The success of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show spawned many imitators. By the
early 1900’s Buffalo Bill Wild West Show had more than a dozen competitors.
A partial list of Wild West Shows includes:
* Allen Bros. Wild West (1929-1934) - Charles and Mert H. Allen
* Arlington & Beckman's Oklahoma Ranch Wild West (1913) – Edward Arlington
and Fred Beckman
* Austin Bros. 3 Ring Circus and Real Wild West (1945)
* Barrett Shows and Oklahoma Bill's Wild West (1920)
* Bee Ho Gray's Wild West (circa 1919-1932)
* Broncho John, Famous Western Horseman and his Corps of Expert Horsemen
(1906) - J. H. Sullivan
* Buckskin Ben's Wild West and Dog and Pony Show (1908) Benjamin Stalker
* Buckskin Bill's Wild West (1900)
* California Frank’s All-Star Wild West (1911) - Frank Hafley
* Colonel Cummins’ Wild West Indian Congress and Rough Riders of the World -
Frederick T. Cummins
* Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show for Kids
* Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders
* Diamond Dick's Wild West
* Fred Akins Real Wild West and Far East Show (1909-1910)
* Gene Autry's Flying "A" Ranch Stampede (1942)
* Irwin Brothers Cheyenne Frontier Days Wild West Show
* Jones Bros.' Buffalo Ranch Wild West (1910)
* Texas Jack's Wild West (circa 1900)
* Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Real Wild West
* Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show
* Zach Mulhall's Congress of Rough Riders and Ropers
Living as we do in an age dominated by such mechanically reproducible media
television, cinema, and photography, we are often hard-pressed to recall that for
most Americans prior to 1900, the most widely available and accessible medium
of visual entertainment was theater (and theater-like productions).
From Royall Tyler to Augustin Daly, from Uncle Tom's Cabin to P. T. Barnum
and Buffalo Bill, the late 18th- and 19th- centuries offered a stunning array of
staged performances that not only offered idle amusement but also crafted and
reflected the very frameworks within which knowledge of the world could be
organized or produced.
The wide range of theatrical productions in the United States before 1900 popular
melodrama; minstrelsy; touring performers and performances; Wild West shows,
historical reenactments, and Indian plays; museums and traveling circuses; the
rise of the Broadway impresario; the development of stage realism; technological
innovation and stagecraft; race and gender as factors in popularity and/or appeals
to specific audience(s); humbugs and hoaxes; regionalism and theater; the
relationship of theater with other arts (i.e., the contributions and/or
representations crafted by painters, photographers, and novelists); social and
cultural performance beyond the formal stage.
Please write, call or email Jim Winburn at the below: James B. Winburn Productions c/o Jim Winburn PO Box 1726 Littlerock, California 93543 Email Address: jamesbwinburn@yahoo.com Telephone/FAX Answer Machine System: 1-661-944-1003 Web page: jamesbwinburn.com |
The Hollywood and rodeo cowboys got their starts in wild west shows and
circuses that became popular around 1900. Three of the more popular wild west
shows originated in Oklahoma from the Mulhall Ranch, the Pawnee Bill Ranch
and the Miller 101 Ranch. Zack Mulhall's ranch near Guthrie covered 80,000
acres in Oklahoma Territory. He started a wild west show starring his daughter
Lucille, the world's first "cowgirl," who became a favorite of President Theodore
Roosevelt. The show toured from 1900 to 1915.
Gordon William Lillie built his ranch near Pawnee and became famous as
"Pawnee Bill." This name was given to him by the Pawnee Indians, who made
him their "white chief" after he saved the tribe from starvation during a harsh
winter.
Pawnee Bill and some of his Indian friends later joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West
Show, but in 1888, Lillie started his own. The Pawnee Bill Show featured his
wife, May, a refined Philadelphian who learned to ride broncos sidesaddle and
became a sharpshooter with guns. Pawnee Bill's show toured the world until 1913.
The ranch, with many relics and memorabilia, is also the home of an authentic
60-foot poster advertisement for a 1900 Pawnee Bill Wild West Show
performance in Blackwell. The ranch and museum are open to the public.
Perhaps the most popular of all wild west shows originated on the Miller
Brothers' 101 Ranch near Ponca City, built by Col. George Washington Miller
and his three sons. Their show toured the world from 1908 until the Great
Depression and even included a team of Cossacks, but it remained true to its
western roots with headline acts featuring cowboys and Indians.
James B. Winburn Productions Proudly Presents |
2002 – 2010 - Rivera Judo Club of Mesa Arizona - Jim Winburn founder and
director of “The Academy for Theme Park Live Show Training and Stunt
School.”
2001 - Six Flags over Texas/Premiere Inc. Baltimore MD. Guest stage director
Stage directing the new edition of Batman Action Show. - Hunter Brown
Entertainment director.
