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Excerpts From the New York Clipper - 1872-1873
1860s
1870-71
1872-73
1874-76
1877-79
1880s
New York Clipper, January 20, 1872, p. 335. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
George Batcheller and John Doris have secured for next season all the inside and outside privileges with John O'Brien's big show.
O. H. Farmsworth is to be agent for John O'Briens' show next season, and his son is to be its treasurer.
Adam Forepaugh is having all his cages repaired and repainted, and will add several new ones this season. He will also use two new pavilions. R. S. Dingess will be his agent, and fred. Lawrence his writer. Charley Burroughs and Henry Burdeau have been engaged.
James Robinson has removed from his late residence at Covington, Ky., to his farm near Mexico, Mo., some forty miles west of St. Louis.
"Doc" Clarke and his wife, Madame Hallean, the "American bearded lady," has been secured by Jake Read for next season. Mr. Read has again secured the side-show privilege with Adam Forepaugh's Menagerie and Circus.
Ben. Lusbie, for two years past treasurer of Adam Forepaugh's Circus and Menagerie, has been secured to fill the same position with P. T. Barnum's Museum, Menagerie and Circus. Mr. Lusbie has the reputation of being the most expert ticket-seller in the country.
James De Mott has secured the outside privileges and candy stands with Rosston, Springer & Co.'s Circus and Menagerie during the coming season. Mr. De Mott does not again enter the arena. . . .
Dan Rice's Paris Pavilion Circus is to open at Mobile, Alabama Jan. 24th. . . . at Columbus, Ga. Jan 15th, and Montgomery, Ala., 17th.
Circuses, New York Clipper, March 9, 1872, p. 335. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
James E. Cooper, having purchased the interest of his partner, Richard Hemmings, as stated in our past issue, will run the show under his sole management, starting from Hillsboro, O., this spring under the title of James E. Cooper's Combined Menagerie and Circus. . . . The following is a list of the company and officers: Dan Gardner, James Ward, Felix McDonald, Ferdinand Tournaire, Master Eddie Gardner (who rides a bare back set), George Derious, . . . Luke Rivers, Charles King, Fred Herbert, Mrs. Felix McDonald, known as Pauline Lucca, "Lion Queen," and Mrs. Charles King. Charles Kidder, assistant manager; W. H. Gardner, general director; E. W. Gardner, agent; G. B. Russell, treasurer. James A. Bailey, the well known agent, has secured all the privileges - concert, side show and candy stand. The exhibitions will be given under two separate tents.
New York Clipper, March 9, 1872, p. 335. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
James A. Bailey and Middleton, proprietors of the privileges with James E. Cooper's Circus and Menagerie, have secured the following curiosities for the coming season: Prof. James Howell and wife (Circassian lady); . . . an educated hog, performing dogs, parrots, a large monkey, snakes, etc. These are for the uptown show, which will be under the direction of James Howell. For the lot show they will have Charlotte Moxly, fat lady; . . . Madame Minnie Shaw, the little lady, 27 inches high, with her infant child, two years old; Commodore Nat. Smith, dwarf; a gorilla and two very large snakes.
John H. Murray's Great Circus will open the season at the ring, Newark, N.J. early in April.
New York Clipper, April 13, 1872. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
Now it will be seen . . . that three, four and even six separate tents are employed to accommodate the public satisfactorily to view the many attractions they present. Museums, circuses and menageries combined, though exhibited under separate pavilions, are getting to be quite common affairs. As a much larger capital is now required than formerly to successfully manager a show, it is but natural that greater returns for the investment should be looked for, and therefore many of the largest shows during the coming season will travel almost entirely by railroad, chartering for this purpose special trains, and visiting only the larger cities and towns. This will not only give additional comfort to the performers and attaches, but they, as well as the ring stock, will be in much better condition to give their performances, and consequently much better satisfaction to their patrons.
When traveling by wagons, the long nocturnal journeys, in all kinds of weather, make sad havoc with the health, both of men and horses. To the railroad trains sleeping cars will be attached, thereby giving the employees much needed rest. As the cages, chariots and horses are all transported by rail; they will appear in good condition in the "grand procession" through the town which precedes the performances. As many of the large shows will travel in the above manner, a large tract of country will be left without opposition to smaller shows, which will travel by wagons, thereby enabling them to carry through a season successfully, which hitherto could not be done, as when all traveled by wagons, the large shows were compelled, in order to break the journey, to exhibit in small towns, where they were certain to lose money, and by reason of their more attractive bills and larger numbers thereof, combined with greater features in their entertainments, they so completely over-shadowed the small shows, that even if the latter exhibited two or three weeks in advance of the former, the festive rural population declined to patronize them, preferring to wait until the "big show" came.
Another important feature is rapidly coming into usage among the show people. More of less difficulty is ever experienced in the towns where they exhibit in getting suitable accommodations for the men and horses. The wild animals of a menagerie consume large quantities of raw meat daily, and the circus boys, from the very nature of their avocations, are proverbial for good appetites, and in many towns the butchers, who may have been disappointed by some show mot "coming to time," refuse to take any risks in the way of providing extra provender. Therefore, many proprietors of shows prefer to board and lodge the people in their employ, and for that purpose carry with them a large number of waterproof tents, which are applied to the uses of sleeping apartments, stables, kitchen, laundry, etc. The contracting agent, who precedes the show several weeks ere the performances are given, makes the necessary contract for the delivery of all article of food, hay, oats, &c., that may be required. Probably more capital is invested in the circus department of the show business for the present season than ever before. Predictions as to the success or non-success of the approaching tenting season, we thin, are futile, because teh weather has so great an effect upon such undertaking. Yet there are points which may be legitimately considered. The spring thus far, is very backward; this may affect the forthcoming crips, and as a large proportion of the patrons of those entertainments are closely identified with agricultural pursuits, naturally, if the former suffer, the shows must feel it pecuniarily. Furthermore, we do not think the season will be prolonged as far into the autumn as usual, on account of the Presidential election. Political affairs will engross the public attention, to a certain extent, which will naturally be withdrawn from amusements.
During the past winter some of the oldest and most successful managers have withdrawn from public life, and will devote themselves to the enjoyment of the fruits of their industry. Although they will not actively participate in the excitement of the coming season, they will no doubt watch with interest the career of their former confreres. Many shows which were announced to start upon their tour early in April have not done so, the managers wisely preferring to wait for a milder temperature and better condition of roads.
"The Canvas Shows," New York Sunday Mercury, March 24, 1872. Another view of the 1872 cicuses and season. Not complete. [Paper notes 31 circuses and menageries, last year 40.] Information should be checked with additional sources.
