Way back in 1940, when Houston was still a small dusty town, a group of industrious University of Houston students started a Houston tradition called Frontier Fiesta. This yearly festival of variety shows and concerts was founded to bring together University of Houston students and the Houston community.
Frontier Fiesta got the nation’s attention and attracted stars like Humphrey Bogart, James Garner, Anne Baxter, Kenny Rogers, and Patsy Swayze. The event grew even more after it was featured in LIFE magazine as “The Greatest College Show on Earth.” In 1959, however, Frontier Fiesta was discontinued.
In 1992, Fiesta City was brought back to the University of Hosuton with many new additions. Now in the planning of its sixteenth returning season, this year’s Frontier Fiesta is promising to be the greatest ever since its revival.
Former Frontier Fiesta Chairman
| Joe Potter | 1940 |
| Joe Koppel | 1941 |
| Johnny Goyen | 1947 |
| Bill Sqarr | 1948 |
| Harry Scott | 1949 |
| Dave Halphen | 1950 |
| Charlie Snyder | 1951 |
| Doug Harrison | 1952 |
| Talmage McRae | 1953 |
| Don Webb | 1954 |
| Marvin Brisco | 1955 |
| A.J. Montaldano | 1956 |
| Richard Coselli | 1957 |
| Joe Campbell | 1958 |
| Bob Dunson | 1959 |
| Pat Brown | 1992 - 1994 |
| Julie Baumgahner | 1995 |
| Lisa Hull Nicholson | 1996 |
| Ryan Wolverton | 1997 |
| Darayus Sethna | 1998 |
| Harmony Simmons | 1998 |
| Jennifer Powell | 1998 |
| Kim Squrill | 1999 |
| Harmony Simmons | 1999 |
| Thea Wofford | 1999 - 2000 |
| Mark Ciolli | 2001 |
| Beth Kungel | 2002 |
| David Dalton | 2003 - 2004 |
| Marc Iacono-Harris | 2005 |
| Brian Sellen | 2006 |
| Matthew Cooper | 2007 |
