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    Roster and notes from the Great American Railroad Shows. Irvin & Son, proprietors and managers; Wm. Marshell(?), railroad contractor; Frank Krvin, superintendent of stock, with five assistants; Harry St. Clair, boss canvas man, with ten assistants; Phil Coupe, in charge of sideshow, with a large staff; Ed. Long(?), equestrian director, with troupe of trained dogs; Will Brandon, singing and talking clown; the Merdiths . . . The show will open in May at Indianapolis, Ind. Everything is on a hustle at headquarters. The wagons and cars are getting their finished touches. The roster is not yet complete, but will be made up of the best people. New York Clipper, March 3, 1894, p. 833.
    Notes from Irvin & Sons' Great American Railroad Shows. Everything is now complete, having just received the canvases, including a 100ft. top with two ??ft. middle pieces, a side show top 60 by 110 ft. and eight new tableau wagons. Our new cars consist of a sleeper, privilege, two stock and two flats. The performers: Brandan and Regina, . . . Robbins Bros., Jack and Lotta Wolf, F. S. Putnam and wife, Billy Brandon, Alford Nevada(?), Albert Howe, Ed. C. Long, Prof. S. E. Moore, musical director, with twelve pieces: C. T. Kromer, H. A. Ward, C. Thornton, . . . Chas. L. Stout, . . . W. Kinghorn, J. T. Laycox, Bud Carman and Geo. Rife. The side show will consist of Major Phil Coup, the veteran superintendent, with an efficient staff of assistants. Prof. Le Carlo's band of seven pieces and a large orchestrion will furnish music. Prof. M. R.(?) Silver will do magic and punch, . . . black art; Mme. De Coupe will handle the serpents, alligators and school of trained doves. The feature will be the canni??? man, having large food bags or pockets, reaching from the chin almost to the waist capable of ??ding food for three or four days' supply. Among the features will be a woolly man from the interior of Japan, cat faced and dog faced babies, horned woman and Indian maiden with her Indian musical instruments, performing conger or Indian devil, elephant, sea monster, sea horse, and a petrified child. Hank Wise Jr. master of canvas, with five assistants; B. W. Marshall, general advance and contracting agent; Henry W. Bothwell, in charge of car No. 1, with six assistants; Jasper Will???, in charge of skirmish brigade, with four assistants; F. M. Browne, lithographer and programmer, with two assistants; boss canvas man, Harry Sinclair; assistant, Chas. Grothe, with twenty men; Lawrence Marshall, chandelier man; Bill Browning, boss hostler, with ten assistants; John Kay???, master of transportation, with five assistants; W. C. Ripley, ticket agent and treasurer; John L. Henry, steward. . . New York Clipper, April 14, 1894, p. 85.
    Roster of Irvin & Son's Big Twenty-Five Cent Wagon Show. Irvin & Sons, proprietors; Frank Irvin, treasurer; E. C. Long, manager. We have sixteen wagons, and carry forty-six head of stock. Albert Howe, principal leaper; Joe Wolfe, principal bar performer; Geo. Cannon, talking clown; Arthur Howard, knockabout clown; The Three Beltens(?), in a brother and ladder act; the Put??ms, Frank and Lottie, sketch team; Professor Baroker's band of solo musicians is the feature of the show. We are playing to good business, and are billed for the Northwest. Dick Beemer, general contracting agent; John Rhodes, advertising agent; Chas. Hohn(?), in charge of paper, with six assistants; Fred Ball, lithographer and programmer. The show opened five weeks ago, and has been a winner. New York Clipper, June 23, 1894, p. 245. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