From the putting of the first gorgeous posters until the street procession, with its live lions, helmeted riders, an golden chariots enters the town, the hearts of the village urchins bump with hopes and fears - hopes that they may feast their eyes and ears with the sights and sounds of the animal cages or the arena, and fears that they may miss so delectable an experience. All of us have passed through this youthful experience, and not a few, judging from the patronage bestowed upon shows of this class, still retain a hankering for the inside of the canvas.
The glitter and glory of the sawdust ring may be familiar to our readers, yet comparatively few are aware of the extent of the canvas show business, nor of the immense capital invested in its management. During the coming month the great circuses and menageries of the country will move, and never before have preparations been on so colossal a scale. The outlay has, necessarily, been enormous. A circus season lasts from twenty-four to thirty weeks, including from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and eighty show days. The distance traveled when by wagon is from four thousand to six thousand miles, and when by railroad vastly more.
Some uncertainty exists in regard to the effect the coming Presidential campaign may have upon the success of canvas exhibitions. Meetings and political processions will be numerous, and may largely attract those who would otherwise attend. The fact, also, that raveling dramatic and variety theatres of superior quality have largely increased of late, may likewise have a due effect.
But few towns can bear a frequent recurrence of circus visits, and those are thoroughly known to proprietors. The capacity of each locality of the Union is well understood, and it has become easy to judge whether a stand may be made at any particular point, after one or more establishments have passed over the ground. Canada, never hitherto a promising region for shows, will be especially visited this year.
Although circuses retain most of the old-time features, there have lately been many innovations. The introduction last season of double and triple pavilions has inaugurated a change in the spreading of canvas. The extent of canvas will now largely be considered in estimating the probably merits of a show. A number of the leading circuses have adopted a system of advance announcements, without definite date, and are now flooding the country with circulars and hand-bills. Among the new features of this season will be riding dogs and goats, and the cannon feat, lately popularized in England by Herr Holton, who catches a ball as it is fired. This trick, however, is old, and can be found in English announcements of one hundred years date. Salaries, especially of leading performers, remain about the same as last year, the tendency being toward a decrease.
The circuses of last season that have been disbanded or consolidated were the European Circus of Smith, Nathans & Co., Hyatt Frost’s Menagerie, and Siegrist’s French Circus; Sheldenburger’s Circus and Menagerie, Handenberger’s Circus and Menagerie, Stowe & Orton’s Circus, Macarte Sisters Circus, Madame Lake’s Hippo-Olympiad, J. W. Robinson’s Circus, E. Stowe’s Circus, Miles Orton’s Circus, Nixon’s Southern Circus, and Yankee Robinson’s Circus. The new shows are those of Henry Barnum, J. W. Wilder, Newton Bros., Conklin Bros., Sells Bros., Kleckner & Kelly, and Saxby, Dunbar & Co.
Howe’s Great London Circus and Sanger’s English Menagerie of Trained Animals. This magnificent and costly establishment was brought entirely from London last year, and made a triumphant pecuniary success upon the occasion of its first tour during the past summer. It is being reconstructed and embellished in even more sumptuous style than before for the coming tenting season, and is now at Brewster’s Station, Putnam county, New York. Egbert C. Howes, manager; Green Berry, general agent; J. J. Showles, assistant agent; and will employ over two hundred imported Flemish horses, and one hundred and fifty-five people; four massive pictorial tableaux cars drawn by a herd of ten African and Asiatic elephants and twenty horses. The arenic performances will be inaugurated by a grand hippodromatic pageant, in Which the entire troupe of English performers, all the trained animals, and the stud of magnificent horses will appear. They will conclude with a classical epilogue by twelve young and attractive English girls. The collection of trained wild beasts includes six trained zebras; six trained tigers, six trained elephants, twelve trained hyenas, the largest den of trained lions and lionesses that have ever traveled in America, and twenty cages of the largest and rarest collection of living wild animals.
The circus department comprises a superb English troupe of artists, including four premiere equestriennes, Mlle. Alice, Mlle. Marie, Mlle. Jennie, . . . W. H. Morgan, the great bareback hurdle rider; Joseph Jee, character and graphic equestrian; Leon Sentia, bareback trick performer; James Jee, forward somersault bareback rider; John Saunders, English leaper; the Brothers Dane, Leon and Lucian Tremaine, horizontal bar and trapeze performers; The Byron Brothers, acrobats; Echor & Faust, gymnasts; Paul Dailey, aerialist; W. Winter, champion vaulter; Samuel Bradley, principal perche; William Sautley and Eugene Robinson, still vaulters; Monsieur Franco, general performer; William Bliss, acrobat and leaper; James Earley, velocipedist; Arthur Jamison, double somersault man; three clowns, James Cooke, first privileged clown, Signor Almonte, grotesque buffo, and Jos. Jee, trick and somersault clown; performing ponies, trick horses. Miss Lillie will appear at each entertainment in her pleasing six pony flying act. Prof. Emide and his accomplished British cornet band have also been engaged. The grand procession of Howe’s Great London Circus and Sanger’s English Menagerie of Trained Animals has never been equaled for magnificence, splendor, and dazzling effects in this country or Europe.
Forepaugh’s Museum, Menagerie, Circus and Aggregation has passed the winter in Philadelphia. The following is a complete list of the organization: Adam Forepaugh, sole proprietor and manager; R. S. Dingess, general director; Kit Clarke and G. Hirst, assistant directors; Fred Lawrence, master of publications; John Adam Forepaugh, treasurer; Prof. Tony Franck, musical director; Nat Austin, equestrian director; Charles Herrerod, paste brigade; Dan Buckley, chief bill-poster; George Forepaugh, elephant trainer; Herr Alexander Darious, animal trainer. Performers: Chas. Lindell, Wm. Franklin, Henry Nathans, Le Jeune Burt, Sam Burt, Henry Mack, Wm. Munroe, . . . Jeannette Armstrong, . . . Charles Burroughs, Henry Burdeau, James De Forest, Robert Hanlon, Joseph De Brent, Harry Mack, juggler, with performing dogs; Nat Austin, clown and equestrian director; Sam Melville, clown and ringmaster; Henry Burdo, clown. The lady riders will consist of Mlle Virginia, Jeannette Armstrong, Miss St. Clair, and Miss Reiche. Bandmaster Tony Frank, with Buffalo cornet band of sixteen pieces. Boss canvas-man, Charles Bowles, with twenty canvas-men; boss hostler of cage train, Wm. Hutchinson; hostler of baggage train, Wm. Platt; chandelier man, Wm. Warner; watchman, Isaac Long; boss animal man, Prof. Darious, of Hamburg, Germany; layer-out of show, Charles Reynolds.
