Circus Personnel Reference Roster

George F. Bailey, (1818-1903) showman, nephew of Hachaliah Bailey, began in show business with the “Flatfoots“ before joining Aaron Turner’s circus. He married Turner’s daughter and, when Turner retired, Bailey took control of the show and changed the title to reflect his name. After several years of solo operation, he went into partnership with “Flatfoots” Avery Smith, John Nathans, and Lewis June. Bailey retired around 1880 after forty years of circus involvement and with the reputation of being one of the great showmen of his generation.

Richard Guy Ball, (1844-1905) contracting agent, began his career as a candy butcher on L. B. Lent‘s circus, 1859. The following year he joined the advance of Gardner & Hemmings under William H. Gardner, with whom he remained until 1863. Following a stint in war service, he was connected with such shows as James L. Thayer‘s, John O’Brien‘s, Cooper & Bailey (for their Australian and South American tour), Forepaugh‘s, and Barnum & Bailey. He started in the business for $10 a month and ended up as one of the highest salaried agents. He was considered superior at contracting bill posters, hotel proprietors, liverymen, and city and state officials.

Henry Barnum, (c.1826-1902) showman, was Hyatt Frost’s manager with VanAmburgh & Co. for several years. In 1873 he purchased a tenth interest in James E. Kelley’s Howes’ Great London Circus. Debts caused the show to go under in 1876. Following this, he held managerial positions with Cooper & Bailey (1880), Forepaugh’s (1893), Barnum & Bailey (1895), and was purchasing agent for the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show (1902).

Tom Barry, (1839-1909) was a rider and manager as well as a clown. Born in Manchester, England, he came to America in 1870 to join Lent’s American Circus on Fourteenth Street, New York City. He was with the Murray show from 1871 through 1877.

George H. Batcheller, leaper, began his circus career with Isaac Burtis in 1843. This was followed by engagements with various organizations throughout the 1840’s and 1850’s. He developed into one of the best leapers in the circus world of his day. In 1863 he became associated with John B. Doris in the management of privileges. Later, the two men took out a circus under their names and operated it successfully for several years.

David Bidwell, (?-1889) theatre proprietor, went into partnership with Spalding & Rogers in 1856 when the men took a ten year lease on the Pelican Theatre, New Orleans - the Spalding & Rogers Amphitheatre, later renamed the Academy of Music. Bidwell continued his association with Spalding after Rogers’ retirement until around 1875. In 1873 Bidwell bought the St. Charles, New Orleans; and in 1880 he became lessee of the Grand Opera House (formerly the Varieties Theatre). With these acquisitions, he controlled the amusement business in that city until his death.

William E. “Billy” Burke, clown, who sang comic songs and tumbled, was connected with the circus business as early as 1866, when he was with Mike Lipman‘s show. He was later engaged with such organizations as Forepaugh‘s, James Robinson‘s, Montgomery Queen‘s, Sells Brothers‘, and Barnum & Bailey’s. He was active as late as 1896 with Rice’s Circus Carnival.

Charles H. Castle, (1816-1884) agent, like many a circus man was first engaged by Dan Rice (1851-53). He entered into management in 1853 with Harry Whitbeck and Wash Kidwell to form Whitbeck & Co.’s One-Horse Show, an enterprise that lasted only a season. Subsequently, he was connected with Spalding & Rogers, Thayer & Noyes, Goodwin & Wilder, John O’Brien, John Robinson, Batcheller & Doris, Barnum’s Traveling World’s Fair, and Sells Bros. Lovingly called “Old Roughhead,” companionable, a good story teller, a fair singer and jig dancer, he was one of the best known circus agents of his day.

Dr. C. S. T. Chambers, agent, was connected with Andrew Haight in the ill-fated Haight & Chambers’ Palace Show and Menagerie which was launched in New Orleans and traveled up the river on the steamer, Coosa, 1866, until flood, cholera, a sinking disaster terminated the venture. The following year he was attached to the C. T. Ames’ Menagerie, Museum and Tropical Bird Show. In 1869, he left the business to keep a jewelry store in Charleston, WV.

