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The late 19th century was the age of great showmen and
traveling entertainers, like the Barnum and Bailey Circus, the Vaudeville
circuits, and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
Show. In 1883, Cody founded his production in Omaha,
Nebraska,
a show that would run, in one form or another, for the next three decades,
charming crowds throughout the United States and Europe.
Over the years, the troupe, which included as many as
1,200 performers, included many authentic personalities such as
James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok,
Texas Jack Omohundro,
Annie Oakley,
prominent
Native Americans, including
Sitting Bull and
Geronimo,
as well as "real”
cowboys recruited from the
West.
The show itself consisted of a series of historical scenes
interspersed with feats of showmanship, sharp shooting, staged races,
rodeo style events, and sideshows.
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William F. Cody,
Pawnee Bill, & Buffalo Jones, around
1910. This image available for
photographic prints
and downloads
HERE!
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Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough
Riders of the World, 1895, Springer Litho Co
This image available for
photographic prints and downloads
HERE!
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Native Americans figured
prominently in many of the scenes, often shown attacking wagon trains
with Buffalo Bill or one of his
colleagues riding in and saving the day. The show also re-enacted the
riding of the
Pony Express, stagecoach robberies, and
buffalo-hunting,
with the production ending with a melodramatic re-enactment of
Custer's Last Stand in which Cody
himself portrayed
General Custer.
By the turn of the 20th century,
William F. Cody was probably the most famous American in the world. No one symbolized
the
West
for Americans and Europeans better than
Buffalo Bill.
His shows were billed as one of the entertainment triumphs of the ages.
Buffalo Bill’s
Wild West, Courier Litho. Co, 1899.
This image available for
photographic prints and downloads
HERE!
Buffalo Bill’s
Wild West, Courier Litho. Co, 1899.
This image available for
photographic prints and downloads
HERE!
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Buffalo Bill’s
Wild West, Courier Litho. Co, 1899.
This image available for
photographic prints and
downloads
HERE!
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Buffalo Bill’sWild West
Show toured in one form or
another for 30 years, Courier Litho. Co, 1899.
This image available for
photographic prints and
downloads
HERE!
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Buffalo Bill often
featured prominent
Native Americans
in his Wild West Show, one of which was
Sitting Bull.
Photo 1885 by David Francis Barry
This image available for
photographic prints and
downloads
HERE!
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"Wild Bill" Hickok,
Texas Jack Omohundro,
and Buffalo Bill. This image available for
photographic prints and
downloads
HERE!
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From the Rocky Mountain General Store
 Old
West Wanted Posters and Wild West Prints - From
outlaws wanted
by the authorities, such as
Jesse James,
Billy the Kid,
and the
Wild Bunch, to other
Old West
advertising, such as
Pony Express,
Stagecoach Rules, Buffalo Bill's Wild
West Show and more. Prints measure 11"x17" are are produced on glossy,
12 point paper. See the entire collection
HERE! Just $7.99.
 
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