The ring horses comprise the trick horses, Mahomet and Snow Flake; the dancing horses, Campeador and Lexington; four pad horses; five bareback horses, and the hurdle horse, Peacock. The three trick ponies, Minnie Warren, Washington, and McClellan; three monkey ponies; two trick mules. There will be all told, in the entire show, 246(?) horses, 14 ponies, 2 mules, and 72 wagons.
The menagerie is composed of a rhinoceros, a giraffe, a black tiger, a silver lion, panthers, white, black and brown, a wolf, a moose, a reindeer, a horned hare, a sacred bull, a yak of Tartary, a gnu, a South American tapir, a grax, a cassowary, a condor, a king vulture, a liliputian cow, a . . . a porcupine, an ermine, four green parrots, a pair of white owls, 17 monkeys, 4 Moscow birds, 2 wild hogs, 2 cub lions, 2 Brazilian tigers, 2 leopards, 2 African lions, 2 Asiatic lions, and 2 royal Bengal tigers.
The museum has was figures representing the Lord’s Supper, the Swiss Bell Ringers, King William of Prussia, the Grand Duke Alexis, James Fisk, Jr., Edward S. Stokes, Josie Mansfield, and the Siamese Twins; a mechanical monkey, dog, and goat; two pots of flowers with singing birds, a mechanical lady playing the banjo, mechanical gymnasts, and a double-headed baby; a fat boy, a skeleton, a giant, and a small man, a case of stuffed birds and fish, with numerous other curiosities. Prof. Hutchinson, lightning calculator, will elucidate his rapid-transit schemes in mathematics at each exhibition of the museum.
Five tents will be erected daily. No. 1 contains a menagerie of 34 cages of living wild animals. No. 2, a museum of 16 cages of living curiosities, etc. No. 3, an aviary of 12 cages of richly-plumed exotic birds. The elephants, camels, dromedaries, etc. will also be found in this pavilion . . . No. 4, hippodrome, richly ornamented with silken banners and flags of all nations. Every seat will be covered with a carpet cushion, and have new patent backs. No. 5, a retiring pavilion, dressing-rooms, aquaria department, property rooms, etc.
Color of menagerie cages, emerald and gold; museum cages, purple and gold; aviary cages, crimson and gold; baggage wagons, white and gold; band chariot, solid gold; mechanical musical “Car of the Muses,” plate mirrors on sides and end, and golden organ pipes on top, with a rubber canopy lined with purple satin; advertising wagons, gilt-back mirrors.
The campaign will be inaugurated at Washington, April 1. Thence the establishment will go to Baltimore for one week, after which it will make the tour of New York State.
O’Brien’s Four Shows Consolidated - Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus, under four separate tents for one price of admission. Conductors: John O’Brien, sole proprietor and manager; C. H. Farnsworth, agent; R. G. Ball, advertiser; William Scattergoose, treasurer; Phil. Dieffenbach, ring-master; Thomas Foy, boss canvasman; S. Delevan, master of caravan; Sam Long, clown; Prof. Jose G. Wittle, director of menagerie and animals; Major Harry Cooley, elephant trainer and driver; Charles Daggert, wagon master baggage train. Performers: The Brazilian Family, eight in number; the Lowandes; Victorelli Brothers, gymnasts; Mons. D’Atalia, the man with iron jaw, and Mlle. Angelia, the female sampson, the finest formed woman in the world; Prince Sadi D’Jamis, the man of mystery. The show consists of 30 cages of animals, 10 cages of museum curiosities, 3 elephant, 8 camels, and the largest rhinoceros ever on exhibition. The cages are painted green, blue, red, and yellow; 100 imported Spanish mules are required to move the baggage train; . . . finely matched dapple gray horses to draw the cages, dens and vans. The $10,000 golden chariot “Creation,” containing Prof. Walker’s military band. The side-show privileges are to be run by Bachelor and Dorris, $18,000 being paid for them. The side show will comprise the Circassian girl, the Aztec children, several snakes, Sid Thompson, box orator; Hannah Battersby, fat woman; John Battersby, skeleton; and Fan, the cannibal child. The consolidation will comprise 160 people . . .
Lent’s New York Circus from Hippotheatron Iron Building, Fourteenth street, opposite Academy of Music New York, will take the road about the middle of April and open either in Bridgeport or its neighborhood. It will travel by rail. L. B. Lent, director; Frank M. Kelsh, manager; William McHugh, treasurer and assistant manager; Charles F. Haskins, superintendent of processions; Charles W. Fuller, contracting agent; C. C. Moore, director of publications; John W. Abbott, superintendent of bill posting; Jonas Hutchinson, assistant bill-poster; J. W. Godfrey, assistant bill-poster; Stokes Stubbs, assistant bill-poster; E. A. Armstrong, assistant bill-poster . . . Equestrian and pantomime troupe: Richard Rivers, John Henry Cooke, Charles W. Fish, William Dutton, Arthur Dutton, Mlle. Caroline Rolland, Mlle. Annetta Le Point, Mlle. Carlotta Nice, George E. Levantine, Fred Levantine, Le Petite Franklin, Albert Victor, the Novello Family, William Henry Jee, Henry Albert Jee, Kit Carson, George Nice, Julian Kent, John Batchelor, Burt Forest, Charles Seeley, William Organ, Charles French. The concert troupe will be run by the management, but is not yet completed. Alice Somers, Polly Daly, Hugh Haggerty, and Harry C. Melville have been thus far engaged. All privileges will also be controlled by Mr. Lent. Orchestra: Charles Boswold, conductor; Frank Ferry, piccolo; L. Walter, John Bosweld, H. Maholz and F. Miller, clarinets; A. Stine, . . . Wm. Rolland, George Woodill, and F. Loman, cornets; H. Boswold, solo althorn; F. Schagman, first tenor; Ch. Rossman, second tenor; Wm. Ritter, third tenor; L. Krob, baritone; M. Graber, euphonian; H. King, trombone; Jas. Ritter, bass tuba; P. Krokel, bass tuba; Geo. Oakley, side drum. Property and Wardrobe - Albert Morris, super. of props.; John Abbot, Hugh Gaffney, Frank Barton, John Gaffney, and James Jones, ass’t props.; James Paulding, master of wardrobe; Chas. F. Jones, Herschel Johnson, and Chas. Davis, ass’t wardrobe. Grooms - John S. Strickland, stud groom; Wm. C. Shepard, driver of chariot team 24 horses; Wm. F. Whitney, driver of 12 pony team; Eph Nichols, John Feeney, Frank Allen, Jas. Fitzgerald, John Chapman, Hugh Smith, John Brown, Joseph Burnham, John Tanner, Joseph Woodruff, John Elmendorf, Hugh Watson, Benj. Winehold, and Rufus Macentyre. Tent Construction, Etc. - Cady E. Howe, sup’t of tents; Thos. Foley, ass’t sup’t of tents; B. A. Kelly, sup’t of gas; J. B. Williams, Martin Vautassel, H. Decker, Peter Sofield, John Heper, Sylvannus Snyder, Mahlon Graber, A. J. Nash, Gilbert Scott, Reuben Johnson, James C. Jones, Ch. H. Williams, Chas. Coons, Jas. Fitzgerald, and J. B. Thompson, canvasmen; Geo. Smith, sup’t of trains; James Wood, ass’t sup’t of trains; John Williamson, stable watchman; Michael Shaffer, car watchman. The pavilion will be illuminated with gas. The street parade will be made with a splendid gilt chariot drawn by 24 horses, followed by a team of 12 ponies. The wardrobe will be entirely new, and, as usual, superb.
