Buffalo Bill's Wild West brought an enormously successful performance spectacle to audiences throughout the United States and Europe between 1883 and 1916. Many talented and daring women performed alongside men in the Wild West shows, including tiny sharpshooter Annie Oakley. Annie and the other female performers represented the feminine side of an American tradition and brought a woman's touch to an otherwise uncivilized form of entertainment, but they also changed the way the world thought about women forever through the demonstration of their skills
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"What we want to do is give our women even more liberty than they have. Let them do any kind of work that they see fit, and if they do it as well as men, give them the same pay."
William F. Cody-1899
With rough-riding cowboys, sure shots, and fantastic reenactments of battles and train robberies, Buffalo Bill Cody brought the myth of the Old West to life for audiences all over the world. His Wild West Show was wildly popular - and some of the most popular cowboys in it were girls. Buffalo Gals tells the stories and celebrates the achievements of these thrill-seeking women, through historic photos, stunning, authentic publicity posters, and the meticulous research of western history writer Chris Enss.
Cody's cast of wild women captivated audiences - whether they were riding bulls, breaking bucking broncos, roping steers, doing bareback tricks, or out-shooting all comers. The Wild West show made celebrities of women the likes of bronco rider Lillian Smith, dancer-actress Guiseppina Morlacchi, and sharpshooter Annie Oakley, endearing them not only to the audience but to Buffalo Bill as well. He praised the trick sidesaddle riding skills of Della Ferrell and Georgia Duffy and marveled at rider Lulu Parr's ability to stay on a bucking bronco until it was broken. Altogether, these gals were an unforgettably spunky cast of characters who saddled up and rustled their dreams.
William F. Cody-1899
With rough-riding cowboys, sure shots, and fantastic reenactments of battles and train robberies, Buffalo Bill Cody brought the myth of the Old West to life for audiences all over the world. His Wild West Show was wildly popular - and some of the most popular cowboys in it were girls. Buffalo Gals tells the stories and celebrates the achievements of these thrill-seeking women, through historic photos, stunning, authentic publicity posters, and the meticulous research of western history writer Chris Enss.
Cody's cast of wild women captivated audiences - whether they were riding bulls, breaking bucking broncos, roping steers, doing bareback tricks, or out-shooting all comers. The Wild West show made celebrities of women the likes of bronco rider Lillian Smith, dancer-actress Guiseppina Morlacchi, and sharpshooter Annie Oakley, endearing them not only to the audience but to Buffalo Bill as well. He praised the trick sidesaddle riding skills of Della Ferrell and Georgia Duffy and marveled at rider Lulu Parr's ability to stay on a bucking bronco until it was broken. Altogether, these gals were an unforgettably spunky cast of characters who saddled up and rustled their dreams.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
May Manning Lillie
Princess of the Prairie
"Let any normally healthy woman who is ordinarily strong screw up her courage and tackle a bucking bronco, and she will find the most fascinating pastime int he field of feminine atheltic endeavor. There is nothing to compare, to increase the joy of living, and once accomplished, she'll have mroe real fun than any pink tea or theatre party or balroom dance ever yielded."
A bespectacled photographer emerged from under a black curtain draped over a massive camera and tripo. In his right hand he hels and instrument that wehn pressed would take a picture. In his left hand, he held a flash attachment to illumniate his subject. "On the count of three, Mrs. Lillie," he warned.
May Manning Lillie stared directly into the lens. Her cowboy hat cocked on her head, a red kerchief tied around the neck of her white peasant blouse, a black split skirt belted around her waist, and leather gauntlets covering her hands. She wore a serious expression as the photographer began counting. Before he got to two, she raised a six shooter and pointed it at the camera, closing one eye and looking down the barrel of the gun with the other. Ka-Poof! The flash attachment fired and smoke wafted into the air. "Perfect," the photographer said, smiling. And it was. The black and white image of cowgirl Lillie demonstrating her skill as a markswoman became one of the most widely known publicity posters for the wild west show in the early 1900s.
Princess of the Prairie
"Let any normally healthy woman who is ordinarily strong screw up her courage and tackle a bucking bronco, and she will find the most fascinating pastime int he field of feminine atheltic endeavor. There is nothing to compare, to increase the joy of living, and once accomplished, she'll have mroe real fun than any pink tea or theatre party or balroom dance ever yielded."
A bespectacled photographer emerged from under a black curtain draped over a massive camera and tripo. In his right hand he hels and instrument that wehn pressed would take a picture. In his left hand, he held a flash attachment to illumniate his subject. "On the count of three, Mrs. Lillie," he warned.
May Manning Lillie stared directly into the lens. Her cowboy hat cocked on her head, a red kerchief tied around the neck of her white peasant blouse, a black split skirt belted around her waist, and leather gauntlets covering her hands. She wore a serious expression as the photographer began counting. Before he got to two, she raised a six shooter and pointed it at the camera, closing one eye and looking down the barrel of the gun with the other. Ka-Poof! The flash attachment fired and smoke wafted into the air. "Perfect," the photographer said, smiling. And it was. The black and white image of cowgirl Lillie demonstrating her skill as a markswoman became one of the most widely known publicity posters for the wild west show in the early 1900s.
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More About the Author
Award-winning screen writer who has written for television, short subject films, live performances, and for the movies, is the author of Hearts West: True Stories of Mail Order Brides on the Frontier, How the West Was Worn: Bustles and Buckskins on the Wild Frontier, and Buffalo Gals: Women of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. The Cowboy and the Senorita and Happy Trails were co-authored with film producer Howard Kazanjian.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buffalo Gals,
By Janice L. Martin (North Platte, NE USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Buffalo Gals: Women of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (Paperback)
I really enjoyed this book. It has many short stories and pictures about women who were involved in rodeo and entertainment, along with telling about their superior skills with horses and other acts. I would recommend buying it if you like to read about skilled old west women. It is by one of my favorite authors, Chris Enss, which is why I bought it in the first place.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buffalo Bill material,
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This review is from: Buffalo Gals: Women of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (Paperback)
I collect Buffalo Bill Cody items & this very well done book is a most appreciated item...love it !!!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
very superficial,
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This review is from: Buffalo Gals: Women of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (Paperback)
If you're looking for scholarship and research, go elsewhere. If you want a very lightweight introduction to some very skilled women, this is for you. I was very disappointed that not every woman mentioned has a photograph or illustration of some sort. On the other hand, usually the only woman you hear associated with Buffalo Bill's show is Annie Oakley, and this book goes way beyond her. It's a nice enough first step, without a the silliness and nonsense you get in many "empowered women ahead of their time" type books. It's pretty straightforward and factual. I just would have liked more out of it.
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