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Excerpts From the New York Clipper - 1870s
1860s
1870-71
1872-73
1874-76
1877-79
1880s
1900s
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The New York Clipper was a weekly trade newspaper for the entertainment industry from 1853 to the 1920s, when it became Variety. Microfilms of the Clipper are available from various libraries and other sources. The Clipper contained regular news about circuses. These excerpts are interesting for the information on circuses, acts, personnel and circus life. Included here are a limited number of dates and amount of information on circuses published in the Clipper. Note: the Clipper had typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. All information should be checked with additional sources. Transcribed by Judith L. Griffin.
1870
Note: the microfilm of the Clipper is sometimes difficult to read. Information with a word or words underlined indicate that the transcription may not be correct. Unreadable words are indicated by ___. There will be typographical errors.
New York Clipper, January 1, 1870, pp. 307, 311. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] Show privileges not yet sold for the Yankee Robinson Consolidated Show. Our receipts last season were over $___, documents to show a country no considered very good - from Dayton to Albany. A good chance for a man with ready money. Address "Yankee" Robinsion, Clipper.
Orton Brothers' Southern Circus was billed for Clinton, Texas, December 15th, Victoria 16th . . . Indianola 20th and 21st, Victoria 22d . . . Corpus Christi 29th, 30th and 31st, and January 1st, King's Ranch, January 3d, from Kings Ranch they travel to Brownsville, and then into Mexico. "The company," says a correspondent, "have done a splendid biz in Texas. Times are good, and hotel bills are low. . . . Smith's Circus showed in opposition in opposition at San Antonio on December 8th and 9th. Charley Noyes is coming into the state soon."
New York Clipper, January 8, 1870, pp. 318, 319. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[New York City] William A. Donovan, gymnast, and a most excellent general performer, died very suddenly in this city, on Dec. 26th, of congestion of the lung, and was buried on Dec. 28th at Greenwood. He leaves a widow nearly destitute and a child. He was connected with the New York Circus where he has been for a long time. He performed for the last time on Wednesday night, Dec. 22.
[San Francisco] The Great Eastern Royal European Circus will arrive from the Sandwich Islands about the first of January. . . .
H. W. Smith's Circus arrived in San Antonio, Texas, on Dec. _th and remained until the 13th. A correspondent says: "Aming the company are H. M. Smith and son, Frank. Miles, Victoria and Laura, the Miaco Brothers . . . Johnny Lawton. H. M. Smith, manager; T. W. Campbell, treasurer, C. J. Breen, ringmaster, and Jack Brandon, advertiser. The company returned from British Honduras last June, and took a boat and traveled up the Mississippi river . . . they took wagons and went through to Shreveport by way of Arkansas, and then on to Texas. Since then they have been in Texas, where they have been doing an excellent business. While in Austin, Mo. [sic?], Smith, while riding a bareback carrying act with his son Frank, had his ___ sprained by the fall of his horse. On the arrival at San Antonio they found Orton Brothers' Circus playing there. Upon the arrival of Smith's Circus in town, the Orton Bros., who had been showing for one dollar, put their price down to fifty cents. Smith stuck to his dollar admission, and the result proved he was ___. At night Smith was crowded to suffocation, and continued so during the stay of both parties in town, while the Orton had hardly enough in their house to pay their license. The Ortons left here on Dec. __th for Mexico, and Smith on Dec. __th for Houston and Galveston. While the two companies were here, one of the men, Chas. Preston, a hostler, formerly employed by Orton, but at that time working for Smith, was so badly beaten that he died. The boys of Smith's Circus started a subscription to bury him, and on going to Orton for a contribution, he rudely refused to have anything to do with the funeral and, after giving permission for his company to attend the burial at the appointed time, he ordered all of his people to go out in procession, thereby preventing any of them from attending. . . ."
Charley Noyes Circus opened in Galveston, Texas, on Dec. __th, and remained four days. A correspondent says: "Texas is overrun with circuses, Smith's Crescent City Circus and the Orton Bros.' Southern Circus are here, in addition to Noyes. Mrs. Lake took a part of the state, as also Hemmings, Whitby and Cooper. . . .
The circus combination, with Jas. Robinson at the head, closed at the Louisville, Ky., Opera House, on Jan. 1st. Our correspondent says: "The acts of Jas. Robinson and his son Clarence were alone worth the price of admission. G. M. Kelley, the champion leaper; Jas. Madigan, pad and double somersault rider . . . Lipman and Walters are proprietors, and Jas. Robinson, equestrian director. The first week the Victorelli Brothers performed with them; the past week the Lowanda Brothers appeared on the trapeze. The stage is transformed into a ring by taking the wings out and boxing in, erecting a guard around the ring, the latter being covered with India rubber and earth thrown on the raised circus for foot hold. It does not mar the stage, which affords space for a forty foot ring."
Stowe and Orton's Circus and Caravan showed in Eutaw, Ala. three days to good audiences, and were to go thence to Tuskaloosa, Greensboro, Marion, Selma, Cahawba and Montgomery. Their principal performers are the Orton Family, consisting of Miles Orton, with his son Claudie, Master Leon, Miss Orton, Miss Jessie (slack wire), Caroline Orton, Andrew Gaffany, L. Munson. Miles Orton is Treasurer and Equetrian Director. The Van Zandt Brothers are features of the show.
The co-partnership which has been existing between Yankee Robinson and P. A. Older for five years, has been mutually dissolved, and next season the Yankee takes the road on his own account.
New York Clipper, January 15, 1870, pp. 326, 327. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[New York City] Fred. Levantine, one of the Levantine Brothers, gymnasts, engaged at the New York Circus, fell and broke his leg during the rehearsal of the triple giant swing on the horizontal bar at that establishment . . .
[New York City] Stone and Murray's Circus take steamer at Savannah, Geo., on Jan. __th, for this city, to lay up for the balance of the season.
The James Robinson Circus opened at the National, Cincinnati, on Jan. _d, to a pretty good house, which fell off the next evening, but biz has been fair the rest of the week. Our correspondent says: "The venture is principally one of Mike Lipman's, but as his name has not heretofore been associated with good fortune, it has been this time kept sub rosa. The present circus deserves success. If it does not achieve it, for several of the actors are almost unrivaled in their own lines. The spacious stage has been turned into a forty foot ring without difficulty, the circle being covered with an India rubber ring, which Mr. Robinson has patented. The riding coprs is very fine, embracing James Robinson and his son Clarence, James Madigan and Lucille Watson - Madigan, in addition, does his double somersault. The others of the company are George M. Kelly, who claims to be the best leaper in the world; Burrows and Burdeau, acrobats and gymnasts; Lowanda Brothers, trapeze performers; Frank Robinson, contortionist; and Charles Mathews, rope performer. Jimmy Reynolds is a pleasant, lively clown and always makes a good impression. They came for one week originally, but will probably remain another."
Wm. La Rue can be engaged for the coming season with infant so Leon; he does a bareback and a carrying act.
Mrs. Lake writes us that Mr. Thayer has gone to Granby, Mo., after the remains of her husband, and that they will be removed to Spring Grove, Cincinnati, Ohio, where she has bought a beautiful lot and contemplates erecting a monument in memory of the old showman.
The European and American Circus, under the management of Wm. T. Aymar, opened at the Paterson, N.J., Wigwam on Dec. 29th to a full house, and has been playing to good business ever since. A correspondent says: "It is probably one of the best ring shows in the country. The following are among some of the members of the company: James E. Cooke, leaper and rider; Mad. Carlotta de Berg, equestrienne; Signor Sebastian, the bareback rider, with his son and daughter . . . Sam Melville and Wm. T. Aymar, the latter being a native and a great favorite in Paterson."
Mrs. Chas. Werner's Great Champion Circus has some new faces. Luke Rivers, scenic rider; Wm. Sparks, cannon ball performer; Chas. Teese and George King, daring gymnasts.
Stone and Murray's Circus will be in Macon, Geo., 11th . . . Brunswick 13th, Lake City, Fla. 14th, Jacksonville 15th, and Savannah, Geo. 17th, 18th and 19th, where they close up and ship by the Beneral Barnes for this city. The business is reported to have been extraordinarily large and the proprietors have saved some money.
John Robinson is traveling lower Georgia and Florida at present with his menagerie, steering for Alabama and going thence up the Mississippi.
G. G. Grady's Circus, in lower Georgia, is doing very well.
Reynolds' Menagerie is traveling through Georgia on the borders of South Carolina, intending to go into South Carolina.
Stowe and Orton's Circus is peregrinating through northern Alabama and Mississippi, doing only fair business.
Hemmings, Cooper and Whitby, with their circus, are coming out of Arkansas, working through Louisiana and Mississippi. They have not been successful on their southern tour.
New York Clipper, January 22, 1870, p. 335. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Billy Jacobs, with the John Robinson Circus and Menagerie, was shot dead in a small town in lower Florida, on Jan. __th, by a fakir known in the profession as "Scottie." The shooting is said to have been accidental. His right name is Burns and his relatives reside in Cincinnati, to which place his body will be conveyed for internment. He traveled with S. S. Sanford years ago as Master Willie. With the John Robinson show he rode in the entree and performed in the concert show.
Mrs. Warner's Circus, in Philadelphia, is strengthened in its attractions this week by the appearance of Carlotta De Berg, James E. Cooke and Frank Whittaker.
Ben Brown joins John Robinson's Circus at Tallahasse, Fla., this week.
G. G. Grady's Circus pitched tent at Hawkinsville, Ga., on Jan. _th, and did well there. Mad. Marie Macarte, J. Johnson, Charles Covelli, G. H. Grady, the Burdeau Brothers, Millie Marietta, Mrs. G. G. Grady, O'Neal and Dan Rhodes, are in the party. On Dec. __th Dan Rhodes was stabbed in the right side after the night show.
The James Robinson Circus closed its season last week at the National Theatre, Cincinnati. Our correspondent writes: "Biz. slackened down and they have been losing all the week. Two gentlemen who had been in charge when the concern came here from Louisville, Messrs. J. H. Shannon and W. A. Mountcash, fearing they might be arrested for debt, ___ away at the close of last week and were next heard from in Memphis. They claim that Mr. Mike Lipman, who was associated with them, had engaged to pay the advertising bills and printing. Mr. Lipman denies this. The circus has been run this week by R. E. J. Miles, the manager of the theatre. But the circumstances of the company having been published by the city papers, the opinion got out that the circus was but a mountebank affair and there has been but a bleak looking house each evening this week. It is but just to record that the circus itself is one of the best that has ever visited this city. They will probably disband here, as this burgh was looked upon as a last resort, after their unsuccessful seasons in Louisville and Chicago. The regular theatrical season recommences next week. Tonight (Friday) is set apart for the benefit of Mike Lipman.
New York Clipper, January 29, 1870, pp. 342, 343. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[San Francisco, Jan. 12] Cooke's Circus, at the Metropolitan Theatre, proved a failure, notwithstanding the fact that the prices were reduced to 50 and 25 cents. The company are weak and suffered by comparison with Castello's and Chiarini; it closed last Saturday evening with a benefit to Griffith, the business manager.
Dan Gardner and John Forepaugh are to run a menagerie and circus under the title of "Forepaugh and Gardner's Menagerie and Circus." They have already engaged some excellent talent, among whom are the gymnasts, Browne and Sandford, Charley Madigan, Eliza Runyon and Frank Whittaker. The above George Brown is the performer who, it was rumored, had been killed in turning his forward knee somersault while traveling with Adam Forepaugh last summer.
Wm. Morgan, the hurdle rider, goes with Adam Forepaugh next season.
Frank Kelsh is to be manager of John Brien's Menagerie next season. This show travels without a circus.
Clark Gibbs, clown and snare drummer, having been with the C. W. Noyes Circus, is prepared to arrange with managers for the approaching season. Prior to his departure from the company he was presented with a snare drum.
Lake's Circus is advertised to be sold at auction at Memphis, Tenn., on Feb. 21st.
New York Clipper, February 5, 1870, pp. 347, 351. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] The female clown, a circus novelty introduced by the Macart Sisters, just arrived from Europe. Also, lady hurdle riding, principal riding, character riding, double and single dancers. Address Dan Rhodes, Clipper office.
[Advertisement] "Yankee" Robinson's Consolidated Show privileges are still on the market. None should apply without cash in advance. Will furnish for sideshow, the largest organ in America. Also, tent, etc. . . .
[Advertisement] Great sale at auction of the Hippo-Olympian and Mammoth Circus, of the late William Lake, at Memphis, Tennessee, Monday, February 21st, '70, commencing and continuing daily until all the property has been sold, consisting of over forty head of ring stock . . . one fine band chariot, in poor condition, painting or repairs required. One splendid ticket wagon. Two box wagons. None baggage including one pole wagon. A large assortment of band, baggage and carriage harness; also the splendid new wardrobe of "Mazeppa," as arranged for the ring by the late Mr. William Lake. 110 foot round top canvas, 40 foot dressing room canvases, with seats, poles, guys, &c. N.B. The wagons, harness and complete outfit was entirely new last May and are in first rate ___. . . . Address, Madame Agnes Lake, Worsham House, Memphis, Tenn.
John J. Nathans, manager and part owner of the European Circus, who has been on a trip to Florida and Georgia, returned on Jan. 29th. He reports the business of the several southern traveling shows as having been good.
Peter Conklin (clown) who intended to go to California, has postponed his trip and engaged to Hyatt Frost, manager of the Van Amburgh Circus and Menagerie.
John Henry Cooke and wife and the Bedouin Arabs were to open at the Philadelphia Circus on the 31st. Frank Whittaker has come to act as clown and is now the ring master at this establishment.
Ben Maginley, the comedian, clown and equestrian director, will travel in the eastern country during the coming season.
Albert Aymar arrived in Rio Janeiro on Dec. 17th, after a passage of twenty-five days from New York. There he met Chiarini's circus, with which party he opened on Dec. 19th for six weeks, and was to go thence to Montevideo, where he expected to join his brother "Walter's" circus. Ross and Carlo, Dick Rivers, El Nino Eddie and Fred Sylvester are with Chiarini.
Edward Kincaid, of Mansfield, Ohio, is fitting up a circus and menagerie for the coming season, the menagerie consisting of eight cages of animals.
Circus managers are already making active preparations for the coming tenting season, overhauling their luggage vans, having them repainted and restored, building new wagons and otherwise putting their paraphernalia in good running order. Owing to the severe and continued storms of last season, many shows returned with their canvases in a dilapidated condition, and berfore these companies can go on the road again, new oblong or round tops will have to be made, also dressing room canvases. . . .
Mr. William Hanlon, one of the well known Hanlon brothers, has just obtained two letters patent of the United States, one relating to and protecting him in the monopoly of his new feat - "Hanlon's Great act" - and the other being for a new 'safety platform or apron,' applicable to various gymnastic performances, capable of making easy those feats which have been heretofore considered difficult, and serving as a preventive against injury to the performer. He has also, we understand, applied for letters patent in several European countries. The patents referred to are said to be the first granted for gymnastic performances.
New York Clipper, February 12, 1870, p. 359. All information should be checked with additional sources.
The Orton Brothers' Circus had a "cleaning" match on Jan. 21st at Union Hill, Texas. Some roughs tried to pass into the show without paying, but the canvas boys went for the crowd and "cleaned" them. After the concert at night three roughs returned and commenced firing on the canvasmen. None of the circus boys were hurt, but one of the roughs was reported to have died the following day.
G. G. Grady's Circus is traveling through Georgia, and the route advertised is Watkinsville 7th, Athens 8th, Lexington 9th, Pennfield 10th, Greensboro 11th, Crawfordsville 12, Washington 14th, Wrightsboro 15th . . . Thompson 17th, Appline 18th, Belair 19th, Augusta, Ga., 21st, 22d and 23d. Thence to Savannah, where they show on the 13th, 14th and 15th of March. Thence through South Carolina to Charleston, where they will show 23d, 24th and __th of April. They experienced terrible bad weather at Milledgeville, Ga., where they stayed a week for repairs. Since leaving they had some splendid weather. . . .
The Smith Crescent City Circus showed in Bryan, Texan, on Jan. 20th and 21st. A correspondent says: "They are on their way to Calvert, their next stand, where they will show for three or four weeks in a building, as they are going to repair, rest and buy new wagons."
Hiram Marks was lately arrested in Cincinnati, Ohio, to answer an indictment found against him by the grand jury, in November last, for entering horses at an under valuation while traveling with North's Circus. He gave bail in the sum of $500 to appear as a witness against Sheppard at the February term of court. Mr. Marks is the owner of one of the horses and said to have been smuggled from Canada. It is a beautiful black animal, six years old, and has a star on his forehead. He is now at Louisville, where Mr. Marks resides. That gentleman claims that he has at home receipts showing that Sheppard guaranteed the horse to be "duty paid," and that he bought him under that distinct understanding, having paid Sheppard $__ in gold, which amount Sheppard stated the duty would amount to. In the lot of horses which Sheppard is charged with bringing through there were seventeen head. The Treasury Department has already secured sixteen of them and the horse now held by Mr. Marks is the seventeenth. Mr. Marks informs us that he holds a receipt given him by Sheppard as having paid duties on the horse bought by himself.
Jerry Hopper, clown, has returned from the south to Detroit, Mich., where he intends to spend the balance of the winter. He is engaged for the coming season with P. A. Older's museum, circus and menagerie.
For French's circus, Mr. William Dalton has been engaged as principal equestrian, also the Zanfretta Family. Mr. French and Mr. Sprague are now in the city completing their engagements.
John Robinson's circus which recently exhibited at Tallahasse, Fla., met with a terrific rain storm. Mr. John J. Nathans, who was on a visit to that place on the same day, reports the storm as being the severest he had ever witnessed . . .
The Reynolds Menagerie, which has been traveling in the Carolinas during the past week, has been doing a good business, and two additional animal cages have been shipped to the concern from this city. They will exhibit at Unionville, N.C., Feb. __th.
. . . George F. Bailey's menagerie and circus. Mr. Ben Maginley, humorist, has been re-engaged as equestrian director and clown. Signor Sebastian, principal bareback equestrian, is also re-engaged, and is at present practicing on his farm near New Brunswick, N.J.
Charles Noyes' Circus is still in Texas, and business is reported good. Mr. Noyes has been enabled to settle several claims, and has ordered new wagons to be shipped to him from Cincinnati to New Orleans.
Ben Crosby has returned from Texas and reports business as good. He is engaged by Hyatt Frost, of Van Amburgh's Menagerie and Circus, as treasurer, next season.
For the European Circus, Frank Pastor, the somersault equestrian, has been engaged for the coming traveling season. The misunderstanding of the engagement made with Mr. Pastor last season has be amicably adjusted by John J. Nathans, manager and partner of this company. La Jeune Burt, bareback hurdle equestrian, is also engaged at this establishment.
Stone and Murray's Circus is in winter quarters at Bridgeport, Conn., and will start early in the spring on their eastern tour.
George Guilford, writer, has been engaged for French's Circus for next season.
Egbert Howes sailed on the 2d inst., for Europe, under an engagement to S. B. Howes, who intends to start another European Equestrian Spectacle in that country.
New York Clipper, February 19, 1870, p. 363, 366, 367. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] The wondrous female gymnast Mlle. Leopold, in conjunction with George Leopold, now at Tony Pastor's, are disengaged Feb. 14th. For their thrilling double trapeze performance, terrific leaps, &c. would be happy to arrange with proprietors of first class circuses for the coming tenting season. . . .
[San Francisco, Feb. 2d] Mr. John Wilson, circus manager, left for New York this morning to engaged talent and complete other business arrangements for Messrs. Lehigh and Baker.
John Robinson is expected in Savannah, Ga., next week. The old "vet" has done an excellent business in Georgia and middle Florida, traveling on wheels. It is the first show that has visited those parts since the war. He will play one week in Savannah, in the meantime recruiting his stock at Atlanta and visit Charleston and Augusta by rail.
Charley Noyes' Circus was in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 24th. A correspondent says, "The name of Charley Noyes is enough to draw a full tent in Texas, but, besides his name, Charley has a show which cannot be surpassed in the United States. The mock tournament is something new and takes well. Millie Turnour, on the trapeze, won the hearts of a large number of our gallant Texas boys. . . ."
John Henry Cooke and ___ Henrietta are the great cards at Mrs. Warner's Champion Circus, Philadelphia, this week. Among the other performers attached to Mrs. Warner's company are J. Foster, Charley Fish, W. Franklin, C. Conrad, S. Rhinehart, W. H. Carroll, Luke Rivers, W. Sparks . . . Frank Whittaker . . . Mrs. S. King . . .
New York Clipper, February 26, 1870, p. 375. All information should be checked with additional sources.
George P. Hutchinson, well known in the circus business as one of the late partners in Stone and Murray's Circus, has disposed of his interest in that concern to Den Stone, and sails for Europe on the 26th inst., by the City of Brooklyn.
Stowe's Circus was in Lake City, Fla., on the 12th inst., and will be at Savannah, Ga., on March _th.
Eugene B. Leach, of Stone and Murray's circus, is at his home in Elmira, New York, waiting for the opening of the tenting season.
Chiarini's Circus was in Rio Janeiro on Jan. 26th. R. Rivers, W. Carlo, S. Hudson, F. T. Sylvester, Hubert Meers Jr., and Geo. W. Ross are in the troupe. Mr. Chiarini denies the report that he left Mr. J. E. Fisher in Lima penniless, and says that Fisher left on his own accord, procured a situation from Mr. Backus, Government Engineer, of Peru, and left the city for field of his operations some days before the company embarked from Callao for Lima, and that not without money, as Mr. Rivers and many of the other members of the company can fully substantiate.
John Robinson's Circus showed in Columbus, Ga., on the __th. G. M. Kelly, the leaper, joined this show in Columbus.
Circus items in brief. . . . George Bailey's Menagerie and Circus, now in winter quarters at Danbury, Conn., is being refitted for the summer campaign, and will travel in the eastern country. L. M. W. Steere goes ahead, and Fred Laurence is writer. . . . Charles Madigan was married in Philadelphia on the 14th inst., to Camilla, youngest daughter of Dan Gardner. . . . The European Circus will ship early in the spring for the west. The establishment has been reconstructed under the charge of John Nathans, and it has not visited the western country in six years. . . .
New York Clipper, March 5, 1870, p. 383. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Adam Forepaugh's Menagerie and Circus opens in Chicago on May 2d, for one week, and then go through the state of Michigan. The show will have twenty-eight cages of animals, three elephants, four camels and two canvases.
Circus items in brief. Dr. James L. Thayer is in this city, completing his arrangements for his new equestrian establishment, which will start from ___, Pa., about the middle of April. . . . The managers of the European Circus have closed all their arrangements. . . .
New York Clipper, March 19, 1870, p. 399. All information should be checked with additional sources.
W. C. Morgan met with a little difficulty in the south while traveling ahead of G. G. Grady's circus. It appears that the agent of Grady's show had been taken sick and was sent home, while Morgan, who was a performer in the company, was sent ahead for a little while. Morgan started from Savannah, Ga., with the advertising wagon, for a tour through South Carolina. While on the road, and after he had made several stands, he came to one of those dismal swamps so frequently found in that section of the country. While there, twelve negroes, taking the advertising wagon for that of a traveling peddler's wagon, loaded with goods, stopped him on the road, shot one of the horses, wounded Morgan, and his assistant, Edwards. Morgan, being armed, shot dead (so says a correspondent) six of the negroes. Morgan reached the next town, and at last advices was slowly recovering.
A complimentary benefit to J. N. Wharton, proprietor of the Champion Circus, Philadelphia, will take place at that establishment on Friday evening, March 10th. The testimonial is to be given under the auspices of a number of prominent gentlemen of Philadelphia, and the entire company and attaches have tendered their services. The season will close on the 19th.
New York Clipper, March 26, 1870, p. 405. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[1869 season] The rainy ___ struck a good many of the shows in the western country as soon as they got fairly on the road, and some of them did not see the sun any day for three weeks. This proved disastrous, as it put them back several weeks. The rainy weather made the roads in a horrible condition and almost impassable, while in some parts of the far west one concern came to a dead stand for a week, not being able to get along with the heavy wagson through a country that had to be forded. In this manner several concerns lost many of their stands. Then, when they did strike a clear country, business did not come up to expectations. It is very doubtful if, out of the twenty-eight circus and menageries that started out last April and May, more than six concerns came home with the right side of the balance sheet. Of this number was the Van Amburgh Menagerie, that always does well; O'Bryan's concern; Forepaugh's Menagerie; the European; Bailey's; and Stone and Murray's. Some of the other shows managed by close figuring to worry through the season and came home with their horses pretty well jaded out, their wagons worn and their canvas in a dilapidated condition. There were other shows that collapsed before the season was half over. Profiting by the experience of last summer and having not much better hopes for the tenting season of 1870, scarcely a manager has gone heavily into preparations during the winter for the summer's campaign. The general impression with all the old and experienced managers is that his summer is going to be another hard one for them to pull through, and could they make any satisfactory disposal of their live stock, they would willingly do so sooner than go through another summer as the last one. Some of the old managers believe in "Never say die," and have launched out a little more boldly than the rest, believing that "Nothing venture, nothing win." That the big concerns that have wealthy managers, who can stand a few weeks of bad luck, will stay out the entire season there is no doubt, but there are several new managers getting into the business - as well as several old ones - who may have just money enough to get their shows on the road. These are the concerns that are likely to go by the board first, should times be bad, as was the case last season, for, having no money to fall back on, the "jig's up." There are many shows that go on the road without a dollar in the treasury, comparatively speaking. They manage to crawl along by paying no salaries, their daily receipts just about meeting their hotel bill for keep of men and horses. Finally, they reach a town, the weather is very stormy, and the receipts do not come up to the daily expense. The consequence is the landlord of the hotel has to accompany the show to the next stand to get his money, and in some instances keep along for two or three days. We know of a circus that once traveled through Vermont and did a good business, but on their return home through New York State met with five weeks of horrible business, the weather being rainy nearly every day. There were from two to three landlords accompanying the show all the time to collect back bills, and as fast as one was dropped another would be taken on. In one town one landlord, who had been along for nearly a week, grew out of patience, and, becoming desperate, had the canvas attached, and as soon as the company got ready to start for the next town it was hauled down to a stable under charge of the sheriff. Of course there was no use of the show going to the next town without a canvas, so at last the sheriff kindly consented to take two of the baggage horses for the debt, and they were left behind. This caused a delay, and the canvas did not arrive in the next town until it was too late to give the afternoon show. This is only one of the hundreds of little events that transpire during the tenting season. But the greatest trouble experienced by circus managers is the attempt on the part of crowds of roughs to gain free admittance to the circus. In a body they go to the door and attempt to pass; upon being stopped, they show fight. If they are worsted they soon re-appear on the scene considerably strengthened in numbers, and they either cut the guy ropes and let down the canvas, or they get into a fight with the circus boys. Generally speaking, serious results follow, and if one of the citizens of the town is hurt the concern is followed to the next town and hunted like dogs, and probably the same scenes occur there. There are several towns where trouble is generally looked for. West Troy, N.Y., is one of these, and we could mention half a dozen others. In scarcely one of these towns are the police strong enough to break up these regular circus riots. A circus manager is compelled to pay to the corporation a heavy license fee for the privilege of showing in the town, a goodly tax for ground rent for pitching his canvas, be charged exorbitantly for everything he wants during his stay there, and he has an United States license also to pay, and it is but justice that the corporation should be prepared beforehand and see that said manager's property is protected.
