Character Relationship Map: The Rodeo

Characters

• Jimmy Smith (played by Raymond McKee) — protagonist

  The patriarch of the Smith family who plans the family outing to the rodeo and navigates the chaotic car journey marked by numerous travel problems.

• Mabel Smith (played by Ruth Hiatt) — protagonist

  The matriarch of the family who manages the initial household meal where the asparagus-candle substitution gag occurs, and accompanies the family on the rodeo trip.

• Bubbles Smith (played by Mary Ann Jackson) — supporting

  The young child of the Smith family who is present during the initial dinner scene and accompanies the family on their ill-fated car trip.

• Mabel's Father, Jimmy's Father-in-Law (played by Irving Bacon) — supporting

  The paternal grandfather figure who is part of the extended family gathering and travels to the rodeo with the group.

• Magnolia's Daughter (played by Paralee Coleman) — minor
• Magnolia - the Cook (played by Irene Allen) — minor
• Mabel's Mother, Jimmy's Mother-in-Law (played by Sunshine Hart) — supporting

  The maternal grandmother figure who shares the family meal and accompanies the group on their rodeo excursion.

• Magnolia's Husband (played by Spencer Bell) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Magnolia's Husband → Magnolia - the Cook (husband)
• Magnolia's Daughter → Magnolia - the Cook (daughter)
• Mabel's Mother, Jimmy's Mother-in-Law → Mabel Smith (mother)
• Mabel's Father, Jimmy's Father-in-Law → Mabel Smith (father)
• Jimmy Smith → Mabel's Father, Jimmy's Father-in-Law (Family Son-in-law) — In-law relationship involving the patriarch of Mabel's side.
• Mabel Smith → Bubbles Smith (Family Mother) — Mother-daughter relationship coordinating family activities.
• Jimmy Smith → Bubbles Smith (Family Father) — Father-daughter relationship within the Smith family unit.
• Jimmy Smith → Mabel Smith (Family Husband) — Married couple and primary protagonists navigating the family trip.

Story Analysis

A family meal leads to a rodeo outing complicated by an accumulation of problems during the car journey.

Plot Progression

1. A Strange Family Meal — The film opens inside a home during a family meal. The comic centerpiece is the substitution of candles for asparagus.
2. Candles Cause Hilarity — The people and the dog eat the candles, producing the film's major laugh. The meal becomes an extended comic disturbance.
3. The Rodeo Decision — After the meal, the family decides to attend the rodeo. The household shifts from dining to preparing for the outing.
4. A Troubled Car Ride — The family travels toward the rodeo by car. Numerous problems occur along the way, turning the journey into escalating comic trouble.