2000 - 1999 - Universal Studio MCA/Osaka Japan. Consultant to Universal P &
D International Division, & entertainment director Nanci Herbst on the Japanese
version of The Wild, Wild West Comedy Show opening in Universal/Osaka
Theme Park, Japan.
1999 - Totally Fun Company, Tampa Florida, Peter Alexander Producer.
Entertainment director of Theme Park Shows and Stage director. Over seeing
productions on four (4) major Six Flags over Texas/Premiere Inc Theme Park
Shows and directing toe shows, The Batman Show, Darien Lake NY, Louisville
KY, Baltimore MD and The Further Adventure of Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid Chicago Ill.
1997 - Mirabilandia Theme Park, Revenna, Italy. A Totally Fun Company
Productions. Re-block show and stage directed all the action scenes Work with
theme park manager executive Gaincarlo Casoli and Gottlieb Loffelhart, under
supervision of Peter Alexander Producer and creator of Police School Stunt
Spectacular Live Show.
1996 - American Dream Park Shanghai, China. International Theme Park, Inc.
Writer, stage designer, stage director, stage stunt coordinator and trained young
Chinese performers to American stage performance. Creating The Miami Beach
Action Boat Show with high tech special effects. Working with Chinese
construction companies in designing the stage, Chinese special effects company
and training performers in boat driving and safety on the water and on the stage.
Keith Sander president of American Dream Park and Bob Lamb CEO of
American Dream Park China Inc.
1995 - Universal Studio MCA/Japan. Viking Show, Japan Consultant and
assistant to Nanci Herbst producer .
1993 - 1995 Totally Fun Company, Tampa Florida - Peter Alexander producer
and creator of the Batman Live Show for Time Warner, Inc. Stage director of the
Batman Live Theme Park Shows. Casting, stage training and directed five (5) Six
Flags over Texas/Time Warner, Inc shows per season. New Jersey NJ, Dallas
TX, Chicago ILL, Atlanta GA. and Los Angeles CA.
1991 - Totally Fun Company, Tampa Florida/Time Warner, Inc - Robin Hood
Comedy Show -Creator and Producer Peter Alexander. Job: Stage Director for
Peter Alexander producer, writer of the comedy production. stage designed, pre-
production, stage rigging, casting, stage combat coordinator and stage director.
“Great Adventure Theme Park/Six Flags over Texas” in New Jersey NJ.
1990 - Bob Rogers and Company, Burbank California. Treasury Island, Las
Vegas Nevada - Consultant to Bob Rogers productions on script development,
stage designed, rigging, special effects, safety and stage directing.
1988 - Universal Studios Orlando Florida - Lagoon Action Boat Show.
Consultant on Lagoon Boat script with Jon Joachim writer, stage director and
boat and stunt coordinator, casting, training cast members and stage crew in
precision boat driving and safety on the water.
1988 - Universal Studios Theme Park, Orlando Florida - Actors and Animals
Show, Stage rigging for animals and safety.
1988 - Universal Studios Theme Park, Orlando Florida. Horror and Makeup
Show Consultant to show producer, Vice president Richard Crane. Research and
development of magician tricks and rigging of special effects on “Phantom of the
Opera.”
1987 - The Scioto Society, Inc. Ohio. Tecumseh - A Outdoor Drama Theater
production. Consultant to the producer, writer and director Rusty Mundell.
Training cast members in stage combat, safety on stage and back stage, high fall,
special effects , stunt rigging. Consulted to the Scioto Society, Inc. Tecumseh
production for eleven (11) years.
1986 - First Frontier, Inc. Ohio, Blue Jacket. A Outdoor Drama Theater
production. Working with the Equity Union director on coordinating combat
scenes, horse work on stage, high fall training, and stage performance. Working
with the First Frontier, Inc production for three (3) years. Consultant to Rusty
Mundell script write of Blue Jacket.
1986 - Alabama-Coushatta Productions, Inc. Texas Beyond the Sundown. A
Outdoor Drama Theater production. Consultant to the producer Marion
Waggoner. Training performers in stage combat, light effects, safety on stage.
Consulted to the production and Marion Waggoner producer for two (2) years.
1986 - The Scioto Society, Inc. Ohio, Shenandoah. A Outdoor musical drama
theater production. Working along side the stage director Rusty Mundell as the
co- director on the stage, training and rehearing the performers in dance, fight and
combat routines.
1984 - Universal Studio Hollywood Theme Park, California. "A Team Live
Action Special Effects Show." Peter Alexander producer and script write. Stage
director, stunt coordinator. Casting and training the performers in precision car
driving on stage, slide for life rigging, weapons handling, high falls, car turn over
with special effects, and performing on stage in front of audience for two (2)
seasons.
1983 - Universal Studio Tours Theme Park Hollywood, California. Conan -
Consultant to the producer Gary Goddard, Landmark Company and Peter
Alexander Producer, Universal P & D Entertainment Department on stage
designed and stage rigging.
