1. Buffalo Bill and the Wild West

2. Who Was Buffalo Bill? William F. Cody: born 1846, died 1917. William F. Cody: born 1846, died 1917. Worked as a Pony Express rider, stagecoach driver, hunter, and scout for the U.S Army. Worked as a Pony Express rider, stagecoach driver, hunter, and scout for the U.S Army. His show, ‘Buffalo Bill’s Wild West’ (later Buffalo Bill’s Wild West & Congress of Rough Riders) ran from 1883 to 1916. His show, ‘Buffalo Bill’s Wild West’ (later Buffalo Bill’s Wild West & Congress of Rough Riders) ran from 1883 to 1916.

3. Buffalo Bill’s Autobiography Buffalo Bill wrote his autobiography in 1879. In order to understand him, it is important to understand his book, and the scholarly discussion surrounding it. Buffalo Bill wrote his autobiography in 1879. In order to understand him, it is important to understand his book, and the scholarly discussion surrounding it. The common assumption is that someone else wrote the book for him, probably the same person who wrote the scripts for his shows. The common assumption is that someone else wrote the book for him, probably the same person who wrote the scripts for his shows. However, some scholars question this. They point to the book’s peculiar style. However, some scholars question this. They point to the book’s peculiar style. “With its hybrid style, now reportorial, now novelistic or folkloric, the Autobiography presents Buffalo Bill as both an authentic participant in frontier affairs and a consummate showman”. “With its hybrid style, now reportorial, now novelistic or folkloric, the Autobiography presents Buffalo Bill as both an authentic participant in frontier affairs and a consummate showman”. Joy S. Kasson, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West: Celebrity, Memory and Popular History, (New York 2000). Why did Buffalo Bill write his book so early in his career? Was he trying to prove that he had, in fact, lived the life he was now depicting on the stage? Why did Buffalo Bill write his book so early in his career? Was he trying to prove that he had, in fact, lived the life he was now depicting on the stage? Some interesting quotes: Some interesting quotes: Refers to his birth as “my debut upon the world’s stage”. Refers to his birth as “my debut upon the world’s stage”. “During my engagement as a hunter for the company – a period of less than 18 months – I killed 4,280 buffaloes; and I had many exciting adventures with the Indians, as well as hair-breadth escapes”. “During my engagement as a hunter for the company – a period of less than 18 months – I killed 4,280 buffaloes; and I had many exciting adventures with the Indians, as well as hair-breadth escapes”. Does the authenticity of the book really matter?

4. First Appearances on Stage There were plays and dime novels about Buffalo Bill before he began producing his own show. He had already become a character in popular culture. There were plays and dime novels about Buffalo Bill before he began producing his own show. He had already become a character in popular culture. When he went to see one of these plays, he was asked to make a short appearance on stage. He writes; When he went to see one of these plays, he was asked to make a short appearance on stage. He writes; “I never felt more relieved in my life than when I got out of the view of that immense crowd”. The scholarly consensus is that Buffalo Bill did not at first make any real, conscious decision to become a showman. He was not, at any time in his life, an actor. The scholarly consensus is that Buffalo Bill did not at first make any real, conscious decision to become a showman. He was not, at any time in his life, an actor. During the first years of his show, the late 1870s, he continued to scout for the U.S Army over the summer. During the first years of his show, the late 1870s, he continued to scout for the U.S Army over the summer.

