Bohlin had not given up his earlier dream of becoming a silversmith.  While working on the Pitchfork Ranch on the Greybull River in Wyoming, Bohlin made a three-piece buckle set from copper, using a jeweler’s blowpipe to heat the metal as in a forge. 

These and other artistic achievements, along with his art training, encouraged him to open his first silver and saddle shop in Cody, Wyoming, just across the street from Buffalo Bill Cody’s Irma Hotel.  It was in this shop that he created his first fancy silver-mounted cowboy gear.  He continued to punch cattle, and also drove a four-horse stage between Cody and Painter, Wyoming, in addition to his silver and leather work in the shop where he lived.

 
While in Billings, Montana, on a buying trip for his shop, an event occurred that changed his life.  Billboards around town advertised a vaudeville performance with live horses on the stage, for which he purchased a ticket.  Bohlin recognized one of the act’s performers from one of his earlier cattle drives and was introduced by him to the show’s manager.  When Eddie showed the manger some of his rope tricks that he had picked up along the way, he got hired.  The act consisted of four cow ponies, a bucking horse and a comedian working along with a little burro.  Eddie’s principal job was to ride the bucking horse when the regular rider was absent, and to perform various rope tricks, such as rope spinning.  The vaudeville act, no matter how small-time, eventually gave Bohlin an unexpected break.