Irwin Bros. - 1889, 1891, 1894-1895

    1889: Fred Irwin, the young and energetic circus manager, has, for the coming season, put together an excellent company. Among those lately signed are Stirk and Zeno, late of Barnum’s Show, and the Three Herbert Bros. Equestrian Director Shedman has been at Buffalo, N.Y. for some time past, working on some new stock, and getting it ready for the opening. In the collection he will handle this season are five ponies, one donkey, eight monkeys, a gorilla, an ant eater and fourteen dogs. He will also take charge of the dressing room, which position he filled very satisfactorily last season with this show. “Red” Jenkins is at the east end quarters, with his staff, very busily engaged in painting, and getting everything ready for the opening May 2. Mac Feiley, boss hostler, is also hard at work on the decorations, etc. Ed. Cullen (advance representative), Frank Beck, Fritzy Paul, Billy Sherer and the twin “Chandys” are at the Buffalo Winter quarters, waiting for the white tents to be pitched. [1889 admission 10 and 20 cents] New York Clipper, May 4, 1889.
    Wanted, for Irwin Bros.' Circus, (leased) for long season, female riders (must have their own stock), acrobats, gymnasts, aerial artists, musicians, concert people. Those signing for winter season will have first privilege of following Summer season. John Winter, lessee and manager. Season 1887-8-9, business manager Irwin's Circus. Season 1888-9, business manager Irwin's Specialty Co. New York Clipper, October 5, 1889, p. 507.

    1891: Notes from the Irwin Bros. Circus. At Sing Sing, N. Y., May ?, about two o'clock A. M., fire was discovered in our stock car, which was ??? to the trucks. We had jsut finished loading when the fire was discovered, and on account of the doors not being closed, it made quick headway. Inside of six minutes it had destroyed the entire car with the contents. One end was used for our working people, and the other end for ponies and donkeys. Prof. John White lost two donkeys, one Shetland pony, and one broncho and his trained stallion. . . . Lew Sunlin lost his trick donkey, Peanuts, while Pickles was pretty well scorched before we got him out of the car. . . . The Irwin Bros. lost two shetland ponies, all the parade costumes which were bought from the Barnum & Bailey show this Spring. About $300 worth of costumes which were mad eduring the Wainter and had never been used, twenty band uniforms, which were bought from Fred Waldmann about two weeks ago, besides all the bedding and the car. Irwin Bros. loss will foot up to $4,000. William Scharer(?), who has charge of candy stand, lost his entire stock and personal wardrobe, which was stored in a trunk. Although the loss is heavy it did not cripple us any in giving our show. Only one act was left out afternoon of ?, and that was replaced at night with Prof. White's troupe of dogs. A great many of our working people lost their clothes, as they did not have time to put them on. Some of the papers had it that the show was totally destroyed, which is not the case. We are giving the whole show, just same as when we opened, and we will be all right in a day or two. Fred Irwin is now in New York, negotiating with parties for a big car. We have a train of eight cars, and our business has been big since our opening. Of course the fire put a crimp in our bank roll, but by night of ? we will be all O.K. Charles R. White is our only contracting agent, and Dave Gedd is advertising agent. John Winter, our general agent, is now back with the show, looking after things while Fred Irwin is away. New York Clipper, May 9, 1891, p. 150.

    1894: For sale, the entire show property of the Irwin Bros.' Circus, consisting of cars, tents, animals, cages, wagons, etc. Apply at once to C. L. Irwin, or Crandall & Co., East Buffalo, N. Y. New York Clipper, December 8, 1894, p. 645.

    1895: Irwin Show notes. Irwin Brothers' Circus is now in its third week at Fifty-sixth Street and Eighth Avenue, this city [New York], and is packing the tents nightly. Rheinhold ???, the theatrical caterer and sharpshooter, is now proprietor of the show, and Fred Irwin is at his usual post as the manager. John White, the all around animal trainer, is equestrian director, and Ike Rose, general man of the show, also controls the privileges. The performers in the circus are: Farnum and Welcome, pyramids; Zola Sisters, aerialists; . . . Sexton(?) Bros., Grecian and Roman athletics; Mlle. Winnie, contortionist; Fred. Welcome, head balancing; Judge Family, acrobats; John White and his trained horses, mules, dogs, monkeys and goats; and the funny Irish clowns, John Connelly and Edward Evans, popularly known as Young Dan Rice. The following appear in one of the strongest concerts ever given with a circus: McBride and ???, Madden and Conley, Burns, . . . Florence Devere and Hogan, and Eddie Evans. A professional matinee is extended to the circus and theatrical performers at present in or around this city. All are invited to attend on Aug. 16, at the circus lot, Fifty-sixth Street and Eighth Avenue. New York Clipper, August 17, 1895, p. 371. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

