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      Joseph S. M. Hobby. (Manager.) respectfully announces to the Ladies and Gentlemen of Gettysburg and its vicinity, that the above celebrated establishment will visit Gettysburg, with their fine collection of Animals, and beautiful Stud of Horses, and Company of Equestrians, who stand unrivalled in their profession, on Thursday the 22d inst., for one day only. Hours of Exhibition from 1 to 5. P. M. Admittance 50 cts., Children, half price.

      The Scenes in the Circle will present a variety of new and interesting feats of horsemanship and other varied scenes of amusements, and Equestrian Exercises, which, together with their fine collection of Living Animals, will afford a rich and rare treat to the naturalist and lover of Equestrian and Gymnastic exercises. The Manager pledges himself that there shall be nothing wanting on his part to render the Exhibition both agreeable and interesting. Also that there shall be nothing introduced in the performance that can offend the ear of the most fastidious, but the whole will be conducted with the utmost order and decorum. Commodious seats will be erected for the accommodation of visitors. Ladies and Juvenile visitors always have the preference. For a list of the Animals contained in this Menagerie, and description of Equestrian Performance, see bills at the Hotels.

      There will be an Exhibition at the same time and place, of rare specimens of the fine Arts, the richest, rarest and most extensive collection of Paintings, ever offered to an American public, representing Burning Mountains, Conflagrations, Landscapes, Waterfalls, Battles, Cities, Buildings, Shipwrecks, &c. In addition to the Paintings, there will be exhibited a collection of Asiatic Serpents, consisting of the immense Anaconda or Terror of Ceylon, the Boa Constrictor or Strangling Serpeni of Java, the Pomboo or Python from Madras, also, that extraordinary Reptile, the Amphis Beana, from Calcutta, the connecting link between the Serpent and Worm. Admission 25 cents. Entrance to this splendid Exhibition from the inside of the Menagerie and Circus Pavilion. Adams Sentinel and General Advertiser (Gettysburg, PA), August 13, 1839.

Clark & Sons - 1910 [M. L. Clark?]

      Following is a list of performers with Clark & Sons Combined Shows: Robt. M. Pierece, equestrian director; Three DeForst Bros., casting and comedy acrobatic act; T. W. Bryan, mule hurdle rider and clown; Christ and Pearl LaComa, double trapeze and swinging ladder; Thos. Moss, juggler and wire walker; Chas. Johnson, bounding rope artist and hoop roller; Corine Johnson, single trapeze; ??? Rogan and Lee Clark, trick riders and ropers; Edna Clark, contortionist; Walter Garland, Obey St. Clergy and Bob Ronalso, clowns. "Circus Gossip," Billboard, November 19, 1910, p. 21.

Clements Shows - 1891, R. F. Clements Circus

      Notes from the Clements Shows. The show opened its season at East Liberty, Pa., April 25. At Bloomfield a cyclone struck us about 9 p.m. The canvas was packed, but no one was injured. The canvas, however, did not escape so fortunately, it being completely blown to shreds. Manager Clements was the coolest man on the lot. There was no show the next afternoon, but the doors opened at 7 p.m. as usual, with a new 100 ft. round top, with two 50 ft. middle pieces. Business has been good, so far, and everybody is happy. New York Clipper, May 9, 1891.

      Roster of Clemens’ [sic] European Shows. - R. F. Clemens, proprietor and manager; Lee Howard, assistant manager and treasurer; Wm. Morelo, equestrian director; J. W. Wallacker, general agent; Richard Timmons, boss bill poster, with six assistants; Lee Howard, Eugene Verona, R. V. Stinson, Max Morelo, Wm. Morelo, Jas. Devine, Signor Daudet, Walter Romalo, Jesse Fusner, Wm. Adams, F. De Vina, G. Marbs, Harry Hartsing, Ida Morelo, Laura Kelly, Adele Purvis, Alice Howard, Eva Howars; Ira S. Loos, leader of silver corent band and orchestra; Fred E. Mills, G. M. Labbe, C. Freyermuth, Artie Wigham, C. Waters, S. Dangerfield; . . . Geo. Simons, boss properties with three assistants. The show travels by wagon, using a 100 ft. round top, with two 40 ft. middle pieces, a 60 ft. sideshow top and two horse tents and forty-five head of horses. New York Clipper, May 16, 1891

