On his appointment as Marshal of Abilene, Hickok asks what happened to the previous Marshal to which the Mayor replies "He resigned." Hickok retorts "You mean he was killed." Abilene Marshal Tom 'Bear' Smith was killed November 2 1870 and it was five months until Hickok became Marshal on April 15 1871.
Despite the numerous occasions of quick draw duels in western movies, Wild Bill Hickok is the only man to have independent reports of actually carrying out an historical quick draw duel. Hickok's was reported in a newspaper soon after the event, all others are only documented in dime novels or by self promotion
Wild Bill's real name was James Butler Hickok. He had also been known as "Duck Bill" and "Shanghai Bill" and also used the names William Hickok and William Haycock.
As shown in the movie Hickok was itinerant before gaining a lawman job however reality differs in that his first appointment was as Deputy US Marshal, Fort Riley Kansas in 1865 - 6 years before his arrival in Abilene.
Although Wild Bill is shown here short haired and bearded, Hickok famously had the long flowing hair of a dandy and a moustache.