Birkit “Kit” Clarke was a circus press agent who, like Day, submitted articles to various weeklies. Born in N.Y.C., he was connected with Satterlee & Bell’s Circus at age 13. Later, he was agent for such shows as Forepaugh‘s, VanAmburgh’s, and O’Brien‘s.

William Washington “Chilly Billy” Cole, (1847-1915) showman, was the son of British circus performers William H. Cole and Mary Ann Cooke. Four years after his father died in 1858 his mother married Miles Orton of the Orton Bros.’ Circus. Cole grew to manhood learning the ins and outs of circusdom and in 1871 he launched his first show, the Cole & Orton Circus. He sold his holdings at auction in 1886 to become part owner of the Barnum & Bailey organization. Two years later he sold his share to Bailey and retired until 1898 when he purchased an interest in the Forepaugh-Sells Bros. Circus and the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. With Bailey’s death, the governing board of Barnum & Bailey elected Cole to a one year term as managing director, after which he went into permanent retirement. He is said to have been the first person to have earned a million dollars from his operation; indeed, he died leaving assets of around five million dollars.

E. Darwin Colvin began his circus career as an assistant treasurer with Sands, Nathans & Co.‘s Performing Elephant, G. C. Quick’s Hippopotamus, Herr Driesbach’s Menagerie & G. F. Bailey’s Circus. In 1870 and 1871 he was the manager of Adam Forepaugh‘s aggregation. In 1872 he managed G. F. Bailey & Co.’s Circus.

James Cooke (Patrick Hoey), (1836-1880) clown and general performer, born in Dublin, Ireland, began performing with fair theatricals in feats of acrobatics and contortion before turning to clowning. He made his American debut in 1863 for J. M. Nixon. In 1865, he joined John Wilson’s circus in California and for an Australia tour. He was back East in the 1870’s, where he performed with many of the principal circuses. His last appearance in the ring as a clown was with Stickney’s Imperial Parisian Circus at the Aquarium, N.Y.C., during the winter of 1879-80; and as ringmaster for the Barnum show at the American Institute the following spring. His engagement with John H. Murray for the summer season was interrupted by his death from pneumonia.

Louis E. Cooke, agent, entered the profession in the late 1870’s and became one of the most prominent agents in the business. His career began with W. W. Cole, with whom he accompanied on the famous trip to Australia. Later, he served with James A. Bailey as confidential agent and manager for over twenty years, during which time he was responsible for bringing about some legendary circus deals. He made the arrangement for organizing Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show under Bailey’s management. He was responsible for the consolidation of the Forepaugh and Sells Bros. shows. He brought about an amicable business arrangement between the Ringling and the Barnum & Bailey shows.

William Cooke, (?-1886) general performer and proprietor, was the son of Thomas Taplin Cooke who brought the Cooke circus company to America in 1836. William performed as clown, strong man, rope walker and vaulter. He gave up performing to direct equestrian spectacles - succeeding Batty in management of Astley’s Amphitheatre for several years.

William Cameron Coup, (1837-1895) showman, formed a partnership with Dan Castello, 1869, and took a boat circus around the Great Lakes. The following year the two men induced P. T. Barnum to join them on a circus deal, P. T. Barnum’s Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Hippodrome. At the end of the summer season, 1872, the organization branched out: sending a unit into the South and opening a second at the Hippodrome, Fourteenth Street, N.Y.C. The southern tour proved a failure and was closed. The Hippodrome burned down on December 24 of that year. The outfit was expanded, 1873, into P. T. Barnum’s Traveling World’s Fair. Coup worked for the erection of a new Hippodrome, which was opened to the public on April 27, 1874. In 1876, with Charles Reiche, he erected the New York Aquarium, Broadway and Thirty-fifth Street, and a similar one at Coney Island. In 1878 he took out Coup’s Equescurriculum and remained involved with the show until his death.

Mike Coyle, (c.1838-1918) agent, etc., was connected for many years as publicist for P. T. Barnum and was one of his close associates. He was a picturesque and unique personality with a wide circle of friends and admirers. Along with agenting, his many assignments included positions as treasurer, and business and transportation manager.