P. T. Barnum’s Great Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, Hippodrome, Polytechnic Institute, International Zoological Garden, and Dan Castello’s Mammoth Circus in six separate colossal tents. P. T. Barnum, proprietor and general director; W. C. Coup, manager; Dan Castello, manager of Grand Oriental Circus; S. H. Hurd, treasurer; W. C. Crum, general agent and editor of publications; Geo. McDonald, assistant contracting agent; Mons. L. Houdin, of Paris, France, purchasing agent for the Continent of Europe; . . . William H. Squires, superintendent of picture gallery and statuary; Prof. O. Farroday, director of the Polytechnic Institute; D. J. Kahn, director of aquarium and exhibitor of sea lions; G. E. Wells, curator of natural history department; Dr. A. O. Berry, veterinary surgeon and master of horse; Joseph Baker, master of pavilions; W. B. Harrison, preceptor of the wonderful dwarf, Admiral Dot; L. Tilden, assistant manager; John Fish, secretary; W. S. Pease, publication agent; Benj. Lusbie, ticket agent; C. C. Pell, railroad agent; Robert Fillingham, London, Eng., purchasing and forwarding agent; W. F. Heagarty, of Geneva, Switzerland, expert in automatic musical mechanism, etc.; W. L. Jukes, superintendent of automatic and mechanical department; J. Hatcher, exhibitor of living American and Fijian curiosities; Col. Chas. White, lion king and master of the zoological department; D. Norris, superintendent of “Happy Family;” S. Q. Stokes, superintendent of the hippodrome; Fred Hamilton, master of the wardrobe, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Reid; W. Smith, N. Batty, and J. L. Smith, managers of grooms; W. L. Jones, R. W. Manning, J. P. Beers, Henry Wales, and N. B. Gunn, assistant masters of pavilions, with thirty-two subordinates assistants.
J. McLaughlin, N. G. Pinkman and J. Ross, police detectives from New York; A. Sherwood and C. F. Brenthall, managers and superintendents of the grand procession and street pageant; Fritz Hartman, director of brass band; R. S. Hessler, director of string band; J. Townsend, agent for the autobiography of P. T. Barnum; Harry Buckley, surveyor and commissary for the Barnum Hotel and Caravansary; cooks, waiters, messengers, butlers, etc.
It was the intention of Mr. Barnum to travel this season, the same as last, by wagons, but he has at last concluded to abandon the road, and take to the rail. To transport the great show through the country in the ordinary way would require more than one thousand men and horses! Mr. Barnum has, therefore, chartered sixty freight and five passenger cars, with sleeping cars attached. These will be divided into two separate trains, of 33 cars each, with two locomotives for each train. The series of entertainments will be given under six mammoth pavilions - more than were ever used before by any show, and three more than were employed by the same establishment last year. The entire exhibition will travel by the leading railroads of the country, stopping only in cities and large towns.
At the close of the traveling season in November, 1872, the entire show will be shipped to Europe, as it is the intention of Mr. Barnum to make the tour of the Old World. It is eminently fitting that the distinguished American showman, who met with a brilliant reception with Tom Thumb in Europe nearly thirty years ago, should return to the field of his former triumphs, and demonstrate to the people of the Old World what has been accomplished by private enterprise in the new, in the way of organizing, equipping, and setting in motion the largest combination of exhibitions ever known.
Among the novel features which have been added during the past six months, are the four Fiji cannibals, the equestrian performing goat, Alexis, 2 living giraffes, a fresh arrival of mammoth sea lions from the North Pacific, two giant ostriches from South Africa, eight feet high. A museum collection from Polynesia and the Cannibal Islands, the “What is It?” two barking seals, many be heard nearly two miles. A grand Oriental entree pageant of 24 camels and elephants, 50 Arabian thoroughbred ponies, and a hundred performers, knights, heralds, Turks, Arabs, Moors, Mamelukes, Bashaws of many Tails, etc. attended by a grand retinue of officials bearing rich banners, shields, and spears, a unique and gorgeous arenic demonstration, occupying both rings of the grand hippodrome. This scene is entirely new, and will make one of the most beautiful features of the opening exhibition. Such is the variety and extent of the performances in the circus and hippodrome that two rings, a feature never before seen, are required. Also life-size moving, mechanical, musical, and animal automatons from Paris, France, and Geneva, Switzerland, such as the roaring lion, Ballam and the asp, automaton lady bell ringers, mechanical singing and flitting birds, shipwreck of Medusa, the magic drummer, monkey velocipedist and violinist, automaton musicians, sleeping beauty, dying zouave, moving figures representing a Tyrolese hunting party, the siege of Paris, . . . gallery of art, classic statuary, oil paintings, and figures of distinguished personages, steam glass engines, and many other extremely curious and diverting features which have never before been introduced to an American audience. The collection of animals embraces almost every rare specimen known to zoologists, there being very few of the common varieties usually seen in menageries.
The Museum and Polytechnic Institute are replete with curiosities - animate, inanimate, and representative. These are set forth, and illustrated in “P. T. Barnum’s Advance Courier,” a twenty-four page pamphlet, which is folded, cut, and stitched. Half a million of these will be distributed gratuitously in advance of the show. We give below a list of the principal names of Dan Castello’s Mammoth Circus performers. The company is the largest ever organized, numbering some of the best talent in the profession. Dan Castello, jester, conversationalist, and horse trainer; James Melville and his son, Clarence, riders, together with his other sons, Frank, George, and Donald; Katie Stokes, rider; Celeste Pauliere, dashing bareback equestrienne; . . . Master Frank Melville, champion pony and hurdle rider; the Marion Sisters, riders; Lazelle and Millison, trapezists, acrobats, and tumblers; S. Q. Stokes, arenic director, and horse and pony trainer; George Madden, clown; Mons. de La Rue, champion bareback rider; Masters Harry and Johnny Castello, riders without saddle or bridle; Master Willie, bud of the enchanted bower in the play of the “Fairies.” Also Messrs. English, Morse, Thatcher, Smith, Fish, McDonald, Cook, Corrine Poyner, Hartnette, Walker, Rochambeau, Giovani, Billings, Harper, Fitzgerald, Buckley, Owens, Reynolds, Godfrey, Randel, Sanford, Dutton, Jamison, Robinson, . . . DeTocville, Tusso, and Bergh, all first-class English, French, German and Italian performers, who will appear in the rejuvenated classic sports of Olympus, as tumblers, leapers, gymnasts, acrobats, . . . trapezists, equilibrists, equestrians, athletes, . . .