Van Amburgh and Co.'s Mammoth Menagerie and Circus. This concern will have one hundred and thirty-eight horses, mostly dapple greys, ninety-four men, eighteen cages of animals, and a first-class circus. Then there are comic mules, trick ponies, the trick spotted mule, Mungo Park, bought of Mrs. Wm. Lake, entree horses bought of Mrs. Lake's private sale. . . . Charles Frost has been in the west buying horses for the past six weeks . . . This show will be officered as follows: Hyatt Frost, manager; B. Crosby, assistant; C. H. Farnsworth, advertiser; C. Wood, boss ostler . . . John Lewis and Frank Frost, candy butchers; Frank Nash, elephant man and animal director; and W. Warner, lion performer. The circus department consists of H. Nichols, equestrian director; Pete Conklin, first clown; A. Lowanda, riding master; Marletta Zanfretta, tight rope; Clorinda Lowanda, principal act . . . Martino Lowanda, Wm. Sparks, A. Lowanda; Clark Gibbs, second clown and vocalist; George Zanfretta, Nat Lowanda, Little Tommy Zanfretta, Washington Zanfretta, and Siegrist's performing dogs. The managers intend to camp out all the horses and provide for the entire company, going on the independent order, and not have to put up with the extortionist demands of many landlords. They have ordered a new canvas stable, and Hyatt Frost is having made two large cars, eighteen feet long, to set eighteen feet apart, with swinging sides, so as to form a regular enclosed house eighteen by thirty feet. This is to be their hotel. There is also a four horse cook house. This will be put on the road after the 1st of May, and will board and lodge fifty men. It is to be called the "Hotel de Frost, or Landlord Regulator." We have ___ the largest frying pan to be made; it is thirty inches in diameter and can fry twelve dozen of eggs at once. A good affair for ham and eggs, or prairie chickens. These latter article are to be served for dinner every Sunday.
Van Amburgh and Co.'s Great Golden Menagerie is wintering at present at Brewster Station, N.Y.; H. Barnum is manager; O. J. Ferguson, advertiser; John Lyke, treasurer; W. Simpson, boss canvasman; W. Lewis, boss ostler and chariot driver; Moses Davis, assistant agent; Professor Langworth, lion performer; Charles Johnson, elephant trainer; Robert Ellingham, lecturer on natural history; Frank Hyatt, general agent . . . This concern is the largest in the world, consisting of twenty-five massive four and six horse dens of living wild animals, containing as many animals as can be found in forty dens generally exhibited by menageries. There are one hundred and fifty horses and one hundred and eight men in this concern. This company stables their own horses, for which purpose five large portable canvas stables have been made. The chariot is a magnificent golden one, and they have the large elephant. The tableaux car, with lions on the top, will be in the procession. There is also a rhinoceros in the show. During the winter the most extensive preparations have been made by the managers. . . . . On or about April __th, this mammoth concern will visit New York city for a few days' exhibition, and the procession that it will make on Broadway, it is thought, will be the grandest sight ever before witnessed in that line in this country.
The European Circus. This concern, during the winter, has been re-constructed and embellished. The wardrobe and properties have been overhauled and put in good condition. A new lion den has been built, and otherwise improved. the proprietors are Avery Smith, John J. Nathans, George B. Burnell, and others. John J. Nathans will be manager; George B. Burnell, assistant manager; James W. Foshay, treasurer; Lewis June, advertiser; D. W. Hughes, writer; Walter Waterman, equestrian director . . . In the equestrian corps will be Frank Pastor, principal; Charles Rivers, Robert Johnson, Charles Conrad with his pupils . . . Sam Long and William T. Aymar are the clowns . . . The company will number one hundred and twenty-five people and one hundred and thirty-four horses. This concern will ship to this city early in April for the west, and will travel through the western country and Canada.
The Yankee Robinson Shows Consolidated. Yankee Robinson, manager; L. H. Robinsin, assistant; L. H. Everett, advertiser; assisted by J. J. Showles, Howard Babcock . . . Fred Peters, of Chicago, leader of the band. This concern starts from Hudson, N.Y., about the __th of April. During the winter the Yankee has been in New York and Chicago organizing his company, and getting things in ship-shape order. The features will be a combination of circus, menagerie and ___. The procession, on the day of each exhibition, will be a great feature, and will be novel, and of a glittering description. A new Polyhymnia, which is at present being built in this city, will be used as an advertising wagon, and as it passes along will discourse music equal to a full brass band. There will be a number of new features introduced in the procession, which Yankee informs us will surpass all his further attempts, but which his is not at liberty to disclose at present. . . . One of the features with the entertainment offered with this circus will be the first appearance in six years of Yankee Robinson, who will appear at each performance and ___ his great versatility. The Yankee is the only man that so far has been successful as a circus manager, performer and Yankee comicalities, having appeared during the past winter with considerable success as a representative of Yankee characters at Wood's Museum four weeks, and one week at the Olympia Theatre in this city, as well as in other cities. . . . Sanyeah, the female gymnast, is one of the principal cards . . . Mons. Sanyeah, styled the "King of Gymnasts," . . . There will be a number of dens of animals, also performing horses, the white double humped camel, the walapus . . .
John Robinson's Combination Circus and Menagerie. . . . Twelve cages of rare animals have recently been added to the concern. Twenty-five dens are now in this show, also the elephant Empress. John Robinson Jr. is manager . . .
Dr. James L. Thayer, who has long been identified with extensive and attractive traveling circuses, and who was so unfortunate last summer in meeting with such bad business . . . has bee for some months past been engaged in fitting out an establishment for the coming season . . . He will start from Girard, Pa., with fifty people and about fifty horses, a good set of wagons . . . Among those he has already engaged to accompany him on his tour are William Naylor . . . and Dick Sands. James Anderson is sole proprietor; James L. Thayer, manager; Samuel P. Stickney, equestrian director . . . Dr. Thayer and Charles Abbott are clowns.
Older's Circus and Menagerie starts from Hudson, N.Y., about the middle of April. P. A. Older, manager; J. M. Chandler, advertiser . . . the Holland family, gymnasts and general performers; George Maddern, clown. He has about seven cages of animals, two white camels and spreads an oblong three centre pole canvas.
Stone and Murray's Circus . . . The concern is now at Bridgeport, Conn., from which town it will start on its perambulations early in April. The performers engaged are John Henry Cooke . . . William Ducrow and his boy, the Snow Brothers - Benjamin, William and Alfred - Charles Bliss, William Franklin, "Columbus," . . . R. Lamont, George Cooke, H. Hockwood, G. Edwards and others. John H. Murray, equestrian director; Nat Austin and Den Stone, clowns; A. Haight, general agent . . . Ed Stacey is boss canvasman . . . M. Coyle, treasurer. . . . For outside attractions they will have a forty horse band chariot, and Jeanette Ellsler will make an ascension on a wire from the ground to the top of the pavilion. George P. Hutchinson lately left for Europe in search of novelties, and it is thought will return in time to commence the season with the party.
Geo. W. De Haven's Sensation Circus opens in Cincinnati on the 4th of April, with the following among the members of the troupe: S. Q. Stokes and children . . . Frank Robinson, Jimmy Reynolds, Gus Lee . . . and the Davenport Bros. Mr. De Haven will give a free balloon ascension every day, and "Mazeppa" for an afterpiece.
Charles Noyes' Crescent City Circus. This organization is at present in the south, where it has been all winter, traveling and making considerable money for the young manager. New wagons have been built for the summer campaign, and extensive arrangements made for as prosperous tour as possible. A feature with this show is its procession with a globe chariot of Alexander the Great drawn by eight horses and containing the band. . . . Charley Noyes will appear at each entertainment with his trained horse, Grey Eagle Jr. . . . The leading performer is Wooda Cooke, one of the best leapers in the business.
Hemmings, Cooper and Whitby's Circus and Menagerie has been traveling in the south nearly all winter. They expect to reach Louisville, Ky., to open the summer's campaign on April 11th. They will have sixteen dens of animals and an elephant. Fred. Bailey is general director; Harry Whitby, manager; James E. Cooper, treasurer . . . Felix McDonald, performer. They will have eight cages of animals the the elephant, with the following circus troupe: Mrs. Elvira Hemmings, Richard Hemmings, Henry Whitby . . . Charles Munroe, George Wambold and brother. They had a very hard time in the south the past winter and their wagons came back considerably the worse for wear. The go out in good shape.
G. G. Grady's Old Fashioned Circus is in the south, where ir has been all winter, will be on the road this summer, and travel on wheels. G. G. Grady is sole proprietor; Charles Covelli, manager . . . Dan Rhodes, master of the ring; G. Grady, Charles Grady, Charles Covelli . . . clowns. Mad. Marie Macarte, Ella Grady and James Johnson are in the company.
New York Clipper, April 2, 1870, p. 411. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] Public sale of Mike Lipman's International circus property. By virtue of an order of the County Court of Fredrick county, Va. . . .
Jas. Robinson and A. Henderson are at present in the city hunting up attractions for their circus. Andy Springer is to be the agent for the concern, and Geo. Guilford, whose name appears as agent in our resume published last week, will be the writer.
Campbell's Zoological and Equestrian Institute will show in Philadelphia as follows: April 4th, 5th and 6th on Girard avenue; April 7th, 8th and 9th, ___ and Carpenter streets; April 10th, Manayunk; April 12th, West Philadelphia.
Dan Gardner's Circus and Forepaugh's Menagerie opens in Philadelphia on the 4th of April for one week with a large company of equestrian performers, gymnasts, &c. The most prominent among them are Dan Gardner . . . Sandford and Brown, Mlle. Kenyon, Madigan Bros., and Mrs. Madigan. Tommy Haywood has control of the minstrel department. ___ and Frank Girard are with the party.
Adam Forepaugh's Circus and Menagerie will inaugurate the tenting season in Cincinnati on the Orphan Asylum lot, commencing Monday, April 4th.
W. F. Hogle and W. H. Burdeau have formed a partnership with Dr. Jas. L. Thayer for the tenting season.
. . . John Wilson, the well known circus manager, who proposes commencing the season at San Francisco April 1st.
The Gregory Family, Orrin's California Circus, and Miss Gertrude's troupe of trained animals have combined their forces for the summer tenting season, and will give exhibitions throughout the interior of California. They are under the management of Charles C. Pell, formerly of the Dan Castello Circus.
The Great Overland Circus and Menagerie was to have given its inaugural entertainment on the __d March, in San Francisco, on the Jackson street lot.
James Cooke, the manager and jester, is now organizing a troupe of vaulters, acrobats and gymnasts, with the object of visiting the various towns throughout the interior of California during the approaching summer, and giving a series of open air ___, somewhat on the English "mountebank" order, in which the public are to be admitted free of charge, the performers each evening concluding with the ascension of a balloon. The hat will be passed around and everybody will have an opportunity to contribute what they can afford.
Chas. Fish Jr., Messrs. Shappee and Whitney, Chas. Parker and other artists leave this week for San Francisco, under engagement to G. F. Ryland, of the Oriental Circus, California.
Robinson's New York Circus . . . is to start from Utica, N.Y., on May _d, for a tour through the west, with an entirely new outfit, consisting of a new band chariot, sixteen new baggage wagons, two ticket wagons and a new canvas . . . In the company are Alex. Robinson, proprietor . . . Dr. Geo. W. Stevens, treasurer; H. C. Frost, assistant treasurer, and the arena are Madame Robinson, Miss Anna Robinson . . . John H. Glenroy, Sam Lathrap, Clarence Burton . . . Mons. Cooper, Hiram Day, Master Alex. Robinson . . . Martini and sons . . .
Stowe and Orton's Circus . . . has been doing a profitable winter's business in the south, we are informed, it having been the first in that region since the war. They showed at Anderson, N.C. on the 19th, Pendleton 21st . . . Greenville 22d, from whence they were to wend their way towards Huntsville, Ala., there to re-organize and start out for a summer campaign on or about April __th. Messrs. John Stowe and Miles Orton are the proprietors, the former being manager and the latter equestrian manager. W. W. Cole is ring master, and Ira Evans treasurer. The following comprises their list of talent: Mr. and Mrs. Miles Orton, Miss Jessie Orton, and their son Claude, the Great Caroline, Young Leon . . . Theodore and Adam Miller. L. K. Munson, W. K. Lawrence, J. B. Murphy . . . and Hiram Marks and William Stowe as clowns, with C. A. Wilson as advance agent. In addition they have a new and stylish band wagon, and six camels, and altogether make a good procession. They intend showing in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. W. W. Cole has the sole show privileges.
Heywood's California Circus and Hippotheatron will take the road in May, starting from Northbridge, Mass. The company will consist of . . . Martini Chiriski, wire performer; ___ and Alice Chiriski, vocalists and danseuses; and one of the principal features of the show will be a tableau car, which will turn out in the procession.
The Champion Circus opened again in Philadelphia on the 26th inst., under the title of "Mrs. Chas. Warner's Champion Reconstructed." They close shortly.
New York Clipper, April 9, 1870, p. 7. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Gardner and Forepaugh's Circus is billed to open in Pittsburgh on April 11th for one week.
Forepaugh's Circus and Menagerie open their season in Cincinnati, exhibiting for one week on the lot corner of Eighth and Baymiller streets, commencing Monday, April 4th. Among the company are Pauline Hindley, Mlle. Virginie and Miss Ella, equestriennes; R. Rivers, El Nino Eddie, W. C. Burke, John Naylor, Geo. Mathews, Fos. Hunting, Master A. Forepaugh, Master W. Rivers, T. King, W. Morgan . . . Motley Bros., Jas. Maguire (clown) . . . It may interest circus men to know that the Orphan Asylum lot, a favorite tenting ground in Porkopolis, is being transformed into a park, and there is no ground of sufficient size nearer to the town center than the lot selected by Mr. Forepaugh.
James Robinson & Co.'s Great Circus and Animal Show will start from Cincinnati about April __th. Jas. Robinson & Co. are proprietors; A. Henderson, manager; Jas. Robinson, equestrian director; A. Springer, agent, assisted by Geo. J. Guilford. In the company will be found the following: Mr. Jas. Robinson, Master Clarence . . . Miss Eva Brent, the Great Victorellia, John Williams and Hector, Wm. Kennedy . . . Thomas Watson . . . Nicolo Norton, juggler and comedian . . . W. Gorman, John Winnett, and others . . . The Silver Crescent Band, 20 pieces, led by W. C. Sexton, will accompany the exhibition. . . .
Kelly, Leon and Wilson's Olympic Circus and Star Sensation Minstrels, a new organization, with Wm. A. Kelley as agent; J. T. Leon, manager and treasurer; and Ned Wilson, assistant manager; has been formed and will shortly commence a campaign in New England.
The circus property formerly owned by S. O. Wheeler has been purchased by W. J. Metchear, who proposes organizing a railroad circus for the coming season, which will start on its travels from Boston about May 20.
Charley Abbott, clown, wishes us to state that he does not go with Dr. Thayer's circus the coming season, but with Charley Noyes.
Stone and Murray's Circus made their first stand this season at Bridgeport, Conn., on the 11th inst.
New York Clipper, April 16, 1870, pp. 11, 14, 15. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] The Leopolds, Madame Leopold, the champion and charming lady gymnast of the world, in conjunction with George Leopold, the champion of England, have been engaged for the season of 1870 by James T. Johnson & Co., United Circus and Performing Animals.
[Advertisement] Madame Leopold, champion lady gymnast. George Leopold, champion male gymnast. The above athletes, having witnessed and duly appreciated every lady and gentleman double trapeze performers in America, have ___, after consideration, to style themselves the Champions of the double trapeze . . .
[New York City] The European Circus inaugurate their season at the Empire Rink, corner of Third avenue and Sixty-fourth street this evening, where they will give a matinee each day at half past 2 o'clock, and an evening performance at 8 o'clock. They will also give a street pageant on the first clear day, when the matinee performance will be omitted. The company consists of Jennie Watson, ___, equestriennes; Sig. Sebastian, bareback equestrian and his son Romeo; Frank Pastor, somersault equestrian; Le Jeune Burt, hurdle rider; Charles Conrad and his sons; the Denzer Family, acrobats; Charles Rivers, four horse rider; Robert Johnson, Franklin, Lazelle, Sherwood . . . Sam Long and William Aymar, clowns; Pierce, the lion performer; and Walter Waterman, equestrian director. . . .
[New York City] Ben Maginley, who has been engaged at the Olympic Theatre during the present season, appearing in the burlesque of "Hamlet," closed his engagement on the 9th inst., preparatory to entering upon his new duties as equestrian director of the George F. Bailey & Co. Circus and Menagerie, which commences the season at Danbury, Conn., on the __th inst., and thence proceeds to the different towns and cities in the New England states. . . .
[New York City] Fox's American Theatre . . . Mr. John Forbes, of this theatre, plays here but one week longer, having been engaged to clown with Yankee Robinson's Circus, and leaves on the 19th for Hudson, N.Y.
Leihy, Lake & Co.'s Great Overland Circus and Menagerie, now exhibiting on the old circus lot on Jackson street, between Montgomery and Kearney streets, San Francisco, is one of the largest and most complete organizations on the road this summer. During the past few months the stock has bee quartered in the old circus pavilion, corned of Post and Stockton streets, where regular circus performances were given last winter by John Wilson's Great World Circus. In this mammoth building (on the opposite corner to the Mechanics' Fair Building, where Camilla Urso held the musical festival) the ring stock have been kept in daily practice, while the performers have been getting in condition. This organization is made up as follows: Leighy, Lake, Baker, and John Wilson, proprietors; J. R. Marshall (who was manager of the "Japs") advertising manager; Mr. Leihy, treasurer; Abe Ogden and Billy Green, paste brigade; E. D. Boone, boss canvas man; B. B. Acker, boss ostler; Omar Kingsley (the original "Ella Zoyara") equestrian manager; Jule Kent and George Constable, clowns; the Rizarelli Brothers, M'lle Frankee, M'lle Victorine, the Mohammed troupe of Bedouin Arabs, M. Gillian, three horse rider; Mr. Williams, hurdle rider; The Peruvian Brothers, the Samwells Brothers; Master Romeo, tumbler; Master Ferdinand, pony rider; Master Cooke, the infant Momus; M. Tremaine, Broderick Jones, Carles and Tonson, acrobats and gymnasts. There are one hundred ring and baggage horses, twelve ponies, a camel, Lama (the largest ever seen in America), and a den of large performing lions, formerly the property of Avery Smith. There are twenty-four of as good pad, bare back and trick horses as can be found in any concern in this country. The procession made in the streets by the concern is pronounced very imposing. First comes the golden chariot, manufactured expressly for them by Kimball & Co., of San Francisco. It is a beautiful affair, twenty feet long, seats five feet wide, and can comfortable hold fifteen people. Stretching over the front are two savage looking dragons handsomely gilded. On each side is a lion's head heavily carved, and two horns of plenty, while projecting from the rear are the tails of the dragons, also heavily gilded. The band sits in this chariot, drawn by twenty handsomely caparisoned white horses. The tableaux car comes nest, upon which is perched the large lion, then follows the private carriages containing the performers, the luggage vans and animal cages. The band chariot cost $4,800, and weighs 1,685 pounds. Great preparations have been made for giving the show in an attractive manner. The canvas is a 120 foot round-top, with a 48 foot centre piece. In order to give plenty of height for the Rizarelli Brothers to do their aerial business, there has been pitched the highest canvas ever seen in this country. There is a 50 foot peak, and 24 quarter poles. The sides of the canvas are 18 feet high (double the usual height), with 2 centre poles, and both are outside of the ring, just over the curb. This is a great point gained, as the ring is kept clear of all obstructions. A wooden fence has been erected around the ring curb and drapery covers it. The interior of the pavilion presents an inviting appearance. The quarter poles are beautifully decorated with hanging flowers and banners, while the nine hundred jets of gas make a picturesque sight. A raised platform has been built on one side, and chairs fill this space for the audience, while a circle of private boxes, handsomely fitted up and numbering thirty, occupy the extreme back of the circle. On the other side is the cage of performing lions, which sets back and can be seen by the audience. Directly over the passage from the dressing room to the ring, where the company enter, is a raised platform, eleven feet high, for the orchestra. Around the entire canvas and in the rear of all the seats is a promenade eight feet wide. Everything betokens comfort and elegance. This concern intends remaining in San Francisco until about May 10th, when it starts for a trip through the mountain towns and overland to New York state. The concert party is under the management of Add Weaver and Fred Sprung, and consists of Fanny Weaver, J. C. Campbell, Charles Charles (brother of Geo. Charles) and several others. They will perform under the big canvas. The side show is under the direction of Mike Dougherty and Chris. Bristle. This party consists of Anna Swan, the giantess, Prof. Joseph, the giant, a dwarf and Circassian girl.
Yankee Robinson's Show is to exhibit at Chicago, Ill., on the glorious Fourth of July, on Randolph street, near the West Side Rink.
Our Cincinnati correspondent informs us that "Adam Forepaugh has started his menagerie and circus with very flattering omens, as he has been playing here all the week with splendid weather, giving exhibitions each afternoon and evening, and having the canvas well filled each time. He has a big menagerie and very good circus. His procession, led by a handsome band wagon and the elephant Romeo, makes an imposing appearance." They open in Louisville on Monday, 11th.
Geo. W. De Haven's circus was billed for Cumminsville, Ohio, a suburb of Porkopolis, for Saturday, April 9th.
Hemmings, Cooper & Whitby's Circus and Menagerie was at Louisville, Ky., during the past week, and shows in Lexington this week.
James Robinson's Great Circus and Animal Show, after exhibiting a week in Cincinnati, commencing about the 28th inst., goes immediately across the continent to California, showing at principal intermediate stations. The contracts are all made with the railways, and the company thoroughly organized for a successful tour.
Stone and Murray's Circus show at New Haven, Conn., on the __th.
Lent's Circus shows at New Haven on the 21st, and to be followed by George F. Bailey & Co.'s Circus and Menagerie.
W. J. Metchear & Co. will be the proprietors of the circus which starts from Boston on May 30th, and not W. J. Metchear alone, as stated in our last issue.
Noyes' Crescent City Circus opens in Galveston, Texas on April 11th, for four days, from whence it goes to New Orleans, where the company will lay up for a couple of weeks.
New York Clipper, April 23, 1870, p. 23. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Charley Ames' Circus is billed at Memphis for the 1st of May; he will do a fine business unless Old John Robinson runs in on him at the same date; if so Charley will fall next to the box.
Forepaugh's Menagerie is billed for Indianapolis, Ind., April 18th and 19th and Terre Haute 20th. They are now traveling by rail, but will start out on wheels rom Chicago as soon as the roads get in good condition. This shows the management's good sense in not ___ up the stock by long drives and heavy, muddly roads.
The Antonio Brothers, the old circus mangers and performers, keep one of the finest saloons in St. Louis. It is near the Olympic Theatre, and is one of the head quarters of the showmen who visit that city.
French's Circus and caravan, re-constructed and enlarged for 1870, will commence their summer campaign as follows: Brookly, one week, commencing Monday, April __th; Williamsburgh 25th and 26th, Hoboken 27th . . . Jersey City, May 2d and 3d.
Charley Fish arrived in San Francisco, Cal., overland, on April 7th, for Ryland's Circus. Charley Parker, with his wife, reached San Francisco, Cal., on April _th, for Ryland's Circus.
Joseph Rowe, an old time circus proprietor, is in San Francisco, doing nothing.
Stone and Murray's Circus was at New Haven, Conn., on the __th . . . George W. Murray joined them on the 11th as clown, with Nat Austin and Stone. Stone & Murray's Circus did not perform at Bridgeport, Ct., on the 11th inst., owing to the stormy day and evening.
Lent's New York Circus shows at New Haven on the 21st.
George F. Bailey's Circus and Menagerie opens for two days at New Having, Conn., on the 25th and 26th. Fred Couldock is contracting agent for the Bailey show.
Grady's Circus were announced to show at Lynchburg, Va., on the __th inst., and then march on through the Shenandoah Valley, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, in which state they will bring the campaign to a close . . .
Billy Pastor has purchased the concert privileges of Thayers Circus.
Yankee Robinson is making every effort to commence his summer tour on the 1st of May, intending to start from Hudson, N.Y. His band wagon is reported to be a brilliant vehicle.
Heywood & Chiriski's California Hippotheatron exhibits at Worchester, Mass., April 20th, 21st, 22d, and 23d.
New York Clipper, April 30, 1870, p. 31. All information should be checked with additional sources.
The Van Amburgh Menagerie, Hyatt Frost, manager, pitched tent in Connersville, Ind., on April __th. Owing to a heavy snow storm, the postponed the day show. A correspondent says: "Madame Siegrest is one of the best tight rope performers in the world, and Parks does juggling and heavy balancing cleverly. Pete Conklin and Clark Gibbs are the clowns."
The Metropolitan Circus performs in Toledo, Ohio, on May 2d and 3d.
The European Circus will exhibit in Jersey City, N.J., on the 26th and 27th, Brooklyn, N.Y. . . . Greenpoint May 2d . . . and will continue along the Hudson river to Albany, and go thence to Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and into Canada.
New York Clipper, May 7, 1870, p. 39. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Stone and Murray's Circus is billed for Providence, R.I., May 12th and 13th.
James Robinson's Circus pitches tent in Dayton, Ohio, on May 4th.
The Metropolitan Circus was announced to be in Toledo, Ohio, on May 2d and 3d.
Jno. W. Robinson & Co.'s Circus made its first stand for the tenting season at Galesburg, Ill., on April 30. The party consists of Mad. Bridges, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Carroll, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Rhinehart, Mr. and Mrs. Philo Nathans, Mrs. Clarke, Chas. Seaman, Masters Eddie and Leo, the Antonio Brothers, the Whittony Brothers, James Ellster, Willie Carroll, Annie Carroll, Billy Andrews and Harry Gibbons, clowns; W. B. Carroll, equestrian manager; J. A. McKenzie, proprietor and manager.
Nelson's South American Hippodrome is the title of a new organization for a tour through the state of California. Among the party are the Nelson Brothers, James Cooke, John Renard, Leon Samwells, Edward Montague . . .
The Overland Circus, Leihy, Lake and Wilson, managers, has closed in San Francisco and started on a traveling tour.
The Australian Circus was to make its first stand at Chelsea, Mass. on May 2d. The organization is made up as follows: Wm. J. Metchear & Co., proprietors; Frank J. Howe, Mrs. F. J. Howe, Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Kincade . . . Prof. Geo. McDonald, of Boston, is leader of the band. . . .
New York Clipper, May 14, 1870, p. 46. All information should be checked with additional sources.
