Buffalo Bill in NW Wales!

[Llechwedd]

Just reading latest magazine from Gwynedd Family History Society and I was amazed to discover that Buffalo Bill (William Cody) and his company visited here in 1904.
Apparently he came to Llandudno on May 2; Holyhead May 3; Caernarfon May 4 and Porthmadog on May 5 before moving on to Dolgellau and Aberystwyth.
His company consisted of - 800 performers from various countries, 500 horses and a train of sixty carriages. The article by T. Meirion Hughes does not say where they played in Llandudno - anyone know?- but the show was presented from the train in Caernarfon - back in the days when they had a main line connection.
There was a "cowboy band", American Indians including Sitting Bull's son - Young Sitting Bull,natives of Mexico and the north Caucauses(?), English Lancers, veterans of the Boer War  and the American Cavalry.  The main atrraction however was the re-enacting of the Battle of the Little Big Horn without killing each other.
Sounds like a wonderful show for between 1/- and 7/6.

[Yorkie]

For further information about Buffallo Bill one can speak to the Town Crier, David Price.  He is not a computer user so you have to get him when you see him!   He looks a bit like BB!

[DaveR]

It was on the fields by Conway Road, I think , either where the new or old Asda is. There's a poster for the event still in existence, can be seen in the Library.

[Ian]

B Bill was taking his show on a European tour at that time, and it was that show which has been recreated in Disneyland Paris today.

[Llechwedd]

I'd never seen that poster before, by jove!  Why don't they sell copies?  I'd buy one.

[Yorkie]

I'd never seen that poster before, by jove!  Why don't they sell copies?  I'd buy one.

Available here together with others, best poster site on the web.  This one will cost you £7.99

http://www.allposters.co.uk/gallery.asp?aid=252016255&c=c&search=18580&DestType=12&Referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Eco%2Euk%2Faclk%3Fsa%3Dl%26ai%3DCTN1Jz%5FjDTaPWAsOehQfg6%2DydCv7mok6gv9PTBdSI%5FbkCCAAQAVD5%2DIf4B2C77p&KWID=48784440&gclid=CLenpty406gCFUdP4QodIhW%5FhA&KEYWORD=Buffalo+Bill+posters&SEM=lang%3D100%26c%3Dc%26search%3D18580%26AID%3D252016255%26KWID%3D48784440%26Keyword%3DBuffalo%2BBill%2Bposters%26gclid%3DCLenpty406gCFUdP4QodIhW%5FhA

[Hugo]

These two native American Indians were admitted as patients to the Sarah Nicol Memorial Hospital while they were with the Buffalo Bill Show.

[Trojan]

I wonder what they were admitted with? Gunshot wounds? 

[Ormewalker]

Where those two Injuns given those beds or did they have reservations? 

[Trojan]

Where those two Injuns given those beds or did they have reservations? 

 

[dwsi]

Picture of the show in Dolgellau

http://www.cronfa.com/media.php?action=viewmedia&previous_action=&itemid=ARD00162

[Trojan]

American showman Buffalo Bill whose real name was William Frederick Cody (b.1846, d.1917) brought his Wild West Show to Britain and visited a great many towns including 21 in Wales. The show revolved around the concept of native American Indians being ‘bad guys’ attacking brave white folks’ wagons, which may explain why the two Native Americans ended up at Llandudno's Cottage Hospital.

The show travelled by train, and I believe the Llandudno show was held at the Council Field football ground.

[Trojan]

An excerpt from Buffalo Bill in Bologna,
The Americanization of the World, 1869-1922
Robert W. Rydell and Rob Kroes

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/732428.html

The scale of Cody’s undertaking amazed the press on both shores of the Atlantic. When the show’s company boarded the State of Nebraska steamship for London, its entourage included “83 saloon passengers, 38 steerage passengers, 97 Indians, 180 horses, 18 buffalo, 10 elk, 5 Texan steers, 4 donkeys, and 2 deer.”

[jacko]

hello, has anyone put in Llandudno in yorkie's  post ALLPOSTERS.CO.UK, i'm sure these must be a photo of these somewhere on this site?.

[Llechwedd]

Just did that and there are a few views and posters.  However there's one which I think is Penmaenmawr? Childrens service on the beach possibly Llandudno?