New York Clipper, April 27, 1872, p. 31. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
James Robinson’s Circus, though bereft of the animal department of their show by the late Mississippi disaster, performed to crowded houses during their stay in St. Louis, Mo., the past week. Dan Rice’s Circus and Animal Show follow next in order, opening on the 22d.
A suit for damages was commenced in the Fourth District Court, San Francisco, Cal. on April 13th, against the North Pacific Transportation Company by John Wilson, . . . This is an action brought by John Wilson, proprietor of Wilson’s traveling circus, against the company for damages. He alleges in his complaint that on Oct. 28th, 1866, he engaged the defendants for a valuable consideration to transport some of the animals belonging to the circus - to wit, eight horses, two ponies and one llama - from Portland to San Francisco, and that they agreed to deliver them safely for said consideration. He alleges that, contrary to their agreement, they abused the animals and used them so negligently that six of the horses and the llama died on the passage. Wherefore he prays judgement against them for the value of the animals, which he fixes at $7,500.
O’Brien’s Monster Combination, consisting of four separate shows combined into one, exhibited in Philadelphia every afternoon and evening during the past week . . .
P. T. Barnum’s Colossal Show exhibited in Camden, N.J., on the afternoon and evening of the 20th inst. to remarkably large audiences. Will open in Philadelphia, corner Broad street and Montgomery avenue on the 22d inst. four days, giving two exhibitions the first day and three each subsequent day. The city has been most extensively billed, and large numbers will doubtless be present, although the location is rather out of the way. Will also exhibit corner 32d and Chestnut streets, West Philadelphia on the 26th and 27th.
Bailey’s Circus and Menagerie commenced their season in Danbury, Conn. on April 15th, giving a performance in the afternoon, but none in the evening, owing to the severe snow storm. This concern pitched its tent in Bridgeport on the 16th, on the Iranistan grounds. They gave no performance in the afternoon, the wind blowing so strong they could not keep the tent up, but in the evening they gave an entertainment to a packed canvas. . . .
J. E. Warner’s Museum, Menagerie and Circus exhibited at East Saginaw, Mich. on April 16th, and at Saginaw City on the 17th. The show is an excellent one throughout. The canvases are all new (three tents), the horses are in good condition and the performers first class. The show exhibited at Owosso 18th; Mason 19th; Jackson 20th; and is billed ahead as follows: Toledo, O., 22d; Wausaon, 23d; Bryan 24th; Loquim 25th; Waterloo 26th; Elkhart 27th; Kalamazoo 29th; Grand Rapids 30th; Lowell May 1st; and Iona May 2. The show travels by rail, requiring two engines and twenty-two cars for transportation. So wrote our correspondent on April 18th.
Backenstoe’s Cosmopolitan Circus and Menagerie is billed to give two performances at Peoria, Ill. on April 29th.
New York Clipper, July 27, 1872, p. 135. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
Fatal Accident. Charles Carter, one of the drivers belonging to Barnum’s Circus, was accidentally drowned in the hydraulic and Hamilton, Ohio, on the 13th inst. It seems that he took six horses into the hydraulic about 11 o’clock A.M., to wash and water them, being mounted on one, when unfortunately he rode into a deep hole, whence gravel had been taken out. Both himself and horse went under the surface. The horse struggled a little, and then rose and swam out. Carter was seen to come up once or twice and then finally disappeared. His body was recovered half an hour after the casualty, and it was found that the horse, in its struggles to get out, had kicked its rider in the head, fracturing the skull, which of itself was sufficient to produce death. There were also marks of the iron shoes on Carter’s side, and the probability is that he was stunned by the blows received, and rendered helpless to save himself. The body was taken in charge by Coroner Spencer, a jury impaneled and an inquest held in the lower room of the court house. The above circumstances were developed, and the verdict was “accidental drowning.” The funeral services were held Sunday morning at 9 o’clock, under the large circus pavilion . . .
Barnum’s Mammoth Circus opened at Cincinnati, O., for four days, commencing July 16th. Our correspondent writes: “During the whole week up to last night, we have had a series of heavy rains, which made the grounds almost a mud-hole. In consequence of this, the great canvas was only comfortably filled on Tuesday. However, by using great quantities of hay and saw-dust, the mud was overcome inside the tents, and on Wednesday and Thursday the tents were packed full to overflowing, some two thousand people being refused admission Thursday night. . . .
James Robinson’s Circus is billed ahead as followed: Detroit, Mich. July 26th and 27th; Chatham, Ont. 29th; London 30th; Woodstock 31st; Brantford Aug. 1st; Toronto 2d and 3d; Hamilton 5th; St. Catherine 6th; . . . During the route through Canada a balloon ascension will be made daily, and Louise Boshell will also do a wire ascension from the ground to the top of the pavilion.
C. W. Noyes’ Circus exhibited at Detroit, Mich. July 18th and 19th.
Sells Brothers’ Circus exhibited at Monticello, Ind. July 15th, and Remington 16th.
Circuses, New York Clipper, August 10, 1872, p. 151. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
When G. F. Bailey & Co’s Circus exhibited at Peekskill, N.Y. on July 19th, after the close of the day performance, the entire company, band, and attaches of the circus, visited the cemetery where the remains of Pierre Howland, formerly a member of that company, who died May last, were interred, and after some appropriate remarks by George M. Clark, the clown, the ladies decorated the grave with flowers, and the band performed a dirge with has been composed for the occasion by their leader, Mr. Withers.
Adam Forepaugh’s Aggregation is meeting with success in the state of Wisconsin, where, according to old showmen, it is doing the largest business ever known in that state. This show travels through the states of Iowa and Illinois during August, using two complete corps of bill posters, and advertising thirty days ahead, both states being thoroughly programmed already.
Adam Forepaugh has been east during the past week, negotiating for one of the finest theatres in the country, for the purpose of opening a permanent zoological institute. Mr. Forepaugh has offered $120,000(?) for the edifice, and if the offer is accepted he will open, during the coming winter, one of the handsomest places of amusement and instruction in the world.
