Oakley, feeling threatened by Smith’s shooting talents and youth, shaved 6 years


off her age telling everyone she was 20 years old to give the appearance her youth was as competitive an edge for her as it was for Smith. Annie Oakley and Lillian Smith ac- quaintance marked a lifelong ri- valry between the two women.


The 1886 summer tour of the


Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show began in Staten Island, New York. Smith and Oakley shared equal billing but were far from equal or similar, save for being cowgirl sharpshooters. Oakley was skilled with the shotgun while Smith pre- ferred the rifle. Even their fash- ion sense and style were on oppo- site ends. Oakley dressed impec- cably and modestly, terms that described her behavior as well. Whereby Smith’s attire was considered “less than modest” and her flirtations with the men of the Wild West troupe gave way to rumors of her promiscuity.


In 1887, tensions between Smith and Oakley intensified when the Wild West


Show went to London as part of the U.S. delegation to perform at Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It was quite a departure for a British Monarch to attend an event outside of Buckingham Palace. But Queen Victoria was a lover of theater and en- joyed the show so much she wanted to meet “the two American women.” Both Smith and Oakley curtsied graciously to Queen Victoria but Smith took that opportune moment to show the Queen her rifle.


“Rifle shooting is all the rage here now,” Frank Butler, Oakley’s husband and


manager wrote to American Field magazine from London. Even with Annie Oakley’s success in London, her career was challenged and,


perhaps, her ego was bruised by Buffalo Bill’s newer, and younger, sharpshooter, Lillian Smith. Oakley quit the Wild West Show before the end of the summer of 1887.


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