James Madigan, the well known equestrian, sails for Europe on the 11th inst.
[New York City] H. B. Williams, the clown with Lent's New York Circus last summer, returned from England during the past week, and is at present confined to the house, not being very well.
John W. Robinson & Co.'s Circus showed in Galesburg, Ill, May 4th, and was to go thence to Monmouth, May 5th, and proceed on through Iowa and Missouri.
G. A. Huff & Co. inaugurated the tenting season in Toledo, Ohio, with their Metropolitan Circus Company, on the 2d inst. A correspondent says: "The Watson Brothers performed their flying men of the air act amid the deafening applause of the audience. Jeannette Armstrong and Mr. Armstrong's double act of equestrianism was well executed, also the bareback acts performed by Mr. La Rue. Harmon and Holloway gave an excellent exhibition on the trapeze, while John Foster, the clown, kept the audience in good humor. This circus will show at Coldwater, Mich, May 9th. The company have traveled by rail, but expect soon to have their wagon.
George Bailey's Circus and Menagerie pitches tent in Providence, R.I., on the 18th and 19th inst.
George F. Bailey's Menagerie commenced the season at Danbury, Conn., where the stock was wintered. Norwalk was the next stand, and thence to Bridgeport, Birmingham, Waterbury, Meriden, New Haven, Middleton, New Britain, Hartford two days, and proceeded to Rockville, May 2d, Springfield 3d, Chickapee 4th . . . Northampton 6th, Ware 7th, and is to be at Southbridge 9th . . . and through Connecticut. A correspondent says: "Thus far it has been but a few days behind Stone and Murray's as well as Lent's Circus, sometimes in the same town only three or four days after both, yet Bailey has up to this time taken considerable money. Messrs. Fred. Couldock and L. M. W. Steere are the managing men ahead of the show."
P. A. Older's Circus puts in an appearance in Elmira, N.Y. on the 10th inst.
Orton Brothers' Circus will exhibit in Omaha next week.
French's Circus is billed ahead as follows: Litchfield, Conn. 13th, Waterbury 14th . . . New Haven 17th, Meriden 18th, Middleton 19th, New Britain 20th, Hartford 21st, Rockville 23d, and Springfield, Mass. 24th.
James Robinson's Circus is billed ahead as follows: Lafayette, Ind., 10th, Atica 11th, Danville, Ill. 12th, Decatur 13th, Springfield 14th, Jacksonville 15th, Mt. Sterling 16th, Macomb 17th and Quincy 18th.
. . . death of Adolphe Buislay, the well known gymnast, acrobat and balloon ascensionist. . . . from a City of Mexico paper: "A frightful accident happened on February 27th at the equestrian and acrobatic entertainment given at the ___. It had been announced in the programme that M. Mostano would go up with a balloon, performing on the trapeze bar. For some unknown reason the Mexican equilibrist did not make his appearance, and it was decided in consequence that the youngest son of M. Buislay, aged about 12 years, should execute the ascension. M. Adolphe Buislay happened to be present as a spectator. At the moment when his young brother was about the ascent, Adolphe jumped into the ___ and offered to take his place. . . . he caught the balloon . . . hanging by his __ from the trapeze. . . . On rising, the balloon was ___ by a wind . . . At the same moment the head of the aeronaut struck violently against it, and before he had time to recover himself the trapeze became entangled in the transverse bar above, and the force of the wind caused the ropes attaching it to the balloon to break. The trapeze bar being thus attached, the unfortunate acrobat, after several unsuccessful efforst to disentangle himself and the cling to the ___, was precipitated head foremost to the ground, a distance of fifty feet. During his fall he was noticed to describe several somersaults or revolutions before reaching the ground. . . . His fall was so terrible that he was at first thought to be killed. He lay bruised and inanimate upon the ground, and the blood gushed from his nose and mouth. . . . He was found not to be killed outright, and notwithstanding his severe injuries, the physicians, for a while, entertained hopes of his recovery. He, however, expired on the __th of March, after ten days of great suffering . . ."
Heywood and Chiriski's Combination will be in Adams, N.Y., 9th and 10th, Baldwinsville 11th and 12th, Fulton 13th and 14th, Oswego 16th and 17th, and Syracuse 18th and 19th.
New York Clipper, June 4, 1870, pp. 67, 71. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] The Macart Sisters, a novel circus will be organized under the aupices of the above. Will take the road early in October.
Den Orton, manager of Orton Brothers' Circus, died on his farm, of small pox, at Adel, Iowa, on May __th.
E. Stow's Circus performed at East Saginaw, Mich, Bay City 24th, and in Saginaw City on the 27th. The circus is not a large one, but is composed of great performers. The principal attractions are E. W. Perry and family, consisting of Minnie and baby Julia, Mr. J. F. C. De Vere, the bareback and hurdle rider, John Miller and pupils, horizontal bar performer, and the clowns, Nichols and Frank Stow.
New York Clipper, June 11, 1870, pp. 75, 78, 79. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] Older's Museum, Circus and Menagerie, is one of the finest organizations on the road. Has fifteen cages of animals, a first class circus, the great Sanyeah, female gymnast, eighty-five people and one hundred horses. J. M. Chandler, advance agent. Their route is westward.
[California] The Overland Circus has been showing at Sacramento with success.
The Crescent City Circus, C. W. Noyes, manager, arrived at Vicksburg, Miss., on the __th, where they performed for three days to moderate business only, to rest the horses, which, owing to the hot weather and dusty roads, were very weary. Their band wagon and eight horses fell through a bridge at Clinton, La., some days previously, killing and crippling the entire team. So far the tour had done excellent business, and the health of the company was good.
James T. Johnson & Co.'s Circus and Performing Animals are doing a good business, we are informed . . . The Leopolds are with this party and are drawing crowds by their daring feats on the double trapeze, and Blanche Leopold's leap for life . . .
Circus movements in Nevada, we have the following summary under date of Carson City, May __th: "The Oriental Circus, an aggregation of artists, that started from Sacramento, Cal., in April, where they did a fine business and left a good name, and meeting with success during the five weeks they have been out, are now at this place. They are composed of the following members: Chas. Parker, clown, whose stilt act is one of the features of the show; Shappee and Whitney trapeze and comics; James Leroy does a four horse act, and the Indian; Manny Fish, who is riding better than ever; Frank Rivers (brother of Luke), James Leon . . . I should have mentioned the Lowry Sisters. Mrs. Ryland rides a very nice, pleasing trick act, jumping her fifteen balloons in a swing, besides jumping a very small balloon and a broad banner. She also carries her sister in a double act on two horses, and the two do a running globe act, jumping at the same time . . . Afternoon business is very poor, but at night crowded houses . . . From here they go to Virginia City, sixteen miles up hill, for May 27th, 28th and 29th. From there they go to Dayton, Nevada, and after that probably make for San Francisco, where they expect to be in about three weeks. Mr. Montigue came down from Virginia City yesterday, where he left the Nelson Brothers' South American Hippodrome, and from all accounts they have busted up; they have left a good name behind them in this city, but somehow or other they could not do any business. I have also heard today that Gregory and Orrin have gone up - how true it is I do not know. The Overland Circus is reported as doing a poor business, but as these reports are not always to be relied on, I give them to you second handed."
Older's Museum, Circus and Menagerie is billed at Zanesville, Ohio, for June 11th . . .
New York Clipper, June 18, 1870, p. 87. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Van Amburgh and Co.'s Menagerie and Circus, Hyatt Frost, manager, is doing a good business in the interior of Illinois. The traveling hotel and stable department, under the management of Mr. Frost, is a success. Their route for this week is Pekin, June 13th, Peoria 14th, Farmington 15th, Canton 16th, Lewistown 17th, and Macomb 18th.
The Australian Circus has been doing good business, we understand, since it started from Boston on the __, except in New Hampshire. They intended taking the Grand Trunk R. R. to Canada from Portland, Me., but their course was change by the Fenian demonstration, so they put the ship about, and planned a route from Brunswick and Lewiston, where they showed on the 11th, inst., from whence they were to take steamboat. At Brunswick one of the Talleen brothers was unfortunate enough to fall from the trapeze and break is arm while turning a somersault. Since starting, the company have made several additions, both in ring performance and outside appearance, and the company now consists of the following: Mr. Frank J. Howes, Mlle. Marie, H. A. Kincade, Mrs. H. A. Kincade, Miss Katy Kincade, Master James Kindace, Master Willie Kincade; Talleen Brothers, Paul and Jerome; Prof. Emile Decroert, juggler and general performer; Hiram Day, clown, &c.; Jean Johnson, principal rider and tight rope performer; Wm. Morgan, clown and cannon ball performer . . . and James Van Cameron. . . . The side show consists of a collection of monkeys, &c., and Signor Hernandez, who astonishes the country people by eating calcium or cotton and blowing fire, and taking ribbons from his mouth, &c. They also have a man that packs himself away in a small box, and does the rope tying feat a la Davenport Brothers. Brown and Gleason are the proprietors. . . .
The European Circus was to be at Lockport, N.Y., on the 11th inst., and from thence were to go to Buffalo, and into the New Dominion, do give their first show there at St. Catherine . . .
Yankee Robinson's Show has been favored with good weather, the Yankee having made a contract with the clerk, we are told, which, combined with a good show, has drawn full tents. . . .
Hemmings, Cooper and Whitby's Circus, with Ferdinand Tourniaire as one of their starts, is to pitch tent at Owensboro, N.Y. . . .
New York Clipper, June 25, 1870, p. 95. All information should be checked with additional sources.
C. T. Ames, whose circus is playing in Mississippi, recently purchased in Cincinnati, all the wagons, harness, &c., belonging to the late William Lake. He will travel by wagon about the middle of July, having hitherto confined himself to rail. Lucy Watson and Gonzales are his stars. He has also 10 cages of animals, one elephant, and five camels.
Older's Museum and Circus exhibited at Columbus, Ohio, on the 10th of June. Hundreds of people were turned away. Senyah is one of the main features of this show.
M. O'Connor & Co.'s Great Western Circus started from Galesburgh, Ill., for its third tenting season on Monday, May __th, and since that time has had fine weather and has done good business. M. O'Connor is proprietor; J. S. Key, equestrian manager, and C. L. Fowler, clown . . . Austin Bros., Schofield, Wentworth, Castle Bros., Harry Lamkin, Gonzales, Gardner, R. W. Tryer . . . and Dan Cross, the hurdle rider, are among the company. Geo. Steele acts as contracting agent; H. Thompson, assistant agent, and John Hicksby, treasurer. The concern is billed for Council Bluffs, Monday and Tuesday, the 21st and 22d, and goes thence to Nebraska and Kansas.
James Robinson's Circus will exhibit in Omaha, July 3d and 4th.
The New York Circus exhibits at Toledo, O., July 1st and 2d.
French's Circus exhibited in Norwich, Conn., June 16th, New London 17th . . .
The Great Australian Circus shipped their property from Portland, Me., on the 13th, to Boston, and there took wagons for Hyde Park, Mass., thence to . . . North Attleboro 16th, Bristol, R.I. 17th, Newport 18th, thence to Providence; immediately after the show they shipped by steamer to New York, and will exhibit in all the principal towns on Long Island. The following additions have been made to the company: Miss Minnie Wells and her cage of six lions, the elephant "Timour" and two camels.
The Metropolitan Circus exhibited in Cincinnati on the 13th, 14th and 15th, but owning to rainy weather they did a very poor biz. . . .
New York Clipper, July 16, 1870, pp. 115, 118, 119. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] "Yankee" Robinson's ___ of her Majesty's Dominions. . . . Mammoth Circus, Menagerie, and Ballet Troupe of beauties. Recent large augmentations. The educated elephant, "Victoria." Miss Minnie Wells, and her double den of performing lions, tigers . . . Geraldine, female gymnast from London. Sanyeah, the great English gymnast. Jean Johnson, equestrian . . . Miss Maude . . .
[New York City] Martini Chiriski, the wire walker and juggler, sails for South America . . . accompanied by Mr. Sandford. Mr. Chiriski goes out to join Sanford and Courtney's Circus. He returns in six months.
[New York City, July 11] Yankee Robinson was in town on the _th. He has just purchased the elephant and the lions recently attached to the Australian Circus. Robinson's Circus will enter Lower Canada today, where they will remain for some time.
The Great Australian Circus, which has been exhibiting on Long Island during some weeks past, disbanded on July _th. It is said that unpleasant feelings have existed for some time between the two proprietors, which culminated in an open rupture at Riverhead in the date mentioned.
Huff and Co.'s Metropolitan Circus are exhibiting along the towns of the Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Lafayette Railroad. . . .
C. T. Ames' New Orleans Circus and Menagerie is now showing in Tennessee. Our correspondent writes . . . "Business since leaving New Orleans has been excellent until we reached George, where it fell off immediately, owing to the great scarcity of money, and the anticipated failure of the coming cotton crop, which will, undoubtly, prove true. The licenses in Tennessee are enormous . . . on July 11th, we leave railroads and will travel by wagons. Our route will be through Kentucky, thence through Illinois into Iowa. As many changes have occurred in the company since starting, I will give you a complete list: Miss Lucy Watson, Ella Eugenie, Louise Boshall, Mlle. Carlotta . . . Millie Tournour, Harry Tibbs, E. D. Gooding, Johnny Lawson . . . Adolph Gonzales, Fred. Watson . . . Allen Smith, Alfred Tournour . . . Fred. Hamilton . . . The show was at Waverly, Tenn., July 4th.
De Haven's Circus passed through St. Louis July 7th, on its way south. They will exhibit in the towns along the route of the Iron Mountain Railroad. Johnny Davenport has left Johnson & Co.'s Circus and joined this party.
Wm. Naylor, hurdle rider, has left Thayer's Circus, his horse having fallen lame.
The Heywood and Chiriski Combination will start on its third season's travels about Aug. __th.
New York Clipper, July 30, 1870, p. 135. All information should be checked with additional sources.
One hundred dollars license is now required in the State of Wisconsin, as will be seen by perusing the following copy of the act of the State Legislature: "Every owner, manager or agent of any caravan, circus or menagerie, before he shall be allowed to exhibit the same in this state, shall procure a state license as a public showman, in the manner hereinbefore provided for hawkers and peddlars, and shall pay into the State Treasury therefor the sum of one hundred dollars."
Dan Rice's Show exhibited at Cleveland, Ohio, July 21st, on the west side, and on the 22d and 23d on the east side.
Bailey and Co.'s Circus and Menagerie exhibited at Augusta, Me. July 19th, Winthrop, 20th; Lewiston, 21st; and Norway 22d.
Older's Museum and Circus exhibited at Decatur, Ill. July 19th.
J. M. French's Oriental Circus and Egyptian Caravan is billed to appear at Montpelier, Vt., July 25th, Waterbury 26th, Hyde Park 27th, Cabot 28th, St. Johnsbury 29th, Lynden 30th.
Van Amburgh & Co.'s Menagerie and Circus exhibited at Milwaukee, Wis., July 21st and 22d, and goes thence to Watertown, 26th, and Madison 27th. From here the company goes out of the state directly into Iowa.
Stone and Murray's Circus exhibited at Newport, Me., July 21st, Skowhegan 22d, Waterville 23d.
Yankee Robinson's Show, on its route from Sherbrooke to Montreal, Canada, came near destruction at Victoria Bridge by the terrific tornado which recently swept over that country. The train emerged from Victoria Bridge, which is covered, about thirty seconds after the tornado swept by. So we are informed by a telegram signed F. L. Robinson.
The Gardner and Forepaugh Circus exhibited at Paterson, July 24th . . . S. S. Sanford, the special agent, writes us that "quite a serious accident befell the show on its route from Dover to ___, N.J. The horses attached to a four horse team became frightened and ran away, the ring bolt became loose and the horses thus freed, ran over a precipice some fifty feet high, killing three outright, and maiming the other. One horse called the "General," well known among circus men and valued at about $1,500, was killed. Mr. W. _. Rice, the driver of the wagon, deserves great credit, as he held to the reins and was dragged, after the horses were separated from the team, to the edge of the precipice."
James A. Bailey's Circus will exhibit in Kansas City, Mo., on August 4th.
Wm. Naylor, sensational hurdle rider, states that his horse has recovered from ___, and he is now prepared to accept engagement.
The Oriental Circus close a fairly successful season at San Francisco, Cal., on the __th. Charles Fish received a remunerative benefit on the __th, tendered by many admirers, for his great proficiency as a bareback rider.
New York Clipper, August 6, 1870, pp. 142, 143. All information should be checked with additional sources.
The Overland and Nelson's circuses are showing in Oregon.
R. E. J. Miles has purchased De Haven and Co.'s circus, and is now traveling with it, the name being unchanged. . . .
M. O'Connor & Co.'s Great Western Circus exhibited at Greenfield, Mo., July 29th, Walnut Grove 30th, and will be at Springfield August 1st, they go thence northward to the Wisconsin river. They will camp at ___ on Sunday, July 31st, and the drought is so severe that they have great difficulty in procuring a sufficient supply of water.
G. G. Grady's Circus will perform at Bluffton, Ohio, August 2d, Ottawa 3d . . . and Fort Wayne, Indiana 10th. While performing at Kenton, Ohio, a correspondent writes: "G. G. Grady, who some eighteen months since fitted out his circus here, returned from his southern trip and treated his friends to an old fashioned circus exhibition on July 10th. . . . While Mr. Grady makes no attempt at outside show, it is considered here that he has one of the best shows traveling."
John W. Robinson's Excelsior Circus was in Ackley, Iowa, on July 27th. W. B. Carroll, two horse rider; Sam Rinehart, leaper; Antonio Brothers (W. C. and W.), gymnasts and acrobats . . . Amelia Bridges, equestrienne; R. Boswick, W. Wolf, Masters Leo, Eddie, Wash. and Charles Antonio, tumblers and leapers; La Petite Annie Carroll, child rider; Master Willie Carroll, the backward somersault rider; Billy Andrews, clown; Mrs. Carroll, Mrs. Rinehart and Miss Nellie Clark are in the company.
New York Clipper, August 13, 1870, p. 151. All information should be checked with additional sources.
The European Circus will exhibit at Detroit, Mich., on August 8th and 9th, Pontiac 11th, Milford 12th, Holly 13th, East Saginaw 15th, Saginaw City 16th, Bay City 17th, Vassar 18th, Flint 19th . . . Mr. J. D. Jennings, of Norwalk, Conn. is at the head of the paste brigade.
Noyes Circus is billed to appear in Evansville, Md., Aug. 4th.
Van Amburgh & Co.'s Menagerie and Circus is billed at Prairie du Chien, Wis., August _th, Decora, Iowa 13th, and Huston, Minn. 17th, thence through the central part of Iowa.
J. M. French's Oriental Circus and Egyptian Caravan appear in Middlebury, Vt., Augsut 9th, Blandon 10th, Rutland 11th . . . East Bennington 16th, Cambridge 17th.
Mrs. William Rolland, whose husband is a clown in Dan Rice's circus, presented him with a boy weighing ten pounds, in Cincinnati, O., on July __th.
C. E. Richardson, agent of Robinson's New York Circus, is prepared to accept engagements for the fall and winter.
Bailey's Circus and Menagerie exhibited at Keene, N.H., August 2d . . . Brattleboro, Vt., 4th, and Shelburne Falls 6th.
Stone and Murray's Circus will exhibit at Keene, N.H., August 10th, Brattleboro, Vt. 11th, and Florence 13th.
Dr. Thayer's Circus exhibited at Harrisburgh, Pa., August 5th, Middletown 6th, and Marietta, Ohio 8th.
H. M. Smith's Crescent City Circus exhibited at San Antonio, Texas, July 29th and 30th . . . en route for Galveston. Mr. William Carroll, of this troupe, was recently married to Miss Victoria Smith, daughter of the proprietor.
The Van Amburgh Menagerie, under the management of Henry Barnum, is announced to spread canvas in Washington, D.C., on the 12th and 13th inst. . . .
New York Clipper, August 20, 1870, p. 159. All information should be checked with additional sources.
John Foster, the celebrated clown, and family, are engaged with J. M. Nixon's Niblo's Garden Circus, which will shortly start out.
Campbell's Zoological and Equestrian Institute will appear at Meadville, Pa., on August __d. The circus company is composed of the following artists: Mme. Brown, equestrienne; Little Mary Brown, child rider; Mlle. Josephine, equestrienne . . . Sam Stickney Jr. and James Ward, clowns; John Conklin, feats of strength . . .
Yankee Robinson's Show exhibited in Mexico, New York, on August 11th. We are credibly informed that business has been very good with this circus.
Courtney and Sanford's International Circus commenced a series of exhibitions at their new amphitheatre on ___ street, Lima, Peru, on July _d. Their stud of horses and the arrangements of stables has excited considerable admiration among the Peruvians. Mr. Sanford, with Martini Chiriski, passed through Panama, July __th, en route to join the company . . .
J. H. Hudson's Circus was expected to arrive in Panama on the steamer Taico, from Ecquador, en route for California.
John Robinson's Circus is billed at Memphis, Tenn., August 15th, 16th and 17th.
J. W. Robinson & Co.'s Excelsior Circus exhibited at Des Moines, Iowa, August 4th and 5th.
New York Clipper, August 27, 1870, p. 167. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Gardner and Forepaugh's Circus and Menagerie . . . This concern has been re-organized, and will henceforth be known as Madigan & Co.'s Circus. . . .
James Robinson's Circus and Animal Show . . . James Robinson, Master Clarence . . . Lee Powell, clown, and Phil Diefenbach, ring master; A. Henderson, manager; Charles Dickinson, treasurer; A. J. Springer, general agent; Robert McCormick, director of tent . . . W. C. Anderson, contracting agent. . . .
John W. Robinson's Circus exhibited at Bloomington, Iowa, on Aug. 17th and 18th.
P. A. Older's Circus and Menagerie is in central Illinois.
Yankee Robinson's Great Show has emerged from the Black River country, and during the past week, exhibited in Oswego, Rome and Syracuse, where the receipts exceeded those of last year, and proved to be the largest of the present season.
O'Brien's Monster Menagerie has just emerged from Egypt, Ill., and is now in southern Indiana. Charley Castle, the agent, says he has lived on water melons for the past four weeks, and looks as large as Charley Pell, the California agent.
Madigan & Co.'s Circus exhibits at Fourth and ___ street, Philadelphia, on August 22d and 23d.
New York Clipper, September 3, 1870, p. 175. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Dr. Thayer's Circus gave performances in Washington, D.C., last week, and did an excellent business. The tent was pitched on the lot corner of Sixth street and Missouri avenue on Aug. 22d, where the company remained three days, and then a visit was paid to the eastern section of the city, known as the Navy Yard, where a day's performance was given. Aug. 26th the show visited Alexandria, Va., and the following day a stand was made at Georgetown, D.C. . . . The entree act was participated in by ten of the company, and was admirably done. They riders were costumed very handsomely, and each one carried a standard of national colors. Dr. Thayer was assisted in the circle by Johnny Judge. The veteran, S. P. Stickney, acted as equestrian director. Hogle and Berdeau performed a very comical stilt act, and introduced many new features. Mr. Berdeau appeared on stilts of the usual length, while Mr. Hogle use a pair measuring about eight feet. His movements were exceedingly laughable and funny. The leaping of the company, especially that of Lew Wilson, excited much admiration. . . . The attractions in the sideshow consisted of Madame Rebecca Lyon, the bearded lady . . . Circassian woman, and two dwarfs . . . A minstrel entertainment followed the circus performance, and, as an inducement for persons to purchase tickets and remain, the sideshow curiosities were brought into the circle and exhibited in connection with the concert. Quite a nasty paragraph, touching the circus, appeared in one of the evening papers, while the show exhibited here, and, on the occasion of the first night's performance. Dr. Thayer took occasion to reply to the attack. The paper charged the modern circus with being disreputable, and intimated that respectable people were beginning to absent themselves from such exhibitions. The Doctor's remarks were received with considerable applause. He stated that his agent, who had never visited Washington before, unintentionally omitted to insert the circus advertisement in the paper referred to, and hence the paragraph. The next day the same paper published other articles, but failed entirely to injure the business of the company . . . so writes our correspondent.
The Maretta Sisters, who do a double trapeze act, and the youngest an aerial act outside the canvs, have recently been added to Stowe and Orton's Circus, which will travel south the coming winter.
P. A. Older's Museum and Circus are billed to exhibit at Monmouth, Ill., on Sept. _d.
De Haven's Circus exhibited at Wheeling, Va., on Aug. 27th, at which point they left their boat "Victor," and took to rail on the Baltimore and Ohio R. R., and are working their way towards Baltimore, Md. A balloon ascension is now made daily in connection with this circus. While the circus was exhibiting in Liverpool, O., Tom Dawson, while ejecting two rowdies from the tent, had his throat cut in a fearful manner by an unknown party on the outside, and Dawson is in a very precarious condition and is not expected to recover.
New York Clipper, September 17, 1870, p. 191. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Van Amburgh & Co.'s menagerie and circus, under Hyatt Frost's management, exhibited at St. Paul, Minn., on Sept. 1st, 2d and 3d, and Minneapolis 4th.
Hemming, Cooper and Whitby's circus exhibited at Fort Scott, Kansas, on Sept. 3d.
P. A. Older's Museum, Circus and Menagerie exhibited at New Windsor, Ill., on Sept. _th, Cambridge 7th, Sheffield 9th and Princeton 10th. This troupe will be in Peoria about the 17th.
Dr. James L. Thayer's circus is billed to appear in Richmond, Va., on Sept. 19th and 20th. It will go thence to Petersburg and then to the various courthouses along the Petersburg and Norfolk railroad to Norfolk, Va.
De Haven's Circus is billed to perform at Richmond, Va., Sept. 19th and 20th, the same days as Dr. Thayer's.
George Leopold, gymnast, writing from Little Rock, Ark., on Sept. 1st, says: "Johnson's circus burst up here and was sold off Aug. __st. Johnson will not agree to the money being divided until the law compels him on the meeting of the courts on the 22d of Nov., and the consequence is everybody is short of money."
The Marcarte Sisters have left G. G. Grady's circus, and have started a show of their own, which opened at Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. __st, and remained four days, playing to good business. They have a new 120 foot round top canvas, new wagons, harness and paraphernalia generally. The sideshow recently with John Robinson's circus is now attached to this.
New York Clipper, September 24, 1870, p. 199. All information should be checked with additional sources.
The state and county license for circus and other exhibitions in the State of Texas has been repealed by the Legislature, and in lieu thereof shows now pay an annual tax of $150. This was effected through the influence of Mr. Henry Greenwall, of Galveston, Texas.
Robert Stickney was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sept. 5th, to Miss Kate Robinson, the only daughter of John Robinson, the circus proprietor of that city.
Dan Costello's Circus exhibited at Portland, Oregon on Aug. 26th, 27th and 29th, and were advertised to appear until further notice. The Mohammed Troupe of Arabs, Jule Kent and wife left the show on the 29th, when business fell off.
