Daughters of Daring How Chris Enss Restores the Women Who Built the Western Screen

When Stuart Rosebrook welcomed New York Times bestselling author Chris Enss to Arizona Roundup at Sharlot Hall Museum, Western history enthusiasts knew they were in for something special. Enss has built a formidable reputation among Western buffs, not merely as a storyteller, but as a restorer of record — a historian who brings the women of the American West back into full, living color.

In this compelling episode, the conversation ranges from frontier weather journals to Wild West arenas to the earliest days of Hollywood stunt work. But at its heart, the program centers on Enss’s newest book, Daughters of Daring — a vivid chronicle of cowgirls, sharpshooters, riders, and aviators who shaped Western entertainment long before most audiences realized they were watching pioneers.

From Frontier Grit to Center Stage

Enss reminds listeners that Western women were never passive observers of history. In ranch journals and homestead diaries, weather reports doubled as survival manuals. Snowpack, drought, runoff — these were not abstractions. They were the difference between success and failure.

From that crucible of hard-earned skill emerged a generation of women whose riding, shooting, and roping abilities rivaled — and often surpassed — their male counterparts. Wild West shows recognized that audiences were eager to see women perform daring feats. Buffalo Bill Cody understood the commercial and cultural power of showcasing talented women, and Hollywood soon followed.

The First Stunt Professionals

One of the most surprising revelations of Daughters of Daring is that early Hollywood stunt work was frequently performed by women. Why? They were lighter in the saddle, precise in execution, and capable of remarkable balance and horsemanship. In many cases, they were the best choice for the job.

These women leapt from trains, crashed wagons, performed sharpshooting routines at full gallop, and endured dangerous falls — often for modest pay and minimal protection. Yet they returned again and again, not driven merely by spectacle, but by mastery. They were professionals.

Beyond the Arena: The Need for Speed

As Rosebrook notes in the program, modern audiences may think of escalating stunt work as a recent phenomenon. Enss corrects the record. The appetite for risk, speed, and innovation runs deep in Western entertainment.

Many of these performers transitioned from horseback to aircraft, joining the Ninety-Nines and helping legitimize women in aviation. Their daring extended from rodeo grounds to runways, from silent film serials to the skies above America.

Why This Story Matters to Western History

Among Western aficionados, Chris Enss shines brightest when illuminating the lives of frontier women. Her scholarship restores dimension to a genre often told through male-centered narratives. The women she chronicles were not supporting characters. They were innovators, risk-takers, and cultural architects.

For those who cherish Western heritage — rodeo fans, film historians, museum patrons, and lovers of American frontier stories — Daughters of Daring offers both revelation and recognition.

Things to Remember

• Western women were foundational to the success of Wild West shows and early Hollywood Westerns.

• Early stunt work often depended on women’s horsemanship and balance.

• The spirit of daring extended into aviation and national service.

• Much of this history has only recently been fully acknowledged.

Things to Share

• The Western genre owes a significant debt to female performers whose names are not widely known.

• Chris Enss continues to lead the field in documenting the lives of women in the American West.

• Museums and historical institutions play a vital role in preserving and promoting these stories.

Things to Act Upon

• Listen to or watch this Arizona Roundup episode featuring Chris Enss.

• Visit Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott and support its programming.

• Read Daughters of Daring and explore more of Enss’s extensive catalog of Western women’s history.

A Final Word

The American West was built by bold spirits — and many of those spirits wore boots and skirts, rode hard, and risked everything for excellence. Through Daughters of Daring and her ongoing work, Chris Enss ensures that their courage is no longer a footnote, but a headline.

To experience these stories firsthand, visit Sharlot Hall Museum, attend the upcoming presentation, and support the authors who continue to deepen our understanding of the West.