5. The Wild West Show “At the turn of the 20 th century, millions of people around the world thought they remembered the American Wild West because they had seen it, full of life and colour, smoking guns and galloping horses, presided over by the most recognisable celebrity of his day: William F. Cody, or Buffalo Bill”. Kasson, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, p.5 “At the turn of the 20 th century, millions of people around the world thought they remembered the American Wild West because they had seen it, full of life and colour, smoking guns and galloping horses, presided over by the most recognisable celebrity of his day: William F. Cody, or Buffalo Bill”. Kasson, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, p.5 Buffalo Bill’s show was exceptionally popular, performing all over the U.S.A and in Europe. He even performed the show twice for Queen Victoria. Buffalo Bill’s show was exceptionally popular, performing all over the U.S.A and in Europe. He even performed the show twice for Queen Victoria. Why was it so popular? Why was it so popular? It began in 1882 as part of a 4 th July celebration in Cody’s hometown of North Platte, Nebraska. The basic elements of the show were displays of cowboy skills (riding, shooting, racing etc). To these over the years were added scenes of ‘typical’ western life, and narratives such as the Attack on the Deadwood Stage. Therefore, the public were presented with a miniature picture of the American West. It began in 1882 as part of a 4 th July celebration in Cody’s hometown of North Platte, Nebraska. The basic elements of the show were displays of cowboy skills (riding, shooting, racing etc). To these over the years were added scenes of ‘typical’ western life, and narratives such as the Attack on the Deadwood Stage. Therefore, the public were presented with a miniature picture of the American West. It was obviously entertaining. The show was a spectacle, unlike anything in the theatre. It appealed to the lower classes especially, as seats were cheap and there were a variety of sideshows. Most importantly, it gave people in the cities and opportunity to experience the Wild West. It was obviously entertaining. The show was a spectacle, unlike anything in the theatre. It appealed to the lower classes especially, as seats were cheap and there were a variety of sideshows. Most importantly, it gave people in the cities and opportunity to experience the Wild West.

6. Wild West 2 The show had a great emphasis on authenticity. Of Cody it is said, “he insisted on authenticity of detail in the Wild West, which was never called show or circus, but rather an exhibition”. Cody, Autobiography, p.xvi. The show had a great emphasis on authenticity. Of Cody it is said, “he insisted on authenticity of detail in the Wild West, which was never called show or circus, but rather an exhibition”. Cody, Autobiography, p.xvi. Richard Slotkin writes; “it is the most extraordinary tribute to the skill of the Wild West’s management that its performances were not only accepted as entertainment but were received with some seriousness as exercises in public education”. Slotkin, Gunfighter Nation, p.68. Richard Slotkin writes; “it is the most extraordinary tribute to the skill of the Wild West’s management that its performances were not only accepted as entertainment but were received with some seriousness as exercises in public education”. Slotkin, Gunfighter Nation, p.68. Buffalo Bill himself was presented as the archetype frontier character. He dressed in a buckskin outfit, and like a scout he leads the show. Because he had also been involved in the Indian Wars, and his activities had acquired something of legend about them, he gave the show an added aura of respectability. Buffalo Bill himself was presented as the archetype frontier character. He dressed in a buckskin outfit, and like a scout he leads the show. Because he had also been involved in the Indian Wars, and his activities had acquired something of legend about them, he gave the show an added aura of respectability. Joy Kasson remarks of the show, “it blurred the lines between fiction and fact, entertainment and education”. Kasson, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, p.5. It began the link between American national identity and popular culture that is the subject of Slotkin’s book Gunfighter Nation, where the Wild West is used as a metaphor for all types of American national experience. Joy Kasson remarks of the show, “it blurred the lines between fiction and fact, entertainment and education”. Kasson, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, p.5. It began the link between American national identity and popular culture that is the subject of Slotkin’s book Gunfighter Nation, where the Wild West is used as a metaphor for all types of American national experience. Buffalo Bill became a celebrity in his time. In a way, he transcended the American West, to become a symbol for all that it was as a place, and all that it stood for. Buffalo Bill became a celebrity in his time. In a way, he transcended the American West, to become a symbol for all that it was as a place, and all that it stood for.

