Buffalo Bill from Prairie to Palace

John M. Burke (1842 - 1917)

William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody is one of the legends of the American western frontier. As a teen he rode for the pony expressed and then drove for the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War. He later rejoined the army as a scout and was awarded the medal of honor for his valor during the Indian Wars. His fame became worldwide, however, through his flamboyant Wild West shows which toured not only across the American West but through England and Europe.
John M. Burke served as Cody’s publicist and promoter for the Wild West shows, propelling him into celebrity status. From his preface to this biography:
"An association of some thirty years with the subject of these pages, a familiarity with his history gained by opportune meetings and conversations with comrades now living, and those since dead—who were witnesses of the events that assisted to make the individual prominent—makes me feel it a public duty to accede to the publisher’s request to compile a short, sharp, and veracious account of the unique history of this picturesque character. The compiler of the accompanying pages has attempted to present to the reader, in a terse, compact compendium of facts, the story of a career that, if given in a detailed biography, would absorb volumes, believing that owing to his prominence at home and abroad the public desire some authentic knowledge of the notable events in his career. In fact, here are presented a few plain truths, unadorned, for the benefit of those too occupied to have heretofore learned the story and triumphs of the frontier lad of nine years, from the wild Western scenes of Kansas and Nebraska, from the prairies of the Platte to the parlors of the East and the palaces of Europe." - Summary by Larry Wilson

Genre(s): Biography & Autobiography, Performing Arts

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Compiler's Preface Larry Wilson
00:04:00
Play 01 Introductory 5Tommy00
00:10:14
Play 02 The Scout 5Tommy00
00:19:02
Play 03 What Is a Cowboy? Michael Fassio
00:10:06
Play 04 The Riders of the World Michael Fassio
00:23:37
Play 05 Indian Home Life pwaldrop52
00:24:06
Play 06 Expert Shooting pwaldrop52
00:11:41
Play 07 A Most Famous Ride pwaldrop52
00:16:05
Play 08 Letters of Commendation from Prominent Military Men pwaldrop52
00:11:33
Play 09 Buffalo Bills Boyhood John
00:09:26
Play 10 Bill Kills His First Indian John
00:12:07
Play 11 The Boy Miner John
00:07:22
Play 12 Story of the Pony Express John
00:18:44
Play 13 A Ride for Life John
00:07:12
Play 14 Held up by Road Agents John
00:06:07
Play 15 A Year of Adventures John
00:12:16
Play 16 A Soldier of the Civil War John
00:06:30
Play 17 A Champion Buffalo Hunter John
00:11:31
Play 18 Scout Guide and Indian Fighter John
00:09:17
Play 19 Buffalo Bills Pards of the Plains 5Tommy00
00:29:29
Play 20 Border Poetry DrPGould
00:16:58
Play 21 From Prairie to Palace John
00:13:58
Play 22 The Wild West at Sea Linda Johnson
00:18:08
Play 23 A Royal Welcome Linda Johnson
00:21:06
Play 24 A Visit from Queen Victoria Linda Johnson
00:16:22
Play 25 The Home Trail John
00:11:38
Play 26 Swinging around Europe Mayah
00:38:13
Play 27 The Last Indian War David Olson
00:11:56
Play 28 Back to Europe John
00:14:14
Play 29 Appendix Larry Wilson
00:07:11
Play 30 An Episode Since the Return from Europe Larry Wilson
00:03:37