James Crockett, (1835-1865) wild beast tamer, began as a circus musician for Sanger’s English company and inadvertently became a handler of wild animals. Through his fearlessness and physical ability, he was soon a leading performer in England and Europe and was brought to America by Seth B. Howes in 1864. In Cincinnati the following year, his young life was ended as he succumbed from heat prostration in his dressing room following the parade.

Col. Joseph Cushing, (1818-1884) showman, graduated from candy concessionaire to sideshow operator to taking control of the entire show, which he built from a single wagon to an aggregation of forty. He formed a partnership with Seth Howes in 1856 and took Howes & Cushing’s Great American Circus to England. He sold out to Howes in 1860, but returned to form a circus for Germany. Howes & Cushing continued to tour Great Britain until 1862 when Cushing returned to America. Cushing retired to his farm in 1879.

George W. DeHaven, (1837-1902) showman, beginning in 1858 he equipped a circus with Oliver Bell. Four years later, he took out a boat show along the Mississippi and its tributaries. This was merely the beginning; for during his career, he organized and put on the road some thirty-three different circuses. He was one of the first to send up hot air balloons as an outside attraction. He claimed to be the first to introduce Roman hippodrome racing into the circus program and the first to inaugurate the railroad circus.

John B. Doris, (1848-1912) showman, joined the Dan Rice circus as a fourteen year old run-away. In 1863, with George Batcheller, he purchased the privileges for the Rice show. Two years later Doris and Batcheller took out their own circus, which operated successfully for the next twenty years. In 1881, Doris bought out his partner and continued on the road until 1889, after which he dabbled in theatrical management.

Herr Jacob Driesbach, (1807-1877) wild beast tamer, entered the circus business around 1840 with Raymond & Waring, and continued under Raymond & Weeks and later with VanAmburgh & Co. for some twenty years. It has been said that he was the first man to train a leopard. He would walk the streets with one attached by a rope. Shortly after his marriage, around 1856, he turned to farming in Ohio. He also kept a hotel nearby, which became a refuge for itinerant showmen.

William W. Durand, (1837-1886) agent, after working as a printer and journalist, entered the circus business, 1867, to become one of the best writers of his profession. He worked for many of the large shows throughout his career. His last engagement, before his sudden death, was managing a museum in Indianapolis, IN.

O. J. Ferguson, showman, was connected with VanAmburgh & Co. for many years in various capacities: advertiser, treasurer, manager, and co-proprietor. Following the close of the company in 1881, Ferguson was manager with Nathans & Co. (1882), Cooper, Jackson & Co. (1883), proprietor of Ferguson’s New York and New England Circus (1884), general agent with Frank Robbins’ Circus (1885), assistant manager with the Adam Forepaugh Circus (1887), general superintendent with Sig. Sautelle’s Circus (1898).

Richard Fitzgerald, (1842-1889) amusement agent and manager, was born in what is now Wheeling, WV. His professional career began in 1865 as proprietor of Parker’s Opera House and Virginia Hall in Alexandria, VA., and later as manager of the Canterbury in Richmond. That same year he was with Spalding & Bidwell at their Academy of Music, New Orleans. In the summer of 1866, he was business manager for Metcalf’s Circus. In the fall of that year, he became associated with James Conner in a dramatic agency. When Conner died he returned to work for Spalding & Bidwell at their Olympic Theatre, St. Louis. Next, he returned to the dramatic agency business at the corner of Houston and Broadway, N.Y.C. Shortly, he took actor T. G. Riggs as a partner and moved to 512 Broadway. In 1871, he managed the Charles M. Barras “Black Crook” Co. and later Kiralfy’s “Humpty Dumpty” Co. For two seasons he was agent with Cameron & Co.’s Oriental Circus and Tubbs & Co.’s New York Circus; after which he returned to the dramatic agency business in N.Y.C. He was said to be a most companionable man with only two weaknesses - ”his large-heartedness and his love of Masonry, Lodge No. 273.”