Doctor Backenstoe’s Cosmopolitan Circus, Museum and Menagerie are to exhibit at Albany, Wisconsin, on August 10th. The show is now traveling by wagons, and will keep the road until November, when it meets its two boats at Keokuk, Iowa, intending to go south again in the winter. This circus is leaving an excellent reputation wherever it exhibits, and is doing a good business.
Stoke’s Circus and Mitchell’s Japanese Troupe have chartered the steamer Chicago Belle, and are exhibiting at the towns along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
New York Clipper, August 24, 1872, p. 167. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
Cheyenne, Wyoming territory, has put an effectual bar against traveling shows visiting that town by charging $300(?) a day license for circuses, and $30(?) for hall shows. The mayor says, “the shows take away all their money.” But he loses sight of the moral influence they exert in that terribly wicked place.
Charley Bartine’s Circus performed at New Bramen [Bremen?] , O. Aug. 12th; Minster, 13th; . . . Newport 15th, . . . The Vantini Family, gymnasts; Eddie Trainer, Andy Morris and Nat Strouse, hat spinners and acrobats joined the show . . .
The San Francisco Circus and Roman Hippodrome traveled through California and Nevada by wagons, and at Reno took the railroad for Salt Lake City, Utah, where they have been performing to large sized audiences. They will now travel by wagons through Salt Lake valley, performing at Cottonwood . . . Payson, Provost, Ophir, Teilla, and thence to Salt Lake. Messrs. Wilson, Thompson and Kingsley are the managers. Chris Breatle has the concert and side show, and the attractions of the latter are a large sea lion, two mermaids, and a sword swallower.
James Robinson publishes, in another column, a challenge offering to ride a principal bare back and somersault act with any man in the world, for a purse of $50,000 and his champion trophies, at any time and in any state in America.
J. E. Warner’s Circus and Menagerie are to exhibit at Pontiac, Ill. Sept. 6th; Dwight, 7th; Kankakee, 9th; Wilmington, 10th; Morris, 11th; Ottawa, 12th; La Salle, 13th, and Bureau, 14th. Business with this concern has been very good in Egypt, Ill.
On the afternoon of Aug. 13th, at the conclusion of circus entertainment of Forepaugh’s Menagerie, Mr. Nat Austin, the equestrian manager, and president of the Softed(?) Club, organized by the company for benevolent purposes, was approached by the members, and after a neat little speech from John A. Forepaugh, was presented with an elegant portrait of Nat’s god, Horace Greeley. The portrait is an excellent one in colors, and was beautifully mounted. After the presentation the club visited the Wachusa House, Dixon, Ill., and partook of a sumptuous repast.
As Dan Rice’s Circus was being transported this morning, Aug. 19th, by a train of cars over the Sandusky, Dayton and Cleveland railroad, the engine ran over a horse near Tiffin, O., throwing the train from the track and greatly damaging the circus property. Four of the circus men were seriously, and a brakeman was fatally injured. So a telegram informs us.
Stone & Murray’s Circus performed at North Adams, Mass. Aug. 17th, and is billed at Winsted, Conn. the 23d.
Circuses, New York Clipper, August 24, 1872, p. 167. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
Grady’s Circus and Menagerie will show at Shelbyville, Ind., Sept. 9th; Rushville, 10th; Knight-town, 11th, Cambridge City, 12th; Germantown, 13th and Richmond, 14th. They are reported as having done a good business for some weeks past, save at Attica, Ind., where, it is alleged, some of the inhabitants try to beat every show that comes there by renting a lot that a number of them own and for the use of which they all claim pay.
Charley Whitney, of the Great Eastern Menagerie, has returned to Philadelphia, Pa. on account of illness, his position as contracting agent being temporarily supplied by John Dingess.
The Great Eastern Menagerie Circus and Museum performed at Wilmington, N.C. Sept. 7th, and the route ahead is Marion, S.C., 9th; Sumter, 10th; Comumbia, 11th; Augusta, Ga., 12th; and Charleston, S.C. 13th and 14th.
Forepaugh’s Mammoth Aggregation is to perform at Pekin, Ill., Sept. 9th; Peoria, 10th, and Canton, O., 11th.
Kleckner & Co.’s Circus, Museum and Menagerie is announced to perform at Volcano, W.Va. Sept. 9th; Parkersburg, 10th; Coolvill, O., 11th; Syracuse, 12th; Middleport, 13th, and Gallipolis, 14th. Business reported excellent.
C. W. Noyes’ Crescent City Circus performed at Steubenville, O., Spet. 5th; Moundsville, 6th; Parkersburg, W.Va., 7th; and are to be at Marietta on the 9th.
The North American Circus and “Humpty Dumpty” pantomime troupe is to exhibit at Tolland, Conn. Sept. 9th; Glastenburg, 10th; and Middletown, 11th and 12th, at which latter place they will close the season. W. J. Metchear, who had the side show privilege has taken his company for a tour of the state fairs.
“Old” John Robinson’s Circus, Menagerie and Museum exhibited in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 6th and 7th, and attracted immense crowds. Over five thousand were said to be present at the evening performance on the 6th, and numbers were turned away from the ticket wagon.
New York Clipper, October 19, 1872, p. 231. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
Chiarini’s Royal Italian Circus closed a season of extraordinary success at San Francisco, Cal. on Oct. 6th. The concern at once started upon a tour through the interior, from whence it will return previous to embarking for Australia on Nov. 6th.
New York Clipper, May 3, 1873, p. 39. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
The City Council of Minneapolis, Minn., at a regular meeting held on April 16 revised the tariff of licenses for that city, and changed those governing amusements as follows:
Last year the license fee for a circus was $75 for the first day, and $50 for each additional; for a circus and menagerie combined, $100 for the first day and $62.50 for each additional. The report was as follows:
New York Clipper, May 17, 1873, p. 55. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
Forepaugh’s Aggregation exhibits at Chicago during the present week - the first four days of the week on the West side, and the two last at the corner of State and Twenty-second streets, South side. This show has been traveling by railroad hitherto, but at Chicago it takes the road with wagons. The members of the company have formed an organization for, as its constitution states, “the promotion of fraternity and mutual assistance.” Its title is the “Order of the Silver Ring,” and none but those connected with the circus profession can become members under any circumstances. Business with Forepaugh’s show has been good, in spite of bad weather and strong opposition. So wrote an occasional correspondent on May 9.
Hudson’s Great North and South American Circus, now performing at Kingston, Jamaica, will ship from there to Halifax, N.S., on or about June 10. They will travel through the provinces, and will play in New York City some time in July or August and from there will go direct to California. The company will travel by railroad and steamboat. Ed. D. Wenban, general agent, is in New York City making arrangements and has engaged Almonte, the English clown; also several other European artists lately arrived, who will leave the latter part of this month for Halifax. There will be thirty-five performers. All the harnesses and tent will be new and the wardrobe from England.