John W. Robinson's Circus is billed to exhibit in Decatur, Ill. Sept. 21st, Moweaqua 22d.
P. A. Older's Museum and Circus is billed to exhibit in Clinton, Ill. Sept. 21st, Bloomington, Ill. 22d.
Van Amburgh and Co.'s Menagerie, under the management of Henry Barnum, is billed to exhibit in Newcastle, Pa. on Sept. 19th.
Yankee Robinson's Great Show exhibited in Richmond, Ontario Co., N.Y. on Sept. 5th, to vary large business. Mr. Robinson was born in that town. Previous to the show, in the cemetery which was very near the show grounds, he erected over the grave of his mother, who died in 1845, a neat monument, the band played a dirge and the Rev. Mr. Day made some fitting remarks.
Dan Rice's Circus is billed to exhibit at Lancaster, Pa. on Sept. 19th.
While C. W. Noyes Circus was exhibiting in Blandville, Ky., a fight occurred between some members of the troupe and some citizens of that town, during which Emery D. Phillips, belonging to the circus, was killed. The body was sent to Paducah and buried there by Mr. Noyes.
John Robinson's Circus is going through Texas and Louisiana, taking in nearly all the towns of importance, beginning at Boston, Texas, and closing for the season at Baton Rouge, La. . . .
De Haven's Circus exhibited in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 15th and 16th.
Campbell's Circus and Menagerie is billed to appear at Philipsburg, Pa. Sept 24th, Tyrone 26th, Altoona 27th, Hollidaysburgh 28th, Williamsburg 29th, Huntingdon 30th, Belleville Oct. 1st, and Lewiston 3d.
Hemming, Cooper and Whitby's Circus exhibited at Marshfield, Mo. on Sept. 13th.
James Robinson's Circus is billed to appear at De Kalb, Ill. Sept. 19th, Freeport 20th, Elgin 24th, Indianapolis, Ind. Oct. 1st. . . .
Adam Forepaugh's Circus and Menagerie appeared in Elmira, N.Y. Sept. 16th.
Lent's New York Circus is billed to appear in Elmira, N.Y. Sept. 21st.
The European Circus is announced to perform one week in Chicago, commencing Sept. 26th.
J. M. French's Oriental Circus and Egyptian Caravan exhibited at Oneonta, N.Y. Sept. 12th and Unadilla, 13th.
H. Smith's Crescent City Circus is billed to exhibit at the following places in Texas: Galveston, 19th, 20th, 21st and 22d; Harrisburg 23d; Houston 24th.
New York Clipper, October 1, 1870, p. 208. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] The members of Lowanda's Great Brazilian Circus, combined with Siegrist's French Circus, and traveling now with Van Amburgh & Co.'s Circus and Menagerie in the western states, can be engaged for this next ___. The combination is able to give their performances ___ any nation of the world, in equestrian and gymnastic acts. Address the Brazilian Family Lowanda, Atlanta, Georgia.
William Kennedy, clown and comic singer, now traveling with Bailey's Circus, can be engaged to travel south the coming winter. Address care Clipper office.
New York Clipper, October 8, 1870, p. 211. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] Elephant and trained lions. To circus proprietors. Dependable circus proprietors who may wish to negotiate for an elephant, two dromedaries, and two dens of African lions and Pumas, with Miss Minnie, the fearless lion queen. To go south for the winter season, can do by making application immediately to the proprietor, now traveling with Yankee Robinson's Circus, or by addressing care of Clipper office. . . . The company is now in the oil regions, Pennsylvania, working towards Portsmouth, on the Ohio river. . . . Wm. B. Reynolds.
[Advertisement] To be sold at auction, J. M. French's Oriental Circus and Egyptian Caravan. The subscriber, being about to devote his attention to another business, is desirous of disposing of his large circus establishment, which will be offered at public auction at Trenton, N.J., on Thursday Nov. 3, 1870. . . . J. M. French, proprietor.
New York Clipper, October 15, 1870, pp. 223, 224. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Yankee Robinson's Circus and Menagerie exhibited in Canton, O., Oct. 3d, and notwithstanding the bad weather, the business in the afternoon was good. In the evening, when the performance was about half over, a terrific storm of wind and rain came up, which tore the canvas considerably, and broke several of the side poles. Quite a panic was created, but the audience received no further damage than a thorough wetting. The entertainment was summarily closed. A performance was given the next day at Massilion, O. . . .
C. F. Ames' Menagerie and Circus is billed to exhibit at Savannah, Ga., Oct. 10th, 11th and 12th.
The European Circus met with so great success in Chicago, Ill., that they continued their exhibitions there during the past week, closing Oct. _th.
Campbell's Circus is announced to exhibit at York, Pa., on Oct. 19th.
Bailey and Co.'s Circus is billed to exhibit in Newark, N.J., Oct. 10th and 11th.
Van Amburgh and Co.'s Menagerie and Circus, under the management of Hyatt Frost, is to be at Burlington, Iowa, on Oct. 13th, Fort Madison 14th, and will close their traveling season at Keokuk, on Oct. __th.
Stone and Murray's Circus will exhibit in Washington City, Oct. 13th, 14th and 15th.
Madigan & Co.'s Circus have been exhibiting in Philadelphia and vicinity during the week ending Oct. _th. On the 10th, 11th and 12th inst., they will make a stand on the lot corner Broad and Callowhill streets, in that city, and will exhibit at Rising Sun on Thursday . . .
Adam Forepaugh's Circus and Menagerie will exhibit corner of Broad and Wallace streets, Philadelphia, commencing Oct. 24th and continue for two weeks there.
Nixon's Circus arrived in Savannah, Ga., on Oct. 3d, but too late to give the performances advertised. They commenced their exhibitions on the 4th to large audiences, afternoon and night. The exhibited in Atlanta on the 7th and 8th.
Lazelle and Franklin, gymnasts, who have traveled together during the past four weeks, have separated. They were recently performing in Chicago, Ill., with the European Circus . . .
[Advertisement] To let. The Dan Castello camel team, consisting of 8 camels, chariot and splendid wardrobe, &c. Apply to W. C. Coup or Dan Castello, Delavan, Wisconsin. W. C. Coup, manager, Castello Show.
New York Clipper, November 5, 1870, p. 247. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Johnny Shay has left the Sargent and Hernandes Troupe and joined the Yankee Robinson Circus . . .
Van Amburgh & Co.'s Great Golden Menagerie, Henry Barnum, manager, will close its season at Dayton, O., on Nov. _d, and will drive to Connersville, Ind., and there go into winter quarters, using the same buildings on the fair grounds that they have occupied for the past four seasons.
Van Amburgh & Co.'s Menagerie and Circus, Hyatt Frost, manager, went into winter quarters at Carthage, Ill., on Oct. __th. The menagerie was shipped to St. Louis, Mo., by steamer, and joined C. W. Noye's Crescent City Circus, which will travel by steamer to Red River, thence into Texas by wagons. . . . The fair grounds at Carthage, Ill. are filled up for repairing and repainting the wagons during the winter.
The Metropolitan Circus is to be sold at auction at Crawfordsville, Ind., on Nov. __th, the entire outfit, wich was new last spring, is to be sold to the highest bidder.
Bailey & Co.'s Circus is billed to perform at New Haven, N.Y., Oct. 31st, Port Chester, Nov. 1st, New Canaan, Conn. 2d, and close the season in Danbury, Conn., on Nov. 3d, and go into winter quarters in that town.
French's Oriental Circus and Egyptian Caravan is announced to close its season on Nov. 2d at Trenton, N.J. On the 3d, in that city, the entire establishment will be sold at auction . . .
New York Clipper, November 12, 1870, p. 255. All information should be checked with additional sources.
A large number of circuses traveling in the south, altogether too many for that section of the country, there being at the present time no less than nine distinct organizations exhibiting. . . . our various correspondents' reports that business of all kinds is very dull in that section. There is little demand for ___, and if the present European war continues a general dullness will pervade all business circles for some time to come. We give herewith the recent movements of the various companies referred to: J. M. Nixon's New York Circus, which appears to have got the start of all others by being first on the ground, exhibited in Demopolis, Ala., Oct. 31st, Meridan Miss, Nov. 1st, Vicksburgh 2d and 3d, Jackson 4th . . . C. T. Ames' Circus is exhibiting in the southwestern part of Georgia. Grady's Circus exhibited recently at Huntsville, Ala., onits way to the fair at Selma. Charles Noyes' Circus and Van Amburgh's Menageries exhibited in Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 3d, 4th and _th. Stowe's Circus is billed at Meridian, Miss. on Nov. 7th. De Haven's Circus exhibited at Selina, Nov. 2d. Stone & Murray's Circus is billed to exhibit at Jackson, Miss., Nov. 17th. Cooper, Hemming & Whitby's Circus exhibited at Vicksburgh, Miss., Nov. _th and _th. J. W. Robinson's Circus exhibited at Corinth, Miss., Nov. _th.
O'Brien's Menagerie exhibited in Charlestown, W. Va., Nov. 1st. This concern is making its way to Philadelphia, Pa.
Dr. James L. Thayer's Circus exhibited in Raleigh, N.C., on Nov. 2d and 3d.
Col. C. T. Ames, manager of the Crescent City Circus, was shot at Dawson, Ga., on Nov. 2d. A correspondent sends us the following particulars: "On Wednesday, the 2d inst., just before the opening of the afternoon performance, a difficulty occurred at the sideshow by a party of drunken men trying to force their way into the show free. Col. Ames, being in the ticket wagon, immediately went to the sideshow in company with Tucker, ___, Howard and Sullivan, to try to pacify the party, which consisted of a man named Russell, and two brothers names Kelly, known as desperate characters, when they drew revolvers and commenced firing indiscriminately into the crowd. Col. Ames stepped under the canvas . . . leg, and the other in the groin, which proved fatal. Mrs. True, the mother of the Albino Children, was also shot, but not dangerously. A citizen of the place, in attempting to run out of the way, was shot and immediately expired. Col. Ames' wounds at first were not supposed to be mortal, as he superintended the opening of the show, but about four hours afterwards he complained of great pain, and was removed to a private residence, where he lingered until __ p.m., when he expired. His remains were forwarded to New Orleans, La., and were escorted as far as Macon by the Common Council of Dawson. The ruffians who did the shooting were arrested . . . and it is to be hoped that the assassins will be made to suffer for their crimes. . . .
New York Clipper, November 19, 1870, pp. 262, 263. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[New York City] Miss Jeanette Watson, equestrienne, was married in this city on Nov. 12th to William L. Bowron, orchestral leader, at the residence of Mr. John J. Nathans . . .
[New York City] Mr. Harry Welby Cooke, brother of John Henry Cooke, and an equestrian of repute on the continent of Europe, arrived in this city by the steamer Pennsylvania on Nov. 11th, after a rough passage of twenty-two days. During the passage he lost, by drowning, a valuable horse, which he usually rode in his hurdle act . . . The horse which he uses in his principal somersault act arrived without damage. In conjunction with his brother, he will commence an engagement at Mrs. Charles Warner's circus, in Philadelphia, Pa., on Nov. __th.
Shooting circus managers appears to be a favorite amusement with some people, and bids fair to rival the recreation of shooting Yankee school masters which prevailed in Kentucky in the days of Matt Ward. We have not to record the death, by violence, of Harry Whitby, of Hemmings, Cooper and Whitby's Circus, who was shot while that circus was exhibiting in Raysville, Miss., on Nov. 4th. He was conveyed to Vicksburg for surgical attendance, and died in that city on the 10th. Circus managers are an industrious, honest class of people, who work hard for their money, risk large amounts of capital in a single season, and give employment to a large number of persons; yet, while in the pursuance of their legitimate business, a number of ruffians come from the rural districts to the place of exhibition, and after filling themselves with whiskey, which would burn a hole in a linen pocket handkerchief, they have recourse, upon the slightest provocation, either real or fancied, to the pistol. Sometimes these ruffians, murderers, and assassins, are arrested and confined for a brief time, and that is the last the public hear of the matter. The assassins who killed Col. Ames and other parties in Dawson, Ga., ought to have been hung upon the nearest tree, and we doubt not the murderers of Mr. Whitby deserve the same fate. We do not advocate, as a general thing, ??? law, but in that section of country, where all law, human and divine, is set at defiance, extreme measures seem to be needed. There should be a law passed and enforced covering that section of country, making it a penal offence to carry concealed weapons, and the possession of them upon the person should be prima facis evidence of an attempt to commit felony, and the penalty should be such as to strike terror to the hearts of all addicted to the practice.
Mat. Hosmer, the ring master of Older's Museum, Circus and Menagerie, has returned home to Rochester, Mich., where he will pass the winter.
James Robinson's Circus exhibited in Nashville, Tenn. on Nov. 7th and 8th.
Ames' Crescent City Circus is billed to exhibit in Columbus, Ga. on Nov. 14th.
Adam Forepaugh's Circus and Menagerie has entered upon the fourth and last week of its stay in Philadelphia. The circus and menagerie are in two separate tents, pitched upon the "Central Skating Park Lot," corner of Broad and Wallace streets in that city. Business has been good enough to warrant the proprietor making a stand for another week, instead of closing, as was originally contemplated, on the 12th inst.
The Philadelphia Circus, Tenth and Callowhill streets, will be re-opened for the season of 187071 on Saturday evening, 19th inst., by Mrs. Charles Warner, with a new company. Among the artists engaged are the following: Harry Welby Cooke, John Henry Cooke, M'lle Emilie Henrietta Cooke, M'lle Katie and M'lle Rosina, together with a large corps of acrobats and gymnasts.
Stone and Murray's Circus is billed to perform in Vicksburg, Miss. Nov. 16th, Jackson 17th, Uniontown, Ala. 18th and Selma 19th.
De Haven's Circus exhibited in Vicksburg, Miss. Nov. 8th. Hemming, Cooper and Whitby's on the 9th. Robinson's is billed to exhibit on the 20th.
James Robinson's Circus came to grief in Nashville, Tenn. on Nov. 10th, closing their season on that date. A correspondent writes that "the country is really so poor, and the licenses so high, that it is impossible for a circus to live in this section of the country."
New York Clipper, November 26, 1870, p. 271. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Yankee Robinson's Circus disbanded at ___, Ky., a week or so since, rather suddenly and unexpectedly to the troupe.
Dr. James L. Thayer's Circus came to grief . . . and was to be ___ by the sheriff . . .
William Munn, the boss canvasman of Stowe & Orton's Circus, was killed at Lauderdale Springs, Miss., on Nov. __. He was attacked by a drunken man, with a pistol in his hand, whom he knocked down and disarmed, but before he could extricate himself from the clutches of the ruffian, a saloon keeper ran out of his saloon with a double barreled shotgun, and, placing the muzzle against Munn's breast, discharged it. . . . Munn lived long enough to capture his gun and follow him some two ___, when, striking at him, he missed and fell upon his face dead. The body was taken to Meridian, and there buried. His home and relatives were unknown to any of his associates. His watch and effects are in the hands of Mr. W. W. Cole . . .
G. G. Grady's old fashioned circus performed in Montgomery, Ala., Nov. 17th and 18th.
New York Clipper, December 3, 1870, pp. 278, 279. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Charley Fish, a festive youth who turns somersaults from almost every conceivable position upon the bare back of a running steed, has been the chief attraction at the New York Circus during the past week. His pirouetting is easy and graceful, and in throwing his somersaults he leaps much higher in the air than the average of performers. He was particularly fortunate on the evening of his first appearance in executing all his feats without a single baulk. His backward somersaults through a series of balloons, from a position standing with his back to the horse's head, was most enthusiastically applauded. . . .
De Haven's Circus went up like its own balloon at Brandon, Miss., a short time since.
Hemmings, Cooper and Whitby's Circus will run into Memphis, Tenn., about Dec. 1st, and close their season and ship their stock to Louisville, Ky.
James M. Nixon's Circus has collapsed; a part to the company are going up the Red River, to give performances.
Charley Ames' widow will take the Crescent City Circus to Memphis, Tenn., and from there take it to New Orleans. It is said that Mr. Ames, previous to his death, made a will by which he left all of his property to his wife.
New York Clipper, December 10, 1870, p. 283. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] Wanted, giants and other curiosities, for Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie and Circus. Address W. C. Coup, Wood's Museum, N.Y.
New York Clipper, December 24, 1870, p. 303. All information should be checked with additional sources.
J. M. Nixon's Circus exhibited in Shreveport, Ala., Dec. _th and _th, and left for Jefferson, Texas on the 7th. and is announced to perform in New Orleans, La., about Jan. __th, 1871.
Mrs. Ames, the widow of the late C. T. Ames, owing to the peculiar nature of the lease held by the late Mr. Ames, of the Crescent City Museum, on St. Charles street, New Orleans, La., has concluded to keep it open this winter. All the animal comprising Ames' menagerie and the ring stock, seats, canvas, ticket and baggage wagons, with all the necessary effects of Ames' Circus are all in Nashville, Tenn. for private sale. Rather than see the property sacrificed, she will continue the business, if found necessary.
New York Clipper, December 31, 1870, pp. 310, 312. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[New York City] Seth B. Howes' Mammoth London Circus is now on its way to this city. Some six vessels, we are informed, will be required to transport the material of the troupe, including horses, ponies, trained animals, wagons, chariots and other paraphernalia, three of which are now upon the seas and nearly due at this port. The other shipments will be made before the first of February next. This circus will make a tour of the country during next summer, starting from this city. . . . The chariots and appointments have been manufactured in London, Eng., expressly for Mr. Howe, and are said to be magnificent in design. . . . Mr. Howe, some ten or twelve years since, shipped a circus from this city to Liverpool, Eng., and since that time he has remained abroad, managing exhibitions of a colossal nature.
[Advertisement] Circus at auction. Great sale of circus property at Raleigh, North Carolina, On Monday, January __th, 1871. Consisting of the entire stock and ___ of Dr. James L. Thayer's New Circus, lately traveling in the south. . . . T. F. Lee, Sheriff.
1871
Note: the microfilm of the Clipper is sometimes difficult to read. Information with a word or words underlined indicate that the transcription may not be correct. Unreadable words are indicated by ___. There will be typographical errors.
New York Clipper, January 14, 1871, pp. 323, 327. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] Wanted for P. T. Barnum's menagerie, a good animal man. Address, W. C. Coup, Wood's Museum, N.Y.
Lake's Hippo-Olympiad and Mammoth Circus was, at last accounts, doing a very fair business in New Orleans, La., under the management of Madame Agnes Lake, with R. E. J. Miles, as general director; J. A. Bailey, general agent; Horace Nichols, equestrian director . . .
George Holland and his wife, Mad. Sanyeah, have been engaged to travel with P. A. Older's Circus the coming season.
New York Clipper, January 21, 1871, pp. 335, 336. All information should be checked with additional sources.
That all the circuses which went south did not do badly is evidenced by the following letter from an occasional correspondent in Galveston, Texas, who, writing on Jan. _th, says: "John Robinson's Circus and Menagerie commenced performances recently in this city for one week, and up to this time the business has been large . . . Nixon's Company is her, exploded and the boys without a cent, John Foster and family, Jimmy Reynolds, and many others, all minus their salaries. The circus property has been attached and Nixon has gone to New Orleans. Robinson's Company goes to New Orleans for two weeks and then disbands for the remainder of the winter. 'Old John' sold here all the wagons and __ head of horses and mules. He intends starting on a big scale in the spring from Cincinnati, O., to which place he will ship all the cages, animals, ring stock, elephants, camels, etc., from New Orleans. The company has been out twenty-two months, so the boys feel like taking a rest. The company consists of Robert Stickney and wife, who joined us a few weeks ago, and are now a prominent feature in the Robinson show; his riding took well. Miss Cordelia, one of the best bareback riders in the world; John Wilson, four horse rider; George Sloman, globe on horse back, magic barrel, stilts, etc.; John Lowlow, clown and performer; Sloman and Lowlow's perch chair took well . . . They have been in the state of Texas four months, and I tell you as truth, they have cleared up to this place seventy-five thousand dollars in gold. They take the steamer on Sunday for New Orleans, La."
John Foster and family can be engaged for the coming season; John Foster as clown, Emma Foster, equestrienne, Mamie Foster, juvenile tight rope danseuse, and Mrs. J. Foster, entree rider.
Mrs. Charles Warner's Circus, Philadelphia, has been well patronized during the past week. Colville's "European Novelties," comprising Mons. D'Atalie, "the man with the iron jaw;" Mlle. Angela, "the female Sampson," and Young Zephyr concluded their engagement on the 14 inst. Pedanto, "the Man Fly" . . . The present week is announced as the last of the season. On the __th inst., William Forepaugh, "the Man Fly," will make his first appearance at this circus; and the Cooke brothers . . . Kelley, the champion leaper . . . and the large company of equestrians and gymnasts will appear in an attractive programme. On Friday evening, the 20th inst., a gran testimonial benefit will be given to Mr. J. W. Wharton, the manager of the circus. . . .
Crescent City Museum. Mrs. Col. Ames, the widow of the late Col. Ames, has recently opened the museum that her late husband had managed every winter in New Orleans, La. . . . For sale, the circus and menagerie of the late Col. C. T. Ames, address Mrs. C. T. Ames, Crescent City Museum, New Orleans, La.
[Advertisement] Circus property, at Raleigh, North Carolina, on Monday, Jan. 30, 1871, consisting of the entire stock and fixtures of Dr. James L. Thayer's New Circus, lateley traveling in the South. Forty-two first class horses; eight first class ring horses; three first class trained pad horses; two trick mules; ten platform spring wagons, nearly new; ticket wagon, performers wagon, nearly new; band wagon, Concord built, nearly new; advertising wagon, pole wagon; poles, seats and complete canvas fixtures; twenty-five sets double harness, nearly new; twenty bridles and saddles, nearly new; complete outfit of entry dresses for ladies, men and horses; pads for horses, &c.; instrument for brass band; and other articles too numerous to mention. All of the above property will we sold to the highest bidder, for cash. T. F. Lee, Sheriff, Wake, Co., S.C.
New York Clipper, January 28, 1871, pp. 339, 344. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Lake's Circus exhibited in Bainbridge, Ga., Jan. 16th, Thompsonville 17th, Albany 18th . . . and is billed to perform in Quincy, Florida __d . . . Lake City 27th, Jacksonville 28th, Savannah, Ga. 30th. Charles W. Pell is with this circus as advertiser.
John Foster and family have been engaged for the approaching season with Van Amburgh's Menagerie and Circus.
[Advertisement] Wanted. Living curiosities for side show with O'Brien's Mammoth Menagerie . . . Address Geo. H. Batcheller, Great Western Hotel, Market st., Philadelphia, Pa.
New York Clipper, February 11, 1871, p. 359. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Rosston, Springer and Henderson's "Great Mastodon Caravan, Circus and Menagerie," with the troupe of Bedouin Arabs, four in number, twenty-three cages of animals and a circus, will take to the road from Philadelphia, Pa., as early as the season will permit, unter the following management: A. Henderson, manager; F. H. Rosston, equestrian manager; A. J. Springer, director; Frank Rivers, agent; and W. D. Storey, leader of band.
G. G. Grady's Circus exhibited in Charleston, S.C., Feb. 2d and 3d.
The Great Commonwealth Circus, George M. Kelley, Peter Conklin, John Conklin and Wm. La Rue, proprietors, and John Keegan, general agent, have completed their organization for the coming season. They are prepared to rent certain privileges in connection with the circus . . .
John Carroll recently joined Stowe and Orton's Circus in New Orleans, La.
Geraldine, the intrepid and attractive flying trapeze and slack rope artist, desires an engagement for the tenting season.
New York Clipper, February 18, 1871, pp. 363, 367. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] Museum for sale. The late Col. C. T. Ames' Crescent City Museum, New Orleans, La. . . . is for sale. Address Mrs. C. T. Ames, Crescent City Museum, New Orleans, La.
Stowe and Orton's Circus closed for the season in New Orleans, La., on Feb. 1st. The proprietors are now preparing for a spring campaign in Vincennes, Ind., from which place they expect to start on the road about April 10th. Every man that started out with this show in ___ returned to Vincennes with it.
New York Clipper, February 25, 1871, p. 375. All information should be checked with additional sources.
P. T. Barnum's Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Hippodrome will be officered as follows for the approaching tenting season: W. C. Coup, general manager; Edward Buckley, assistant manager; Dan Castello, manager of the hippodrome; J. J. Justice, contracting agent; W. C. Crum, editor of publications; Mos. W. L. Juke, automation, mechanical artist; D. S. Jackson, assistant do [ditto]. There will be three colossal tents, with one price of admission to all, which will be only fifty cents. The museum department will contain a large number of mechanical and automatic moving figures and scenes, among which will be a life size moving representation of the last supper; also one hundred wax figures, among which will be found excellent likenesses of King William, Bismarck, Von Moltke, the Crown Prince of Prussia, Napoleon III, Charles Dickens, the Siamese Twins, the What Is It, etc. Among the living curiosities of this department will be Admiral Dot, the California dwarf, and a French giant. In this department will also be found Powers' Greek Slave, and Museum curiosities from all parts of the world. In the menagerie department there will be a living sea lion, a giraffe, a rhinoceros, an eland, giant kangaroos eight feet high, the largest ever brought to this country; lions, tigers, a drove of camels and dromedaries, and rare African animals never before seen in this country. Among the equestrian artists already secured is Mr. William Dutton, a graceful and daring rider, who is also celebrated for his high battoute leaps. The procession which will proceed this mammoth exhibition on its entrance into every town, will, it is said, be the most gorgeous ever witnessed in this country, and will embrace an entirely new feature, that of performances in and on the chariots and cages while the procession is in motion. Conspicuous among the attractions in this department will be seen Admiral Dot's tiny equipage, ponies, chariot, with Lilliputian coachmen and footmen in livery. At the close of the procession Barnum's historical plowing elephant will give a free exhibition of his plowing, with other exhibitions portraying the wonderful sagacity of this animal. . . .
Concerning show matters, an occasional correspondent, "Kit," sends us the following gossip under date of Philadelphia, Feb. 17th: "Show matters are moving along quietly in this city. Showmen are getting things in order for the coming campaign, and as there are no less than six concerns to start from this city a good many professionals are congregating here. Tom King's Circus opens at Washington on Saturday evening, Feb. 18th. Brown and Sanford, gymnasts, join this company at Washington. They remain during the short season - eight days - which the circus exhibits there. The Commonwealth Circus, owned by the Conklin Brothers, Geo. M. Kelley, and Wm. La Rue, start from here in April, traveling by boat. The company engaged is a very good one. Besides the proprietors, who are first class artists, they have engaged Brown and Sanford, the well known gymnasts; Charley Reed, the rider, and John Kelley. John Keegan is to be agent. Ham Norman, of Cincinnati, and George Batchelor, who has secured O'Brien's privileges for the coming season, are in this city at present. . . .
Andrew Haight and P. B. Wootten are said to be organizing a circus for the coming season in Atlanta, Ga.
