American showman Buffalo Bill whose real name was William Frederick Cody (b.1846, d.1917) brought his Wild West Show to Britain and visited a great many towns including 21 in Wales. The show revolved around the concept of native American Indians being ‘bad guys’ attacking brave white folks’ wagons. Hmmmm.The show travelled by train, and on Wednesday 27th May 1903 played in Rhyl (for two performances) on a carelessly-described patch of land that I imagine to be the area that eventually became Ocean Beach car park, opposite Marine Lake. Mr Cody’s publicity machine was well-oiled and large crowds gathered wherever he went.
Rhyl’s intrepid film maker Arthur Cheetham was on hand to capture
a fleeting glimpse (just a few seconds) of Mr Cody in High Street on his way to or from a Masonic meeting upstairs at The Lorne pub.
(I wonder if DJ Pete McGuinness knows that Buffalo Bill went there). I’ve seen the film; it’s quite good but not worth staying up late for.
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