The Great Novelty Railroad Circus, recently organized at Grand Rapids, Mich., will inaugurate a traveling season by performances there on the afternoon and evening of May 17. Geroge Nyce, T. S. Hansley & Co. are the proprietors; T. S. Hansley, manager; George Nyce, treasurer; William Knight, ticket agent; W. H. Morse, advertising agent. Among the performers are Miss Carrie Cornell, rider; Mlle. Zoletta with her trained horse Black Prince; the Beldon Brothers, gymnasts and acrobats; the Castello family, trapeze and leapers; Billy Ward and Burt Smith, clowns; Charley Ziegler, dancing barrel, crystal pyramids and ladder of life; Herr Eugene, cannon ball performer; William Ward, juggler . . .
The Great Eastern Circus is billed to exhibit as follows: Hillsdale, Mich., May 12, Jackson 13, Ypsilanti 14, Ann Arbor 15, Marshall 16, Battle Creek 17, Kalamazoo 19, South Bend, Ind., 20, Niles, Mich., 21, St. Joseph 22, Muskegon 23, Grand Rapids 24, Lansing 26, Saginaw 27.
Dan Rice’s Circus, Museum, and Menagerie - Spalding, Ryan & Henderson, proprietors - are to be exhibited at Detroit, Mich., May 30, 31, thence goes into Canada. Charles H. Castle is general agent.
J. E. Warner’s Circus, Museum, Art Gallery and Menagerie exhibited at Plymouth, Ind. May 10, to good business.
Barnum’s Great Exhibition drew large audiences at Providence, R.I. on the 5th and 6th. A second arenic performance had to be given on the afternoon of the 5th to accommodate the people who could not get into the large tent, but were patiently waiting their turn. Upwards of 50,000 tickets were sold during the two days. . . .
Bailey’s Menagerie and Circus exhibited at Albany, N.Y. May 5, 6, on the lot corner of Hudson and Swan streets. The menagerie is a rather slim affair, and the circus not much better, the only redeeming features of the latter being James Melville, the rider. Miss Watson and the clowns De Haven and Clark, who are good in their line. The concern went to Troy for two days. So wrote our correspondent on May 10.
P. A. Older’s Circus performed at St. Joseph, Mo. May 5.
New York Clipper, August 16, 1873, p. 159. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
James Lobdell [Lobell?], an equestrian connected with “Old” John Robinson’s Circus, died at Omaha, Neb. on August 5, from the effects of a pistol shot wound in the heart, received at Council Bluffs, Ia. on July 26. On the night that he received his death-wound, he, in company with some others of the troupe, went on a spree after the conclusion of the evening entertainment, and the circus boys got into a difficulty with some Council Bluffers. It is said that one of the former drew a knife, when one of the Council Bluffers discharged his revolver, and Lobdell stepped between the two men in time to receive the bullet in his breast. Lobell was hastily placed in a carriage and driven to the Missouri River, which he crossed in a skiff, and thence was transferred by a carriage to the Atlantic House, Omaha. The Robinson boys sent a man to take care of Lobdell, and gave a carte-blanche order for money for his necessities. . . .
Charles Whitney, who was an agent of O’Brien’s Circus this Spring, and left on account of an injured leg, had the leg amputated above the knee at the St. Joseph Hospital, Philadelphia a short time ago.
Miss Lottie Warner, the wife of William Warner the clown, committed suicide at Sierra City, Cal. on July 23, by taking poison. She had accompanied her husband en route to San Francisco with a circus, and on reaching Sierra City, was taken ill and left behind. She had nearly recovered from that illness when the fatal act was committed. Domestic trouble is alleged to have been the motive.
Robbins & Co.’s Menagerie and Circus performed at New Ulm, Minn. Sunday afternoon and night, Aug. 3, Garden City 4, Jamestown 5, Wanseco 6, Owatonna 7, Mentersville 8, St. Charles 9, and are to show at Chatfield 11, Preston 12, thence into Iowa.
The Great Eastern Circus, Museum and Menagerie performed at Scranton, Pa. Aug 6, Carbondale 7, Bloomsburg 8, Danville 9, and are to show at Sunbury 11, Milton 12, Williamsport 13, Tamaqua 14, Shamokin 15, Ashland 16, . . . Phoenixville 19, Norristown 20, Pottstown 21, Wilmington 22, Reading 23, Lancaster 25, Columbia 26, Lebanon 27, Harrisburg 28, Mechanicsburg 29, Carlisle 30, Shippenburg Sept. 1, Chambersburg 2, Greencastle 3, Hagerstown 4, Frederick, Md. 5, Westminster 6, Baltimore 8, 9, 10, Annapolis 11, Washington, D.C. 12, 13.
G. G. Grady’s American Circus and Menagerie is to show at Cedar Rapids, Ia. Aug. 14, Shellsburg 15, Vinton 16, La Port City 18, Waterloo 19, Shellrock 20, Clarksville 21, Butler Centre 22, Ackley 23, Eldora 25, Liscomb 26, Marshalltown 27, State Centre 28, Nevada 29, Roland 30, Ellsworth Sept. 1, Hamilton 2, Webster City 3, Fort Dodge 4, Sioux City 5, Lake City 6, New Jefferson 8, Scranton 9.
Forepaugh’s Circus and Menagerie exhibits at Bryan, Ohio August 11, Defiance 12, Napoleon 13, Maumee City 14, Perrysburgh 15, and Toledo 16. . . .
New York Clipper, September 27, 1873, p. 207. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
Charles Parker, trapeze performer, has retired from the profession and gone into the drug business at Salisbury, Pa.
The license in North Carolina was increased by the last Legislature to $100 per day on circuses, and the county empowered to charge double the amount; thus, in some instances, making the State and county tax $300. At Goldsboro the State, country and corporation taxes amount to $370; and in Wilmington $250, which amount to prohibition. All other licenses have been proportionately increased. Shows coming this way should make inquiry about license before they get their “foot in it.” Of course corporations will follow the example of the State, now that shows are coming, and get all they can. All honor to Tarboro, which has thrown of [sic] all exhibition license, so thoroughly are its officers disgusted with the action of the Legislature and the greedy avarice of its county commissioners. so writes an occasional correspondent.
G. F. Bailey & Co.’s Menagerie and James Melville’s Australian Circus will visit Philadelphia, Pa. in the early part of October for a week’s season.
Cole’s New York and New Orleans Circus is billed to show at Milwaukee, Wis., Sept. 22, 23,2 4, Racine 25, Freeport, Ill. 26, Galena 27, LaCrosse, Wis. 29, Lansing, Ia. 30, McGregor, Oct. 1, Dubuque 2.