G. G. Grady's Circus closed for the season, after twenty-two months travel, at Atlanta, Ga., on Feb. _th. A correspondent informs us "that he has settled with the company, and most of them have departed for their homes. A small portion of his stock is to be sold here, and the remainder will be shipped to Kenton, O., Mr. Grady's home, where the circus will be reorganized for the approaching tenting season, for which E. W. Perry and family . . . W. H. Stewart . . . Thomas Edwards, agent, and other, of the old company have already been engaged."
C. W. Noyes' Circus exhibits in Galveston, Texas, all the week Feb. 11th, having been driven back from the proposed route by bad roads and high water. . . . The Van Amburgh animals left Galveston for St. Louis on Feb. __th, the contract for them having expired.
Hemming and Cooper's Circus, which is wintering in Louisville, Ky., will start upon the road early in April. The animals will be under the charge of Felix McDonald . . .
Smith's Crescent City Circus collapsed in Jefferson, Texas, recently.
Miles Orton and family, who have been traveling with Stowe for the past three years, will start out this spring under the management of W. W. Cole. The firm will be Orton and Cole, proprietors, and in connection with the circus there will be a menagerie.
New York Clipper, March 4, 1871, p. 383. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Lake's Circus exhibited in Atlanta, Ga., on Feb. __th, and then disbanded for the winter. The manager returns to Cincinnati, O., and will resume travel early in April next. During the interim Mrs. Lake will pass some time at her farm, "Sunny Side," about five miles from Cincinnati. John Davenport, clown, and the Kingcade family, are engaged with this circus for the approaching season.
John Henry Cooke and family have been engaged for the approaching tenting season by Stone and Murray, which will be the fourth they have traveled with this circus.
New York Clipper, March 11, 1871, pp. 391, 392. All information should be checked with additional sources.
P. Bowles Wooten and Andy Haight are organizing a circus at Atlanta, Ga. The latter gentleman is well known in the profession, while the former has for many years kept a livery stable on Prior street, Atlanta.
William Morgan, the hurdle rider, has made an engagement with Dan Rice's Circus, and joins that show this week.
Spatt Hyman, the talker and magician, has been engaged for the Shellenberger Menagerie and Circus, as sideshow talker.
John Lowlow, clown, is engaged for the coming tenting season with John Robinson's Circus and Menagerie, with which he has been connected for the past five years.
Yankee Robinson's Circus is to travel by rail this season.
A portion of Van Amburgh's Menagerie was wrecked on the Mississippi river, at St. Louis, Feb. __th. The animals had arrived from New Orleans, La., per steamer and were en route for Carthage, Ill., and at St. Louis they have been transfered to the steamer Rob Roy. When that steamer reached a point on the river opposite the foot of Washington street, a loud report was heard on board, and a column of steam was seen flying from her starboard side. . . .
[Advertisement] Heywood & Chiriski's European Combination, now on a successful tour to the west. James Heywood. Wm. Heywood, agent; Joel Heywood, L. F. Smith, advertisers.
New York Clipper, March 18, 1871, p. 399. All information should be checked with additional sources.
The William Kincade family is engaged with Van Amburgh's Circus and Menagerie, Hyatt Frost, manager, for the approaching season.
The Macarte Sisters' Circus collapsed recently in Texas. . . .
The follow curious coincidences occurred to parties connected with Van Amburgh's menagerie. Some of the animals belonging to that concern were joined to Noyes' circus traveling in the south. These animals left Carthage, Ill., on Friday; John Lyke, who was in charge of the animals, left his home on Friday, and arrived in Keokuk, Iowa, on Friday; started from Carthage on Friday, was taken sick on Friday; and Benjamin Crosby, who left Brewster Station, N.Y. on Friday, to take the place of Lyke, arrived at Barnard Landing to meet the animals on Friday, Lyke started for home on Friday and arrived there on Friday; Crosby on Friday contracted to ship the animals from Galveston, Texas, to New Orleans, on their home trip, and on that passage on a Friday experienced a severe hurricane on the Mississippi river, and had to land the animals to save the boat. Charley Wood says the boat blowed up on Friday, an of which appeared in our past issue. Hyatt Frost assures us that the animals arrived in Carthage, Ill., on Friday, and Crosby and himself, who started for New York city, arrived on Friday, March 10th.
Harry A. Williams, formerly a writer for the newspaper press . . . has been secured by the Great Commonwealth Circus, and will act with that concern as the advertiser and editor of publications the coming season.
New York Clipper, March 25, 1871, pp. 406, 407. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[New York City] George Leopold, the gymnast, got into a quarrel with some roughs on March 10th, as a certain house, and was severly beaten, both of his eyes being gouged, and it is said that the sight of one of them is entirely destroyed.
The Sanyeahs, trapezists, are at present traveling with C. W. Noyes' circus in Texas.
A large number of wild animals for Barnum's new museum, menagerie and circus arrive in this city, per steamer Erie, on Monday, March 13th. On the passage the steamer broke her screw and was compelled to touch at St. Thomas, which port she left Feb. 27th. The trip from Europe occupied forty-two days. In consequence of this delay and in order to supply the carnivorous animals with necessary food, two llamas, a camel and a pony were slaughtered. Among the animals that arrived are an African eland, a black rhinoceros, two African lions, two royal Bengal tigers, a gnu or horned horse, two zebras, . . . two yaks from Tibet, two giant kangaroos, the largest ever brought to this country, sent by Tom Thumb from Australia, two wart hogs, resembling a hippopotamus, some African leopards, and ostrich and two boa constrictors.
John Carroll is engaged as clown with Cole & Orton's Circus, and will leave New Orleans on April 10th to join that concern.
John O'Brien, who has three shows upon the road already, has just purchased stock for a fourth, to be called Handenburgh's Menagerie and Circus. The concern has Charles Whitney for agent and opens about May 1st.
Dan Rice has purchased the wooden building known as the Palace Pavilion, which was used at the Great Exposition at Paris in 1867, for the American Circus, and will erect it in St. Louis, on the Lindell Hotel property, opening on April 17th. On that day D. K. Prescott becomes his partner in the show.
George W. Murray, clown and comic vocalist, is engaged with Warner's Pacific Circus and Menagerie for the approaching season.
William H. Brandon, the keeper of the elephant "Hannibal," connected with Van Amburgh's menagerie, died suddenly on March 12th, at Athens, N.Y., aged fifty-two. He was extensively known, not only among circus performers, but throughout the country generally.
Heywood and Welch's European Combination, late Heywood and Chiriski's, commenced a brief season in Detroit, Mich., March __th, and will visit the principal towns in that state.
New York Clipper, April 1, 1871, pp. 414, 415. All information should be checked with additional sources.
George Leopold, the gymnast, has quite recovered the sight of both of his eyes and is rapidly recovering from the other injuries he received recently. He will shortly return to ___ in company with a lady gymnast.
Charley King, Ethiopian comedian and banjoist, has been engaged to travel with James Robinson's circus this season.
C. W. Noyes' Circus exhibited in Austin, Texas, March 9th, 10th and 11th.
Edward Kincade is fitting out a new show for the coming tenting season. The entire outfit will be new, and the Kincade family will be among the principal performers.
W. H. Stewart, song and dance man, has been re-engaged with G. G. Grady's Circus, in the sideshow.
Yankee Robinson's Show will start from the vicinity of Louisville, Ky., under the management of Scott and Smith; Yankee Robinson, general director; Daniel Scott, assistant director . . . Among the features will be ballooning and the "Great Belgian Band," numbering twenty-nine . . .
New York Clipper, April 8, 1871, pp. 1, 4, 6, 7. All information should be checked with additional sources.
The tenting season of circuses and menageries is peculiarly and American institution. In no other country does it prevail, and although an attempt was made in years gone by to introduce it in England, by Mr. L. B. Titus, a veteran American manager, who traveled there for a season under canvas, it did not prove a permanent success; its novelty created some little sensation, but the English people did not take to it kindly and it fell into disuse.
The advent of a circus or menagerie into a country town creates the greatest excitement among the citizens, and the day becomes a gala one, like unto the fourth of July or other national holidays. Business is suspended during the hours of exhibition, and the inhabitants give themselves up to recreation. People residing in the suburbs pour into the town in vehicles of every shape, while many perform the journey on foot. Unless the village schools grant their pupils a holiday the attendance is very light, as the boys will see the circus even if they play truant and crawl under the canvas so to do.
A large amount of capital is required to put a circus on the road. The canvas and seats are expensive, and then it requires a large number of horses and strongly constructed wagons to transport it and the other luggage through the country. The item of pictorial printing alone is very heavy, often amounting to some $25,000 in a single season, and this amount does not include advertising. The expense of bill boards for a season is an important item; these are contracted for by the business agent, who makes a bargain with a carpenter to furnish the lumber and erect the bill board, which oftentimes is twelve feet high by one hundred and fifty feet long, and after the exhibition is over the boards revert to the carpenter. A force of bill posters travel in advance of the circus and are known as the paste brigade. The running daily expenses of a circus or menagerie, or either alone, is from $500 to some $1,200. This amount must be taken every day, or ruin shortly stares the owners in the face. The show must be on the lot at the time advertised, no matter what the weather or the obstacles to be overcome. A few days of stormy weather, with muddy roads, besides taxing to the utmost the energies of all the workingmen of the show, oftentimes makes a large drain upon the treasury, which it will take weeks of labor to restore.
As it may interest our readers to know how a circus or menagerie is managed, we will concisely state the modus operandi, from its formation to the giving of the first performance, During the months of February or March, the managers assemble in New York city for the purpose of engaging their performers for the coming season, and then a route is decided upon, which is kept most religiously a profound secret, to prevent, if possible, two shows being advertised at or near the same time in the same town. We will suppose, for the purpose of this description, that the canvas, seats, horses, wagons, etc., have been already secured, and that they are in their winter quarters, where they are being thoroughly overhauled and repaired for the approaching campaign. The route having been determined upon, and the necessary amount of pictorial printing secured, ready to be boxed and shipped upon the receipt of a telegram, the chief agent, with a plan of the route and printed blanks for all kinds of contracts, a sufficient quantity of pictorial bills and corps of bill posters, starts for the towns it is proposed to visit, arriving in the first of which, he must secure a license to exhibit, which is oft-times attended with much difficulty; then a lot on which to perform must be secured, then contracts with the hotels and stables made for the keeping of the men and horses, both large in number, contracts for beef, hay, oats and other food for the animals; also contracts for advertising in the local papers; these must all be executed in duplicate, one copy of which must be returned to the manager at headquarters. He must also secure bill boards and eligible sites therefor. This accomplished, he pushes on seriatim to the towns mapped on the proposed route, leaving behind him full instructions for another agent, who follows in his wake. This agent, on arriving, sees that the bills are properly posted, inserts the advertisements in the newspapers, according to contract, and attends to such other commissions as the chief agent may have left for him in writing.
When the day of exhibition arrives, for all the work above named has been accomplished some ten days or more in advance, the show starts at an early hour in the morning, in a procession, with the wagons arranged in the proper order; those that are first required, leading the van. The most rigorous discipline is here maintained, as every wagon must come upon the ground in precise order, place and time, so that there may be no confusion or delay. On arriving at the outskirts of the village, a halt is made, the wagons containing the tent, poles and other necessary apparatus proceed to the lot where the exhibition is to take place, and the remaining wagons are prepared for the grand procession or street parade; the glittering costumes are donned, the banners unfurled, the musicians are ready with their instruments in the chariot, and when all is prepared the procession moves through the principal streets to the place of exhibition and is there disbanded. The tent is so quickly raised that it almost seems like magic, but it is simply the result of perfect discipline. Under the direction of the boss canvas man, every man takes his assigned position; he has but little to do, but that must be perfectly done and at the proper moment. After the grounds are prepared for the coming exhibition, all hands partake of the noontide meal. Then comes the afternoon performance, at the close of which supper follows and an hour or two of rest. Then the evening exhibition takes place, and the moment it is over work again commences. The tents are struck, and every thing loaded into its proper wagon. The performers and workmen then partake of what is called breakfast, and the entire show starts upon its journey to the next town, traveling all night, a journey sometimes of thirty or forty miles, while, on the next and succeeding days, the same routine is gone through for a period of about twenty-eight weeks. Sunday is a day of rest, the route being generally so arranged that no travel is necessary until near midnight of that day. Upon the arrival in each town an attache, called the "layer out," assigns the rooms in the hotels to the various performers and employees. The treasurer, besides selling tickets and counting his receipts, pays the orders upon the treasury, which the agents in advance have left in payment of bills.
This is but a brief outline of the vast amount of labor required. There is a corps of farriers, who shoe the horses; mechanics, who can repair a wagon that breaks down on the road, and, in fact, in every department competent men are to be found to repair all damages by accident. Some shows travel entirely by railroad, making the labors of the employees much lighter. Other carry with them a portable canvas hotel, so to speak, with cooking utensils and everything requisite to provide food and lodging for their employees. . . .
P. T. Barnum's Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Hippodrome. This immense combination, its first appearance on the road, is fully described in all its departments, as follows: Officers - P. T. Barnum, Proprietor; W. C. Coup, Manager; Ed. Buckley, Assistant; Dan Castello, Director of Hippodrome; J. J. Justice, Contracting Agent; W. C. Crum, Editor of Publications; J. N. Genin, Treasurer; J. L. Hutchinson, Barnum's Book Agent; W. B. Harrison, Expositor of Living Curiosities and Superintendent of Museum Department; W. L. Jukes, Automaton Mechanician and Superintendent of Statuary; D. K. Black, Assistant; Mons. Trepalier, Taxidermist; Prof. Allenshaw, Leader of Band; Dr. A. C. Berry, Veterinary Surgeon; Albemarie Wellington, Master of Horse; Joseph Baker, Master of Museum Pavilion; Geo. McDonald, Master of Menagerie; Thomas Marshall, Master of Hippodrome; Prof. Chas. White, Dominant Hero of Wild Beasts, assisted by Abdul Zid, Keri Shishak and Lial Zaldad, from the Zoological Gardens of King Theodorus of Abyssinia (the last three named, descendants from Ishael, assisted in the capture, and superintended the shipment of the great cargo of living wild animals recently imported from Asia and South Africa, and will themselves constitute no inconsiderable feature of the Great Exhibition.
The bareback riders and Equestrienne, embracing many well known in the profession, and many who will make theri Amrcian debut with this show are: Pauline Hindley, Mrs. Dan Castello, Caroltta La Vinci, Maria Celeste Garnier, the Marion Sister, William Dutton, Master Dan Castello, Geo. North, Alexander Bliss and Chas. Simpson.
Gynmasts, Leapers, Tumblers and Acrobats. Messrs. Burnell Runnells and two sons, Hawley and Miacco, English, Smith, Cook, Hastings, Cavendish, Fitzgerald, Don Biovanni, Pennington, Shuleberger, Horace and Vincent - all first class English, French, German and Italian artists, secured by special contract expressly for this establishment by Mr. Barnum's agents in Europe.
Clowns. Messrs. Dan Castello, W. Wallett and Julien Forester.
Trick Horses. "Czar," "Floating Island," and "Senator."
Ponies. "Thom Thumb," "Commodore Nutt," and "Admiral Dot."
Trick Mules. "Artemus" and "Timothy."
Number of men employed, 250; number of horses 245(345?); number of wagons, carriages, cages, chariots and dens, 95; cages in Menagerie, Museum, &c., 35.
Animals. Elephants, Rhinoceros, Eland, Gnu, Impfooo, Nylghau, White Camels, ten Arabian Camels and Dromedaries, two Asiatic Yaks, Horned Horse, Royal Abyssinian Lions, from the Zoological Gardens of King Theodorus - the largest and most magnificent specimens ever seen in captivity - Bengal Tigers, Gold Spotted Leopard. Among the collection is a beautiful black Leopard, the second ever seen in the United States, and the first one for more than twenty years - Panthers, Pumas, Cougars, Jaguars, pair of Zebras (trained to harness), two Giant Kangaroos, one of them eight feet high; two Black Varks or Abyssinian Wart Hogs, first and only ones ever imported; Egyptian Crocodiles and Alligators, Sea Lions, Walrus, White Polar Bears, Borean Sun Bears, Rocky Mountain Sheep. Anacondas and Boa Constrictors, twenty feet long. Apes, Monkeys, Baboons, and a long list of minor animals, besides endless numbers of birds of the rarest plumage from all parts of the earth, among which are Ostrich and Cassowary of gigantic proportions. In addition to this list of animals, &c., another cargo of rare animals is expected early in May with Malayan Tapirs, Hippopotami, Giraffes, White Elephants, a White Rhinoceros, and many other marvelous animals.
This Mammoth Exhibition is composed of three separate and distinct departments, viz.: Museum, Menagerie and Hippodrome; all absolute, legitimate and complete in their several appointments, requiring three colossal tents, and three sets of men, so admirably arranged that a single ticket will secure admission to the three great shows.
In the Museum Department, among the numerous curiosities, may be found the following - Admiral Dot, the renowned California dwarf; the French Giant, 8 feet 2 inches high; Miss Annie Leak, the young lady born without arms; the Infant Esau, or Bearded Child, a little girl five years old, and literally covered with hair several inches long; the life sized figures representing the Eucharist or Last Supper; the Automation Trumpeter, a marvel of mechanical skill; . . . automaton life size figures of the Sleeping Beauty, Dying Zouave, Drummer, etc.; Museum of Natural History; Curiosities from the Red Sea and the Holy Land; Monkey Violinist; Siamese Twins and Automaton Musicians; Automaton Lady Bell Ringers; a section of bark from the big tree in California; Japanese, Chinese, Esquimaux and Feejee curiosities; the Happy Family and Egyptian Mummy, 3,000 years old; Mechanical Singing Birds; . . . life sized figures of King William, Von Moltke, Bismark, Prince Charles, Napoleon III and Charles Dickens; "Tinseled Eden of the Fairies" and "Garden of Hesperides;" prize articles of patch-work and darning from Old Brewery Mission; Magic Looking Glasses; jaw bones and teeth of an Arctic whale, etc.; Digger Indians from the Yosemite Valley, California, besides many other curiosities not mentioned above. The wagons, carriages, cages, chariots and dens, which have been made on this side of the Atlantic, are all new, of the most exquisite workmanship and finish, no two being of the same color or design, while the massive and gorgeously decorated telescopic golden chariots, forty feet high, made in the city of London, Eng., will also appear in the street pageant. There will also be presented, for the first time, to public gaze on this continent, six royal chariots, mounted by golden Elephants, Lions and Tigers, with transparent crystal dens, in which will be seen monstrous reptile 20 feet long, handled and performed during the procession by the great snake charmer from South Africa. Abdul Zanid, presenting one of the most startling and sensational street exhibitions ever witnessed. This triune exhibition opens in Brooklyn for one week, April 10th, remains in the vicinity of New York three weeks, thence eastward the star of empire takes its way.
Proprietor of Side Show - George W. Coup, who has engaged John H. and Mary J. Powers, whose combined weight amounts to 1,267 pounds.
Van Amburgh & Co.'s Great Golden Menagerie. Officers - Proprietors, J. E. Kelly, H. Frost, H. Barnum, O. J. Ferguson, John Lyke, F. E. Foster; Manger, Harry Barnum; General Business Agent, Benj. Crosby; Treasurer, Jno. Lyke; Master of Canvas, Wm. Simpson; Master of Horse, John R. Coss; Master of Circle, Prof. Langworthy; Leader of Band, Augustus Ziln; Lecturer on Natural History, Robert Ellingham; Elephant Performer, Charles John son; Lion Performer, Prof. Langworthy.
Among the attractions are Willis Cobb's Troupe of Performing Goats, Monkeys and Dogs.
Trick Ponies - Black Diamond, Skip and Mouston. Trick Mules - Darby and Toby.
Number of men employed, 110; wagons, 21; horses, 151.
Proprietors of Side Show, concert and Candy Privileges - Frank Uffner and Mich. Dougherty.
Chief Bill Poster - Matthew Hurst.
This collection of animals and long and well known show, was organized by Isaac Van Amburgh in 1834.
In the Menagerie are 24 cages, with Hippopotamus, Rhinoceros, Great African Eland, Hartebest, Yak of Tartary, a Koomareah Elephant, New Holland Ostrich, Three-horned Spanish Bull, a Two-humped Bactrian Camel, Burche?? Zebra, etc.
A six centre-pole canvas will be used, and the concern will camp horses and people. Organizing in Connersville, Ind., where first performance will be given about April 15th, then travels up the Wabash river and into Michigan.
Van Amburgh & Co.'s Mammoth Menagerie - Siegrist's French and Frost's American Circus Combined. Officers - Proprietors, J. E. Kelley, H. Frost, J. Lyke, O. J. Ferguson, F. E. Foster, H. Barnum; Manager, Hyatt Frost; General Business Agent, C. H. Farnsworth; Contracting Agent, C. Frost; Treasurer, Frank Hyatt; Assistant Treasurer, William Rogers; Press Agent, A. P. Newkirk; Master of Canvas, Archy Seals; Masters of Horse, Chas. Wood and W. Ray; Equestrian Director, Horace F. Nichols; Leader of Band, E. M. Parmlee.
Riders - La Petite Emma Arilla, Willie O. Dale, Charles H. Lowery, John Barry, Little Kitty Kincade.
Clowns - Clark Gibbs and John Foster.
Gymnasts, Tumblers, &c. - Lewis and Toto Siegrist, George and Wm. Kincade, Adolph Gonzalez, J. Barry, Henry Kincade and two sons.
Trick Horses - Billy Muggins and Grey Elk. Ponies - January, ___ and Feramorz. Trick Mules - Mungo Park, Razorback and ___.
Number of men employed, 112; horses, 146(?); Wagons, 32.
Proprietor of Side Show - Van Amburgh & Co.; Concert and Candy Privilege, Van Amburgh & Co.
Privilege, Van Amburgh & Co.
Chief Bill Poster - Joseph Stout.
General Performers - Marietta Zanfretti, Tight Rope artiste; Francola Siegrist and his Children, and Troupe of Dogs; Little Meeme Foster, Madame Foster and Madame H. Kincade.
In the Menagerie are 16 cages of animals.
Elephant Performers - Frank Nash, William Winner, the lion king.
A three centre pole canvas is used. The concern will camp men and horses in "Hotel de Frost," of which Chris. Stout is steward and Jeff Benson chief cook.
Everything has been thoroughly overhauled, repaired and repainted. The show is organizing at Carthage, Illinois, where the first performance will be given April 17th, then cross the Mississippi and go to Omaha, Nebraska, and so on.
G. G. Grady's Unprecedented Old Fashioned American Circus. Officers - Proprietor, G. G. Grady; Manager, Chas. Covelli; Busines Agent, Tom Edwards; Contracting Agent, A. W. Bakes; Treasurer, Wm. Myers; Press Agent, Johnny Fletcher; Master of Canvas, Geo. Robinson; Master of Horse, Dr. Wm. Lowry; Equestrian Director, E. W. Perry; Leader of Band, Pete Deliyede(?).
Riders - W. W. Perry, Baby Julia Perry, Miss Minnie Perry, Chas. Covelli, Shakespearean clown; Chas. Howard, comedian and characters.
Gymnasts, Tumblers, etc. - Wm. Terries, James Terries, Jos. Berdaux, Jos. O'Neal, . . . George Andrews, Belmont Bros., Jas. Goodman, Masters Frank and George, G. H. Grady, Chas. Covelli, Chas. Howard, Nat Hughes and A. J. North.
Trick Horse - Lady Wild Fire.
Number of men employed, 60; horses, 22 by rail, and 70 by wagons; wagons, 21 new, built by Wm. Platt, Girard, Penn.
Proprietor of Side Show - G. G. G., conducted by Jas. Rutlidge; Concert, G. G. G. and Lou White(?); Candy Privilege, Nick White.
Chief Bill Poster - John Forepaugh.
The proprietor has engaged Prof. Terries, who will make a free balloon ascension on each day of exhibition, from the grounds of the circus, doing a double trapeze under balloon while going up.
In the Menageris are three cages of animals and many other curiosities.
In order to get out early and evade the bad roads, the show will travel the first month by rail and lake, taking the new wagons at Girard, Penn., about the 15th of May, organizing at Kenton, Ohio, where first performances will be given on April 10th and 11th.
G. F. Bailey & Co.'s Grand Quadruple Combination. Officers - Proprietors, G. F. Gailey & Co.; Manager, E. C. Quick; General Business Agent, W. H. Austin; Contracting Agent, Fred. Couldock; Treasurer, G. E. Haviland; Press Agents, Geo. Gilford and Prof. Henri; Master of Circus Canvas, E. D. Emmerson; Master of Menagerie Canvas, N. Knap; Masters of Horse, A. Smith and H.(?) Spalding; Equestrian Director, F. J. Howes; Leader of Band, J. Bartholomew.
Riders - The Great Sebastian, Master Romeo, Quagliana and wife, . . . La Petite Lillie, Madame Marie, . . . and Clara Cummings.
Clowns - G. M. Clarke and J. De Haven.
Gynasts &c. - Arabian Brothers, ___ and King, ___ and Gillette, Howes, Clifford, De Haven, . . . Clark, Wellbanks and Romeo.
Trick Horse - Rinaldo and Abdalla. Ponies - Nan and Pets.
Number of men employed, 140; horses, 165; wagons, 47.
Proprietor of Side Show - F. Burch; Concert, W. Henshaw; Candy Privilege, Col. Crosby.
Chief Bill Posters - Kisworth and Arnold.
The Circus and Menagerie will be exhibited in two distinct canvases.
In the Menagerie are 21 cages; Elephants, Black Rhinoceros, Double Humped Camel, with young Camel, three weeks old, Eland, Zebra, Llama, Sacred Bull, Lions, Baby Lions, Puma, Tigers, Leopard, Striped and Spotted Hyena, White Polar Bear, Blisbock, and a large collection of Monkeys and Rare Birds.
The concern organized in Danbury, Conn., with new canvases, wagons, cages, new wardrobe for street parade, and attractions superior to any former season.
Wooten and Haight's Mammoth New York Circus. Officers - Proprietors, Andrew Haight, P. Bowles Wootten; Manager, P. Bowles Wootten; General Business Agent, Andrew Haight; Advertising Agent, W. W. Durand.
Riders - Mme. E. Stokes, Mlle. Andrews, Charles Fillis, James Hawkins.
Clowns - James Reynolds, Billy Andrews and "Doc" Wallace.
Gymnasts, Leapers, etc. - Mlle. Louise, tight-rope performer; Fred and Barney, acrobats; Frank Ashton, contortionist; Jerome Tuttle, James Ellisler, J. C. Long, W. H. H. Griffin, Tom Day, leapers.
This show has a fine den of performing lions and several outside attractions. Everything connected with it will be new. A new band chariot has been built at a cost of $5,000, and will be occupied by F. S. Kopp's Metropolitan Silver Cornet Band of twelve pieces.
The concern has been organized at Atlanta, Ga., at which place the first exhibition was to have been given about April 1st. It will travel by railroad.