Irwin Bros. Wild West - 1911, circa 1914

    Pete Culbertson, Culbertson's Irwin Bros. Wild West. Culbertson said to have traded one half of this show to Wade Coulter in 1911. "Circus World Museum Presents the Papers of William P. Hall," Bandwagon, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Mar-Apr), 1974, p. 21. H. S. Rowe was on Irwin's Wild West show after 1913. "Norris & Rowe Circus," Chang Reynolds, Bandwagon, Vol. 16, No. 2 (Mar-Apr), 1972, p. 13. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

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    Opened their tenting season April 26 at Lafayette, Indiana. Billboard, May 1, 1900, p. 6. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

Johnson, Simpson & Co. - 1885

    Johnson, Simpson & Co.’s Circus and Museum will open at Glen Elder, Kas., with an entirely new outfit July 25. T. B. Sadler will be in charge of the advance brigades, assisted by Wash. Blodgett. The new company will be managed by Jas. T. Johnson, with Frank Brown as treasurer and Chas. Simpson as equestrian director. The people will include Mlle. Editha, equestrienne; La Petite Ella, Johnson Sisters, Prof. Coutts and wife, Montague Sisters, Alt. Doran, Madame De Vere, Annie Carroll and Eddie Snow, Charley Lamont, Herr Drayton, and Cavana and Mason. The sideshow will be managed by Prof. De Vere, and the music will be furnished by Prof. Hardee’s Des Moines reed and cornet band. New York Clipper, August 1, 1885. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

Jones Bros. Wild West - 1910

    Jones Bros.' Wild West showed to big business at Portchester, N. Y., Saturday, July 16. Frank A. Robbins Jr. spent the day with this show 16. H. F. Hall, who was advance with the I. X. L. Show, in South America, last Winter, has the picture machine and downtown show with Jones Bros.' Wild West Show. The show will make some big jumps when it goes West. [Is this Jones Bros. Buffalo Ranch Wild West?] New York Clipper, July 23, 1910, p. 582. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

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    Opened at Bloomington, Illinois, April 25, 26, 27, then, in Illinois, to El Paso, April 28; Minonk, April 30. Illinois: Rutland, May 1; Toluca, May 2; Streator, May 3, 5, 5. Billboard, May 1, 1900, p. 6. Information should be checked with additional sources, especially routes. Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

King & Franklin's Circus - 1891

    People thus far engaged for King & Franklin's Circus: John Hamilton, manager; Prof. Andy Showers, Hughs and Kramer, La Van and Lamar, the Aldens, the LaRue Bros., Al. Millette, Harry Harrison, Herbert Freed, Chas. Orville, Louis De Bonaire [sic], Harry Leon, . . . Emma Maynard, Sadie Norwood, Mollie Kagen(?), Mr. and Mrs. Mack, . . . Clarence Boyd, Charlie Mack, Willie Fox and Carl Clair's band and orchestra. New York Clipper, February 21, 1891, p. 795. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

Kuhn Circus - 1936

    Owner Eddie Kuhn's truck show opened at Argentine, Kansas and folded on July 7, in South Dakota. Dud Lawrence, agent; Slim Brown, Bobby Brown, billing; Bill Snyder, equestrian director; Dutch LaBlair, concessions; Jerry Kerns, bannerman, legal adjuster. Performers were Jack Moore, Clara Moore (Moore Duo), tight wire; Freda La Velda, contortion, trapeze; Ted La Velda, contortion, balancing; Tommy Hayden, clown; Jack Rogers, clown. Doc Ford, sideshow performer; Borghild Ford, aerial, sideshow performer; Russell Hall, animal acts. Tiger Bill's family had the concert with trick roping, whips. Circus Report, December 11, 1972, pp. 5, 6. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