J. E. Warner’s Great Pacific Combination is to show at Ionia, Mich. Sept. 25, Stanton 26, Portland 27.
John A. Forepaugh was presented at Wilmington, O. with a diamond ring by the members of the company of Forepaugh’s Circus. J. W. Naylor made the presentation speech.
Lent’s New York Circus is billed to perform at Goldsboro, N.C. Oct. 11, Wilmington 13, Marion, S.C. 14, Columbia 15, thence to Charleston and Augusta, Ga.
The Great Eastern Show is billed ahead as follows: Norfolk, Va. Sept. 27, Portsmouth 29, Franklin 30, Weldon, N.C. Oct. 1, Henderson 2, Raleigh 3, Fayetteville 4, Enfield 6, Rocky Mount 7, Tarboro 8, Wilson 9, Goldsboro 10, Newbern 11, Kinston 13, Magnolia 14, Wilmington 15, Whitesville 16, Marion, S.C. 17, Florence 18, Sumter 20, Winnesboro 21, Charlotte, N.C. 22, Chester C. H., S.C. 23, Columbia 24, Augusta, Ga. 25.
J. C. Webb, master of the canvas with the Great Eastern Show, was presented at Baltimore, Md., on the evening of Sept. 9, with a gold-headed cane by the workingmen of that circus. John Evans made the presentation speech in the ring.
Circuses, New York Clipper, December 6, 1873. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
“Old” John Robinson’s Circus in a Fight. The telegraph informs that on Nov. 22 a crowd, with knives in hand, burst into the tent of “Old” John Robinson’s show at Jacksonville, Texas, when the circus men stopped the performance, tried to drive them off and load up their wagons to leave. A general fight ensued, during which knives and pistols were freely used. three of the roughs were killed and several wounded, while six of the circus employees were wounded. The wagons were finally loaded and driven off, but the Texans swear vengeance and will probably follow them. Robinson had telegraphed to Houston for ammunition.
Cooper & Bailey’s International Circus was to exhibit at Hazelhurst, Miss. Dec. 1. The show is on wheels, and has been doing a fair business. The Lee Family, who were reported killed by Indians, are traveling with this show at present.
William Morgan, hurdle rider, and Billy Burke, clown, late of Lent’s New York Circus, have joined the Great Eastern Circus.
Adam Forepaugh will hereafter dispense with the six-tent arrangement, and run but a single canvas, which is now being made by Martin of Boston. Its dimensions are something stupendous. Size of round top, two hundred feet, with four forty-foot middle pieces, and three sets of quarter poles, between which and the side poles the museum and menagerie will be exhibited, and in the centre the circus performances will take place. The Forepaugh show will positively exhibit in the city of New York next season.
The “Dan Rice’s Circus and Menagerie” of 1873 is now the property of John O’Brien, Dr. Spaulding and Ben Maginley. Mr. Maginley was at Frankford, Pa. on Nov. 25, inspecting the show, where it is in Winter quarters.
Concert, candy-stands and sideshow privileges with Adam Forepaugh’s Aggregation for the season of 1874 have been sold to the Pullman Brothers of Buffalo.
The Great Chicago Show is among the things of the past. The stock, canvas, wardrobe, etc., were sold at auction at Artesia, Miss. on Nov. 15, and the company have gone to their several homes. James Robinson and family left for Cincinnati, O. Nov. 22, and Painter and Durand for Mobile, Ala.
J. E. Warner’s show is in winter quarters at Lansing, Mich., and it is being reorganized for the season of 1874, to travel by wagons. . . .
New York Clipper, December 27, 1873. Not complete. Information should be checked with additional sources.
Fire. On Saturday night, Dec. 20 at 2 o’clock, George Hurst, night watchman at the winter quarters of Forepaugh’s Menagerie and Circus, situated on Dewey ave., Germantown, Pa., discovered fire issuing from a large ring-building, the upper portion being full of hay, which had just been put in. Owing to the combustibility of the building (which was of wood) and its contents, but a short time elapsed ere it was a mass of ruins. The fire spread to the harness, carpenter and wagon shops; and they, with the wagon store-house, were also completely destroyed. Owing to the isolated location of the buildings, no assistance could be secured, and consequently the loss was heavy - estimated at no less than $80,000, with insurance for about $40,000. Among the property destroyed were 19 cages, 12 baggage wagons, 120 sets of harness, the complete circus wardrobe, 30 lengths of seats with jacks and extras, 20 tons of hay, 1,000 bushels of oats, and much circus stuff, tools, ropes, chandeliers, as well as the beautiful band chariot, which had just been handsomely repainted. But four horses were burned, as the remainder are on Mr. Forepaugh’s farm for the Winter; no ‘animals’ were lost, as they are confined in a fire-proof stone building a hundred yards from the scene of the conflagration. In the matter of fires, Mr. Forepaugh is fast rivaling Mr. Barnum, this being the sixth fire that has visited the former gentleman, and by far the most disastrous. But fires don’t make any difference with him, and the Forepaugh Show will open in April “just as well and as hearty as ever it was.”
W. W. Durand has been engaged as general agent and writer for the Great Eastern circus for the tenting season of 1874. The show is to be greatly enlarged and entirely refitted. Charles Sivales [Sivalls?], H. J. Leech and W. Scott will be retained as agents, and George W. Stanhope will be added to the corps. The show is to exhibit at New Orleans, La., one week, commencing Jan. 9, 1874.
George S. Cole has been engaged for the coming season as treasurer with Montgomery Queen’s Circus.
A Georgia Circus. Mr. Boll [P. Bowles] Wootten, a livery stable keeper of Atlanta, Ga., and at one time partner of Mr. A. Haight of the Great Eastern Circus, has organized an old-fashioned circus at Atlanta, where he will give his first exhibition on Christmas day. His menagerie consists principally of the animals lately belonging to Lent’s New York Circus, with several additions. Wambold and his dogs and monkeys, the Davenport Brothers, the Whitney Brothers, Belmont, Billy Andrews, Prof. Hayden and others have been engaged. The show will travel by wagons and make a tour of all the small towns. Mr. George De Haven is connected with the management.
The following people have been engaged for the Queen Show next season: Nat. Austin, clown and equestrian director; Robert Johnson, Mollie Brown, Mme. Brown, riders; Miie. Lora Linn, female gymnast; . . . Leon Whettony, acrobat; Charles Burrows, stilt performer. All the privileges have been purchased by Harry Amler of Delavan, Wis. Mr. Queen is at the Commercial Hotel, Chicago, at present, in which city the show is wintering.
John Robinson’s Circus arrived in Cincinnati, O. from Texas on the 19th inst.
W. W. Cole’s Circus and Menagerie now in winter quarters at Quincy, Ill., is being completely over-hauled, repaired and repainted, and additions made for the coming season . . .
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