Around the turn of the twentieth century, small boys and big boys from across Niagara would gather for a perennial occurrence, the arrival of the first wild-west show in May. The hint of summer to come, and the excitement of the small boy and the big boy, created a perfect thirst that only the summer show knew how to quench. So together, the small boy and the big boy would travel to where the circus train would begin to unload the animals and the gleaming chariots and miles upon miles of canvas would grow into a city of tents that would fill the Niagara County Fair Grounds.

The year 1906 greeted the arrival of Pawnee Bill’s Famous Wild West and Great Far East Exhibition, the first extravaganza of the year to arrive in Lockport. The “appetizer” to the main course was always the free parade that would wind its way through the city streets and then back to the Fair Grounds. This particular year, the parade was over a mile long and included nearly everything that goes with the show, Indians, cowboys, mustangs, ponies, people from eastern lands and an assortment of side-show oddities. The performers in the parade acted like the Pied Pipers, and when the last performer disappeared out of sight, the children would cry, “please Mom, can we go to the circus tonight!”

The strange denizens of the plains and other distinct parts of the globe that Pawnee Bill had assembled were always interesting and unusual. The acts included a “group of the greatest of all Arab Equestrians,” and South American Gauchos with bolus throwers, boomerang throwers from Australia, as well as Prince Lucas and his Russian Imperial Cossacks. The Indians in the show were reported to be the genuine, “Simon-pure” natives, on “loan” from Uncle Sam, to be returned to the reservation at the close of the season. New that year was the appearance of “Geronimo,” great Indian Chief, who was purported to be over a hundred years old. Geronimo would even ride in on horseback and recreate his famous battles with the Cavalry in stunning spectacle as scores of other riders joined the scene.

Niagara signaled its acceptance of Pawnee Bill by turning out in great numbers. Two shows were offered each day with seating for over 10,000. Many moms and dads gave in to the requests of their starry-eyed children and paid the admission of fifty cents per spectator.

Douglas Farley, Director
Erie Canal Discover Center
24 Church St.
Lockport NY 14094
716.439.0431
CanalDiscovery@aol.com
www.NiagaraHistory.org