191
HEUCK'S OPERA-HOUSE.
Corner. Thirteenth and Vine sts.
MONDAY EVE, Sept. 29, '79, engagement of the world-renowned Indian - Fighter, Government Scout and Western Hero of the Plains
BUFFALO BILL,
(Hon. W. F. Cody)
And his New Combination of
24.............FIRST CLASS ARTISTS............24
A GENUINE
BAND OF INDIAN CHIEFS
From the Pawnee and Poncas Tribes, under the charge of Mr. W. F. Cody; also, Mr. Eddie Burgess, or Pe-Risk-Yla-Shar, The boy chief of the Pawnees and C. A. BURGESS, Scout and Interpreter.
They will appear in the Great Western Drama in four acts, written for Buffalo Bill, entitled
MAY CODY; Or, Lost and Won.
Look out the Grand Street Parade of Indians to-day at 11 A. M., from Heuck's Opera House, Headed by Buffalo Bill and his Grand Military Band. Reserved seats at Perry & Morton's, 162 Vine Street.
192
HARPER'S OPERA HOUSE!
One Night. Only
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Wednesday, Sept., 3th, 1879.
The only SCOUT ORGANIZATION on the Road.
HON. W. F. CODY,
BUFFALO BILL
And his MONSTER COMBINATION OF 24 ARTISTS, In the new Four Act Drama, written expressly for him, by Col. Ingraham, entitled
KNIGHT OF THE PLAINS!
-OR,-
Buffalo Bill's Best Trail,
During the Drama ha will introduce MASTER EDDIE BURGESS, the Boy Chief of the Pawnees, and C. A. BURGESS, Government scout, and Guide; also, a Band of INDIAN CHIEFS from the PONCA and PAWNEE Reservation.
FANCY RIFLE SHOOTING!
BY BUFFALO BILL.
A Grand Street Parado will be given on horseback by the Indians, headed by Buffalo Bill's own Military Band and Orchestra, led by Prof. RAMPONE.
Persons wishing to purchase the "Life of Buffalo Bill" can do so by applying to the Bookstore of Wylie & McCune. or at the Hall during the performance! Reserved Seats, 75 cents to be had at Wylie & McCune's, three days in advance.
JOHN B. OGDEN, Business Manager.
193
DAVIS OPERA HOUSE!
One Night. Only.
Thursday Evening, Sept., 4th, '79.
------------
The only Scout organization Road.
HON. W. F. CODY,
BUFFALO BILL!
And his MONSTER COMBINATION Op 24 ARTISTS. In the new Four Act Drama, written expressly for Lim, by Col. Ingraham, entitled
KNIGHT OF THE PLAINS!
Or, Buffalo Bill's Best Trail,
During the Drama he will introduce MASTER BURGESS, the Boy Chief of the Pawnees, and C. A. BURGESS, Government scout, and Guide also, a Band of INDIAN CHIEFS from the PONCA and PAWNEE Reservation.
FANCY RIFLE SHOOTING by BUFFALO BILL.
A Grand Street Parade will be given on horseback by the Indians, headed by Buffalo Bill's own Military Band and Orchestra, led by Prof. RAMPONE.
Persons wishing to purchase the "Life of Buffalo Bill" can do so by applying at the Hall during the performance.
Prices as usual. Reserved Seats, 75 cents to be had at Howes Jewelry Store, three days in advance.
JOHN E. OGDEN, Business Manager.
194
"Buffalo Bill" To-Night.
The entire "Buffalo Bill" combination will give their thrilling border drama, entitled, "Knights of the Plains," at Davis Opera House this evening. Of this entertainment we can do no better than quote a notice from the last Monday's Davenport Democrat, as follows:
A grand audience in every respect greeted the native Scott county boy, Wm. F. Cody, whom all the world knows as "Buffalo Bill," at the opera house last evening, with his well-chosen dramatic company. Mr. Cody has a protean character in the drama, "Knights of the Plains," and when he appeared in the first scene, horseback, in the character of scout, he was welcomed with tremendous applause, which must have been highly gratifying to him. The play presents life on the frontier and on the plains, as Buffalo Bill saw it in his young days, when he was a pony express rider, scout and guide, several of the scenes representing actual experiences in the life of the hero. It is an interesting and exciting play, with not hardly so much shooting and murder play as generally accompanies dramas and stories of border life. There is a great deal of humor in it, and frequently the house roars with laughter.
195
A Lurid Melodrama.
The reception of the gallant Cody (Buffalo Bill) at the Opera House last evening amounted to an ovation. The house was full, crammed, packed even to the aisles and window ledges. Fully 1,500 people were present - hundreds more than such dramatic stars as Claxton or Denman Thompson, such singers as Carey, and such orators as Philips or Beecher have been able to attract.
That a play nothing short of a well dramatized dime novel should draw such a house naturally causes the query, "Why is this thus?" Undoubtedly the sight of a genuine hero like Cody, who "born and nursed in danger's path, has dared her worst" is an attraction to many people. The Indians were also objects of interest. But it is probable that Zola, the recent French apostle of realism, is right, and that the masses care more for sensation than for art of any kind.
While the play as a drama was beneath criticism, some of the characters were notably well sustained. Of course, Buffalo Bill was fine simply as his natural self, and drew frantic applause from the "gallery gods " by his marvelous shooting and opportune appearance as a guardian angel. The stage Jew was well acted by Willard, and the frontier Judge Shyster, a feeble parody on Bret Harte's "Col. Starbottle," played well by Beverly, drew down the house by his uctuous "I should smile." The tableaux were tolerable, the burning prairie scene was excellent, and the interior of the Cheyenne gambling saloon was probably accurate enough - though the more realistic such scenes are the more the Drama is degraded by their presentation. Miss Jones, who played Rose Melton, had a very fine voice and with training would make a successful actress. On the whole, "Buffalo Bill" made a dramatic "ten strike" in Clinton.