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      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. New York Clipper, May 4, 1889. [1889 admission 10 and 20 cents]

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      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.

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      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.

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.

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.

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