George S. Cole’s - 1882

      George S. Cole’s Southern Circus and Menagerie billed all towns on the Mississippi River and the Bayou Teche, commencing Jan. 24. A correspondent says: “On the announced dates W. H. Stowe’s Shows, also traveling by boats, put up their tents in the same towns, when the liveliest excitement was caused, both parties having outsiders, street ticket-peddlers, steamboat excursions, street parades, and every artifice was restored to to attract the crowd. This opposition continued until Feb. 1, at several places, the price of tickets being reduced to twenty-five cents. At Franklin a compromise was effected, both shows combining, retaining all their performers, joining street parades, and putting up the largest display of canvas ever seen in this country, and both shows transporting their respective shows on their own boats. The result justified the wisdom of the scheme, and both will continue this combination for the rest of the season. . . . W. H. Stowe assumes the equestrian management, George S. Cole and W. O. Monroe are the directors, and Matt Leland is in advance.” New York Clipper, February 18, 1882.

W. W. Cole's Circus - 1886

      W. W. Cole's Circus. — Here is a roster of this organization, which opened in St. Louis, Mo., for week of May 3-8; W. W. Cole, sole proprietor and manager; E. D. Colvin, assistant-manager; Geo. H. McGlasson, treasurer; A. E. Richards, assistant-treasurer and press-agent; T. B. Mclntyre, equestrian-manager; John Worland, starter of races; Sawyer Dutton, time-keeper; George Conklin, superintendent of animals; Al. D. Good, leader of band; Frank Eckels, master of horses; John Kelly, master of canvasers; Dick Rodgers, master of properties; Lizzie Alcott, costumer; Dan Greene, manager of annex; A. Hathaway, lecturer; F. Lemen, manager of Hotel de Cole and concert; A. M. Van Zandt, router of parade and layer-out. Riders: James Leon, Wm. Dutton, Charles Lowry, Wm. O. Dale, Chas. Watson, Miss Kate Watson, Edith Richards, Emma Sinclair and Lizzie McIntire. Specialties: Livingston Bros, (three), the Silbons (four), John Worland, Ernest Cooke, Burt Richardson, Billy Milton, George Milton, T. B. Mclntyre, Harry Murtz, Dr. Carver and his Wild West Show complete. New York Clipper, May 8, 1886.

W. C. Coup's Circus - 1878

      Coup’s “Bran-New Show” exhibited the past week in Washington, D.C., to splendid business. Our correspondent says: “It is the opinion of all who visited this show that it is nearly all new and entirely different from any canvas show ever exhibited in this city. The absence of sideshows, candy-butchers, lemonade peddlers, concert solicitors, etc., was a most enjoyable feature. . . . The devil-fish, one of Napoleon’s state carriages, several cages of wild animals, a tally-ho coach, a living giraffe are in the first tent. In the ring appear Irving’s Jackits-chy Japanese Troupe, whose performances are remarkable clever; the Austins - Charles and Carrie - in their lightning drill and dashing bayonet combat; the Snow Brothers in agile acrobatic feats, including the tossing of the hats; Miss Emma Stokes and her horse Nevada; the Broncho horses - eight in number - under the management of their trainer Mr. Fryer, go through a wonderfully precise military drill, and perform a number of tricks that seemed almost impossible for animals to learn. One of these horses, named Nettle, excited general admiration by leaping over a five-barred gate and four horses with the utmost ease. A troupe of trained dogs were also exhibited by Mr. Fryer, and displayed remarkable intelligence. Mlle. Rhinehart the beast-tamer showed her power over a cage of lions and a savage leopard. . . . The officers are W. C. Coup, proprietor; Charles W. Fuller, general manager; Ed. A. Tinkham, general agent; Chas. H. Day, general advertiser; J. J. Leyden, chief of paste brigade; Edgar Almon Menter, leader of brass band; Prof. R. W. Freyer, director of amusements.” New York Clipper, June 22, 1878. [W. C. Coup’s Equescurriculum]

