Not able to find a topic on Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show anywhere, so thought this might be of interest as they would disembark at Birkenhead and opened at New Brighton one time that we know of.He came to this country on various occasions and I think Chief Red Fox probably joined one of the later tours they did.
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle
Noel Smith who compiled the Wallasey history books is supposed to be related to him. Sylvia Cody also related lived in New Brighton.
Wow! Noel Smith, I met him once, lovely gentleman.
Rumour has it that Cody lived or stayed in Birkenhead but I can't find anything on it from www.
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle
Sorry if I'm going slightly off topic, but that link for the National Fairgrounds Archive is very interesting. Apart from the info on Buffalo Bill there are some excellent old photographs of the New Brighton fairgrounds. Check out picture no.5 on this link, I swear that kid's using a mobile ...and it's 1956!
No no no, you're not really off topic. This is all really interesting. Thanks Geekus, all is forgiven
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle
Chief Red Fox seems to have become a mite confused in his old age if he remembers appearing with Buffalo Bill at New Brighton, as he never actually played there. As the following items from the local papers show, Buffalo Bill's one and only appearance in Wirral was at Devonshire Park, in the open grounds on Borough Road opposite the bottom of Clarence Road.
I was also confused by Red Fox. Here is what Noel Smith wrote in 'Almost An Island' -
"Several people used to think that the famous American Government Scout,* Buffalo Bill Cody, brought his Wild West Show to New Brighton. My father told me that he had actually shot a rifle with the great man but this, I think, was at Prenton Park, the Tranmere Rovers' Ground in Birkenhead. It is possible that folk got mixed up with the Wild West Show at the Tower and Cody's at Birkenhead. My mother's family was named Cody and claimed to be distant relatives of the American Hero. * There used to be an old timer who went into the Railway Hotel (Danger's) some years ago, who had once been a scout in America."
"Wild West Show The greatest show at the Tower Stadium was the Cummins-Brown "Wild West" and Indian Congress which was staged for the summer season, starting on 23rd May 1908, running to the autumn. The Manager-Director at the Tower was Mr. J. Calvin Brown, and together with Colonel Frederick T. Cummins, was in charge of the performance on the Athletic Ground while, in the theatre, the Millican's Minstrels and Old Plantation Show was staged. A parade of Cowboys and Indians, Horses and Stage Coach from Lime Street in Liverpool to the Landing Stage to meet the ferry was arranged to publicise the Congress. The Wild West Show had a six months season. 500 men and horses took part, including many Cowboys and Cowgirls, U.S. Artillery, Crackshot Rifle Displays, U.S. Cavalry men, Cossacks, Indian Warriors, Chariot Drivers, Acrobats and Contortionists. The poster portrayed Anna Shaffer on her horse. It advertised "lady bronco riders, Indian Warriors, Squaws and papoose". They claimed "Educated Wild Beasts" performing. The horsemanship was superb with Colonel Cummins taking part. The Redskins called him "Chief Lakota" and there are many stories about him. Wild Highland Cattle were brought from Scotland for the cowboys to lassoo as American animals were not allowed into the country. While the show was at New Brighton, one of the show people died and a large procession was arranged for the funeral at Rake Lane Cemetery. It was led by Cowboys and Cowgirls, followed by a large number of fully- dressed Indians and squaws with head-dresses, along with their "Chief", with his beautifully feathered head dress. There was also a small band. At the rear was the cortege on a sort of gun-carriage pulled by piebald horses. They made their way from Molyneux Drive to Rake Lane in a slow procession mourning their loved one.
"High Jinks in New Brighton The Cowboys, when not taking part in the Show, would go down to New Brighton and shoot off their guns of a night and the police had a lot of extra work on their hands. They lassoed everything you can think of, including the pretty girls! On account of the Indians going wild with "Fire Water", Public Houses in New Brighton were told not to serve them with liquor. They were a colourful sight as they prowled around Victoria Road and the promenade. Another attraction at the Wild West Show was the original Dead-Wood Dick Stage coach that raced across the field, chased by the Indians and the Cowboys coming to the rescue. Then there was the pony with a gold tooth. There was a special concert held in honour of Colonel Cummins at the Grosvenor Mansions on the corner of Molyneux Drive and many important people were invited."
Note that at this time, tranmere Rovers Ground, while still called Prenton Park, was technically in Devonshire Park, on the land to the North West corner of the Borough Road and Prenton Road West junction.
Nice to see the press cuttings.
And as you say, Noel is a very nice man who has written a number of local history book. 'Almost an Island' is currently out of print, so I hope he doesn't mind me using the extract, above.
Interesting to see in the newspaper cutting that Birkenhead was referred to as "the city of the future". Liverpool must've shot us down on that one as well.
