History: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Began This Month in 1883

In May of 1883, W.F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, puts on his first Wild West show. Included in the show were cowboys, Indians, and wild animals like elk and buffalo. The show became a legend in its time and spawned any other “Wild West Shows” and rodeos throughout the years.

The Weekly Boomerang May 17, 1883, Buffalo Bill, The “Wild West.” Columbus, Nebraska, May 13 — The Buffalo Bill combination now being organized here by that gentleman under the name of the “Wild West,” holds rehearsals daily, and it is expected the first performance will be given at Omaha, on the fairgrounds, May 17th.

A carload of Omaha Indians have just arrived, and every thing is now in readiness to take to the road. Buffalo Bill is here super intending the work of the organization; also the great shots, Dr. Carver and Captain Bogardus. The Wild West, among its principal features, comprises a herd of buffalo, another of elk, an immense band of Indians and Mexicans, Buck Taylor and Jim Lawson, two representative cowboys, and the entertainment will consist of furious racing, buffalo and elk hunting, war dances, lariat exhibitions, fine shooting, etc — a mirror of the active west.

Sometimes, the wildlife and even domestic stock did not cooperate with Mr. Cody.

This from the Cheyenne Daily Leader, May 4, 1883 – Mr. Patterson loaded eight head of live elk into a car this morning, to be sent to “Buffalo Bill,” at North Platte, Nebraska. One of the elk got away from the men in charge, and made for the river, where it kept wading up and down the stream and back and forth across, defying his captors for a long time. They caught him at last, however, and returned him to the car, where he was loaded up with his mates These animals cost Mr. Patterson on an average $100 apiece, and are splendid specimens of Rocky Mountain wild cattle. They will constitute an interesting feature of “Buffalo Bill’s” big show. —Collins Courier.

The Daily Boomerang, September 27, 1884

Dime novels had a hand in making Cody famous. In 1869, the writer Ned Buntline went to interview Wild Bill Hickok who shooed him away at gunpoint. Buntline saw Cody, who had fought alongside Hickok against the Sioux and Cheyenne. There, Buffalo Bill: King of the Bordermen was born. This dime novel was a publishing sensation and made a household name out of “Buffalo Bill” Cody.

Expanding on his dime novel fame, and wanting to give others a look at the disappearing west that he was once a part of, Cody organized his wild west show. The show toured from coast to coast in the U.S, and made eight tours of Europe, four tours between 1887 and 1892, and four from 1902 to 1906. In Europe, he was warmly received and entertained by royalty.

The Cheyenne Daily Sun, March 21, 1884 – Buffalo Bill – The Famous Scout and Successful Dramatic Actor in the City. Hon. W. F. Cody, who is better known throughout the United States as Buffalo Bill, arrived in the city yesterday from his Nebraska home and is the guest of his old friend, President Dyer of the council. Buffalo Bill is 57 years of age but he looks not a day older than he did twenty years ago when he was the daring scout and was with the Fifth cavalry. He recalled some very pleasant incidents connected with his life in this part of the country, during an hours conversation yesterday, and stated that he whacked bulls on the first bull train which went into Fort Walback, through Cheyenne Pass.

He is making preparations to start out in May with one of the biggest shows on the continent, and certainly the largest of its kind. He will carry two hundred and twenty-five people and about fifty genuine buffalo and elks. He expects to reap rich financial rewards from his venture. Mr. Cody is a very entertaining talker, and relates many amusing incidents of early life in this part of the country.

As well as a showman, Cody was an entrepreneur.Near the town of Cody, Buffalo Bill established three hotels, The Irma, Pahaska Teepee, and Wapiti Inn, as well as the Sheridan Inn in Sheridan, Wyoming.

He often held auditions for his Wild West Show on the lawn at the Sheridan Inn, and one legend says a cowboy was determined to get Buffalo Bill’s attention by riding his horse into the saloon to see the famous showman. This was reenacted in 1992, when Grunko Films did an advertising video for the Sheridan Inn.

Although imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, it can sometimes get one in trouble.

The Daily Boomerang, October 24, 1885

The show was later named Buffalo Bill’s Congress of Rough Riders, and 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.

For over 20 years, beginning this month in 1883, Buffalo Bill’s show brought the ‘wild west’ to people in cities around the world.

(Feature photo of a display at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, Wyoming.) Vannoy photo