Noyes' Crescent City Circus. Officers - Proprietor and Manager, Chas. W. Noyes; Treasurer, Robt. McAndliss; Contracting Agent, Fred. Quick; Master of Canvas, Lewis Jones; Master of Horse, A. M. Brown; Equestrian Director, Tom Poland; Leader of Band, Chas. Voight.
Riders, Gymnasts, Tumblers and Leapers - Wooda Cook, William Nicols, Robt. Johnson, Willie Batchelor, Mrs. C. W. Noyes, Mrs. Robt. Johnson, Leslie Brothers, John, Louis and Fred; Gibbs Sprouls, John Hunterson, George Cook, Charles McCarty.
Clowns - Charles Parker and Charles Seely.
Trick Horses - Grey Eagle and Blind Apollo. Ponies - Idlewild and Quickstep.
Men employed, 100; horses, 120; wagons 26 (28?).
C. W. Noyes is proprietor of the side show, concert and candy privilege.
Chief Bill Poster - Logan Quick.
The company has been exhibiting in Texas all this winter and will continue there during the summer, possibly lying up there during the three hottest months.
Rosston, Springer and Henderson's Great Mastodon Caravan, Circus and Menagerie. Officers - Proprietors, Frank H. Rosston, Andrew J. Springer, A. Henderson, Adam Forepaugh; Manager, A. Henderson; General Director, A. J. Springer; General Business Agent, Frank Rivers; Lion King and lecturer on animals, George W. Hall; Superintendent of animals, Irving Forepaugh; Master of Canvas, Charles Bolas (Bolus?); Master of Horse, John Forepaugh; Equestrian Director, F. H. Rosston; Leader of Band, W. D. Storey.
Riders - Mlle. Carlotta de Berg, Mlle Jeannette, . . . Mlle. Francis, Mlle. Gerturde, James E. Cooke, W. H. Franklin, James Camel, Signor E. Castello and sixteen children.
Clown - W. H. Porter.
Gymnasts, Tumblers, etc. - Charles Burrows, Nicolo Carlo, juggler; Mos. Lorous, juggler and barrel performer; George Cutler, the "man of steel'" The Ali Ben Abdallah troupe of Bedouin Arabs, 14 in number.
Number of men employed, 120; Horses, 160.
Side Show Director - Ham Norman; Concert, Dan Sutton and Harry Miller; Candy Privilege, Billy Kirkwood and Al Roshe.
Chief Bill Poster - Abner West.
The band chariot, cages, dens, wagons, canvas, wardrobe, and all the fixtures are entirely new, as well as the beautiful mirrored car, painted in emerald and gold, containing the bills, &c. that precedes the company.
In the Menagerie are 19 cages, a den of Abyssinian Lions, Royal Bengal Tigers, and Performing Leopards in charge of George W. Hall, and performed by Mlle. Gertrude; the Asiatic Elephant, Ceylon, a small African Elephant, Cleopatra, a white double humped Bactrian Camel, an Arabian Dromedary and four Egyptian Camels. The chariot of Alexandria and the cages and wagons of the menagerie are new and of very elaborate design. The entire show will be exhibited under one canvas capable of seating 6,000 persons. Organizing in Philadelphia, where first performance will be given early in April.
James Robinson's Great Circus, Champion Show and Menagerie. Officers - Proprietors, James Robinson, Frank Pastor; Superintendent, B. M. Stevens; General Business Agent, William Anderson.
Company - James Robinson, Frank Pastor, Master Clarence, William Armstrong, Shappee and Whitney, Davenport Louis, Maurice, William Gorman, John Lawton, . . . Charles Rivers, William Monroe, Mlle. Jeanette Armstrong, Victor Le Land, . . . Victor Le Land will perform the Leotard three trapeze feat outside the canvas, after which Eloise Kenney Bell, female gymnast, will make an ascension from the ground to the top of the canvas, and the mammoth balloon "City of Paris" will ascend daily, under the direction of Paul Haidenne, a Paris Aeronaut.
In the Menagerie are eight dens of animals and five Camels, the performing Elephant, Rolla, and baby Elephant, Prince. The company is one of the best. The world renowned proprietor . . . and Mr. Pastor is one of the best riders in America or Europe. The outside attraction is very strong, and the Zoological Department will make this still more attractive. Organizing at Covington, Ky. The inauguration will take place at St. Louis, Monday, April 10th.
Cole & Orton's Circus and Caravan. Officers - Proprietors, W. W. Cole, M. Orton; Manager W. W. Cole; Contracting Agent, W. M. Davis; Equestrian Director, Miles Orton.
Riders - Miles Orton, Young Leon, Little Claudie, Mrs. Miles Orton, the Misses Jessie Orton, Adelaide and Immogene.
Gymnasts, Leapers, &c. - Maretta Sisters - Imogene, Millie and Rosalie - Rollendo and the Lamont Brothers, . . . William Holland, George Curtis, Johnny Carroll, Ace Barker.
Number of men employed, 65; horses, 110.
In the menagerie are dens of performing lions, 6 Camels and a performing Elephant.
Organizing in Quincy, Ill., where first performance will be given in April.
John Robinson's Great Combination Circus and Menagerie. Officers - Proprietor, John Robinson; Manager, John F. Robinson, Jr.; Assistant Manager, J. D. Robinson; Agent, Fred Bailey; Treasurer, G. N. Robinson; Press Agent, Samuel Joseph; Master of Canvas, Wm. Winfield; Master of Horse, Alex. Reed; Leader of Band, Prof. J. F. McCann, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Riders - Robt. Stickney, Jr., John Lowlow, Wm. Conrad, Archie Campbell, Hiram Marks and Frank Robinson.
Gymnasts, Tumblers, etc. - Wm. Conrad, George Slowman, Eddie Trainor, . . . Harry Lampkins, Nat Homer, D. S. Edwards, Geo. Roberts and brother.
Menage Horses - Stonewal, Grey Eagle and Ellsworth. Ponies - Lucy, Charley and Queen. Trick Mules - Jack Rag and Little Georgie Hemmingway.
Number of men employed, 100; horses, 100.
Proprietors of Side Show - Samuel and Robt. Stickney; Concert and Candy Privilege, John F. Robinson, Jr.
Will use two canvases, one for Menagerie and one for Circus. The sixty-eight cream horses used in procession are all white-maned and tailed, with new harness costing $150 per set. The Band Chariot is entirely new, costing $3,500, and will contain Prof. McCann's Brooklyn Band of sixteen pieces, equipped in the finest uniform that could be purchased in New York, drawn by twelve cream horses. The drivers will all be in English livery, black, gilt trimmings. The wardrobe, banners and carpets are among the finest in American, costing in the neighborhood of ten thousand dollars. The Elephant, with saddle to carry six musicians, will be in the centre of the procession. Four Camels, richly caparisoned, will follow, led by four Arabs. Forty knights and ladies, all draped in appropriate costume, lead the pageant. The tableau car, drawn by eight horses, will, it is said, hold the largest Bengal Tiger in the country on the front, and on each ___ a Brazilian Tiger, Leopard, Lion and Grizzly Bear, . . . A pony chariot, filled with children, drawn by eight Shetland ponies. The twenty-five cages will be led by the ticket wagon of Mr. G. N. Robinson . . . Travel . . . by railroad, taking in all the west, including California . . .
Kincade's Circus. Officers - Proprietor, Ed. Kincade & Bro.; Manager, J. Jackson; General Business Agent, J. McKee; . . . Treasurer, M. Thoms; Press Agent, J. Jones; Master of Canvas, J. Wiley; Master of Horse, J. Rorick; Equestrian Director, E. Kincade; Leader of Band, Christ. Miller.
Clowns - Edward and James Kincade.
Gymnasts, etc. - Frederick Kincade, George Kincade, Charles H. Warner and others.
Trick horse Frederick, pony Jenny Lind, and trick mule Julia.
Number of men employed, 60; horses, 75; wagons, 15.
Proprietor of Side Show - J. Wilkins; Concert, J. Shields.
Chief Bill Poster - D. N. Nagle.
This concern takes the road on or about the 8th of May. Its route will be through the western states. Organizing in Mansfield, Ohio; first performance will be given in Independence, O., . . .
Sheldenburger's European Menagerie and Grecian Circus. Officers - Proprietor, John O'Brien; Manager, James De Mott; General Business and Contracting Agent, W. H. Gardner; Master of Canvas, George Britton; Equestrian Director, H. Codona.
Riders - H. Codona, James De Mott, James Ward, Little Mary Brown, Madame Brown, Mlle Josephine, Madame Codona.
Clown - James Ward.
Gymnasts, etc. - Barrelli Brothers, Chas. Snow, Lamoureaux and Clinton; H. Codona, James De Mott, James Ward.
Trick Horses - Fire Fly, Washington and Beauty. Ponies - Beeswax, Wicked Will and Tom Thumb.
Number of men employed, 110; horses, 160; wagons, 20.
Proprietor of Side Show, Concert and Candy Privilege, J. De Mott.
Chief Bill Poster - Richard Ball.
This concern has been fitted out in the finest style for the present season, with magnificent cages, wagons, uniforms, banners, etc., and a first class circus company.
In the Menagerie are eighteen cages. The great feature of this department is the largest Rhinoceros ever exhibit in this country - ten horses are required to transport this mammoth beast. The other animals comprise all those generally found in a menagerie, including Elephant, Camels, Royal Bengal Tiger, African Eland, Lions, Tigers, Hyenas, etc.
The procession will be very fine, with new Golden Chariot, all the cages handsomely decorated, the drivers in full uniform, etc. The canvas will be a new three centre, 200 feet long and 110 wide. Organizing at Frankford, Pa. Will start from Philadelphia on April 17th.
Handenburger and Co's Circus. Officers - Proprietor, John O'Brien; Manager, G. V. Hunter; General Business Agent, Charles Whitney; Contracting Agent, M. Miller; Treasurer, Garrett V. Hunter; Press Agent, John Handenburger; Master of Canvas, W. B. Scattergood; Master of Horse, Charles Evans; Equestrian Director, Charles Kenyon; Leader of Band, John Overshine.
Riders - Harry Codona and wife, Miss Eliza Kenyon and W. Handenburger.
Clowns - Harry Wood and John Slocum.
Gymnasts, etc. - Levanties, H. Mack and Snell Brothers.
Trick Horse - White Star. Ponies - Iron Sides and Little Pete. Trick Mules - Genata and Queen Ann.
Number of men employed, 115; horses, 130; wagons, 46.
Proprietor of Side Show - W. Raymond; of Candy Privilege, Harry Glenn.
Chief Bill Poster - H. Waterford.
Menagerie of 21 cages, with 2 Elephants, 3 Dromedaries and a full menagerie collection. A four centre pole canvas will be used. Mlle. Bliss will make outside ascension. Organizing in Frankford, Pa. . . .
O'Brien's Caraven, Monster Menagerie and National Kingdom. Officers - Proprietor, John O'Brien; Manager, W. H. Sears; General Business Agent, C. H. Castle; Contracting Agent, Geo. McDonald; Treasurer, S. T. Williams; Master of Canvas, Thos. Rivers; Masters of Hors, Eph Nichols, Phil. Hartwell; Leader of Band, Professor Carl Kauffmann of Philadelphia Military Band, and occupying the $10,000 French Chariot Creation; Grand Lecturer and Purveyor, Frank Whittaker.
Gymnasts, Acrobats, Etc. - Wilson Brothers, Lewis, Luke and George, D'Atalie, Man with Iron Jaw, Femal Sampson, Geo. Wambold and his trained dogs; also, Great Contortionists; M'lle Louise Bliss, Aerial Ascension.
Ponies - 12, monkey Riders, and 3 mules.
Number of men employed 120; horses, 160; wagons 15.
Proprietors of Side Show, Concert and Candy Privilege - Batchelor & Doris.
In the Menagerie are 30 cages, under 6 centre pole canvas, with a live 5 ton Rhinoceros, "Dr. Livingston;" 3 Elephants, Mogul, Princess and Dollie; Major Harry Conley, Elephant Man; Professor Geo. Conklin, Master of Animals and Performing Den. The Band and Cage Drivers will be all in uniform in procession, with two flags on each cage, and plumes and flags on each horse. Organizing in Frankford, Pa., where first performances will be given April 17th.
Great Commonwealth Circus. Officers - Proprietor, George M. Kelley, Peter Conklin, William La Rue, John Conklin; Manager, John Conklin; General Business Agent, John Keegan; Contracting Agent, T. F. Murray; Treasurer, D. B. Aldrich; Press Agent, H. A. B. Williams; Master of Canvas, Lewis Washburne; Master of Horse, R. N. Rice; Equestrian Director, William La Rue; Leader of Band, Professor William Kalitz.
Riders - Charles F. Reed, Somersault Rider; W. La Rue, Hurdle Rider; George Brown, Master Leon La Rue, Infant Bareback Rider; M'lle Amelia, Mrs. Charles F. Reed.
Clowns - Pete Conklin and W. W. Durand.
Gynmasts, etc. - Brown and Sanford, John H. Kelley, G. W. Curry, John Conklin (Cannon Ball Performer); J. Smead, G. M. Kelley, Albert Stroup, Brothers La Rue, Walters, Durand, Chas. F. Reed, Double Somersault.
Trick Horses - La Rue's Black Hawk and Nin Fahib. Trick Mules - Pete and Reddy.
Number of men employed, 72; horses, 28; wagons, 4, to be used for moving stuff from boats to the lot and back.
Proprietor of Side Show - Samuel Givens; Concert, Charles and Daniel Hertzog; Candy Privilege, John Hertzog and Fred. Tage.
Chief Bill Poster - Joseph Morton.
Will travel by boat, with new canvas, seats, wardrobe and everything complete. Band will make mounted processions each day, equipped in the uniform of the Prussian Cavalry. In the Side Show will be Major Burdett and Sister, the Lilliputian People; a Circassian Lady; a Collection of Birds and Monkeys; also Prof. Baker, the Juggler Magician, and Punch and Judy man; Prof. Baker also does his celebrated impalement feat, assisted by his wife. Organizing in Philadelphia, Pa.
Older's Museum, Circus and Menagerie. Officers - Proprietor, P. A. Older; Manager, L. Tilden; General Business Agent, J. M. Chandler; Contracting Agent, E. A. Alexander; Treasurer, W. R. McLane; Press Agent, Chas. A. Turner; Master of Canvas, Wm. Arnold; Master of Horse, J. Thompson; Equestrian Director, Jacob Showles; Leader of Band, A. D. Good; Receiver of Tickets and General Business Manager, Chas. Spicer.
Riders - George Holland, Mlle. Leslie, Senorita Vicenta.
Clowns - Jerry Hopper, George Madden, Willie Showles and J. Showles.
Gymnasts, etc. - Mad. Sanyeah, Nelcourt Brothers, Holland Family, Chas. Spence, James Gallagher, Eddie Holland, Lewis, Henri and others.
Trick Horses - Mad. Showles, with her trained horse, American Eagle. Ponies - Six Ponies. Trick Mules - January, Barney and Tip.
Number of men employed, 100; horses, 135; wagons, 40.
Proprietor of Side Show - Geo. Castillo; Concert, Chandler & Phillips; Candy Privilege, Madden & Dwyer.
Chief Bill Poster - J. N. Young.
This concern has a Museum of Curiosities, among the most prominent of which is the Stone Giant, or petrified man; also a fine representation of the Gorilla tribe. They run a three centre-pole canvas.
In the Menagerie are fifteen cages, with Elephant, Horned Horse, Sea Cow, White Bactrian Camel, three Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Hyena, Black Bear, Black Wolf, two Kangaroos, Black Madagascar Goat, Civit Cats, Cashmere Goat, Ant Eaters, Badgers, Apes, Monkeys and all the tropical birds.
They will give a very fine street procession, consisting of a first class band wagon, with fifteen first class musicians; then follows elephant, ponies, oriental display of horses, men, cages and grotesques. Organizing at Independence, Iowa, where first performance will be given about the 20th of April.
J. E. Warner & Co.'s Great Pacific Menagerie and Circus. Officers - Proprietors, Joel E. Warner & Co.; Manager, J. E. Warner; General Business Agent, Oliver P. Myers; Contracting Agent, Henry D. Warner; Treasurer, Joseph Porter; Master of Horse, Charles P. Jones; Equestrian Director, Ben Maginly; Leader of Band, Edgar Menter.
Riders - Charles Fish, bareback rider; Fred. Barclay, hurdle; Mlle. Marie Elise, premier equestrienne.
Clowns - Ben Maginly and Geo. W. Murray.
Gymnasts, Tumblers, etc. - Belmont Bros., Harry Wilcox, Ed. J. Smith, C. F. Brown, N. Rogers, Masters Charles and Antonio, Harry Gurr, Hercules Libby and Teddy O'Brien; Mlle. Bastian, female gymnast.
Trick Horse - Tredegar.
Number of men employed, 110; horses, 140; wagons, 22.
Proprietors of Concert and Candy Privilege - J. E. Warner & Co.
Chief Bill Poster - W. H. McArthur.
Concert People - Connor Bros., Miss Kate Partington, Harry Gurr, Prof. Ryan, Mlle. Rosalie.
In the Menagerie are 16 cages of Lions, Tigers, Cougars, Panthers, Sea Lion, Eland, Wallapus, Zebras, Horned Horse, Ostriches, Camels, largest Elephant in the world -"Empress," large collection of birds. Sup't of Menagerie and Lion Performer, Prof. A. J. Forepaugh; Elephant Performer, Stephen B. Leonard.
Elephant "Empress" is 11 feet 4 inches high and weighs 12,480 pounds. Color of cages, white, green and gold; "Azure Car of the Orient," containing Prof. Menter's Silver Cornet Band; one large three centre pole canvas. Organizing at Philadelphia, where first performance will be given April 10th.
John Stowe and Son's Southern Circus. Officers - Proprietor, John Stowe; Manager, William Stowe; General Business Agent, John Dingess; Contracting Agent, J. O. Davis; Treasurer, Jack Baker; Press Agent, C. A. Wilson; Master of Canvas, Sam Dicky; Master of Horse, Mart Jennings; Equestrian Director, Albert Aymar; Leader of Band, Prof. Joe Gorton.
Riders - Miss Lovellie, Watson, H. Smith and Son, Joe Tinkham, Abe Vanzandt and A. F. Aymar.
Gymnasts, Tumblers, etc. - Vanzandt Bros., Arabian Bros., Munson Bros., Prince D'Jalma, Babcock, Gaffney, Vanzandt, Joe Tinkham, I. K. Munson, James Reignolds, A. F. Aymar, Joe Tinkham and others.
Trick Horses - Sanko and Grant. Ponies - Fire Fly. Trick Mules - General and Andie, two of the best in the country.
Number of men employed, 75; horses, 18; wagons, band chariot and ticket.
Proprietor of Side Show - James Kamp; Concert, Joe Gorton; Candy Privilege, J. O. Brown.
Chief Bill Poster - C. A. Taylor.
The circus has new canvas, splendid new band chariot, fine new ticket wagon, new band suits for band in procession, bought of Shannon, Miller and Crain - cost $1,800, and new wardrobe, all complete.
In the Menagerie are 2 cages of Lions, Tigers and Hyena. Organizing in Vincennes, Ind. where first performance will be given April 8th.
North American Circus. Officers - Proprietor, Alexander Robinson; Manager, Edward Pastor; General Business Agent, Dion Shappell; Contracting Agent; C. M. Sage; Treasurer, Clarence Burton; Press Agent, Frank Yates; Master of Canvas, John Howard; Master of Horse, George Reiley; Equestrian Director, John H. Glenroy; Leader of Band, Julius Man?z.
Riders - Madam Maria Robinson, with dancing horse; Mrs. Annie Robinson, principal rider; Master Alex. Robinson, scenic rider; John H. Glenroy, bare-back rider.
Clowns - Boyd Robinson and Hiram Day.
Gymnasts, Tumblers, etc. - Burton Brothers, Thomas Byett, Edward Shaw, Austin Brothers, Thomas Clark, Edward Carroll, Barney Smith, James Reed, George White, Harry Sloane, . . . and Wm. Whitbeck.
Ponies - Six trick ponies. Trick Mules - Short and Long.
Number of men employed, 100; horses, 100; wagons, 25, all new.
Proprietor of Side Show - Mr. Clark; Concert, Mrs. A. Robinson; Candy Privilege, Charles Whitney.
Chief Bill Poster - Dan Foley.
This show starts from Utica, N.Y., on the 1st of May, headed by the Great Golden Dragon Chariot, drawn by 40 horses, all dapple grey, and driven by Madame Agnes.
E. Stowe's Northwestern Circus. Officers - Proprietor and Manager, E. Stowe; . . . Treasurer, Eli Cupp; Press Agent, Frank Stowe; Master of Canvas, Hank McGriffin; . . . Leader of Band, Frank Stowe; Leader of Orchestra, Ed. Welling. . . .
The procession will comprise 22 wagons without carriages. There is a large and fine band wagon, entirely new; to which 20 horses will be attached, finely equipped with head pieces, collar and back pieces; also plumes. This is one of the finest band teams in America. The canvas is 100 feet round top, with 25 foot centre piece, new seats, jacks and uprights. The stock is very fine, ten spotted horses for entree, two while and two spotted pad horses, one spotted hurdle horse, besides Mrs. Charles Warner's beautiful trained horse, De Jara. Great pains have been taken in equipping this show, making it a winter's business, resulting in one of the finest equipped circuses now traveling. One feature in the show is a one-legged hurdle rider, who does a splendid act; better than is commonly done in circuses. The circus will start on the road, making its first stand in Wanston April 15th, thence north, through Michigan to Saginaw, thence through Canada to the States.
The Great Stone and Murray's Circus. Officers - Proprietors, D. W. Stone, J. H. Murray; Manager, John H. MUrray; General Business Agent, Jas. Wilder; Contracting Agent, Wm. Irving; Treasurer, M. Coyle; Master of Canvas, C. L. Ricker; Masters of Horse, G. H. Paul, A. Laley; Leader of Band, O. P. Perry.
Riders - M'lle Emile, Henrietta, M'lle Rosinco, Harry Welby Cooke, John Henry Cooke, Geo. Adams, Wm. Ducrow, Master Georgei.
Clowns - Tom Barry, Den Stone, C. Munroe.
Gymnasts, Tumblers, etc. - Snow Brothers, 4 in number, Signor Columbus, Eugene Leach, John Batchellor, Louis Lamont, Dan Snow, Wm. Ducrow, Master Georgei, Geo. Adams.
Trick Horses - Spot, Beauty, Black Eagle. Trick Mules - Shellbark, Pete, Sally.
Number of men employed, 90; horses, 100; wagons, 24.
Proprietor of Candy Privilege - Cal. Stone.
Chief Bill Poster - Hart.
This circus, which is noted for its excellent order and superiority of performances, introduces this season new faces and acts, which cannot be excelled by any other company. This company is organizing in Brooklyn; first performance will be given at Newark, on the 10th of April, and will travel the eastern states.
Note: listed, but unreadable on the microfilm copy: Lake's Hippo-Olympian, Adam Forepaugh's show.
[New York City] New York Circus . . . attractions of the week consisted of the crystal pyramids by Fred. Levantine, somersault riding by Frank Melville, the trained horse Alexander and the trick pony Minna, performed by Wm. Organ; feats upon the tight rope by Mlle. Jeannette Ellsler; bareback equestrianism by Mlle. Rolland; Master George Donald, in his graceful and daring feats upon a barebacked steed; leaps and somersaults by the corps of vaulters, who are excellent, and the mirth-provoking of the circus, Joe Pentland and Julian Kent.
J. E. Warner & Co.'s Pacific Menagerie and Circus open the season at Jenkintown, nine miles from Philadelphia, on Monday, April 10th, exhibiting at Doylestown on the 11th.
Rosston, Springer, Henderson & Co.'s Menagerie and Circus, with the Bedouin Arab Troupe, exhibit at Third and Morris streets, Philadelphia, Pa., April 1st and 3d, and at Fourth and ___ streets on the 4th, West Philadelphia 5th, Chester 6th, Wilmington, Del. 7th, Westchester, Pa., 8th, Pottstown 10th, Reading 11th . . . Lancaster 13th, Marietta 14th, and Harrisburg 15th.
John Robinson's Circus and Menagerie is billed to perform in Manhattan, Ill., April 13th.
Billy Andrews left John W. Robinson's Circus . . . and joined Wooten and Haight's Empire Circus . . .
The menagerie and circus of Adam Forepaugh was shipped from Philadelphia to Washington last week . . . Fifty platform cars and two locomotives were required to transport the concern.
Hemmings and Cooper's Circus commenced its season in New Albany, Ind., April 10th.
New York Clipper, April 15, 1871, p. 15. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Howe's Great London Circus and Sanger's English Menagerie. Officers - Manager, Egbert Howes; Treasurer, Captain Thomas Christopher; Leader of British Cornet Band, M. Emidy; General Agent, Green Berry; Press Agent, "Uncle" John Tryon; Master of Canvas, C. Richardson; Master of Horse, W. Lewis; Costumer, C. Roberts; Master of Ring, J. H. Charmon; Keeper of Chariots, George White; Keeper of Carriages and Vans, Edward Gray.
Riders - Miss Lizzie Keys, M'lle Marie, M'lle Alice, James Jee, L. Joseph, Master Henry.
Clowns - David Seal, jester; William Jee, gymnastic and tumbling clown; Signor Almonti, Italian trick clown.
Ponies - 16 performing.
Number of men employed, 260; horses, 150.
Chief Bill Poster - Daniel Buckley, assisted by Wallace, Thompson and Robins.
The procession will be a prominent feature and will consist of the following attractions: Four heralds in full armor, mounted, carrying bannered trumpets; the car of Euterpe, upon the top of which will be seated Emidy's British Band, drawn by 10 Flemish horses. This car is some 20 feet in length and elaborately ornamented with rich carved and gilded work and fine paintings, the whole surmounted with an azure Turkish canopy. The Chariot of Commerce, 25 feet in length and 35 feet in height, with practicable top to raise or lower by machinery, profusely ornamented and gilded. In the rear, upon pedestals, are carved statues representing Britannia and the Genius of Columbia. From the centre of the top rises a large golden globe, upon which is seated a lady in full steel armor, representing Britannia, supported by emblematic representatives of America in carved statuary. The Egyptian Dragon Chariot, modeled after the fashion of the ancient triumphal cars of the pagan conquerors, and drawn by eight spotted donkeys; a caravan of eight wild animal cages; a cavalcade of 20 horses, mounted by Roman warriors in full armor; Moors, Turks and Arabs, attended by a band of Amazons in full armor richly set with jewels; a Cindrella Fairy Chariot, drawn by Lilliputian piebald ponies; A chinese Palanquin, constructed of wicker work, and drawn by six tamed zebras in harness; a cavalcade of 20 armed knights; the War Chariot of India, or Car of Juggernaut, 35 feet in length and 35 feet in height, upon the top of which is a life size idol elephant, upon whose back is seated a Royal Hoodah, shielded by a canopy of silk. It will be drawn, it is said, by ten of the largest horses the world can produce.