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    1894: Notes from La Pearl's Winter Circus. The show continues to do business to crowded houses nightly, notwithstanding the cry of hard times, and blacksmiths, woodworkers and painters are busy building ten new wagons for the coming season. The show will open at Danville, Ill., on or about April 20(?), when everything will be new and sparkling and much larger than ever befroe. We have just received a round top with two middle pieces, one 50ft. dressing room, one 40ft. horse tent, one 40ft. cook tent. All our lithograph paper will be special. Up to date the roster of show is: J. H. La Pearl, sole owner and manager; W. H. Quinette, general contractor and advance representative; J. M. McNeil, boss bill poster in charge of paper, with four assistants; Prof. Rob. H. Clair, musical conductor, with the following musicians: G. H. Guilinger, H. Loomis, R. W. Poland, J. J. Poland, Al. Kadel, Walter Kadel, S. F. Warde, C. J. Summers, C. G. Gibler, J. S. Gibler, Elmer Migrant, Jos. Mahaney, W. J. Howe, W. E. Conkling, H. E?khardt, F. O'Hara, J. W. Lind, H. J. Freeman, Frank Brockwar and Harry Starr. The band will be strongly featured, as Prof. Clair is capable of doing some fine work with that number of men. Performers: Roy and Will Lamont, Bert and Ollie Lamont, H. LaSage, . . . Alf. Darian(?), Billy Pearl, Miss Cannon, Al. Newton, Will Conkling, Larine and Zaro, Morgan Bros., Harry Roy and ??? La Pearl. Col. John Fox, boss chandelier man; Kid Smith boss seat man, with four assistants; Chas. Coope, master of transportation, with five assistants; Elephant Shorty, master of properties, with four assistants; Side Pole Bill, in charge of ponies; Bill Ganley, boss hostler; Jas. ?eddings, chief steward, with two assistants. We travel in our own cars, elegantly equipped. Most of the people are at Winter quarters, all well and practicing some new acts. Little Harry and Roy La Pearl's aerial act will be one of the strongest features of the show. New York Clipper, April 14, 1894, p. 85.

    1895: C. S. Primrose, general agent of La Pearl's Circus, has signed for next season, making his second season with that show. New York Clipper, November 2, 1895, p. 549. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

Chas. Lee's - 1887-1888

    Chas. Lee’s London Show exhibited in Knoxville, Tenn., March 17, in a snowstorm - the first time in Mr. Lee’s twenty-two years’ experience that he ever showed under similar circumstances. New York Clipper, March 26, 1887.

      Chas. Lee’s Great London Show, Congress of Educated Animals, Consolidated with the great French De Alma Family. Uniform Band, Superb Orchestra. The great and only “McCormick” and his Corps of Lady Drillists, and a Grand Street Parade of Educated Donkeys, Goats, Hogs, Dogs, drawing beautiful golden Chariots. Lock Haven, Pa., Dec. 20 and 21, Altoona, Pa., Dec. 22. Lee & De Alma, care of Mountain City Opera House, Altoona, Pa. New York Clipper, December 15, 1888. Ad. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

Lee & Scribner - 1884

    Lee & Scribner’s New York Pavilion Show. Officers - Proprietors, Sam A. Scribner and Chas. Lee; treasurer, Harry Robinson; agent, Billy Munson, with four assistants; manager of sideshow, Hal Reynolds; leader of orchestra, Wm. Leffingwell; leader of band, A. C. Wallace. Clowns - Charley Lee and Billy Burton. Company - Corvella and Courtney, trapeze and brother act; Leopold and Benson, horizontal bar; Watson Bros., contortionists and posturing; Walter Tarrell, iron jaw; Bobby Munroe and Billy Ellis, son-and-dance; Maggie Nichols, slack wire and character dancer; Nora Stone, balancing trapeze; Louise Garnet, song-and-dance. Sideshow performers are Zuleika Lutti, Circassian lady; Mattie Lee, fat woman; Lolo, aerial sleeper; Prof. Zela, sleight-of-hand, Punch-and-Judy, birds, snakes, monkeys, etc. Size of canvas 80 ft. round top; sideshow tent 40 x 60 ft.; ten canvasmen and 20 head of horses. Show travels by wagon. New York Clipper, May 3, 1884. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

Lemen Bros.' Shows - 1892, 1900

    1892: Prof. Walter Wilson, leader of orchestra; A. D. Ford, leader of band; and Ben Kahn, cornetist, all of ??? Theatre, Memphis, Tenn., have signed with Lemen Bros., for the tenting season. New York Clipper, April 2, 1892, p. 50.