Adam Forepaugh, Sr., (1831-1890) showman, was one of the great circus magnates of the 19th century. After beginning his working life as a butcher, then a horses and cattle broker, he was forced to take a share of John O’Brien’s circus in 1863 as payment of a debt that had been incurred for the purchase of horses. He went out under his own name for the first time in 1867. By 1880, the show was traveled on three trains of railroad cars, had sixty cages, 290 horses, 400 employees, and a daily expense of $4,000. Forepaugh was the first to incorporate the wild west spectacle with his ring performance, the first to exhibit the menagerie under a separate tent. He carried more animals in the menagerie than any other circus of his day. He paid the highest prices for European talent. He was said to be “the master of his business as no man before him was, and as no man will probably be in the future.”

James M. French, showman, organized the Oriental Circus and Egyptian Caravan in 1867. The show featured a team of twelve camels, the first ever broken to work in harness without the assistance of horses. His great elephant, Empress, imported in 1869, was said at the time to be the largest ever brought to America. He is given credit for importing the first troupe of Arabs. French sold his circus property in 1870, but the show was reported back on the road the following year. In 1876 he organized a circus with L. B. Lent and served as general manager He acquired an ample fortune and, after retiring from active trouping, he rented out cages of animals.

Hyatt Frost, (1827-1895) showman, began at age nineteen, working for the candy privilege man with Raymond & Waring. He later worked for VanAmburgh & Co. under Raymond’s management as an advertiser. When Raymond died, Frost and James Kelley purchase the show and continued as partners until around 1873 when Frost bought out Kelley. VanAmburgh & Co. was put up for auction in 1881. After 35 years in the circus business, Frost thought he needed a rest. His last venture was with the Reiche brothers under the banner of VanAmburgh, Charles Reiche & Brother, 1885. Shortly after that he retired reasonably well off.

Frank A. Gardner, (1855-1905) leaper and rider, began as a pad rider with the James T. Johnson circus. He was connected with the VanAmburgh show in 1871, when he first turned a double somersault over ten and twelve horses. While with Dan Rice’s Paris Pavilion Circus the following year, the New York Clipper announced that he was the second man ever to double-somersault over thirteen horses abreast. He toured South America and the West Indies for several years with his own company during the 1880’s and 1890’s. Small in stature but well-proportioned and strong, he is considered one of the greatest leapers of all time, on a par with Fred O’Brien and William H. Batcheller.

William Henry Gardner, (1842-1906) agent, was the eldest child of the famous Gardner family of circus performers. He began agenting for the Gardner & Hemmings circus, 1861, and remained with the show until he sold his interest to Harry Whitby, 1867. He was general agent for Gardner & Kenyon (1868-69), advertiser with James Robinson (1869), agent for John O’Brien (1870-71), general director for James E. Cooper (1872), Cooper & Bailey (1873-74). He had the privileges with the latter show when it went on its Australian and South American tour (1875-77). He was general agent with Anderson & Co. (1879), Forepaugh‘s (1880), and with Barnum & Bailey (1881-92). He acquired an interest in the Pawnee Bill show (1893-94), was contracting agent for Walter L. Main (1894), general agent for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show (1895-97), general agent for the European tour of Barnum & Bailey (1898-1901), and was with Forepaugh-Sells (1903). In 1904 he bought the Hagenbeck show and became its general agent.

Charles Gayler, (1820-1892) agent, was connected with various circuses from the 1860’s to the 1880’s, including Howes’ London Circus, VanAmburgh & Co., and P. T. Barnum’s Greatest Show on Earth. Although beginning his career as a lawyer and journalist, he moved into the areas of acting, theatrical management, reviewing and playwriting, along with his circus connections.

G. G. Grady, (c.1831-1895) showman, was proprietor of Grady’s Old Fashioned Circus, 1869-74, until the show was attached by the sheriff in Shelbyville, IL. In 1879, he was out with Grady & Beatty’s Circus. The following year, he was giving sideshow performances at political meetings in Indiana. He retired from the business about three years before his death.

