Western

Indians and Cowboys

Indians and Cowboys

August 27, 1904

A captured Indian marauder is beaten by a gang of cowboys. Seeking vengeance, the Indians attack a stagecoach and abduct its passengers. The cowboys ride in pursuit and successfully rescue the captives.

The Great Train Robbery

The Great Train Robbery

June 26, 1904

A remake of Edwin S. Porter's film of the same title.

A Brush Between Cowboys and Indians

May 28, 1904

Shows a band of mischievous cowboys being chased by Indians. A number of shots are fired at the pursuing Indians by the cow punchers, and the Indians' arrows are seen landing in the water pretty close to the fleeing men.

Western Stage Coach Hold Up

May 28, 1904

A band of robbers are playing cards in the foreground of the picture. Suddenly one of the gang who has been on the lookout for the stage coach rides up in great haste. They quickly dodge behind a clump of trees and lay in wait. Soon the coach appears and is stopped by the bandits. The occupants are compelled to come down from their hiding places at the point of the gun and after being relieved of their valuables, are allowed to continue on their way. As soon as the stage drives off the robbers make for their ponies and take to the woods.

Bucking Broncos

Bucking Broncos

April 30, 1904

Some cowboys of the Wild West Show saddle bronchos not without difficulties.

Tracked by Bloodhounds; or, A Lynching at Cripple Creek

April 8, 1904

A tramp kills a generous woman. In revenge, her husband tracks down and lynches the tramp.

The Great Train Robbery

The Great Train Robbery

December 7, 1903

After the train station clerk is assaulted and left bound and gagged, then the departing train and its passengers robbed, a posse goes in hot pursuit of the fleeing bandits.

Grand Review

January 1, 1903

The Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show introduces rough riders from all the world.

The Indian Chief and the Seidlitz Powder

The Indian Chief and the Seidlitz Powder

August 1, 1901

An inventive use of slow-motion filming helps hammer home the gag as an unconvincing 'Indian chief' hopes to dissolve some trapped wind with a popular brand of indigestion powder.

Kidnapping by Indians

Kidnapping by Indians

September 1, 1899

Kidnapping by Indians is a 1899 British silent short Western film, made by the Mitchell and Kenyon film company, shot in Blackburn, England. It is believed to be the first Western film, pre-dating Edwin S. Porter's The Great Train Robbery by four years.

Cripple Creek Bar-Room Scene

Cripple Creek Bar-Room Scene

May 1, 1899

Rowdy patrons visit an Old West saloon.

Poker at Dawson City

Poker at Dawson City

February 1, 1899

People spill drink on themselves, supposedly after a poker game during the Yukon Gold Rush.

Parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, No. 1

Parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, No. 1

June 12, 1898

The famous show makes a parade.

Parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, No. 2

Parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, No. 2

May 31, 1898

The famous show makes a parade.

Exit of Rip and the Dwarf

Exit of Rip and the Dwarf

September 30, 1896

A series of short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson which chronicle the adventures of Rip Van Winkle.

A Frontier Scene

June 1, 1895

A western short depicting the execution of a horse thief by a group of enraged cowboys. This film is considered to be lost.

Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley

November 1, 1894

Annie Oakley was probably the most famous marksman/woman in the world when this short clip was produced in Edison's Black Maria studio in West Orange, New Jersey. Barely five feet tall, Annie was always associated with the wild west, although she was born in 1860 as Phoebe Ann Oakley Mozee (or Moses)in Darke County, Ohio. Nevertheless, she was a staple in the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show and similar wild west companies. Because of her diminutive stature, she was billed as "Little Sure Shot." The man assisting her is this appearance is probably her husband, Frank E. Butler. Annie had outshot Butler (a famous dead-eye marksman himself) in a shooting contest in the 1880's. Instead of nursing his bruised ego because he had been throughly outgunned by a woman, Butler fell in love, married Little Sure Shot, and became her manager.

Bucking Broncho

Bucking Broncho

October 16, 1894

Lee Martin, one of the cowboy stars in 'Buffalo Bill's Wild West', rides a bronco as a crowd looks on. While the horse is trying to throw Martin off its back, another cowboy stands on top of a fence rail and occasionally fires his six-shooter, to spur on both horse and rider.

Buffalo Dance

Buffalo Dance

September 23, 1894

Long before Hollywood started painting white men red and dressing them as 'Injuns' Edison's company was using the genuine article! Featuring for what is believed to be the Native Americans first appearance before a motion picture camera 'Buffalo Dance' features genuine members of the Sioux Tribe dressed in full war paint and costume! The dancers are believed to be veteran members of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Filmed again at the Black Maria studios by both Dickson and Heise the 'Buffalo Dance' warriors were named as Hair Coat, Parts His Hair and Last Horse. Its quite strange seeing these movies at first they all stand around waiting to begin and as they start some of the dancers look at the camera in an almost sad way at having lost their way of life.

Sioux Ghost Dance

Sioux Ghost Dance

September 23, 1894

From Edison films catalog: One of the most peculiar customs of the Sioux Tribe is here shown, the dancers being genuine Sioux Indians, in full war paint and war costumes. 40 feet. 7.50. According to Edison film historian C. Musser, this film and others shot on the same day (see also Buffalo dance) featured Native American Indian dancers from Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, and represent the American Indian's first appearance before a motion picture camera.