1913: Buffalo Bill (who has embellished many, many things) is going to produce films that are "historically correct and of national importance."
In August of 1913, Colonel William "Buffalo Bill" Cody was suffering from great financial difficulties. Though his Wild West circus show was dispossessed, he was able to form a corporation with H.H. Tamman (owner of the Denver Post) and F.G. Bonfils (owner of the Kansas City Star) with a goal towards "producing some of the most marvelous moving pictures every brought before the public."
"The pictures are to be historically correct and of national importance. A set of the films when produced will be presented to the United States government as a part of the history of America, and will be filed away in the archives of the war department so that future generations may see the faces and forms and view the actual scenes of some of the greatest events in the history of America."
Estimated cost was $1000, with a deadline for January 1, 1914.
Buffalo Bill said he would personally appear in each film, including:
"Wounded Knee - Last battle fought between the North American Indians and the United States army, December 1891.
"Last surrender of the North American Indians to the United States army, which took place in January, 1891.
"Last Grand Council between North American Indian and the United States army at Piney Ridge agency, January, 1891.
"Battle of Warbonnet Cree, in which Colonel Cody killed the Cheyenne chief Yellow Hand in a single duel, on July 17, 1876.
"Battle of Summit Springs, in which Colonel Cody killed the Cheyenne chief Tall Bull, fought on July 11, 1869.
"The pictures are being prepared from an education standpoint, as well as for the purpose of financial gain, and promise to be the best and most fascinating, instructive and entertaining western pictures ever produced." ----- Source for the above is: Journal Gazette Aug 28, 1913. See below.
The films were made and titled The Indian Wars Refought and produced by the Buffalo Bill Historical Picture Company and Essanay Film Company. The silent films were directed by Theodore Wharton and stared General Nelson Miles, Charles King, and, of course, William F. Cody - all of whom participated/fought in the actual massacres/battles depicted in the movie.
The film recreated the following "Battles" (as they call them):
The Battle of Summit Springs
The Battle of Warbonnet Creek
The Battle of the Mission
The Battle of Wounded Knee
The film also features the Ghost Dance campaign, the Capture of Big Foot, war dances, and scalping. At the time, the film was viewed by some non-Indians as being too nice to Native American's, though that is NOT what the actual Native American critics thought.
It was released in 1914 and is considered a lost film.
Next: A woman reports from the greatest battle ever made.
"The pictures are to be historically correct and of national importance. A set of the films when produced will be presented to the United States government as a part of the history of America, and will be filed away in the archives of the war department so that future generations may see the faces and forms and view the actual scenes of some of the greatest events in the history of America."
Estimated cost was $1000, with a deadline for January 1, 1914.
Buffalo Bill said he would personally appear in each film, including:
"Wounded Knee - Last battle fought between the North American Indians and the United States army, December 1891.
"Last surrender of the North American Indians to the United States army, which took place in January, 1891.
"Last Grand Council between North American Indian and the United States army at Piney Ridge agency, January, 1891.
"Battle of Warbonnet Cree, in which Colonel Cody killed the Cheyenne chief Yellow Hand in a single duel, on July 17, 1876.
"Battle of Summit Springs, in which Colonel Cody killed the Cheyenne chief Tall Bull, fought on July 11, 1869.
"The pictures are being prepared from an education standpoint, as well as for the purpose of financial gain, and promise to be the best and most fascinating, instructive and entertaining western pictures ever produced." ----- Source for the above is: Journal Gazette Aug 28, 1913. See below.
The film recreated the following "Battles" (as they call them):
The Battle of Summit Springs
The Battle of Warbonnet Creek
The Battle of the Mission
The Battle of Wounded Knee
The film also features the Ghost Dance campaign, the Capture of Big Foot, war dances, and scalping. At the time, the film was viewed by some non-Indians as being too nice to Native American's, though that is NOT what the actual Native American critics thought.
It was released in 1914 and is considered a lost film.
