“One Arm Bandit” returns to Ocala

John Payne, the “One Arm Bandit,” will perform during the Southeastern Pro Rodeo in Ocala. [Submitted photo]

John Payne, who hails from Shidler, Oklahoma, was raised on a ranch and worked as a cowboy. In 1973, when he was 20 years old, he was electrocuted and set on fire in an accident while working on a house. He said he got tangled with 7,200-volt electric lines and a person nearby put out his burning clothing, gave him mouth to mouth resuscitation and revived him. He lost his right arm due to the electrical shock.

Now, Payne performs in rodeos as the “One Arm Bandit.” He will bring his “Wild West Show Fit for a King,” which includes animals like a riderless horse and zebra, to the 31st Southeastern Pro Rodeo at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion on March 15 and 16.

When replying to questions for this article, Payne, who is 70, first said his age was 20, then added, “I was reborn, so now I’m 50.”

Payne said that after the accident, because he was right hand dominant, he had to learn to do all basic activities left-handed. He began performing in rodeos about 34 years ago, after he criticized a rodeo act in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and the rodeo contractor said he would let Payne perform.

“That’s how I got started,” Payne explained.

He said the following year he returned to that rodeo and worked five steers on top of his horse trailer, which was backed into the arena.

Videos posted on YouTube show Payne on horseback performing whip tricks and then herding another horse and a zebra named Zorro around the arena while firing a Ruger Blackhawk .357 revolver. He guides the animals up a ramp and onto the top of a horse trailer, at a height of 15 feet, and circles his horse around the top.

Payne has performed his “dangerous act” on all the lower 48 states and all the Canadian Provinces, Mexico, the Middle East and for the King of Oman in 2011.

Justin Lamb, who handles marketing and public relations for the Southeastern Pro Rodeo, said the One Arm Bandit & Company is a 15-time Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Specialty Act of the Year and an “amazing, one of a kind fan favorite” not to be missed. He said Payne has performed in Ocala multiple times, most recently in 2022.

The family operated Southeastern Pro Rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and will feature professionals competing in eight rodeo events each night, including WPRA breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, WPRA barrel racing and bull riding.

Lamb said the operators focus on family entertainment and he suggests getting tickets early for the popular event. Friday night’s event will have a patriotic theme and rodeo spectators can witness about a dozen people take the oath to join the U.S. Army. Saturday night is cancer survivor recognition night.

“The rodeo is usually a sellout,” Lamb said.

The Southeastern Livestock Pavilion is located at 2200 N.E. Jacksonville Road. Gates will open each night at 5:30 p.m. and the events begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available in advance and at the gate.

To learn more, go to ocalarodeo.com or call (352) 421-3199. 

John Payne, the “One Arm Bandit,” will perform during the Southeastern Pro Rodeo in Ocala. [Submitted photo]