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The Wild West emerged as a concept around 1865 after the end of the Civil War. It lasted for about 30 years and incorporated all of the land west of the Mississippi River across to the Pacific Ocean. The period gained its name as it was known for cowboys, the violent suppression of indigenous communities, outlaws, pioneers, gunfighters, and lawmen trying to keep some sort of order in these difficult territories. As pioneers forged their way west, searching for their fortune, Native Americans were pushed off the lands on which they lived, hunted, and regarded as theirs. Many wars broke out between Native Americans and the invading white men until the indigenous population was forced to surrender and were compensated by the government with small pieces of land called reservations. This guide will explore how the Wild West has been depicted on stage, looking at portrayals of life on the frontier, wild west shows, and industrial expansion.

Terminology

• American Frontier: The vast, unsettled land west of white civilization until 1890.
• Gold Rush: The rapid movement of people to a newly discovered goldfield, seeking their fortune.
• Indigenous: Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place.
• Civil War: A civil war in the United States fought between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865.
• Backwoodsman: A man living in the forest in or beyond the new settlements, especially on the western frontiers of the United States in the nineteenth century.
• Vaudeville: A type of popular entertainment popular chiefly in the early twentieth century, featuring a mixture of specialty acts, such as burlesque comedy and song and dance.
• California Genocide: The killing of thousands of indigenous peoples of California by United States government agents and private citizens in the 19th century.

Key Dates & Events

• 1846 - Beginning of the Mexican-American War, which lasted until 1848.
• 1848 - Beginning of the California Gold Rush, which would last until 1855.
• 1850 - California becomes the 31st state of America.
• 1852 - The birth of Martha Jane Cannary, popularly known as Calamity Jane.
• 1860 - The birth of Annie Oakley. She goes on to marry Frank E. Butler in 1876.
• 1869 - The first US transcontinental railroad, known originally as the Pacific Railroad, is completed.
• 1943 - The original production of Oklahoma! opens on Broadway.
• 1946 - Annie Get Your Gun opens on Broadway, offering a fictionalized version of the life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley.
• 1960 - Premiere of The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
• 1961 - Following its huge movie success, Calamity Jane is adapted for the stage.
• 1991 - The Will Rogersâ€� Follies premieres and goes on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical.
• 2009 - Premiere of Bonnie & Clyde in San Diego, CA.