1983 - Calgary Stampede Productions, Inc. Canada. Calgary Stampede Western
Show Script/story, stage director and develop safety procedures for the Calgary
Stampede attraction throughout the park.
1974 -1986 Universal Tours Theme Park Hollywood, California. The Wild, Wild
West Action Comedy Western Show. Played all the characters. Ended up as the
comedian of the show for seven (7) years out of eleven (11) years performing.
Nate Champion (1857-1892) - A top Texas cowboy, Champion moved to
Wyoming where he became involved in the Johnson County War and was killed.
Jesse Chisholm (1805?- 1868) - Though Jesse Chisholm blazed the famous
Chisholm Trail, he never herded cattle. Rather, he used the path to transport
goods to and from his trading posts.
John Simpson Chisum (1824-1884) - John Chisum was a cattle baron who moved
longhorn herds from Texas into New Mexico in the mid 1800’s, where he founded
one of the largest cattle ranches in the American West.
William "Buffalo Bill" Frederick Cody (1846-1917) - Buffalo Bill was a
freighter, cattle driver, Pony Express rider, Civil War soldier, buffalo hunter and
army scout before he began entertaining great numbers of people in his Buffalo
Bill's Wild West Show.
Charles J. Goodnight (1836-1929) – Goodnight was a cowboy, and Texas Ranger
who blaze the Goodnight-Loving Trail, invented the chuck wagon, and become
part owner in one of the largest ranches in the Texas panhandle.
The Hash-Knife Outfit (1884-1900) - The Aztec Land and Cattle Company of
Boston, became the third largest cattle company in North America in the late
1800's, headquartered in Holbrook, Arizona,
Ben Holladay (1819-1887) - Holladay began a number of stagecoach route and
became known as the "Stagecoach King.“
Bose Ikard (1847-1929) - A former slave, Ikard honed his cowboy skills and rode
with Charles Goodnight.
Gordon William "Pawnee Bill" Lillie - (1860-1942) - A performer in Buffalo Bill
Cody's Wild West Show, Pawnee Bill later formed his own act, becoming so
popular that he was stiff competition for Buffalo Bill.
Nat Love, aka: Deadwood Dick (1854-1921) - Nat Love, who was also known as
"Deadwood" Dick was said to have been the greatest black cowboy in all of the
Old West.
Oliver Loving (1812-1867) - A cattle rancher and pioneer of the cattle drive who,
along with Charles J. Goodnight, developed the Goodnight-Loving Trail. He was
killed by Indians while on a cattle drive.
Annie Oakley, aka: Phoebe Anne Oakley Mozee (1860-1926) An excellent
markswoman, Oakley made her living demonstrating her amazing ability to hit her
target. As star of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, she traveled the world.
John Baker "Texas Jack" Omohundro (1846-1880) - Texas Jack was a frontier
scout and cowboy who joined up with Buffalo Bill Cody to perform in his Wild
West Show.
Charley Parkhurst, aka: One Eyed Charley, Mountain Charley, Six-Horse Charley
(1812-1879) - Parkhurst was a female tobacco chewing, cussing, gambling
California stage driver
Charles "Charlie" E. Parks (18??-1907) - Parks was one of the most faithful and
capable Pony Express riders before becoming a long time defender of Wells
Fargo stages. William Pickett, aka: Bill, Will (1870?-1932) - Of black and Indian
descent, Bill Pickett was one of the first great rodeo cowboys and is credited with
inventing the sport of bulldogging.
Charlie Utter (1838-??) - Charlie Utter was a trapper, prospector, and transport
businessman, as well as a being a close friend of Wild Bill Hickok
Gordon William "Pawnee Bill" Lillie - (1860-1942) - A performer in Buffalo Bill
Cody's Wild West Show, Pawnee Bill later formed his own act, becoming so
popular that he was stiff competition for Buffalo Bill. More ...
Nat Love, aka: Deadwood Dick (1854-1921) - Nat Love, who was also known as
"Deadwood" Dick was said to have been the greatest black cowboy in all of the
Old West.
Oliver Loving (1812-1867) – A cattle rancher and pioneer of the cattle drive who,
along with Charles J. Goodnight, developed the Goodnight-Loving Trail. He was
killed by Indians while on a cattle drive.
Annie Oakley, aka: Phoebe Anne Oakley Mozee (1860-1926) An excellent
markswoman, Oakley made her living demonstrating her amazing ability to hit her
target. As star of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, she traveled the world.
John Baker "Texas Jack" Omohundro (1846-1880) - Texas Jack was a frontier
scout and cowboy who joined up with Buffalo Bill Cody to perform in his Wild
West Show.
Ben Holladay (1819-1887) - Holladay began a number of stagecoach route and
became known as the "Stagecoach King."
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| CLICK TO HEAR OPENING INTRODUCTION |
| Special thanks to the various American Western History web sites of American History of "The Wild West Shows of the 19th Century." The research materials used in this presentation is for information ONLY. |