George J. Guilford, (?-1900) press agent and bill writer, at various times connected with George F. Bailey, DeHaven & Haight, W. C. Coup, and Sells Brothers. In his later years, he didn’t travel but, settled in Cincinnati, he wrote for many shows from his home.

Andrew Haight, (1831-1886) agent and showman, left a successful mercantile, real estate and hotel keeping business in Wisconsin to join forces with Claude DeHaven in a circus enterprise, 1865. He had interest in various shows until he retired to operate the City Hotel in Chicago, 1879. But, shortly, he returned to arenic activity as advance agent for Forepaugh, Coup, and Barnum’s London show.

Dr. Richard Patrick Jones, (1826-1869) agent, was born in Philadelphia and educated as a doctor of medicine. But he soon became an actor and minstrel performer, and finally a circus writer. He continued in the latter profession until his death. It was said that “no one in the business was better posted in all the little dodges of the profession.”

Sampson H. Joseph, (c.1833-1910) agent, worked for forty years as general agent for the John Robinson Circus. He was also connected with Mike Lipman’s (1866), George DeHaven’s (1869), Lake’s Hippo-Olympiad (1871), American Racing Association (1875), Cooper & Bailey’s (1880), and with Sells Bros.’ (1884).

James E. Kelley, (c.1826-1892) showman, bought out James Raymond’s menagerie along with Hyatt Frost, which became known as VanAmburgh & Co., and operated it successfully into the 1870’s. Kelley bought an interest in Howes’ Great London Circus in 1873 and selected Henry Barnum to manage the acquisition. Debt, caused by economic conditions, forced a sale of the show to John Parks and Richard Dockrill.

Gus Lee, clown, was with Barnum’s Traveling World’s Fair (1872), L. B. Lent’s New York Circus (1874), W. H. Harris’ Nickel-Plate Shows (1885).

Prof. J. M. Langworthy, (c.1811-1871) wild beast tamer, was with VanAmburgh & Co. for six years in England, performing the elephant Bolivar. He remained with that concern for over twenty years, until the time of his death. He was also connected with Raymond & Co. (1854), Mabie’s Winter Garden Circus (1862), Dan Rice’s (1866), and Forepaugh‘s (1867).

Lewis B. Lent, (1813-1887) agent and showman, was agent for June, Titus & Angevine’s Menagerie by the time he was twenty-one. That same year, 1834, he bought an interest in I. R. and W. Howes’ Menagerie. From this beginning he developed into an all-around circus man and one of the best general agents and routers of his day. He was connected with many circuses as an interested partner and manager. His New York Circus during the 1870’s was considered to be of the highest class of arenic entertainment.

Martinho Lowande, Sr. (1839-1927), a four-horse rider and bareback carrying act, was a member of a Brazilian family of riders. He performed in the United States as early as 1871, when he was with Adam Forepaugh, and continued until at least 1904, when he was with the Walter L. Main organization.

Ben Maginley, (1832-1888) clown, began his career as an actor. In 1863, he organized a circus and entered the arena as a clown for the first time. For the next fifteen years he was associated with various circuses as co-proprietor, equestrian director and performer. Following the 1877 season with P. T. Barnum’s Greatest Show on Earth, he returned to the stage.

James C. Maguire, clown, was connected with Bryan’s (1869), Forepaugh’s (1870), Joel E. Warner‘s (1872), Rice‘s (1872-73), Cooper & Bailey (1874), the Great Metropolitan Olympiad (1877). In 1877 he was shot in the arm and had to have it amputated.

James Donald Melville, (c.1835-1892) bareback rider, was a Scotsman by birth but migrated to Australia with his parents, where he first entered circus life. He made his New York debut at the Bowery Theatre in 1858 and in no time became one of the most famous riders in the world. Featured in all of the leading circuses of the last half of the century, his final ring appearance may have been with the Melville-Hamilton show in 1991. He fathered three other performing Melvilles in Frank, George and Alexander.

John Hayes Murray, (1829-1881) showman, made his professional debut performing as a negro minstrel at Barnum’s Museum. Possessing an outstanding physique and great strength, he developed skills as an acrobat and general performer. As such he was connected with various circuses at home and abroad. In 1865 his name appeared in the title of Stone, Rosston & Murray’s Circus. He stopped performing in 1871, but continued in management until his death.

