The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-06
Buffalo Bill's First Appearance
as an Entertainer.
Was Cast i'm "The Scouts of the
Palms."
NED BUNTLINE STORY.
Adapted from a New York
Weekly Thriller.
Company Included Wild Bill and
Texas Jack.

Dr. Judd makes an interesting con-
trfbution to the latest number of The
Theater. His subject is How Buffalo
Bill Became a Celebrity"
He tells us something about Ned
Buntline. and how letter of his from
the west to the Mercury concerning
Buffalo Bill first attracted general at
tention to Col Cody; how the Beadles
induced BuntIine to write dime novels
for them, with Buffalo Bill as the hero,
and finally, how Buntline wrote THE
Scouts of the Plains" and introduced
Buffalo Bill, Texas Jack, and Wild Bill
to the theater-going public Inciden-
tally DR.. Judd relates that Buntline on
the morning of, the first performance
had not touched pen to paper on the
play in which the Indian fighters were
to make their theatrical debut.
The true facts in the case are that
the play The scouts OF the Plains, IN
which the trio of border heroes made
their first appearance, was not written
by Buntline. but by Fred Maeder.
Who was Fred Maeder?
He was popular playwright in the
70's- He fitted plays to song and dance
artists, and among other achievements
wrote and equipped Lolita with her first
Starring vehicle, Zip" This piece now
or the Academy of Music. The way
The Scouts of the Plains came to be
written was related to the writer by
Maeder some years ago.
There was running in the New York
Weekly said Maeder, "a series of stor-
les of western adventure. in which Buff
falO Bill, Texas Jack and Wild Bill fig
ured as the heroes. They were written
by Ned Buntline. In search of novelty,
I conceived the idea that an Indian
play would please the public. and start
ed to write something along the lines
of one of the Buntline stories. 1 men
e 4 81
soon notice appeared in one of the
papers that I was dramatiZing some
particular tale of Buntline's.
In a few days 1 received a letter
from Buntline himself. He said he no
ticed that was dramatizing one of his
stories. These stories are copyrighted
he said, and cannot be used without
my consent L had got thoroughly in
terested in my work by this time, and
rather than give it up, sought an in
terview with Buntline to see if some
arrangement could not be made to
make his heroes available for the stage.
I'll tell you what I'll do exclaim-
ed Buntline, if you'll let me in on the
deal, III not only give you the right
to use any of my stories, but I'll bring
Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill, and Texas Jack
to New York and have them appear in
the play.
This was the first intimation had that
BuHalo Bill was real character, said
Maeder- Up to this time had supposed
that he and his companions were mere
inventions of the author The idea that
me The reflection of being able to pre-
sent them to New York audience open
cd up a vista of glowing possibilities.
The Scouts of the Plains
The three westerners were the most
awkward squad you ever saw in all your
life The house was packed and the au-
dience was enchanted. When the trio
ing hands and they looked so doleful that
they inspired laughter. But the result
electrified them half so much"
Dr. Judd in accounting for the celebrity
Weekly as the one conspicuous medium
of his fame. Long before the play was
ed in one or more novels from Buntline's
pen which appeared in that journal, and
dime novel in his life. DIR. Judd calls him
the father of the dime novel.
Wild Bill Hickok left the stage for the
ing and was shot dead in the Black Hills
BY a man who attacked him in the back
flush: Texas Jack married Morlacchi
the Italian dancer. and remained on the
stage until he died. He died in I.eadvilie
and Mr.. Peyton r. Hull of Washington
and the writer hereof. as well as Edward
= sullivan, the actor, were among the
:, Among the actors in the cast of THE
Scouts of the Plains was Frank Nor
parted company. Bill appeared in a play
called The Right Red Hand" and Jack
was the rescuer of distressed mafdens and
the relentless pursuer of red devils But
Bill was better managed than his for
mer partner. and ultimately became the
head of the Wild West show in which he
circumnavigated the world He had rem
dered conspicuous service a scout for
all the prominent generals in the Indian
wars. and enjoyed the friendship and
patronage of the army officers, some of
whom had been eye witnesses of his ia
nous hand-to-hand night with a Sioux
chief IN the Dakota bad lands. He never
learned to act but his fine stature and
picturesque appearance made up for the
lack OF dramatic genius, and the public