Arizona John Burke
{{Short description|American publicist (1842–1917)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Arizona John Burke
| image = Arizona John Burke.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Burke in 1890
| birth_name = John M. Burke
| birth_date = {{birth year|1842}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1917|4|12|1842||}}
| death_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.
| resting_place = Mount Olivet Cemetery
Washington, D.C., U.S.
| other_names =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Publicist|manager|press agent}}
| years_active =
| employer =
| known_for = publicist of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show
| notable_works =
| spouse =
| children =
| signature =
}}
John M. Burke (1842 – April 12, 1917), also known as "Arizona John" and "Major John M. Burke" was an American publicist, manager, and press agent. He is best known for his association with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.
Early life
John M. Burke was born in New York City, in 1842. He was orphaned in infancy after his parents died and was taken in by relatives in Maryland.{{cite news|title=No. 37.—Major John M. Burke. ("Arizona John.")|url=http://codyarchive.org/texts/wfc.nsp11554.html|accessdate=29 November 2017|publisher=The William F. Cody Archive.|newspaper=Black and White Magazine|date=January 20, 1888|ref=B&W}}
Career
In 1866, he made his way west to Montana Territory where he first met William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, who was Chief of Scouts for the Third Cavalry. He served Cody as a personal attendant. In 1877, Arizona John was a part of the 'Texas Jack Combination' formed by Texas Jack Omohundro and debuted in St. Louis that year.
Arizona John served as the press agent and publicist for Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show from 1883 until Cody's death in 1917. He would travel ahead of the company meeting with reporters and employed innovating techniques at the time, such as celebrity endorsements, press kits, publicity stunts, op-ed articles, billboards and product licensing, that contributed to the success and popularity of the show.{{cite news|last1=Gazette Staff|title=Grave of Buffalo Bill's promoter will finally get headstone|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/grave-of-buffalo-bill-s-promoter-will-finally-get-headstone/article_54ef5664-4958-5aa1-8f23-47f33bd5df63.html|accessdate=2017-11-29|newspaper=Billings Gazette|date=2017-04-12}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/04/12/he-made-buffalo-bill-cody-the-worlds-first-reality-star-but-he-died-a-pauper-and-was-buried-in-an-unmarked-grave/ |title=He made 'Buffalo Bill' Cody the world's first reality star. But he died a pauper buried in an unmarked grave. |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2017-04-12 |last=Hendix |first=Steve |access-date=2022-01-17}}
In 1893 he published a biography of Buffalo Bill titled Buffalo Bill from Prairie to Palace.{{cite book|last1=Burke|first1=John M.|title="Buffalo Bill" from Prairie to Palace|date=1893|publisher=Rand, McNally & Company|location=Chicago, New York|url=https://archive.org/details/buffalobillfromp00burk|accessdate=29 November 2017}}
Despite being called "Major", Burke never served in the military; similarly, aside from his name, he was not associated with Arizona.{{cite web|url=https://centerofthewest.org/2019/11/08/points-west-online-unmasking-mysterious-major-burke/| title=Unmasking the Mysterious Major Burke – Points West Online| date=November 8, 2019|publisher=Center of the West|accessdate=2023-11-14}}
Death
File:Maj. John M. Burke "Arizona John" (1842-1917).jpg]]
Burke died in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 1917, and was buried in an unmarked grave in Mount Olivet Cemetery. On April 12, 2017, a permanent marker was erected.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commonscatinline}}
- {{librivox author|id=13318}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burke, Arizona John}}
Category:Public relations pioneers
Category:Burials at Mount Olivet Cemetery (Washington, D.C.)