7. Buffalo Bill and the Indians At the height of his career, Buffalo Bill employed a variety of nationalities in his show, for example Mexicans, Russians, and even Germans. However, the group of people who were always present were the Native Americans. At the height of his career, Buffalo Bill employed a variety of nationalities in his show, for example Mexicans, Russians, and even Germans. However, the group of people who were always present were the Native Americans. In Buffalo Bill’s autobiography, when he first meets Indians as a boy, he describes them as “dark- skinned and rather fantastically dressed people”, and states “I had never before seen a real live Indian”. Cody, Autobiography, p.28. In Buffalo Bill’s autobiography, when he first meets Indians as a boy, he describes them as “dark- skinned and rather fantastically dressed people”, and states “I had never before seen a real live Indian”. Cody, Autobiography, p.28. Later, when writing about the Native Americans in his show, he says; “I thought I was benefiting the Indians as well as the government, by taking them all over the U.S, and giving them a correct idea of the customs, life etc. of the pale faces, so that when they returned to their people they could make known all they had seen”. Later, when writing about the Native Americans in his show, he says; “I thought I was benefiting the Indians as well as the government, by taking them all over the U.S, and giving them a correct idea of the customs, life etc. of the pale faces, so that when they returned to their people they could make known all they had seen”. Cody had fought the Indians many times as a scout, and it seems he had a rather paternalistic and even racist view of them, but he was never short of willing Indian performers for his show, and even had Sitting Bull appear for one season. Cody had fought the Indians many times as a scout, and it seems he had a rather paternalistic and even racist view of them, but he was never short of willing Indian performers for his show, and even had Sitting Bull appear for one season. What the Indians thought of it all is, unfortunately, unknown. What the Indians thought of it all is, unfortunately, unknown.

8. Buffalo Bill at Disney The Buffalo Bill show at Disneyland Paris raises some interesting questions. Why did they choose this show? What image are they trying to present by using this show? The Buffalo Bill show at Disneyland Paris raises some interesting questions. Why did they choose this show? What image are they trying to present by using this show? The Disneyland website states this; The Disneyland website states this; A unique dinner- show in Europe! Exceptional atmosphere A unique dinner- show in Europe! Exceptional atmosphere Imagine… Imagine… A herd of wild buffalo, authentic cowboys and Native American Indians, Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull in a grandiose arena showing you how the West was won. Relive the conquest of the West with a perilous stagecoach attack, gunfight, showdowns, trick riding displays and Annie Oakley's shooting demonstrations...all the while enjoying a Texas-style barbecue. Become a pioneer for an evening and take your own cowboy hat back home! A herd of wild buffalo, authentic cowboys and Native American Indians, Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull in a grandiose arena showing you how the West was won. Relive the conquest of the West with a perilous stagecoach attack, gunfight, showdowns, trick riding displays and Annie Oakley's shooting demonstrations...all the while enjoying a Texas-style barbecue. Become a pioneer for an evening and take your own cowboy hat back home! The Disney Park also contains ‘Frontier land’, which promises an authentic western experience. It is interesting that they chose the West, rather than anything else, to depict America. The Disney Park also contains ‘Frontier land’, which promises an authentic western experience. It is interesting that they chose the West, rather than anything else, to depict America.

9. Conclusion In essence, Buffalo Bill epitomizes the problem of how we view the American West. In a cynical age, we may state that Cody was just a showman, and forget that he actually did live the frontier life. Another side is to accept the Wild West portrayed in the show as real, when it wasn’t. In essence, Buffalo Bill epitomizes the problem of how we view the American West. In a cynical age, we may state that Cody was just a showman, and forget that he actually did live the frontier life. Another side is to accept the Wild West portrayed in the show as real, when it wasn’t. Few today would claim that the show had an educational value, but people in Cody’s time had no chance to view the West firsthand. Are we right to devalue their experience? Few today would claim that the show had an educational value, but people in Cody’s time had no chance to view the West firsthand. Are we right to devalue their experience? Where do we draw the line between fiction and reality? If, as Slotkin argues, America history and popular culture really are so blurred, does it matter that, for many people a hundred years ago, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West was the American West? Where do we draw the line between fiction and reality? If, as Slotkin argues, America history and popular culture really are so blurred, does it matter that, for many people a hundred years ago, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West was the American West?