In the menagerie will be found many rare animals, among which may be mentioned a brindled Gnu, or horned horse of Africa, and eland, ten laughing hyenas, performed by Mantano, an African cannibal; Moloch and his performing Bengal tigers, and Francisco and performing zebras, and a white or Polar bear. Six large ships were required to transport the menagerie and the paraphernalia of the circus. Everything has arrived in safety and the first performance will be given at Mott Haven, N.Y., April 13th; and then it will exhibit in Harlem, 14th; Yorkville, 15th, and in the Rink, at the corner of Third avenue and Sixty-third street, in New York city, for one week, commencing April 17th. During the performances in the latter place the canvas will be pitched inside of the rink.
Lee's Circus is organizing in Alvarado, Cal., and will inaugurate its tenting season in that town on or about April 25th. It will have a new band wagon, new baggage wagons, and a new tent. The following is a list of the company: Proprietor, Dr. Charles Pratt; George Constable, clown; George Talbert, principal rider; Leaman and Young America, gymnasts; Miss Polly Lee, rider and tight-rope performer; Miss Rose Lee, pony rider; Harry and Leverta Lee, riders, tumblers and general performers.
Adam Forepaugh's Circus and Menagerie exhibited to large audiences during the whole of last week in Washington, on a United States Government reservation lot on Sixth street, just south of the canal. The animal dens, twenty-six in number, together with the tents and trappings, were shipped from Philadelphia by rail, while the two elephants, Romeo and little Annie, the four dromedaries and the camel, traveled overland, arriving in Washington on Sunday, the 2d inst., having been on the road since the preceding Tuesday. The animals, of which there is an extensive and rare collection, are exhibited in a mammoth tent, separate form that in which the equestrian entertainment is held, one ticket admitting to both exhibitions. The street procession was quite attractive, although there was no special feature. The chariot containing Tony Frank's Military Band was drawn by fourteen very beautiful horses, and the wagons, being freshly painted, looked as bright as a new dollar. In the circus department there is Williams, the English jester; Mathews and Hunt, acrobats and trapeze performers; Mr. and Mrs. Lowande, Miss Cordelia and Mlle. Virginia, equestrian performers; Messrs. Diefenbach, Morgan, Robinson, Melville and others. The side show attractions consist of the wild Australian children, and armless colored man, who gives quite an interesting performance; feats of strength and endurance by William Sparks, and a cage of monkeys and birds. On Saturday, 8th inst., after the evening performance, a special train conveyed the show to Baltimore, to which place the luggage vans will be shipped from Philadelphia. Forepaugh's Equestrian and Zoological Aggregation was to open upon Belair lot, Baltimore, Md. on the 10th inst. for one week.
Rosston, Springer, Henderson & Co.'s Mastodon Menagerie and Circus opened at the corner of Third and Morris streets, Philadelphia, on April 3d. A correspondent, "Kit," thus writes about it: "Though it rained in the evening the large canvas was filled to overflowing. The whole concern being new, it presented a handsome appearance, while the ring performances have rarely been excelled in this vicinity. Mr. Rosston, the equestrian director, has produced an entree which has never been surpassed in this country, and, for the information of showmen, I append a short description, its title, by the way, being 'Feramorz in the Vale of Cashmere.' It is taken from Moore's poem, 'Lalla Rookh,' where the king, disguised as the minstrel Feramorz, wins the love of Lalla Rookh and marries her as the ruler of Cashmere. The subject is a beautiful one and the entree also. The band leader, Mr. Story, formerly with J. M. French's Circus, blows a terrific call, when a line of Arabs - real, genuine Bedouin Arabs - enter the circus, gorgeously arrayed in silks and satins, each one bearing an illuminated banner, rich in colors and spangles; following them, and led by two dusky sons of the desert, comes the elephant "Lalla Rookh," covered with a handsome velvet dress, bearing her name spangled upon each side, while the border is of heavy gold bullion; then another line of Arabs file into the circle, with banners flying, in whose rear a number of richly dressed camels appear, led by sons of Mahomet. Immediately behind these comes the princess, Lalla Rookh, in a robe of crimson silk, attended by swarthy Arabs and dark-eyed houris. The whole cavalcade halts in a circle for a moment; the bugle rings out loud and clear, and twelve gaily caparisoned horses prance into the ring, mounted by riders gorgeously clad as the "Fire Worshippers," thus completely fulfilling Moore's poetic idea. Then the cavalcade slowly departs, and the horsemen complete the entree as is usually done in shows. Altogether, it is one of the finest entrees I have ever seen, and Mr. Rosston deserves great credit for the handsome and original manner in which it is performed. Mr. James E. Cooke, Mad. Carlotta de Berg, William Franklin, Chas. Burrows, Mons. Goroux, George Cutler, and Billy Porter and Charley Munroe, as clowns, make up a first class show - not to mention the great original Bedouin Arab Troup of twelve members, who take immensely here. I paid the show a visit in Wilmington, Del., on the 7th, and found the canvas filled to overflowing. They exhibit at Marietta, Pa., on the 14th, the same day that the commonwealth Circus exhibits there.
The Great Commonwealth Circus has been doing an excellent business . . . On the opening day, George Brown sprained an ankle very severely while leaping, and it was feared that he would be laid up for the summer, but he has been improving so fast that he appeared on the trapeze at Reading - his native place - on the 7th. The route of this show is directly west through Harrisburg. . . .
Batcheller & Doris, proprietors of John O'Brien's menagerie privileges, have secured as an additional attraction for their side show, the Madagascar Albino Family. . . .
John Mulligan, professionally known as O'Keefe, a trapeze performer, died in Rome, N.Y., at the residence of his parents on April 5th. He had traveled with a number of circus companies and was a proficient performer. His death will be regretted by a large circle of friends.
John Robinson' Combination Circus and Menagerie opened its season at the Rink, Cincinnati, on Monday, April 3d, and continued all the week, giving two performances daily to immense business. Our correspondent writes, saying: "They have monopolized the show business for this week, Blind tom at Mozart Hall having done literally nothing; and Stuart Robson at Wood's not bery much better. The circus receipts have averaged nearly $2,000 per diem, at 50 and 25 cents admissions. It might as well be mentioned, for the benefit of circus folk, that the Rink makes a very spacious inclosure, both for the ring and the menagerie, and that it is now about the only accessible bit of turf in town, as the popular lot on the corner of Baymiller and Eighth streets has been turned into a lumber yard. John Robinson has given up his circus to his boys this year, John F. Robinson, J. D. Robinson, Gil N. Robinson, and Robert Stickney (who married Miss Kate Robinson last winter) having the control. The company leave here for St. Louis and from thence take the direct route to California. They have that splendid rider and somersaultist, Robert Stickney, and also John Wilson, the four horse rider, both of whose feats excite much admiration. The performance is opened by a performing elephant, followed by the grand entree, and then by vaulting from the spring board by the artists mentioned in the last issue of the Clipper, during which Stickney throws a double somersault and a single one over ten horses. George Slowman does a clever magic barrel act, and afterwards balances a man on a pole, and, in addition, globe balancing and juggling on horseback. Little Minnie Marks, a child of perhaps 12, rides beautifully for one so young, and a colored boy, Lewis, does a clever bareback ride, his antics being very ludicrous. Wm. Conrad exhibits a troupe of trained monkeys and a good riding dog, and a brace of trick mules are very good. The clowns, Same Stickney, Jr., John Lowlow and Archie Campbell, are up to the average, and the show all through is a fine one. Ed. Morley, ventriloquist, joins them when they leave here. They start out this year with an entirely new outfit, and two large canvases. The wagons are superbly made up, but as they were described in the last Clipper, it is not necessary to say anything more."
Lake's Hippo-Olympiad, under the management of R. E. J. Miles, is to break ground for the season in Dayton, O., about the 17th of April. Mr. Miles intends to make balloon ascensions in connection with the show.
James Robinson's Circus, Champion Show and Menagerie, is to exhibit in Covington, Ky., on Saturday, 15th inst.
Messrs. Zebold and Richardson have a small menagerie, with which they will accompany the Lake show, embracing a performing lion and bear, Peruvian peacock, etc.
Frank Uffner of Van Amburgh's Golden Menagerie has been in Philadlephia the past week, securing curiosities and forwarding his show stock to Indiana.
Ham Norman arrived in Philadelphia on the 6th with two car loads of stock and curiosities, intending to join Rosston, Springer & Co.'s shows. He anticipated the arrival of the Pullman Brothers, but as they did not appear, he immediately put on another show to fill their position. He has the wild Texan, Major Bennett, the Prussian Wizard, and other living curiosities.
Wooten and Haight's New York Circus and Menagerie is announced to perform in Lynchburg, Va. on April 10th.
Stone and Murray's Circus is billed to perform in Bridgeport, Conn., April 24th.
P. T. Barnum's Combination, Museum, Menagerie, Hippodrome and Caravan opened the season on Fulton avenue, near Hoyt street, Brooklyn, on Monday, April 10th, where it remains during the week. The opening day being the occasion appointed for the celebration of peace by the Germans, the streets were crowded to over-flowing by thousands, and Barnum's procession was admired by all who saw it. At its head was the "car of the Muses," containing the band. This car is about twelve feet long and eight feet wide, richly painted in green and gold; the sides inlaid with oval mirrors and ornamented with carved lions' and tigers' heads. At each of the four corners, and at an elevation of about ten feet above the ground, sits a knight in armor bearing a silken banner, while in the centre, under a beautiful canopy, the band discourses "dulcet strains of harmony." The ring horses follow this car, which, by the way, is drawn by ten camels brightly clothed. Following the horses comes Tom Thumb's miniature carriage drawn by Shetland ponies, which are driven by juveniles. Thirty cages follow, highly ornamented in all colors - no two being alike; some in red and gold, blue and gold, green and gold, yellow and gold, white and gold, and many of them are all gold, except the illustrated panels, and the mottoes which are painted on the sides. Upon the top of one of the cages is a large rosebud, which unfolds leaf by leaf, until it is in full bloom, when Cupid appears in its centre, armed with bow and shafts, and then closes only to bloom again. Upon another there is an automaton horizontal bar performer, whose antics create much amusement. Many of the cages have rich and beautiful banners floating from their tops, while the band and all the drivers are in full uniform, and the horses plumed. The show is not finished yet; some of the cages in the procession being unpainted, but will be completed this week, while others are still upon the ocean. But the grand sight of the day was the immense car of Neptune, which followed by the elephants closed the procession. The splendid car is fully twenty-eight or thirty feet high, the top seat being surmounted by a golden canopy lined with purple silk; the sides contain mirrors ten feet long and five feet wide; the corners and top richly ornamented with animals, dragons, birds, etc., carved in wood and richly gilded. The whole procession, though far from complete, was decidedly one of the finest things of the kind ever seen in this country.
The statement that Chis B. Brestle went with Messrs. Batcheller & Doris, of O'Brien's menagerie, is an error. He does not go with them.
Francois Siegrist & Sons, who go with Van Amburg's Circus and Menagerie, are in Philadelphia the present week, performing at Fox's theatre.
Sidney Thompson, the celebrated Canadian "spotted horseman," and side-show solicitor, whose "rep" and "legit" are well known in the show profession, has been secured by Mr. Raymond for the coming season, while Smith Gunny goes with Frank Uffner, and Spaff Hyman with James De Mott.
J. E. Warner's Great Pacific Menagerie and Mammoth Circus commences its tenting season in Jenkintown, Pa., April 10th.
John Robinson's Circus and Menagerie is billed to exhibit in Indianapolis, Ind. April 10th and 11th.
Stone and Murray's Circus is billed to exhibit in Brady's Ring, Jersey city, April 17th, 18th and 19th.
J. M. French, of Oriental Circus and Egyptian Caravan renown, is in this city this week, superintend the shipment of his fine lot of animals from the Central Park, where they have been wintering, to Quincy, Illinois, to join the Cole and Orton show.
Van Amburg & Co's Menagerie and Circus, Hyatt Frost, manager, is billed to perform in Keokuk, Iowa, April 17th.
New York Clipper, April 22, 1871, p. 23. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Ed. Morley, the "talking hand" performer, with John Robinson's Circus.
Gibbonoise, the contortionist, P. H. Seamon joined Hemming and Coopers's circus, at Louisville.
Ned Turner, wit and humorist, has been engaged as clown with Cole and Orton's circus and menagerie.
New York Clipper, May 13, 1871, p. 47. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Hardenberger and Co.'s Circus and Menagerie exhibits at Thirty-sixth and Market streets, West Philadelphia the _th inst.
Howe's Great European Circus entered Brooklyn in grand style on Monday, May 1st. Business was good the first three nights, but on Thursday the rain storm set in and continued with but little intermission until Saturday night, the result, of course, being a decided falling off in the attendance. The tent stood the pressure of the storm very well, and the performances were not interrupted. . . . The menagerie is not extensive, but the animals are rare one. The performance of the keepers with the tigers and hyenas was an interesting feature.
The Mammoth Empire City Circus, Menagerie and Balloon is advertised to be exhibited in Hornelsville, N.Y., May 17th . . . Bath 19th, and Corning 20th.
Sheldenburger & Co.'s Menagerie and Grecian Circus pitched tents at Towanda, Pa., on May 1st, and had their pavilion crowded, both afternoon and night. Ever since leaving Philadelphia this show has done a large business. At Scranton, on the __th of April, business was immense. That city has gained an unenviable notoriety among showmen on account of the attacks that are usually made upon shows that exhibit there by a gang of rowdies. It was the talk of the town that Sheldenburger's show would be demolished, but when the show come not a hand was raised, nor an offensive word said to anybody connected with it. This may be attributed to the excellent precautions taken by Mr. De Mott, the manaer, for in the afternoon the police took charge of the concern, and in the evening, when the roughs congregated upon the show ground, they found the canvas surrounded by a line of U.S. regulars, with loaded muskets ready for use. The roughs, believing discretion to be the better part of valor, quietly disappeared. . . .
Van Amburgh & Co.'s Menagerie and Circus, Hyatt Frost, manager, is billed to be exhibited in . . . Glenwood, Iowa, 9th, Council Bluffs 10th, Omaha, Neb. 11th and 12th, Plattmouth 14th . . . Nebraska City 17th . . . Bryson 19th, Tecumseh 21st . . . Our correspondent, writing from Omaha, Neb., says: "The weather has been cold and stormy, with very high winds, and on many occasions they were unable to raise the top of the tent. Money is scarce and people are moving farther west."
James Robinson's Circus is billed to exhibit in Detroit, Mich. May 12th and 13th; thence to Port Huron, New Baltimore, Mt. Clements, Pontiac . . .
The Commonwealth Circus is billed to perform at . . . Laceyville, Pa., 11th . . . Towanda 13th, Athens 16th . . . Elmira, N.Y., 17th.
New York Clipper, May 20, 1871, p. 55. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Chiarini's Circus is playing at the Cordora National Exhibition.
Aymar's Circus is expected in Montevideo in July.
Edward D'Atalie, the "Man with the Iron Jaw," it will be remembered, was arrested some time ago in Philadelphia for brutal conduct towards the child "Young Zephyr," who performed with him. D'Atalie jumped his bail and went to St. Louis. Recently he has been connected with O'Brien's Circus, and Mayor Fox, of Philadelphia, had a bench warrant, and dispatched a couple of officers to hunt the fugitive, whom, after considerable trouble, they found with O'Brien's circus at a place in New Jersey called Brick Cooper . . . the captive was handcuffed and taken to Philadelphia . . . where he will await his trial.
New York Clipper, May 28, 1871, pp. 59, 63. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[Advertisement] M'lle Conchita Ronzati, now with Commonwealth Circus, challenges any lady in America to make the ascension blindfolded on a half inch wire. Or to compete with her on the tight rope. Address Harry Cunningham.
Jim Myers' Great American Circus, which has been exhibiting in a building at Naples, Italy, during the past winter, took the road on May 1st, exhibiting under canvas. . . . We have heard that Mr. Myers will visit this country, his native land, next winter.
Madame Lake's Hippo-Olympian is traveling by railroad through Nebraska during the present month and has done a fair business.
Omar Kingsley and Thompson were organizing a circus in Portland, Oregon, which was to have started from that city about May __th.
The Atlantic and Pacific Circus . . . list of its officers and company: . . . William Greer, superintendent of pavilion; Mrs. Whittier, costumer . . . W. Vincent, ring master; Isaac Young, wagon master . . . Riders- Mlle. Marie Annette, Mlle. Eugenia Augusta, four horse rider; Miss Rosalina, somersault rider; Miss Polly Lee, equestrian juggler; Mlle. Carlotta, trick and somersault rider; Young Harry, bareback rider . . . clowns, Mons. Lehman, Herr Rentz and George Constable. . . .
Adam Forepaugh's Circus and Menagerie is billed to exhibit in Pittsburgh, Pa., May 26th, 27th and 28th.
James Robinson's Circus is billed to perform in Grand Rapids, Mich., June 1st and 2d.
The European Circus is billed to perform in Janesville, Wis., May 22d, Beloit 23d, Rockford, Ill., 24th, and Freeport 25th.
New York Clipper, June 10, 1871, pp. 79, 80. All information should be checked with additional sources.
"Yankee" Robinson's Circus collapsed at Bloomington, Ind., May 27th, and a correspondent says: "The people are now without a dollar. The superintendent of the railroad has promised to pass us to Louisville, Ky. or Chicago, Ill., today (29th)."
Wooten and Haight's Empire City Circus is billed to perform in Haverhill, Mass., Jun 9th, Dover, N.H., 10th, Rochester 12th, Great Falls 13th, Saco, Me., 14th . . . Gardiner 19th, Augusta 20th, Waterville 21st . . . Belfast 23d, Dexter 24th . . . Bangor 27th, Ellsworth 28th . . . Eastport, July 1st . . . and thence into the British provinces.
John O'Brien's Menagerie performed in Norwich, N.Y., June 1st.
M'lle Jeal & Co.'s Circus exhibited in Stockton, Cal., May __d, and Knight's Ferry, May __th. With this company are Daniel Long, clown, the Starr Brothers, Miss Linda Jeal, George Ryland, Master Willie Emerson and the Lawrey Sisters. There are seventeen ring performers, forty persons and fifty-four horses connected with it. George Ryland is ring master and John Marshall, treasurer.
D'Atalie, the man with the iron jaw, who had some difficulty about a child who performed with him while in Philadelphia, was arrested, it will be remembered, a short time since in that city, to answer whatever complaint might be made against him. We now learn, through D'Atalie himself, that, after explaining the matter, the affair was settled, and the man with the iron jaw was released without trial. He is now with O'Brien's menagerie.
The Great Commonwealth Circus exhibited in Philadelphia last week, making a stand at Seventeenth and South streets, on Wednesday and Thursday, and at the Keystone Skating Park, Third and Morris streets, on Friday and Saturday, the 2d and 3d inst. The leading features were the equestrianism of Charles F. Reed and William La Rue and the leaping of George M. Kelly. Pete Conklin made an excellent clown. . . .
Stone and Murray's Circus is billed ahead as follows: . . . Lynn, Mass., 12th, Lowell 13th, Nashua, N.H. 14th, Manchester 15th, Lawrence 16, Haverhill 17th . . . Great Falls 21st.
[Advertisement] Eugene Sheldenburger & Co.'s Colossal Menagerie and Circus . . . James De Mott, manager; Garrett Y. Hunter, assistant manager; Kit Clarke, treasurer . . .
New York Clipper, June 17, 1871, p. 87. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Noyes' Crescent City Circus collapsed in Houston, Texas, about May __th.
"Yankee" Robinson's Circus has not disbanded, as a correspondent informed us. It performed in Muskegan, Mich., June __th.
[Advertisement] The Leslies, acrobats and gymnasts, having severed our connection with C. W. Noyes' Circus . . . can be engaged for the balance of the tenting season. Business - triple trapeze, horizontal bar, leap and tumble. . . .
New York Clipper, June 24, 1871, p. 95. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Concerning the Great Atlantic and Pacific Circus, a correspondent sends the following interesting epistle, dated Chico, Cal., June 4th: "Since my last writing we have passed over some very rough conty, a number of our stands having been among the Sierra Nevada Mountains. On May 28(?) we performed at San Juan, a mountain town. The chief occupation of the inhabitants is mining . . . A great many Chinamen are employed in the mines, and two days before we performed in San Juan there were four of them buried by and embankment falling upon them. The portion that fell in was the site of the ring used by Castello's party when they were here. We came very near being precipitated down this great excavation ourselves. The ledge that is left is the only available place where a canvas can be put up, and as it is very limited in extent we had to place our dressing room within 14 feet of the precipice. When the performance was nearly over, a storm, which had been threatening for some time, Burst on us suddenly, the first blow coming with a shriek and a force that snapped the side guys like thread, pushing in the side canvas against the seats, which went over, tumbling white men, Indians and Chinese into a promiscuous heap. The main guys held for a few seconds, but the second gust carried everything with it, breaking the centre pole off about four feet from the top. It struck and Indian on the head, giving him a severe scalp would, but he showed his contempt for such trifles by assisting us in packing up the canvas. It was very fortunate that most of the horses had been removed or I might have had to chronicle a tragedy, as it was difficult to manage the two or three that were left. And as we were so near the brink of the yawning chasm, with all the lights extinguished, I consider that we were very fortunate in escaping as we did, with no one hurt, when a false step would have precipitated us below, a distance of 300 feet. We had arranged for a start immediately after the show, the drive being 32 miles, to another mining town called Downieville, but in consequence of the heavy rains which set in after our blown-down, we were unable to get off until daylight, at which time we started for Downieville, . . .
P. T. Barnum's Circus, Menagerie and Museum, which performed in Boston, Mass., during the past week, was so largely attended that it was found necessary to add a morning performance at ten o'clock, making three performances daily. We are authoritatively informed that the attendance at the first day's exhibition was never less than 5,000, while at the other performances people were turned from the doors, daily and nightly. The largest tent used for the circus performance now seats 9,??? persons. The daily expenses are $2,500. The show will exhibit only in New England, going east as far as Bangor, Me.
L. B. Lent's New York Circus performed in East Saginaw, Mich., June 15th, and Saginaw City, 16th.
Stone and Murray's Circus performed in Lowell, Mass., June 13th; Nashua, N.H., 14th; Manchester, 15th; Lawrence, Mass., 16th; Haverhill, 17th, and is billed ahead as follows: Amesbury Mills, Mass. June 19th; Portsmouth, N. H. 20th; Great Falls 21st; Saco, Me. 22d; Portland 23d; Lewiston 24th; Rockland 29th and Camden 30th.
Concerning C. W. Noyes' Crescent City Circus a correspondent traveling with it writes us the following from Houston, Texas, under the date of June 1st: "After a long and terrible hard struggle through rain, mud and everything else known in the annals of show business detrimental to success, we arrived here May 21st, and opened on the 22d for the week, the state fair commenced on the same date, and hoped to do a good business, but, as usual, fortune was against us, and it rained for two days, which ruined both the fair and our business completely. Money is very close here now, owing to the extreme low price of cotton. Old citizens tell me that they have not experienced such a wet winter for twenty years. Mr. Noyes has closed the show here for three months, owing to the condition of his stock, and intends to re-fit and re-organize for the fall and winter season and start from here."
O'Brien's Menagerie exhibited at Auburn, N.Y., June 14th, Springsport 15th, Ithaca 16th, Ovid 17th, and they are billed ahead as follows: Watkins 19th, Elmira 20th, Corning 21st, Bath 22d, Hornelsville 23d . . .
Bartholomew's California Circus exhibited in Denver, Col., June 9th and 10th, and went thence to Golden City and the mountain towns.
Lake's Hippo-Olympiad performed in Cheyenne, Wyoming, June __th, for transportation to which point from Omaha, by railroad . . . Denver, Col., 14th and 15th, Golden City 16th, Idaho, Idaho 17th . . . Central City 20th and 21st, Border City 22d, Burlington 23d, Greely 24th, Ogden, Utah 26th, Salt Lake 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th, and July 3d and 4th. Master Wooda Cooke has joined this show and among the chief features are . . . Levi North and his trained horse "mars," and R. E. J. Miles as Mazeppa, in the equestrian spectacle of that name.
James Robinson & Co.'s Circus is billed to perform in Janesville, Wis., June 19th, Watertown 20th, Oshkosh 21st, Green Bay 22d, Appleton 23d, Fond du Lac 24th, Joliet, Ill., 26th.
G. F. Bailey & Co.'s Circus and Menagerie performed in Montreal, C.E., June 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th.
Sheldenburger & Co.'s Colossal Menagerie and Circus is billed to exhibit at Napolean, Ohio, June __th, and from there to go to Defiance. A correspondent, writing on June __th, sends the following: "The show leaves the state of Ohio on the __th, having been directly behind two and sometimes three other shows, yet having continually met with success. Mrs. De Mott, the bareback equestrienne, is riding a splendid act. . . . The Sheldenburger show, with its eight thousand pound rhinoceros, goes into the state of Indiana, to remain during the months of July and August. The whole portion of the stae in which it is to exhibit will be heavily advertised. Kit Clarke is its treasurer."
New York Clipper, July 8, 1871, p. 110. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[California] Lee's Atlantic and Pacific Circus has been exhibiting in the neighborhood of Gold Hill, Nevada. . . .
Stone and Murray's Circus is billed to perform in Bangor, Me., July 3d and 4th . . . Cherryfield 7th . . . Pembroke 10th, Eastport 11th, Calais 12th and 13th, Princeton 14th, Springfield 15th, Oldtown 17th, Milo 18th, Dover 19th, Dexter 20th, Hartland 21st . . .
New York Clipper, July 15, 1871, p. 119. All information should be checked with additional sources.
The Commonwealth Circus . . . This company will remain up Long Island until August, and then will go up the Hudson river, thence into Canada. It is reported that the business has been good so far, and it seems that co-operation among performers will prove successful.
Hemmings and Cooper's Circus performed in Centralia, Ill., July 4th, and is billed to perform in Carbondale the 10th.
Sheldenburger & Co.'s Menagerie and Circus exhibited at Indianapolis, Ind., on July 8th. A correspondent traveling with this show sends us the following: "Since entering the state of Indiana the show has done a big business, while on the Fourth of July, at Crawfordsville, the receipts are said to have been thirty-two hundred dollars, giving three shows during the day. At Winnemac, Ind., on June 23d, an attempt was made to steal some of the company's horses, which was nipped in the bud, but the thieves escaped. At night, when the show was over and had just started away, they were fired upon by these thieves . . . two of the company were wounded. The woods which concealed the villains were thoroughly searched, and if they have been captured they would certainly have been hung to the first tree, but in the darkness of the night they escaped. . . . J. E. Warner & Co.'s Menagerie, Museum, Circus, Caravan, Aviary and Hippodrome, under three big tents, are billed to exhibit at Decatur, Ind., on July __th. This is now one of the largest shows in this country and is meeting with great success everywhere. J. E. Warner, one of the ablest of our showmen, runs the concern. It goes into Michigan and remains during the month of August, after running against Adam Forepaugh, in Ohio, for the two last weeks in July."
