Buzz
In the late 1800s, Wild West shows started popping up across the United States. They became a significant business, joining circuses and equestrian performances in popularity. These shows traveled across the U.S., Europe, and Australia, captivating large audiences wherever they went. People attended for entertainment, curiosity, and the chance to socialize with others who were eager to see the thrilling acts performed by people from all walks of life.
10. Australians Were Big Fans
Though Wild West shows began in the U.S., Australians eagerly attended when these performances arrived in their country. In 1891, Wirth’s Wild West Show attracted massive crowds in Sydney. The show even featured a Sioux chief, American Bear, who was scheduled to race a New Zealand racehorse on the track.
In 1911, Skuthorp’s Wild West Show visited Adelaide, drawing in visitors from rural areas eager to see the spectacle. The highlight of the show was 'a lady riding a cow bareback,' which was said to be a major attraction. Another Wild West show that year, run by Lieutenant Colonel Stacey, promised Australians three Native American chiefs, a medicine man, 26 'full-blooded Indians,' and a Native American girl.
By 1947, Australians were hosting their own Wild West shows, showcasing local outlaws and even featuring a Maori performer.
9. A Simple Yet Exciting Program
Wild West shows were full of action, featuring a variety of entertainment, contests, and dances. A 1910 program from the Wyoming-Montana Wild West Show Company included live performances by the Broken Bow Military Band, pony races, roping demonstrations both on foot and horseback, and even a ladies' bucking contest. One of the exciting acts included an 'emigrant train attacked by Indians,' followed by fearless cowboys coming to the rescue. The program also featured a horse thief act and a lively quadrille dance performed by cowboys and cowgirls.
These events attracted huge audiences, often filling every seat in the venue. Spectators traveled from over 160 kilometers (100 miles) away to compete in the contests and socialize with others.
8. The Authentic Wild West Shows
By 1911, Wild West shows were so numerous that some of the original show owners began to publicly voice their complaints. The distinction, according to some, was that the 'authentic' shows came from the West itself. Shows like the renowned 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show from Oklahoma featured real people who had lived through the Wild West experience.
In contrast, fake shows were criticized as being run by 'unscrupulous showmen' who thought that 'pistol shots and Indian whoops' could adequately portray the Wild West. These performances were often compared to circus acts, with actors given questionable titles and fabricated tales of bravery.
7. Becoming Part of the Show
Being selected for the 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show was a significant achievement each spring. Cowgirls and cowboys would vie for the honor to demonstrate their skills, and those chosen were regarded as the best of the best.
Native Americans also flocked to the ranch, hoping to be selected for the show and represent various aspects of their culture. Tribal chiefs, warriors, women, and children were chosen to travel with the show. Geronimo himself joined the 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show in 1905.
6. The Expenses of Launching a Show
In 1892, a journalist from the British magazine Tit-Bits spoke with Natt Salisbury, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show partner, to inquire about the costs involved in starting a Wild West show from the ground up.
Salisbury informed the reporter that a budget of £30,000 would be required just to get the show off the ground. After that, he would need to recruit over 300 people, including cowboys, cowgirls, Native Americans, and Mexicans, along with animals for the performance.
The weekly wages alone would amount to £1500. Native American chiefs were paid £20 per month, while cowboys earned between £16 and £24 a month. In addition, food for the employees would need to be provided. If the reporter had plans to take the show overseas, he would need to spend £6,230 for the full use of a ship.
In short, starting a Wild West show was not a cheap endeavor.
5. Princess Wenona
Many individuals gained fame through their involvement in Wild West shows, including Lillian Smith. She began practicing rifle shooting at just seven years old and started performing at ten. Lillian once challenged expert marksman Doc Carver to a duel, but he never showed up.
Lillian joined Wild West shows and, in time, darkened her skin and adopted the stage name 'Princess Wenona, the Indian Girl Shot' to boost her popularity. A 1910 newspaper article boasted of her impressive skills: 'She shoots glass balls high into the air and hits 496 out of 500, all while riding a wildly galloping horse.'
4. A Negative Influence
While many were captivated by the Wild West performances, there were also those who strongly criticized the display of violence and gunfights in these shows. In 1913, a Chicago newspaper linked domestic violence to the influence of Wild West exhibitions, stating:
After attending a Buffalo Bill Wild West show, Wm. V. Robbins, a Yale graduate and lawyer, went home with his 9-year-old son, William. There, he shot his son, causing severe injuries, before taking his own life by slitting his throat.
The details remained unclear as to whether the shooting was accidental or intentional. All that was known was that the Wild West show seemingly played a role in driving the father to harm his son and end his own life.
3. The Day They Jumped The Shark
What connection do automobiles have with the Wild West? By 1922, they had become part of some Wild West performances. For example, the Burroughs Wild West Show featured a stunt where a bulldogger ‘leaps from an automobile’s running board and wrestles with the steer’s horns.’
While this must have been an exciting spectacle in its time, it strayed far from the authentic stunts seen in the early Wild West shows.
In reality, Buffalo Bill’s prediction about the decline of Wild West shows proved true. His own show filed for bankruptcy in 1913. However, the iconic 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show continued until 1939. Numerous other Wild West shows rose and fell, but as times evolved, audiences began seeking new forms of entertainment.
2. Buffalo Bill
In 1913, Buffalo Bill, also known as Colonel William F. Cody, expressed concern that the rise of cinema would overshadow the popularity of Wild West shows and circuses. He believed that people would soon prefer to watch the wonders of the world from the comfort of their homes. This premonition proved to be accurate when, in 1915, newspapers announced the headline, 'Buffalo Bill Breaks Into The Movies,' featuring the film Patsy of the Circus.
Sadly, Buffalo Bill's foray into the film industry was short-lived, as his cinematic career came to an end before it could even take off. He passed away on January 10, 1917, at his sister’s residence in Denver, Colorado.
1. A Powerful Grin
A 1912 report from Adelaide's Daily Herald made the bold claim that the Americans had invaded the city. The article provided a detailed account of Buffalo Vernon, a performer with Captain Rose's Wild West Company, who had successfully 'bulldogged' wild steers, a popular and daring stunt at the time.
Bulldogging a steer involved a cowboy leaping from his horse onto the steer’s back, then grabbing a firm hold on the steer’s lip. Once in control, the cowboy would twist the steer’s head, forcing it to the ground. Buffalo Vernon was said to bite down on the lip of the animal to keep it subdued.
