Four Years in Europe with Buffalo Bill (The Papers of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody)

Series Editor's Preface / Kurt Graham -- Introduction / Chris Dixon -- About This Edition -- Buffalo Bill-- A Sketch -- Foreword -- 1903: Our Ocean Voyage; General Impressions Of Old England -- Summer, 1903: Opening Of The Season; Accident To Buffalo Bill -- Winter, 1903-1904: Wintering In London; Sights And Scenes Of The Great City; A Trip To Gay Paree, The Fashion Capital Of The World -- 1904: Second Year Of Buffalo Bill In Great Britain; A Visit To The Potteries; Bonnie Scotland -- Winter, 1904-1905: Again In London; Shop Showing; The Waverly Carnival; Studying French -- 1905: Grand Opening At Paris; A Zigzag Tour Of France; Disease Among The Horses [glanders]; Tragedie Des Chevaux -- Winter, 1905-1906: Marseille {marseilles], The Gateway To The Orient; Wintering Under Canvas; More Observations Of French Manners And Customs -- 1906: Opening Of The Season In Marseille; Tour Of Italy, Austria-hungary, Germany, And Belgium -- 1906-1907: Closing Of The Tour; Departure For And Arrival At New York; Impressions Of New York After Four Years Abroad -- Official Roster Of Buffalo Bill's West Season 1907 -- Programme, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Season 1907 -- Appendix: Buffalo Bill's Wild West In Europe, 1902-1906. Charles Eldridge Griffin ; Edited And With An Introduction By Chris Dixon. Originally Published: Albia, Ia : Stage Pub. Co., 1908. Includes Bibliographical References. Annotation William F. Buffalo Bill Cody was the entertainment industry s first international celebrity, achieving worldwide stardom with his traveling Wild West show. For three decades he operated and appeared in various incarnations of the western world s greatest traveling attraction, enthralling audiences around the globe. When the show reached Europe it was a sensation, igniting Wild West fever by offering what purported to be a genuine experience of the American frontier. By any standard Charles Eldridge Griffin (1859 1914), manager of the Wild West s European tour, was a remarkable man. Known by the stage names of Monsieur F. Le Costro, Professor Griffin, and the Yankee Yogi, he was an author, comedian, conjurer, contortionist, dancer, fire-eater, hypnotist, illusionist, lecturer, magician, newspaper owner, publisher, sword swallower, and yogi. His account of life on the road with the Wild West show, published here for the first time since its release in 1908, opens a window on a vanished world. In addition to line drawings and photographs from the original book, Chris Dixon provides an introduction and annotations for historical context. Griffin s story of traveling with Buffalo Bill in Europe from 1903 to 1906 presents a fascinating picture of a quintessentially American character. At the same time it offers a vision of the nation on the verge of nationalism, imperialism, and an emerging global mass culture A memoir written by a performer and manager of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West tour in Europe