Arizona John Burke facts for kids
John M. Burke (1842 – April 12, 1917) was a very important person behind the scenes of one of America's most famous shows. He was known as "Arizona John" and "Major John M. Burke." John Burke worked as a publicist, a manager, and a press agent. This means he helped promote and organize events. He is most famous for working with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.
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About John M. Burke
John M. Burke was born in New York City in 1842. Sadly, his parents died when he was a baby. Relatives in Maryland took him in and raised him.
Meeting Buffalo Bill
In 1866, John Burke traveled west to Montana Territory. There, he met William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody for the first time. Buffalo Bill was the Chief of Scouts for the Third Cavalry at that time. John Burke became Buffalo Bill's personal helper.
In 1877, John Burke also worked with a group called the 'Texas Jack Combination'. This group was formed by Texas Jack Omohundro. They performed for the first time in St. Louis that year.
Working with the Wild West Show
From 1883 until Buffalo Bill's death in 1917, John Burke was the main press agent and publicist for Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. His job was to make sure everyone knew about the show.
He would travel ahead of the show, meeting with newspaper reporters. He used many new and clever ways to promote the show. These included:
- Getting famous people to say they liked the show.
- Creating special press kits with information for reporters.
- Doing exciting publicity stunts to get attention.
- Writing opinion articles for newspapers.
- Putting up large billboards.
- Allowing products to use the show's name.
All these ideas helped make the Wild West show very popular and successful.
Writing and Nicknames
In 1893, John Burke wrote a book about Buffalo Bill. It was called Buffalo Bill from Prairie to Palace.
Even though he was called "Major," John Burke never served in the military. Also, despite his nickname "Arizona John," he had no special connection to the state of Arizona.
Later Life and Legacy
John Burke passed away in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 1917. He was buried in an unmarked grave at Mount Olivet Cemetery. On April 12, 2017, exactly 100 years after his death, a permanent marker was finally placed on his grave.
Images for kids
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Marker of Burke at Mount Olivet Cemetery
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