J. W. Couch's - 1882

      J. W. Couch’s Show includes Fred Faranta, Miss Maria, Chas. Bliss, Mons. Joseph, W. B. York, Romellis, Lem Quillin, Frank M. Angelo, J. A. Branen, Prof. Graham, Sicott and Andrews, Stebleton, Leisle and Julia St. Leton, Jennie De Bar and Leon Whttony’s Masqueraders. James. W. Couch is general manager; Geo. Wilson, assistant manager; C. Peck Russell, manager of publications; Harry Emmings, leader of band; Yankee Quillin, manager of amusement; R. H. Wood, general agent; P. Bliss, manager of concert; J. Willis, manage of museum; E. W. Ladd, treasurer; J. B. Sanders, equestrian director. New York Clipper, April 29, 1882.

Crane & Co.'s Oriental Circus - 1849-50

      The show had: Fairy Chariot, driven by Mast. Wm. Nixon. Mammoth Pavilion, room for 5,000 spectators. New York Sax Horn band, under direction of Mr. P. Fohs. Mr. W. H. Kemp, clown. Madame Camilla Gardner, first femal equestrian of America. Mr. Dan Gardner, clown and comic singer. Master William Nixon, feats of horsemanship. Mr. Samuel Lee, feats with real cannon balls. James Nixon and his talented pupils, George and Albert; Miss Wells, danseuse; Z. J. Lipman, scene rider; W. Smith, two-horse rider; Mesdames Gardner, Johnson, Nixon, Lipman, Wells; Messrs. Bliss, Murray, Reed, Reynolds, Nagles and Miller. Southport American (Southport, WI), July 4, 1849.

      On entering the village the procession will be headed by the great dragon chariot, containing the company's celebrated band, drawn by 10 Syrian camels, and followed by the fairy chariot, drawn by ten diminutive ponies and the clown's car. The company will be principally dressed in superb oriental costume, and taken collectively, will present one of the most unique and magnificent pagents ever exhibited in this section of the country, and will well repay the cost of a visit. The celebrated clown, Joe Pentland, accompanies the troupe.
      Advertisement: Crane & Co.'s Great Oriental Circus. 200 Men and Horses, Children and Ponies, Requiring 40 carriages to convey the Performers, Musicians, &c. Dragon Chariot, drawn by ten camels. Fairy Chariot, devoted to the conveyance of the Juvenile Corps. and drawn by 12 diminutive Ponies. M'lle Rosa, the first female artist in Europe and America; Joe Pentland, clown of all clowns; Mr. H. P. Madigan, the great Equestrian, Mr. H. Gardner, celebrated Dramatic Horseman; Mr. Liming, trick clown; Sig. Bliss, contortionist; Messrs. Murry and Reed, acrobats. Pet Pony, Don Juan, will dance, waltz. The Charioteer's Dilema, the grand object of introducing the camels, to enable the Managers to produce the Oriental Pageant of the Arab Slave, or the Sultan's Halt in the Desert. Tioga Eagle (Wellsboro, PA), September 30, 1850.

Crosby's Mammoth Pavilion Shows

      Crosby's Mammoth Pavilion Shows opened at Watseka, Ill., July 20, to reported big business. The roster: Frank Crosby, proprietor; Tom Hall, equestrian director; George Salckey, Charlie Borden, Claude La Verne, Pete Jenkins, Aronson Bros., Abe and Pete Vell, Tommy Hall, of Hall and Williams, Billy Watson, the Bentons, Martin, Gus Benton's Silver Cornet Band of twelve pieces. Harry Hall has charge of the canvas, with eight assistants. The canvas is a 100 ft. top, with a 40 ft. middle piece. July 20 being Mr. Crosby's birthday, he was tendered a recognition by the members of the company in the shape of a goldheaded cane, in the ring, which he accepted with an appropriate speech. New York Clipper, August 3, 1889.

