Released on: October 29, 2007, 10:47 am

Press Release Author: Rosemary McKittrick

Industry: Entertainment

Press Release Summary: Rosemary McKittrick unearths the stories behind what's sold
and brings the art, antique and collectible world to life. Browse the site's 670 +
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Press Release Body: Santa Fe, Oct. 29, 2007-As soon as Buffalo Bill stepped onto the
stage for the first time in 1872 he forgot his lines. In the drama he played an
idealized version of himself as a scout.

"The Scouts of the Prairie" opened to a full house in Chicago and the audience
didn't seem to notice his embarrassment. They were too busy staring at his buckskin
shirt and leggings, his rifles, revolvers and knives.

Dressed to the hilt, Bill didn't realize it at that moment, but he looked the part
of the heroic knight of the frontier to the letter.

Before his debut that fretful night he said to his wife, "I don't know just how bad
I'd be at actin'. I guess maybe I'd better find out."

If he was awful, he figured he could always go back to scouting. It wasn't long
before his skill as a showman overshadowed his stage fright. Bill's acting ability
improved but even more important-the crowd was really buying his western hero
shtick.

Separating fiction from fact was the hard part. Bill had a way of incorporating
real news into his stage shows which blurred the lines of truth even further for
audiences.

While Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show was on the road it cost $4,000 a day to keep it
all afloat. To generate that kind of money advertising was critical.

Handbills, flyers and posters were circulated all over town before the show arrived.
For a one-night stand as many as 6,000 to 8,000 posters of various sizes and
quality were posted.

Nowadays these old lithographic posters created in the latter part of the 19th
century and the first quarter of the 20th century have become prized collectibles.
Value depends on quality, subject matter, size and condition.

On June 21 and 22, 2007, Cody Old West Auction, Cody Wyo., featured a selection of
Buffalo Bill posters in its 18th annual auction. A woodcut; "Buffalo Bill's Wild
West"/ Besieged Cowboys"; scarce; Calhoun Printing Co., circa 1885; 28 inches by 41
inches; sold for $23,000.

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Contact Details: Rosemary McKittrick
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505-989-7210
info@liveauctiontalk.com