    1900: Gave two performances at St. John's, P. Q., Thursday, June 21. . . . While approaching the show grounds, one could see on the sidings the long line of railway cars, all painted with the brightest of colors. . . . Entering the long tent, and once past the privilege man, one came face to face with the finest collection of animals and wagons ever seen under a tent. The menagerie was simply great, and the wagons showed resplendent in silver and gold. The big show opened with a grand entry . . . Among the features deserving special mention was the only Edna Cooke, bareback somersault rider, who accomplished nothing but the most difficult feats known to the profession, with ease, finish and originality. . . . Then came the Miller family, bicyclists and aerialists, . . . and George Kline, the original bareback mule rider, who kept the audience in an uproar. P. Bouchard. St. Johns, P. Q., June 24. Billboard, June 30, 1900, p. 5.
    Ottawa, Can., Aug 9 - Lemon Bros., whose circus is now touring Canada, have been fined $1,200 by the Customs Department for bringing a quantity of printed matter into Canada without paying duty. Billboard, August 25, 1900. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

Fred Locke Show - 1893

    "Doc" Filley has signed with the Fred Locke Show as equestrian director. A. M. Wilcox has also been engaged. New York Clipper, March 25, 1893, p. 34. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

Lion Bros. Circus - 1925

    Lion Bros. was a small show that toured Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico and Colorado in 1925, traveling on Model T Ford trucks. Harry Bray owned and operated the show, and did most of the program. Jesse King had an eight ponny drill and menage horse. Music was provided by a Victrola. The show wintered at Las Cruces, New Mexico, previously at Maple Hill, Kansas. Circus Report, January 15, 1973, p. 5. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

Lowande - 1889

    A Circus in Hard Luck. After a Prosperous Week at Trenton, the Dime Show Has Trouble. Lowande's ten-cent circus that exhibited last week over in the borough, has had a run of bad luck up in New Brunswick, where it is now exhibiting. First came a strike by the band, on Monday afternoon. A skirmish was made to secure other musicians, but no men were available, so there was no show in the afternoon. In the evening the Union Cornet Band played. There was a large crowd present, and during the show the reserved seats gave away and a number of people were more or less hurt and frightened. In raising the tent in the morning the centre pole broke and one of the canvasmen was injured. . . . The manager thinks there is a Jonah among the canvas men, and as soon as he is discovered, he will be "fired." Trenton (NJ) Times, July 24, 1889.

      The tour of the Lowande Brazilian Circus and English Royal Menagerie is under the management of J. S. Hoffman, whose experience in the direction of the largest twenty-five cent circus will doubtless be found of much value in the new venture to be put on this coming Winter season for the Southern States, Mexico and Cuba. Nearly all the tour has already been prospected. The pictorial features will be gorgeous, and the company novel and complete, we are assured. Business has been big throughout New Jersey, and everybody is happy. Martinho Lowande is back again with the show after sojourning at Long Branch, N.J. for several days, and will get to work and proceed for a divorce from his wife, Rosina Lowande. Then he will be in his glory again. Earle and Ward are no longer with the show, and the same may be said of Troy Bosco and Valintin G. Gaylor. Bender has renewed his contract for the balance of the season. A. De Tase(?), treasurer, is somewhat troubled with inflammation of the stomach. One thing that gives necessarily a certain sameness to circus music has been much improved by our new leader, Max Schneider, and one and all say it’s the best circus music ever heard. Mr. Lowande can feel proud of his new band. George Roop and wife are with them, and will stay until the close of the season. Martinho Lowande has bought four new horses for his six horse act. J. Henry Rice, who is hard at work with his advance people, is one of the most energetic advance agents, and has done some excellent work this season with Lowande’s Circus. The show will not come to New York, as was intended, not being able to make satisfactory arrangements. New York Clipper, August 3, 1889. Information should be checked with additional sources Do you have more information on this show? Email your documented information for the show or persons.

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