ANYONE KNOW WHAT WPA MEANS ON OLD WILD BILL HICKOK PHOTO?

I think this is a movie still? Or maybe a publicity phot?
But what does the WPA-7-18 mean? I think I remember that on old movie stills?
Thank you for any help!

 

First of all, it's WAP, not WPA.

This does have the look of a photo of a movie actor in full costume, but not really a "still" from a movie.

But as for "Wild Bill Hickock" I think you may be off base. Wild Bill died in the 1870's and would never have been caught dead in that fancy outfit. There was a silent film about him released in 1923, but the few pics I saw while searching do not resemble this man.

 

The white hair and particular style of beard look more like Buffalo Bill Cody - or at least someone portraying him. He died in 1917.

 

Maybe Buffalo Bill - dressed for one of his traveling shows?
I must have dyslexia - do you know what WAP stands for?

 

I'm betting this gentleman starred in a silent movie in 1917. That looks like a movie studio photo, one of those photos they had made for stars to autograph and send out to fans.

 

It looks a little like him.....but I doubt it's Bill.

 

Obviously it's Colonel Sanders before he went pale

 

That costume certainly looks designed for b&w film. If 7-18 is a coded date, here's a list of 1918 movie releases, eight of which were Westerns. May be helpful.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_films_of_1918

Debora

 

Maybe from a production of Annie Get Your Gun?

 

His eyes look awfully familiar. Not as Buffalo Bill either. That is a sweet outfit he's wearing. Did anyone notice it has Barber half dollar coins attached to it? Although I can't make out the detail, I believe the 2 smaller ones by the lapel are Buffalo nickels.

 

It's Tex Cooper
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0178416/

 

Way down on the Imdb list - played Buffalo Bill in a 1935 movie!

 

Clever you both!

Debora

 

King of the Bullwhip 1950...WAP = Western Adventure Production I'd guess.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0178416/mediaviewer/rm1056441600

 

Interesting - looks like the same costume, but in a 1950 film? Plus this title doesn't show up on Cooper's list of credits?

I've always loved the name "Lash LaRue."

 

Here's some history on Lash LaRue and his productions.

http://www.b-westerns.com/lash2.htm

Debora

 

According to this, film company reused everything including footage!

Debora

 

On IMDB under Tex Cooper, it does show him playing Buffalo Bill in the 1950 King of the Bullwhip.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0178416/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm

 

How did I miss that? Too early to focus I guess.