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      Among the people engaged for the Ed. F. Davis’ New Departure 25c Shows are Albert Aymar and his troupe of Walpole Island ponies, W. E. Young, Seabert and Henry, Bert Fisher, Mlle. Annette Worland, Mlle. Nellie Johnson, Little Frankie, the Jones Sisters, Tony Bullard, Fred Oxenford, Sam Wicks, Toot Cohn, Walter James, George A. Young, George Robison, Hale A. Vandercook, Wm. Thomas, Master Chas. Lovell, Prof. A. Cory and band of twenty solo performers. The Annex will be under the personal supervision of D. C. Guilford, and D. S. Ward will look after the refreshment booths. The show opens in Niles, Mich., May 18. New York Clipper, April 11, 1885.

      Charles L. Davis, manager of Davis' circus, was lying on a bed in a room of the Southern Hotel, New Orleans, on last Wednesday night. His wife and her nephew were in the room at the time; he was playing with two pistols, when one was suddenly discharged, shooting Mrs. Davis in the breast. Her nephew ran out for assistance, and when the proprietor entered, he found Mrs. Davis lying dead upon the bed, and her husband was bending over her. He went to pick up the revolver that was lying beside her, but Mr. Davis seized it, and shot himself before the proprietor could interfere. Mrs. Davis was a very beautiful lady, and she and her husband always seemed to live happily together; yet some doubt is expressed as to whether the shooting was really accidental. Indiana (PA) Weekly Progress, December 3, 1885.

      New Orleans, Nov. 27. - Testimony taken by the coroner in the Davis double tragedy shows the killing of Mrs. Davis was purely accidental. Craft, the nephew, who was the only witness of the shooting, says Davis was extricating cartridges from a revolver, when it exploded, and a number of loaded shells found on the bed confirm this, and the missing revolver was found on the bed under the dead woman's body. . . . Three thousand dollars worth of diamonds and other valuables were found in the room, showing that Davis was not in reduced circumstances as reported. Both were from Cincinnati where they have relatives. The bodies will be sent to Maysville, Ky., where Davis was born. Newark (OH) Daily Advocate, November 27, 1885.

Sam Dock's Keystone - 1900

     Sam Dock's Keystone Show and E. G. Smith's Imperial Show have combined. Billboard, May 1, 1900.

Doris - 1885

      Doris' roster is as follows: Agents - Railroad-contracting agent, J. R. Davis; general-agent, E. H. Davis; contracting-agent, Samuel P. Cox; agent car No. 1, Geo. Pitsker; agent car No. 2, Geo. Kettler; agent skirmish-brigade, J. Callahan; agent bugle brigade, B. M. Drake; newspaper-representataive, John E. Boyle. Corps of 75 billposters. Performers - Wm. Shoals, Sallie Marks, Ella Stokes, Moore Family, Fisher Bros., Three Milo Bros., the Russian Athletes, Onofri Bros., J. R. Adams, J. F. Quigley, Troupe of fourteen Turks, Mlle. De Granville, Mlle. Lizetta, Belle Celeste, James Woodville, J. J. Shoals, May Antonio, Marsh Adams and wife, McIntyre and Cummings, Mills and Warren, Riffa Bey Carter (American Jap0 and Eldora. All privileges are under the management of Wm. Doris. New York Clipper, March 21, 1885.

Doris & Colvin - 1887

      John B. Doris and E. D. Colvin made a partnership deal in this city Jan. 6. Mr. Colvin will add to the Doris outfit his ten cars and their contents, including Roman horses and chariots, bucking ponies, racing stuff, wardrobe, etc. The new show will travel as Doris’ Inter-Ocean Circus, combined with E. D. Colvin’s Colossal Hippodrome and Wild West. Mr. Doris went to Indianapolis, Ind., 10. Mr. Colvin remains here to work the preliminaries. . . . The show will open in Indianapolis. New York Clipper, January 15, 1887.