John V. (“Pogey”) O’Brien (1836-1889), a man of dubious ethics, conducted shows under various titles: Bryan’s, Sheldenberger’s, Campbell’s, Rothchild’s. Throughout his career his reputation was tarnished as one who was dishonest with employees and who carried with his show a compliment of gamblers and thieves. Justice ultimately prevailed, for he died in poverty.

Charles C. Pell, (1818-1889) was agent for Levi J. North when only twenty years of age. In his over thirty years in the business, he was connected with the likes of Rockwell & Co. (1847-48), Mile’s Circus Royale (1863), Dan Castello’s (1867-69), James M. Nixon’s (1870), Lake’s Hippo-Olympiad (1871), Barnum’s Traveling World’s Fair (1872), and Montgomery Queen’s (1874-76).

Charles A. Potter, (c. 1845-1818) was program agent with John H. Murray’s Great Railroad Circus, 1874-75, and press agent for the show in 1877. He was later connected with Den Stone’s Grand Circus and Musical Brigade, Forepaugh’s, and the Great Wallace shows. With the latter, 1895-98, he completed his 27th year in the business. After this, he located in Danielson, CT, and continued as advertising agent and reporter for the Wendham County Transcript.

Montgomery Queen, purchased an interest in Rosston, Springer & Co., 1872, and took out Montgomery Queen’s Circus the following year. He had the show in California, 1877, but at the start of the following year, bankruptcy was announced and the outfit was sold at auction. In 1879, Queen was reported to be connected with a trolley company in Brooklyn, NY.

Dan Rice, (1823-1900) clown and showman, was one of the most noted and controversial of circus performers. He began clowning with old John Robinson’s circus, 1839; and within a few years he was starring in his own company. Throughout his career he was one of the highest paid performers in the business; yet an erratic disposition and a fondness for the bottle create antagonisms.

Burr Robbins, (1837-1908) showman, entered the circus business in 1858 as a property man for Spalding & Rogers. It was more than ten years later before he took out a circus in his name. He operated the Burr Robbins’ Circus until 1888. Robbins had a talent for saving and investing money. In his waning years his holdings totaled some forty pieces of property, including a ranch in Kansas.

James Robinson (James Fitzgerald, 1835-1917) bareback rider, learned to ride while with old John Robinson, from whom he took the name. He was touted as the greatest bareback rider of his day and became an international star, a darling in England and on the Continent. Beginning in 1869, a show was on the road under his name. Ultimately, he retired to a farm near Mexico, MO, where he trained horses.

Charles J. Rogers, (1817-1895) rider and proprietor, was the son of English equestrian, John Rogers, who came to America in 1816 with the James West company. In 1826 he was an apprentice rider with the old Quick & Mead circus and developed into, as some have said, “the greatest scenic rider that America has ever had.” By good fortune, he went into partnership with Dr. Gilbert R. Spalding in 1848. As Spalding & Rogers, the relationship continued until Rogers’ retirement in 1865.

Frank H. Rosston, (1827-1874) showman, was employed by Dan Rice at age fifteen and remained with him for seventeen years, part of that time as a co-partner. He was ringmaster and co-proprietor with Stone, Rosston & Co., 1864-66, and equestrian director and co-proprietor with Springer, Rosston & Henderson, 1871. He had the concert privileges with Montgomery Queen’s Circus, 1873.

Peter Sells, (1845-1904) showman and agent, was one of the four Sells brothers. He was the advertiser, router and, later, the railroad contractor for the show. Following brother Ephraim’s retirement in 1896, the Sells Bros.‘ circus was combined with the Forepaugh circus, owned by James A. Bailey to form Forepaugh-Sells, managed by Lewis Sells. Peter was general agent for this 50 or 60 car show.

Simon H. Semon, (?-1910) contracting agent, the son of agent Harry W. Semon, he was in the business for forty years with some of the premier circuses of his era: Adam Forepaugh’s (12 years, concluding in 1891), John Robinson’s (1892), Buffalo Bill’s (1896), and Forepaugh-Sells‘ (1904).

