — it created the foundation for one of Kern County’s most enduring traditions: Oildorado.

Over two days, the West Side city transformed into a scene of parades, contests, air shows, dances, and civic pride. The Bakersfield Californian described the spectacle as “one of the most elaborate celebrations in West Side history.” It was a moment of optimism in the midst of the Great Depression and a defining display of Taft’s spirit — a city built on grit, oil, and community.

The Birth of a Celebration

The idea for the Twentieth Birthday Celebration took shape in September 1930 during a mass meeting at City Hall. Nearly sixty local businessmen, oilmen, and civic leaders gathered to plan what they called “a real birthday party and homecoming event.” Earl Smith was elected chairman, Mayor C.A. Williams hosted follow-up meetings at his home, and Harry Hopkins took charge of the finance committee.

Specialized committees soon formed to handle every detail — from parades and dances to aeronautics and fireworks. Volunteers from the Women’s Improvement Club, the American Legion, and Taft’s service organizations quickly joined the effort. Oil companies pledged equipment, materials, and manpower. Together, they set out to host a citywide celebration that reflected both Taft’s early oilfield roots and its modern industrial identity.

A Parade for the Ages

Friday, November 7, 1930, opened with the sound of drums, bugles, and cheers. The Mammoth Parade began at the west end of Center Street and stretched for more than a mile. The American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps led the procession, followed by floats representing local oil companies, civic clubs, schools, and fraternal organizations.

Many participants wore pioneer-era costumes, complete with long beards and roughneck garb, to symbolize the city’s early days in the Midway-Sunset oilfield. Thousands lined Center Street to watch as bands played, banners waved, and the story of Taft’s growth unfolded in motion. The Californian estimated that 20,000 people filled the streets — an astonishing turnout for a community of Taft’s size in 1930.

After the parade, a luncheon was held at the Women’s Improvement Club, where U.S. Senator Samuel Shortridge served as the featured speaker. Introduced by Alfred Harrell, publisher of The Bakersfield Californian, Shortridge praised Taft as “the center of the world’s great oil industry” and pledged his continued support for federal oil tariffs to protect California’s producers from foreign competition. His remarks drew enthusiastic applause from a crowd filled with oilfield executives, workers, and civic leaders.

Adding to the atmosphere, the Ana Arias Troubadours of Mexico City, featuring vocalist Carlotta Cortez and violinist Antonio Hernandez, entertained the luncheon crowd. Reporters and photographers from Underwood & Underwood documented the event for national circulation, giving Taft’s celebration a moment in the national spotlight.

Contests, Competition, and Community Spirit

By early afternoon, Center Street had become a festival ground. The highlight of the day was the Rig-Building Contest, where two teams of oilfield workers raced to erect 20-foot-tall wooden derricks from scratch. Constructed from pre-cut lumber and assembled using hand tools and teamwork, the contest derricks were scaled-down replicas of the towering 100-foot structures that once defined the Midway-Sunset skyline.

The crowd erupted in cheers as “Buck” Buchanan’s crew completed their 20-foot derrick in just 36 minutes and 33 seconds, winning first prize. The Schwaebo Rig Builders finished a close second. The contest captured everything Taft was about — skill, muscle, and oilfield pride on full public display.

Next came the Women’s Nail-Driving Contest, where Mrs. K. Bushell, Velma Hughie, and Clara Grove claimed the top three spots. The men’s division followed, with Ike Young and Jay Bemis among the victors.

Other events included a wheelbarrow race, a log-sawing contest, and a tug-of-war, each drawing laughter and cheers from the crowd. Spectators lined every corner of Center Street, applauding contestants who represented the region’s oil leases, shops, and companies.

For those seeking quieter entertainment, the Hippodrome Theater screened “Monte Carlo” throughout the afternoon, while the Petroleum Club hosted sightseeing tours of the surrounding oilfields.

Evening Lights and Street Dances

As daylight faded, Taft came alive under strings of electric lights suspended across Center Street. The evening began with a Free Masquerade Street Dance, accompanied by an eight-piece orchestra. Costumed revelers — from oil drillers in overalls to couples in formalwear — danced under the stars as prizes were awarded for the best men’s and women’s costumes.

Meanwhile, at Martin Memorial Stadium, Taft Union High’s lightweight football team took on Visalia High, while tennis fans gathered at Lincoln Grammar School to watch exhibition matches between Jack Lynch and Jay Cohn, the 1930 Pacific Coast Junior Doubles Champions, and Paul and Alfred Newton.

The night concluded with a Midnight Review at the Hippodrome Theater featuring “Big Money” and a collection of short comedies. Admission was fifty cents for adults and ten cents for children — a welcome escape for families weathering the economic hardships of the Great Depression.

Saturday in the Skies

Saturday, November 8, brought another full day of excitement. The morning began with a water fight between the Taft Fire Department and Kern County’s Fourth Road District — a good-natured rivalry that left both sides drenched and the spectators delighted. Field events followed, including sack races, roller-skate relays, and even a “dry land rowboat race.”

The afternoon’s headline attraction was the Aeronautical Congress at the Taft Airport. Four Navy planes from Long Beach and ten Army aircraft from March Field performed dazzling formation flights above the city before landing to join local oil company planes in exhibitions.

Governor-elect James Rolph Jr. called from San Francisco to congratulate the city, expressing regret that an eye injury prevented his attendance. “At your next celebration,” he said, “I’ll come even if I must arrive on crutches.” Representing him was Dr. George Sabichi of Bakersfield, who attended on his behalf.

As evening fell, crowds gathered once again for an Aerial Fireworks Display that lit up the West Side sky. The celebration concluded at the ‘49 Camp, a lively American Legion gathering at Fourth and Center streets, complete with music, storytelling, and dancing that continued late into the night.

Showcasing Kern’s Natural Wealth

Throughout the weekend, hundreds visited 413 Center Street to view the Oil and Mineral Display, organized by engineer R.L. Gilmore. The exhibit showcased Oil and Minerals from the West Side, along withy gold and silver from Randsburg, boron from Mojave, and silica from Goler, emphasizing Kern County’s role as one of California’s richest resource regions.

The display symbolized what the Twentieth Birthday Celebration was all about — Taft’s identity as both a modern oil center and a community deeply rooted in the natural wealth of the West Side.

A Celebration That Became a Legacy

When the final dance ended late Saturday night, Taft’s Twentieth Birthday Celebration had accomplished far more than its organizers imagined. It united the city, drew statewide attention, and reminded everyone of what could be achieved through community pride.

In hindsight, the 1930 event wasn’t just a birthday party — it was the precursor to Oildorado. The parades, oilfield competitions, field tours, and patriotic spirit of those two days established a model that Taft has carried forward for nearly a century.

The echoes of that 1930 celebration still ring through the community — proof that Taft’s pioneering energy, born from the oilfields and strengthened by its people, continues to define the city’s heart and history.

ate