      . . . Doris & Colvin Shows. . . . The Colossal Roman Hippodrome employs over a hundred trained equestrians and jockeys, male and female, and the New Wild West counts in its vast organization Indians, scouts, hunters, Indian slayers, Rocky Mountain guides, trappers, Mexican vaqueres, bullfighters, . . . Captain Elmer E. Stubbs the "Restless Spirit of the Plains," will lead the Wild West Show, in shots surpassing the feats of any marksman in the world. In short, the Captain bears the title, Champion Combination Wing Shot of the World, with rifle, revolver and shotgun. Newark (OH) Daily Advocate, April 29, 1887.

Doris & Sullivan - 1888

      Sullivan in the Circus Business. Boston, May 21. - John L. Sullivan has bought a one-third interest in John B. Doris' circus, and will make a tour of the United States, beginning on or about June 1. Sullivan has dropped his former manager, Harry Philips, and, having secured the services of a secretary, will manage his own affairs in the future. Fitchburg (MA) Sentinel, May 21, 1888.

      Bluffed By Sullivan. The Way in Which He Got the Best of a Norwich Sheriff. Norwich, Conn., July 7 - At the conclusion of the evening performance of John B. Doris' and John L. Sullivan's circus here there was a great rush of the athletes and employees over a greater portion of the city in search of a sheriff to served an attachment on Sullivan adn Doris' property, claiming arrears in salaries. . . . Deputy Sheriff Storey, who was finally secured and accompanied the party to the circus lot, where Sheriff Joab Rogers and a large crowd had preceded them. Sheriff Rogers from the top of a wagon warned John L. not to move the property. After parleying for a time Sullivan reached for the sheriff, who weights about 180 pounds, caught him by the collar with one hand, and gently set him upon the grass. Rogers call for the arrest of the pugilits, but no one present dared to make the attempt. The proprietors effected an arrangement with the employes, and the show left the city at an early hour the next morning. Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, WI), July 7, 1888.

      Not a Paying Circus. Boston, July 21. - Sullivan, Doris & Gray have dissolved their circus partnership. It is said that the enterprise was not a paying one. Newark (OH) Daily Advocate, July 21, 1888.

      Sullivan Has the Circus. Boston, Mass., July 23. - The Doris-Sullivan circus combination has been broken up, and John L. will not compete with Barnum and Forepaugh under his own name. Says the champion: "I like the business and shall stick to it. Doris and I part friends, but I intend to push the business. I propose making the circus a two ring one before many weeks are over, and will in time, I hope, get up to the level of any show in the business. I am down to work now, and when I have settled some of the would-be champions I will turn my full attention to the circus, which will be my whole aim hereafter. Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, WI), July 23, 1888.

Downie Dog & Pony show - 1910

      Roster of car No. 1 of the Andrew Downie Dog and Pony Show: F. E. Davis, general agent; W. L. Davis, contracting agent; C. T. Klugherz, special agent; R. C. Hagerman, lithographer; French Pierrault, boss billposter; F. C. Carpenter, Arthur Baum, Tommy Ross, Harry Rose, Tom Flynn, Max McDonal, Harry Klein, Ed. Green, Jack McCormick, billposters; Frenchy Robbellio, paste maker. Billboard, October 22, 1910.

Duchack’s - 1889

      Duchack’s New London Circus opens its season at Kansas City, Mo., April 29. The outfit consists of four cars, 100 ft. round top tent, with three 30 ft. middle pieces, eight head of ring stock and fifty people. S. J. Ducheck is proprietor and managers, . . . and M. E. Ashton general agent with ten assistants. The show will make one days stands after leaving Kansas. New York Clipper, April 27, 1889.

      L. J. Duchack's New London Old Time one-Ring Circus will exhibit in Humeston, May 28 . . . This is their 6th year on the road . . . New Era (Humeston, IA), May 22, 1889.

      Duchack's circus . . . admission 10 and 20 cents. Davenport (IA) Morning Tribune, June 20, 1889.

Silas Dutton's - 1880

      The Silas Dutton Southern Circus, under the management of George W. De Haven, is now on a tour through the Southern States, playing in New Orleans this week; thence into Texas for the Summer circuit. They travel by wagon . . . P. H. Seamon is the clown, C. H. Lowry the hurdle rider is also with them. . . . New York Clipper, March 6, 1880.

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