Dr. Gilbert R. Spalding (1812-1880) proprietor, acquired the title of doctor when he was the owner of a drug and paint store, 1840-45, in Albany, NY. He was on the road as Spalding’s North American Circus, 1847-48. He went into partnership with Charles J. Rogers after the 1848 season. Over the years, the men had two and sometimes three shows out at the same time, traveling by boat, rail, and land. Spalding’s last venture in the circus business occurred in 1874-75 when he was co-proprietor with John O’Brien and Ben Maginley of Melville, Maginley & Cooke’s Continental Circus and Thespian Co. He retired to his home in Saugerties, NY, in 1879.

Andrew J. Springer, (?-1886) agent, was connected with various circuses from the late 1860’s to the 1880’s, including J. M. French’s Oriental Circus, James Robinson’s, L. B. Lent’s, Warner & Henderson‘s, Batcheller & Doris‘, and S. H. Barrett’s. He had an interest in Rosston, Springer & Henderson‘s Great Mastodon Caravan, Circus and Menagerie in 1871-72.

John Stetson, pedestrian, gave exhibitions in the circus ring. Later, he became publisher of the Sporting Times, a Boston weekly. This and many other ventures made him millions. He was married to the beautiful equestrienne, Katie Stokes.

Robert John Danville Stickney, (1871-1941) principal and four-horse rider and horse trainer, was the son of the leaper and pad rider Robert T. Stickney and Kate Robinson, daughter of old John F. Robinson. He was connected with a variety of circuses from the late 1880’s through 1920. Eventually, he gave up riding and exhibited his horses, ponies, and dogs at parks and fairs.

Denison W. Stone, (1824-1892) clown and showman, brother of bareback rider Eaton Stone, began his circus career with Ira Cole‘s Zoological Institute. He became a clown in 1840, having appeared in the pantomime of “Mother Goose.” Two years later, he entered into a series of circus managements: Stone & McCollum, Stone & Madigan, Stone & Murray, Den Stone’s Circus and Central Park Menagerie, and, by 1878, Stone’s Grand Circus and Musical Brigade. Throughout his career, he clowned for most of the major circus organizations.

Isaac VanAmburgh, (1808-1865) wild beast tamer, became connected with menageries around 1829 and made his New York debut at the Richmond Hill Theatre in 1833. That same year he was assistant keeper to a Mr. Roberts with June, Titus & Angevine‘s menagerie. When Roberts was severely torn in 1837, VanAmburgh became the permanent keeper. He went to Europe in 1838 and remained for seven years. On returning in 1845, VanAmburgh & Co. was established in his name. He retired from active ring participation in the mid-1850’s. He frequently used a crow bar to beat his animals into submission; consequently, he is credited with changing the style of performance from displays of docility to blatant challenges between man and beast.

W. T. B. Van Orden, agent, was Spalding’s brother-in-law. He was manager with the North American Circus, 1844; and was agent with Spalding & Rogers, 1853-64. Subsequently, he was connected with the Parisian Circus, an aggregation of notables assembled for the Paris Exposition of 1867. There are occasional references made regarding Van Orden, but he remains a man of elusive biography.

Joel E. Warner, (1832-1914) showman, began his career as a magician, 1850. After ending an engagement at the American Museum, New Orleans, under the management of Dan Rice, he joined Spalding & Rogers as assistant agent under Van Orden. In 1871 he started into management for himself and continued off and on. With the merging of Barnum and Bailey, he became a representative for that circus; and, as such, claimed responsibility for the importation of Jumbo and “The Wild Man from Borneo.” Around 1889, he retired from the business and became prominent in the Central Michigan Agricultural Society and occupied himself with lecturing.

P. Bowles Wooten, showman, was a livery stable owner in Atlanta, GA, when he joined with Andrew Haight in taking out a circus, 1871. He sold his interest at the end of the season. At last report, he was a horse and mule trader in Nashville, TN.


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William L. Slout and Circus Historical Society, Inc.