Wootten and Haight's Empire City Circus and Menagerie is to play one week in Halifax, N.S., commencing July 31st.
Hemming and Cooper's Circus and Menagerie is billed to exhibit in Paducah, Ky., July 17th.
"Old" John Robinson's Museum, Menagerie and Circus performed to very large audiences in Peoria, Ill., on July 4th, when four performances were given. The riding of Sam Stickney was par excellence, while the graceful poses of little Minnie Markes surprised all. . . .
G. F. Bailey's Circus is billed to exhibit in Toronto, Ont., July 17th and 18th . . .
Mrs. Charles Warner's National Circus performed in Laurel, Ind., July 4th, Clarksburg 4th, Greensburg _th, Shelbyville 7th, and Franklin 8th. Thence they were billed to go through southern Illinois.
New York Clipper, July 22, 1871, p. 127. All information should be checked with additional sources.
McLears' Hippotheatron, under canvas, which opened at Williamstown, N.Y., June __th, exhibited in Cleveland, O., July 10th . . . Central Square 12th, Breuerton 13th, Phoenix 15th, and is billed to perform in Liverpool 17th.
Howe's London Circus exhibited in Lockport, N.Y., July 12th, to an excellent business. A correspondent who wrote on July 16th says: "Their street parade was shabby. The show, however, was too English to suit our people, much complaint being made . . . On the evening of the 11th their Globe Tableau car broke through a bridge four miles from this city, throwing the driver upon the tongue, injuring him quite seriously, but he is now recovering and will soon be out. The car was brought to this city and was repaired here, it taking four days to fix it. The front wheels, axle, etc., were broke, but the body part was injured only slightly."
P. T. Barnum's Museum, Circus and Menagerie . . . It had been Mr. Barnum's intention to go as far East as Bangor, Me., but his expenses being $2,500 per day, it was found that there was many small towns where the show would be obliged to stop that do not contain inhabitants enough at fifty cents each admission to cover his expenses. Also finding that several bridges are impassable for some of his larger chariots, he has determined to commence his return trip at Waterville.
Dan Rice's Circus is billed to perform in Rochester, N.Y. July 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th; Canandiagua 21st; Clifton Springs 22d; Geneva 24th; Auburn 25th; Syracuse 26th, 27th and 28th; Oswego 29th, and Fulton 31st.
John Robinson's Circus and Menagerie performed in Burlington, Iowa July 13th.
Stone and Murray's Circus performed July 13th and 14th in Calais, Me., and went thence to Princeton, Springfield and Old Town.
John Robinson's Circus is billed to perform in Ottumwa, Iowa . . . thence towards Des Moines.
Van Amburg & Co's Menagerie and Circus, Hyatt Frost, manager, is billed to perform in Mexico, Iowa July 19th; Paris 20th; Macon City 22d; Keosauqua 25th, and Fairfield 27th.
Hemming and Cooper's Circus and Menagerie performed in Carbondale, O. July 10th; Metropolis, Ill. 15th, and is billed to be in Paducah, Ky. 17th, thence through the southern part of Kentucky.
Wootton & Haight's Empire City Circus and menagerie exhibited in St. John, N.B. July 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th, and is billed to perform in Shediac 20th, and Halifax, N.S. one week, commencing July 31st. George Wambold, with a troupe of eight performing dogs, had recently joined this show. Business is reported very good and we are informed that this circus will travel in the south, visiting all the principal cities, this fall and winter.
Mrs. Charles Warner's National Circus exhibited at Shelbyville, Ind., July _th. The Sheldenburger Show pitched tents on the same lot on July 10th.
New York Clipper, July 29, 1871, p. 135. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Sheldenburger & Co.'s Menagerie and Circus exhibited at Bloomington, Ind., on July 17th, to fair business. A correspondent, traveling with this show, writing from Greencastle, Ind., on July __th, says: "The day before a terrific storm swept over the country, destroying property, laying waste thousands of acres of land, and washing away miles of fences and roads. The show drove from Martinsville to Bloomington, a distance of twenty miles, and it took just twenty hours to make the drive. From this it will be seen that the road was a terrible one. The show reached Bloomington at 12 o'clock precisely, and the doors were open at 1 o'clock, when the seats were up, cages set, ring made, and everything in order. Putting up a first class show in a single hour is something that has scarcely if ever been done before . . . The Sheldenberger show drove out of Bloomington towards ___ on Tuesday morning, at 6 o'clock, and at 7 o'clock the Great European Circus, with its grand tableau cars, chariots and all the immense paraphernalia drove into town. The Sheldenberger and the European shows passed each other, one coming from and the other going to the same town . . . After ___ the state we had a conflict with Rosston, Springer & Co., and they have gone into Illinois. Next we met J. E. Warner & Co., and he has gone to Michigan. The we cam upon Charles Warner's Circus and completely demolished it. . . . now we are on the route of Cooper and Hemming's and Yankee Robinson, while next week it is a war between us and Van Amburgh's Menagerie and Circus. In the face of all this, we have done a large business."
The Atlantic and Pacific Circus . . . is billed to perform at . . . Denver, Colorado, 31st, Aug. 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th, Golden City 7th, Idaho 8th, Georgetown 9th, Central City 10th, 11th and 12th . . .
Wootten & Haight's Empire City Circus will shortly leave the provinces of New Brunswick, where they are at present performing, have chartered the steamer Emperor and will visit the towns in the northern and western coast. . . .
New York Clipper, August 5, 1871, p. 143. All information should be checked with additional sources.
The Rosston, Springer and Henderson concern is said to be doing remarkably well in their travels through the west. Its route of the current week: Windson, Ill, July 31st, Shelbyville Aug 1st, Para 2d, Taylorsville 3d . . . Decatur 4th.
Old John Robinson's Big Show, which concluded four exhibitions in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 22d . . . A correspondent says that while clearing up on the 24th "the body of Jas. Quinn was found; he is said to have been killed in a quarrel. He was formerly boss canvas man with Noyes' Circus." The remains were interred at Des Moines, at the expense of old John Robinson.
G. G. Grady's Circus exhibited in Canton, O., July 24th, Alliance 25th, and is billed to perform in Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 1st, 2d and 3d.
Leonardi Torres, aeronaut and trapeze performer engaged with G. G. Grady's circus, met with his death while making a balloon ascension at Massilion, O., July 22d. At about half past five in the afternoon the work of inflating the balloon commenced. A furnace built in the ground was the means used for filling the balloon with heated air, and at six o'clock Prof. Torres took his journey into the realm of space, performing upon a trapeze suspended below the balloon as he ascended. The balloon took a course due south, alighting about three fourths of a mile from the town. On coming towards the earth he let go his hold of the balloon while yet some distance in the air, to prevent being covered and smothered by it. The balloon came down upon the earth, but the aeronaut fell into the basin of the Ohio canal. Surrounded by water one hundred feet wide and some seven or eight feet deep, unable to swim and caught in the mud at the bottom of the basin, he died ere human aid could reach him. . . . the remains were buried in the English Catholic burial ground. Mr. Torres was a native of Spain . . .
Bloomington, Ill. . . . Rosston, Springer & Henderson's Circus and Menagerie on Saturday afternoon and evening, July 22d. . . . Lent's New York Circus is billed for this place on Thursday, Aug. 10th, from here it goes to Springfield Aug. 11th, Carlinsville Aug. 12th, and St. Louis Aug. 14th. John Robinson's Circus will show here on Monday Aug. __st.
The Atlantic and Pacific Circus . . . is announced to perform in Cheyenne, Colorado, August 17th, Grand Island 18th, North Platte 19th, Columbus, Nebraska 21st, Tremont 22d, Omaha 23d and 24th, Council Bluffs 25th and 26th, Plattsmouth 28th, Lincoln 29th, and 30th, Nebraska City 31st, September 1st and 2d.
Howe and Sanger's Circus and Menagerie is billed to exhibit in Toronto, Ont., August 9th and 10th.
Wootten and Haight's Empire City Circus is billed to perform one week in Halifax, N.S., commencing July 31st.
Stone and Murray's Circus performed in Bridgeton, Me., July 29th, and is billed ahead as follows: Bethel 31st, Gorham, N.H. Augst 1st, Lancaster 2d . . . Haverhill 4th . . . Brattleboro, Vt. 10th.
J. E. Warner's Pacific Circus is billed to exhibit at Detroit, August 4th.
New York Clipper, August 12, 1871, p. 151. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Concerning John Robinson's Circus and Menagerie and Museum, of which John F. Robinson Jr. is the manager and sole proprietor, a correspondent traveling therewith sends the following, dated Davenport, Iowa, July 30th: "We are using three canvases . . . The museum consists of a seal, a performing animal; four sea lions, anacondas, rattlesnakes, boa constrictors, buffalo calves and art gallery. The sea lions are doing finely; we keep a fisherman employed so that they may always have fresh fish, and the great expense of this den is made up in the attraction it proves to be to the audiences. Since leaving Cincinnati, seven cages have been added, making a menagerie of twenty-three dens. We give twenty acts in the circus, and have been giving three and four shows a day. At Des Moines we gave two in the afternoon and two after dark. Prominent among our performers are Robt. Stickney, little Minnie Marks, Wm. Conrad, Sameul Stickney and wife, John Wilson, colored boy Lewis, and Mrs. John Lawton. Our route is Rock Island, Ill., thence through Illinois to Chicago, for one week . . . through Indiana to Indianapolis, thence to Louisville, Ky. . . . and from that point we go south. At Louisville we will add three more dens of animals. We have a special train of cars, numbering twenty-two passenger coaches."
Adam Forepaugh's Circus and Menagerie opened in Cincinnati on Wednesday, 2d inst., to a large audience in the afternoon, and a crowded canvas at night, and on the following night the circus was even more densely filled. Our correspondent writes: "We have probably had better circuses here this season, but the menagerie is by far the largest and most complete that has visited us of late. Of the circus performances, a double two horse act by Abelardo Lowande and Mlle. Henrietta; a leap on horseback, through a hoop of daggers, by Martino Lowande, and the gymnastic feats of the Motley Brothers and others, were among the most noticeable. Several of those billed seemed to be attached to the side shows. Mr. John Robinson, on the 3d inst., entered a suit in the Court of Common Pleas against Adam Forepaugh in which he claims $___ damages for enticing away from him Cordelia, the splendid young equestrienne, whom Forepaugh knew, as is claimed to be apprenticed to John Robinson at the time she was induced to go with Forepaugh. This suit is brought under a ___ which allows triple the actual damages for willfully enticing away an apprentice, and will, probably, reveal an interesting chapter in circus history, as there seems to be considerable feeling between these two managers."
Grady's Circus gave six exhibitions in Pittsburgh, Pa., commending July 31st. Our correspondent, writing on Aug. 4th, says: "Business averaged good. As to the show, it was fair. The pad riding by Mr. Perry, Miss Julis and Frank Morgan, was complimentary. Perry did a four horse bareback act, which elicited considerable applause. The Belmont Brothers in their dancing glove and posturing acts . . . The greatest attraction connected with the concern was the balloon ascension made by Prof. Fisher. This is always a free exhibition, and thousands of people witnessed it . . . On the evening of the 3d inst., when the balloon had attained an altitude of perhaps ___ feet, with Prof. Fisher, it suddenly dropped into the Allegheny river. Fisher swam to a small sailboat near by and sustained no injuries. . . .
Van Amburgh & Co.'s Golden Menagerie, Henry Barnum manager, is billed to exhibit at Milwaukee, Wis., Aug. 10th and 11th.
New York Clipper, August 19, 1871, pp. 158, 159. All information should be checked with additional sources.
[San Francisco] The tremendous crush at the opening of the great Mammoth Circus on Aug. 1st, shows there is yet a great veneration for the sports of the magic circus, the clean sawdust and the fragrant smell of orange peel. The exhibition was a good one as the average circus goes. Masters Talbot and Gonzales are fearless riders; Ducrow and Gregory good trapeze performers, and Kingsley (Ella Zoyara) is a useful personage about a circus, acting as ring master and riding bareback with equal grace. . . . Jas. Cook was a good traditional clown.
[P. T. Barnum's Museum, Menagerie and Circus] . . . The following letter, dated Winthrop, Me., July 30th, from a correspondent . . . "Since entering the state, except at Brunswick, where it rained hard all day, they have been compelled to show three times daily to accommodate the vast crowds that flocked from every direction. While exhibiting at Gardiner and Augusta persons came all the was from Bangor. When they reached Waterville, a scene occurred which has never been equaled in this or any other country. The village was crowded with people who had come from the surrounding country, many of them traveling a distance of seventy-five miles, and all the morning crowds were pouring in from all points of the compass in carriages, wagons, ox carts and on foot. Near the circus tents in an adjoining field were several large tents pitched, which had served to shelter the people the previous night, who had come long distances and encamped there. The authorities of the village had taken the precaution to stop the sale of all spirits and liquors during that day, and had caused barrels of water and plenty of ice to be placed at the street corners, for the free use of all. Carts were provided at the expense of the village to constantly replenish the barrels. The early morning performance was commenced and it was found that they could not accommodate a ___ part of their patrons, and ere its close, an excursion train of twenty-seven cars, crowded in every part, came in from Bangor, closely followed by another of seventeen cars from Belfast. Seeing this vast accession to the already large numbers of visitors, the manager was somewhat puzzled how to accommodate them. Finally it was decided to give a continuous exhibition, giving an act in the circus department every few moments. This style of performance was kept up without cessation until nine o'clock in the evening, when a heavy shower of rain falling, afforded the manager an excuse to close the exhibitions. The men and horses were completely exhausted, and their next drive being forty-eight miles, to Lewiston, where they were to exhibit three times, they shipped all the ring horses by railroad, to give them an opportunity for much needed rest. On driving out of Augusta, on July 29th, they narrowly escaped an accident similar to the one which happened in New Jersey. One of the passenger wagons, with twelve passengers and having four horses attached, had driven down a steep hill, when suddenly they came upon a locomotive crossing the road immediately in from of them. The driver, with great presence of mind, suddenly pulled the horses to the right, making an abrupt turn, which overturned the wagon, breaking the arm of Mr. Summerfield, one of the business men, bruising several others, and injuring somewhat severely, Josephe, the French giant, who was compelled to remain behind the show for a couple of days." We believe it is the first time on record that any circus has been compelled to give a continuous exhibition throughout the day and into the night to accommodate its patrons. . . .
Stone and Murray's Circus exhibited at Walpole, N.H. August 8th, Keene 9th, Brattleboro, Vt. 10th, Greenfield, Mass. 11th, Shelburn Falls 12th, and is billed to perform at North Adams 14th, Hoosick Falls, N.Y. 15th, and Bennington, Vt. 16th.
Forepaugh's Menagerie is to exhibit at Piqua, O. August 15h, Troy 16th, Springfield 17th, Urbana 18th, Marysville 19th and Delaware 20th.
Stone and Murray's Circus exhibited at Walpole, N.H., August 8th, Keene 9th, Brattleboro, Vt. 10th, Greenfield, Mass. 11th, Shelburne Falls 12th . . .
E. D. Colvin, manager of Forepaugh's Zoological and Equestrian Aggregation for several years past, has been ill for some time with inflammatory rheumatism, and confined to his room at the Walnut Street Hotel, Cincinnati. He has resigned his position, and will spend the remainder of the summer at his father's residence, Geneva, N.Y. . . . Mr. Colvin is now convalescent, and writes us that he will be on the road again next season.
New York Clipper, September 2, 1871, p. 175. All information should be checked with additional sources.
James Robinson and Co.'s Circus gave exhibitions in Washington on August 21st, 22d, 23d and 24th, to very large audiences, . . . The first afternoon performance was not witnessed by a crowded audience (in consequence of the state of the weather), but at night the canvas was densely packed. It was found necessary to put down extra seats, and even then many were obliged to stand. The General of the Army and family was present, special seats having been reserved and festooned very handsomely with the national colors. The principal feature of the entertainments was the bare-back riding of Mr. Robinson and Clarence. Both father and son have improved (if that were possible) since I last saw them at the Hippotheatron, in New York. Mr. Robinson rides more gracefully and fearlessly than ever, and, to show his ability as a horseman, he now does an act on a swift footed grey, and then, without leaving the circle, repeats the same astonishing feats on a different horse. Little Clarence is no longer an infant, but a nice plump-looking little boy. He now does a bareback act on a pony in a manner to plainly show that he is certainly a chip of the old block. Frank Pastor's pad riding comes next. Shappee and Whitney are excellent gymnasts, and the Davenport brothers are remarkably clever in tumbling and acrobatic feats, and Burke, the clown, is very comical. The company travel by rail, and so do not pretend to give a gorgeous street procession, but have an outside feature in the shape of a balloon ascension, which is conducted on the hot air plan. The Cardiff giant, i.e., one of them, and a magician (not Prof. Anderson, although the bills say so) constitute the sideshow attractions. So wrote our correspondent on August 25th.
Wooten and Haight's Empire City Circus will ship from St. John, N.B., to Boston, Mass., where they will perform September 9th, and after the evening's exhibition they will ship for Savannah, Ga., where they will perform on the 14th.
The Commonwealth Circus is billed to exhibit one week at Quebec, Canada, commencing August 28th.
Van Amburgh & Co.'s Circus and Menagerie, Hyatt Frost, manager, is billed ahead as follows: Lawrenceburgh, Ind. September 1st; Harrison 2d; Brookville 4th; Laurel City 5th; Connersville, at the Agricultural Fair, 6th and 7th; Oxford, O. 8th; Mr. Pleasant 9th; Cumminsville 11th; Loveland 12th; and Morrow 13th. Business is reported good and the weather is very dry and hot.
Van Amburgh & Co.'s Great Golden Menagerie, H. Barnum, manager, is billed ahead as follows: Madison, Wis., September 1st, Evansville 2d, Janesville 4th, White Water 5th, Jefferson 6th, Watertown 7th . . . Since harvest time the business with this show has been good . . .
Charles Covelli has severed his connection with G. G. Grady's Circus, which he has managed for the past three years, and is now temporarily ___ Alex. Robinson's New York Circus during the absence of the manager. . . .
New York Clipper, September 16, 1871, p. 191. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Barnum's Museum, Menagerie and Circus exhibited at Syracuse, N.Y., on the afternoon and evening of Sept. 6th and 7th to an immense crowd on every occasion. No similar entertainment every created such a furore here, the receipts for the two days being something over $15,000 [$13,000?]. At the close of the afternoon performance on the 7th the manager of the circus, Mr. W. C. Coup, was called into the ring and presented with a handsome gold hunting cane watch, chain and seal by the members of the company. The following inscription was on the case: "Presented to W. C. Coup, Esq., by the members of the Barnum show, as a token of esteem and respect for him as a gentleman and manager, Sept. 7th, 1871." . . .
Mme. Pauline Hindly, the equestrienne connected with Barnum's Museum, Circus and Menagerie, who was injured by an accident recounted in our past issue, died at Rome, N.Y., September 6th, at 8.30 o'clock A.M. She left a husband and two children. Her remains were brought to New York for interment.
"Old" John Robinson's Circus and Menagerie exhibited at Clarksville, Tenn. Sept. 2d. A correspondent speaks in high terms of Robert Stickney's riding, also that of the colored boy Lewis. They were billed ahead as follows: Memphis, Tenn., 6th, 7th and 8th; Brownsville 9th; Columbia 11th; Pulaski 12th; Linnwood 13th; Franklin 14th; Nashville 15th; and Murfreesborough 16th. . . . billed to exhibit at Edgefield, Tenn. Sept. 13th.
G. G. Grady's Circus exhibited in Petroleum Centre Sept. 7th, . . . Oil City 9th.
L. B. Lent's New York Circus performed four days on the Buckeye Base ball grounds, Cincinnati, commencing Sept. 4th. Our correspondent says: "Like all the circuses this season, they have drawn immense crowds, the jam at night being positively uncomfortable."
The Levantine Bros., gymnasts, at present traveling with Hardenburgh's Circus . . .
James Robinson's Circus exhibited at Harrisburg, Pa. Sept. 5th, Columbia, 6th; Lancaster, 7th; . . . Wilmington, Del. 9th, and is billed to perform at York, Pa, the 11th.
Handenburgh & Co's Circus and Menagerie is billed to perform in Harrisburg, Pa. Sept. 18th.
New York Clipper, September 23, 1871, p. 199. All information should be checked with additional sources.
James T. Johnson's Circus "collapsed" at Gallipolis, O., Sept. 1st.
Rice's Parisian Pavilion was not half filled during the second week of its season in Brooklyn, one week, apparently, being about all the Brooklyn people can stand. The rainy nights were marked by a very slim attendance, and even Saturday failed to yield a good house.
New York Clipper, September 30, 1871, p. 207. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Hemmings & Cooper's Circus . . . C. W. Kidder has purchased the concert privilege with this show.
James T. Johnson writes us that his circus did not "bust up" at Gallipolis, Ohio, but that he merely sold his steamboat, paid off his company and shipped to ___, where he is reorganizing to travel south during the coming winter.
New York Clipper, October 7, 1871, p. 215. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Barnum's Museum, Circus and Menagerie . . . At Buffalo Dan Castello was presented with an elegant gold watch and chain said to be worth $400 by the attaches of the show. The following inscription was engraved upon the inside of the case: "Presented to Dan Castello, Esq., by the members of the Barnum show, as a mark of their esteem for him as a gentleman and manager. . . ." Immediately thereafter Mr. Barnum presented William F. Sommerfield [Summerfield], assistant manager, with a soli gold medal appropriately inscribed.
Lent's New York Circus is billed to perform in Syracuse, N.Y. Oct. 10th.
James Robinson and Co's Circus is billed to perform at Indianapolis, Ind. Oct. 7th.
New York Clipper, October 14, 1871, p. 223. All information should be checked with additional sources.
The Atlantic and Pacific Circus came to a stand still at Junction City, Kansas about the middle of Sept.
New York Clipper, December 2, 1871, p. 279. All information should be checked with additional sources.
While Wootten and Haight's Empire City Circus and Menagerie were preparing to leave Amite, Miss. on Nov. 16th, for New Orleans, La., a party of some twenty-five men on horseback attacked them just as they were getting the camels on board the train and fired two shots, one of which hit one of the camels in the side and the other struck a passenger car containing the ladies and children of the company among others. The circus people left the train and succeeded in capturing two of the men, took them to New Orleans and turned them over to the police, who locked them up. This show performed at Durant, Miss. Nov. 23d; Winona 24th; Grenada, 25th; and is billed ahead as follows: Coffeeville, 27th; Water Valley, 28th; Oxford, 29th; Holly Springs, 30th; Jackson, Tenn., Dec. 1st; Bolivar, 2d; Corinth, Miss., 4th; . . . Courtland, 6th; Huntsville, 7th; Scottsboro, 8th; Chattanooga, Tenn, 9th; Knoxville, 11th, and Dalton, Ga. 12th. Business is reported excellent.
P. T. Barnum, we are informed, will start upon the road for the tenting season of 1872 a show double the size of the one under his management the past season. James Melville has already been secured, and many attractive features are now being negotiated with. The officers will be as follows: W. C. Coup, manager; Mr. Tilden, assistant manager, and W. C. Crum, general agent.
W. W. Cole is re-fitting, re-painting, and enlarging the concomitants of his circus and caravan at Detroit, Mich., preparatory to the campaign of 1872.
The animals belonging to Hemmings and Cooper have been placed in their winter quarters at Hillsboro, Ohio. This show met with more success this season than ever before.
Old Dan. Gardner has gone to Hillsboro, Ohio, to remain during the winter.
James De Mott has secured two very large African snakes, one of them probably being the largest in the United States. It measures twenty three inches around the body and weighs one hundred and forty-two pounds, but it died on Thursday, Nov. 23d.
John O'Brien has just completed a practicing building near his residence at Frankford, Penn. It is one hundred feet square, and is built of brick, with an iron roof. The interior contains a forty-two foot ring, horizontal bar, single and double trapeze, tight and slack ropes, an other fixtures required in practicing.
Guss Rosston is the gentleman whom the Commonwealth Circus Co. have sent to Cuba to investigate the prospects for a show season this winter . . .
The Perry Family have taken up their residence for the winter at Frankford, near Philadelphia, and are practicing at John O'Brien's new building. Madame Brown - formerly Madame Tournaire - and Little Mary Brown are also there.
Charley Fish's horse, which he purchased last spring of L. B. Lent, paying twelve hundred dollars for him, died in New York recently. It is the horse that Caroline Rollande formerly rode, and was an excellent animal. The loss to Mr. Fish is a serious one.
George W. Murray, the jester, has been lying very ill at the residence of his mother in Philadelphia, . . . At one time it was feared that he would not live an hour, but he came through in safety, and the fact that he is now convalescent will be good news to his many friends.
The Victorelli Brothers, John and William, are busily engaged practicing a new and original acrobatic-musical act, in which six different instruments are to be used.
Andy Haight & Co.'s New York City Circus (traveling by railroad) is well billed to exhibit on the railroad lot at Huntsville, Alabama, Dec. 7th . . .
New York Clipper, December 23, 1871, pp. 298, 302. All information should be checked with additional sources.
Billy Andrews, clown and equestrian manager, with Haight & Co.'s Circus and Menagerie, left the party at Springville, Ala., Dec. 11, and is now stopping at his residence in St. Louis, Mo.
John Robinson's Circus and Menagerie exhibited at Mobile, Ala., Dec. 12th, with the intention of remaining four days. . . . This circus will next appear in New Orleans, La. So wrote our correspondent on Dec. 13th.
Andrew Haight has bought from Colonel Ames' estate and John Ames, the elephant ___, performing Bengal tiger, a performing spotted Leopard, two large performing lionesses . . . The animals were shipped immediately for Haight's Circus, Museum and Menagerie in Georgia.
John O'Brien has contracted for the repainting and gilding of all his cages and baggage wagons, the former to be entirely changed as regards color and illustrations, whilst the wagons are to be colored in green and gold. It is understood that the cages will be ornamented with scenes from American history.
Charley Noyes' Crescent City Circus . . . This concern has met with much success ever since leaving New Orleans, its starting point. At Austin, Charley Noyes purchased stock and took the road with wagons. The show exhibits at San Antonio, Texas . . .
Sid Thompson, who recently started for Texas to join Lee & Pratt's Atlantic and Pacific Circus, returned from there last week with the report that the managers of the Atlantic and Pacific, finding business very poor, had closed up the concern and disbanded.
[New York City] Nixon's Great Southern Circus is the title given to the equestrian troupe that are to commence a series of exhibitions at the Globe Theatre, this evening, Dec. 18th. Among the performers announced to appear are James Melville, Frank Melville, George Melville, Alex. Melville, John Henry Cooke, Henry Welby Cooke, George Adam, M'lle Rosins, M'me De Berg, Mlle Cordelia . . . James Cooke, the Miaco brothers, Fred. and Eva Costello, Don Gonzales, W. Franklin . . . J. Saunders . . . J. Ward and T. Watson. The clowns are Nat Austin and W. Herbert Williams. James M. Nixon is the equestrian manager, and Frank Whittaker, ring master. . . .
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