30 Photos That Show Us What the American Wild West Was Like

Despite its widespread acclaim, Buffalo Bill’s traveling show wasn’t exactly a showcase of stellar acting talent. In fact, one of the intriguing quirks of the Wild West era is that the cast often fell short in the acting department. Stories abound of their performances, where they reenacted scenes such as buffalo hunts or notorious robberies, but with a distinct lack of thespian prowess.

Surprisingly, it was their ineptitude that made the show such a hit. Audiences didn’t come for the virtuoso performances but for the unintended comedy. The cast’s bungling and occasional mishaps, like Wild Bill Hickok’s infamous stage light mishap, consistently had the crowd in stitches, even if it wasn’t always for the reasons they had anticipated.