Sure is great that museums are doing their best to keep our history alive. Had a wonderful time with a really wonderful audience last night in Ft. Collins, that has quite a history itself!
“Gunny” Jeff Norman as “Buffalo Bill” Cody in Ft. Collins’ Harmony Library
More stories and tall tales of “Buffalo Bill” Cody from the Buffalo Bill experience!
I LOVE talking to folks after the show, and hearing THEIR remembrances of Buffalo Bill and friends…
Darn that Colorado dusty air! As I was packing up after a show yesterday, the little girl in the white shirt quietly approached me and whispered… “You know what souvenirs you gave us?” I thought she may have been talking about the Morse code sheets and free coupons to the that I leave the students with after a show, and asked if those are what she was referring to… “No, she said… MEMORIES… those are the souvenirs you gave us”… darned if I didn’t get me some of that Colorado dust in my eye right about then… memories… I’ll be… she’ll be one of mine for sure…
Buffalo Bill Cody reenactor “Gunny” Jeff Norman makin’ some memories and takin’ some home with him…
Had such a great time at Schweiger Ranch’s Campfire Series yesterday evening… started out windy with rain off in the distance and ended up bein’ a perfect night for sharing Bill’s stories around the campfire. Great crew and great audience. Schweiger Ranch is a restoration project that’s turned out AMAZING after a TON of hard work. I really admire folks keepin’ history alive… here’s more info on Schweiger Ranch; https://schweigerranch.org/
Gunny Jeff Norman tellin’ Buffalo Bill stories around the campfire!
Last kids’ show for a while now that school’s out… I was pretty surprised that these 4th graders were as attentive and engaged, havin’ one foot out the door for summer break. (Admittedly, I might not have been QUITE so disciplined.) The beauty next to me is my daughter Lydia, one of the classes’ teachers. The kids were WAY shocked when she confessed that I’m her Dad at the end of the show… all in all, a real good memory to take me through the summer… hope it provides one for the kids as well… next up… Arkansas???
The kids couldn’t believe their teacher was “Buffalo Bill’s” daughter!
Payin’ attention to Buffalo Bill’s adventures, even on the last school day before summer!
Apparently somethin’ was comin’ straight at “Buffalo Bill”!
What a weekend for the BBE… I was invited by the amazing folks of Texas’ Baytown Historical Preservation Association to come down and talk all about Buffalo Bill’s friends and adventures… I can’t say enough about their genuine heartfelt hospitality… from the gift basket waiting for us at the hotel, the hugs when we first met, the props they had acquired for my stage, the appreciative sold-out show audience, to the post-show meal and pies they had wrapped up for us to take back to our room. Definitely a weekend I won’t forget… one last thing… it was great to see the patriotism displayed ALL throughout Baytown… I confess I was checking out your real estate pricing on the way out… sure felt like a place I could call home. Thanks so much for everything…
“Buffalo Bill” tellin’ the amazing Baytown Historical Preservation Association all about his friends and adventures
This smilin’ beauty went all out for Buffalo Bill, and got herself a buffalo purse for the occasion!
Said buffalo purse!
Somebody’s got to do it!! The best part of being Buffalo Bill! lol
Buffalo Bill’s newest best friend Wybra!
Smiles all around after the show with Buffalo Bill!
An appreciative crowd always brings the best out of this “Buffalo Bill”… many thanks for that!
The BBE had one last school show to do before heading to Baytown, Texas, for their annual historical society fundraiser! These kids at Wildcat Mountain Elementary were FIRED UP to learn about their frontier!! Next up? The “Lone Star State”!!!
Buffalo Bill tells just how tall the bully was!
I’m not sure exactly what Buffalo Bill’s doing here!
These young ladies stayed after the show to talk with “Buffalo Bill” about how beaver pelts were made into hats!
Back in action at Pine Grove Elementary, and this time my granddaughter was in the audience, makin’ it even more special… she was able to keep me a secret until after the show with some hugs in the playground… her friends were sure surprised! Great day at Pine Grove… see you next year with a new 4th grade class!
Buffalo Bill Cody reenactor Gunny Jeff Norman back again with the kids at Pine Grove Elementary!
I have no idea what this Buffalo Bill impersonator is doin’! lol
Can you say “engaged”? Kids love hearin’ all about Buffalo Bill Cody and his friends, Kit Carson, Annie Oakley, Wild Bill Hickok and Sitting Bull!
After performing for over 5 years in the Douglas County School district where I reside, my sidekick’s new schedule now makes it possible for me to go to our neighboring Jefferson County… so here I am at Mortensen Elementary, and it turns out their kids are just as fired up about learning history!
“Gunny” Jeff Norman as “Buffalo Bill” Cody in his Buffalo Bill Experience
“Buffalo Bill” Cody doin’ some ‘splainin’ about the frontier!
The cavalry was “up there on that ridge”!
Back for the third time at “Challenge School”… these 3rd and 4th grade kids are scary smart, and have a trophy case chock full of engineering, math and chess trophies to prove it… it’s always a pleasure to introduce Buffalo Bill Cody and share his frontier life with these amazing kids…
The Buffalo Bill Experience was honored to come back to the Challenge School again! These are exceptional kids!
If you ever need to rejuvenate yourself from all the stuff goin’ on in the world, go and talk with some 4th graders… their enthusiasm and perception is invigorating to say the least… here are some shots from the shows I did this week. One of the more memorable questions I got this time was; “My ancestors are Sioux… did they try and kill you?” Hmmm… I told her it was indeed a mutual endeavor at the time, but ended with Bill and the Sioux, especially Sitting Bull, becoming mutually respected friends and performers… whew… one of the tougher ones…
The kids always seem to want to know more about ME, and how I got started doing this, and I had several kids come up to shake my hand, thank me for my service, and excitedly talk about their family members who served as well at the end of the show… some even share that THEY wish to serve when they get old enough. They always leave the classroom buzzing all about life on the frontier… this re-enacting thing has become my personal fountain of youth…
Buffalo Bill “making a point” at Highland’s Ranch Heritage Elementary School!
It was “Crazy Hat Day” at Cherokee Trail Elementary… they mix learning with fun over there!
Buffalo Bill always gets ganged up on after a show… the kids especially love the authentic arrow and the old buffalo bladder that Native Americans had several uses for…