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      The latest engagements with the Walter L. Main Circus for 1888 are: Giles Pullman, general agent; Dwight Clapp, contracting agent; Ernest Houghton, boss hostler; Curley Platner, boss canvasman; W. H. Snekley, boss property man; Billie Wiley, head cook; Williard A. DAmon, treasurer; Signor Down, knowckabout clown; W. Reanik, grotesque clown; Wm. Lucifer, controtionist. The show will open about April 28, and will go East again. Much of the stuff will be new. New York Clipper, February 18, 1888, p. 784.

Main & Sargeant - 1891

      Following is the roster of Wm. Main & Co.’s Shows: Main & Sargeant, sole proprietors; C. W. Kidder, general advance agent; Dick New?on, excursion agent; Geo. Rowe, chief lithographer; Geo. Stevens, master of canvas; Ernest Holten, boss hostler; Prof. Sackith, leader of band, and Andy Spear, equestrian director. Performers: Mr. and Mrs. Andy Spear, Andy Burtch, Albert Meredith, Marguerite Meredith, Clarence Burton, Louis Burton, Charles Burton, James Fitzgerald, James King, Mlle. Lalo, Mons. La Gerald, James Carroll, Tony Bebines, Sig. Florenzi, Charles Valanti, Geo. Genover, F. R. Lardoia, Wm. Mains and his educated dogs, horses, ponies and mules, J. Fay, Fanny Fay, Laura La Rose and Fitzgerald and King. The show opened at Parkersburg, W. Va. . . . New York Clipper, June 13, 1891.

Mardell & Co.'s Railroad Shows - 1889

      Following is the roster of Mardell & Co.’s Railroad Shows: Mardell & Co., proprietors and managers; Thos. Wieman, treasurer; . . . D. L. Nichols, equestrian director; . . . Dan Rice, . . . Mons. Beck, L. Miller, Sig. Garner, Arthur and Bessie Kherns, Bell Eatman, Anna Shafer, Etta Ford, Prof. Geiss’ Military Band, Frank Melville, propertyman, with four assistants; Wm. Smith, boss canvasman with fifteen assistants. The show was organized at Natchez, Miss. March 19, and report good business. They carry a 100 ft. top with a 40 ft. middle piece, and an 80 ft. top with two 30 ft. middle pieces, the latter for museum and menagerie. New York Clipper, April 27, 1889.

Markowit - 1889, 1891

      White & Markowit’s United Railroad Shows opens its season May 2 at Pittsburg, Pa. The roster: Tony White (manager), Dave Markowits (treasurer), C. W. Park (general agent), G. E. Austin, Rixford Bros, Falke and Semons, Mille Ollive(?), Wright and Burns, Stinson and Lynch, Olive Stirk Oate(?) (late of the Stirk Family), Ed. Moran, the Lavennes, Paul Markwood, . . . Richard Miller, F. Fallen and others. The troupe will travel by rail and carry a 100 ft. round top tent with 50 ft. middle piece. New York Clipper, April 27, 1889.

      The Big Show is Coming. Will Exhibit at the Circus Ground, Aug. 26, 27 and 28. David L. Markowit’s Big 10 cent Show, Larger, Greater, Grander Than Ever. 60 European Artists, 6 Funny Clowns. Seating Capacity for 6,000 People. A 50 cent Show for 10 cents! Sandusky (OH) Daily Register, August 28, 1889.

      Carl Cuqua, leader of the band with Markowits’ Circus, denies the report that the circus went to pieces at Mandfield, O. Mr. Cuqua writes: “Everyone connected with the show left on good terms with the manager, except one aerial performer, who was fined $25 for missing two matinees. Mr. Markowits was presented with a handsome gold medal by the attaches, Sept. 7 at Lima, O. He will have on the road next season a two ring circus, and has already signed with some of the same people.” New York Clipper, September 28, 1889.

      The Dave Markowitz Circus opened season last Friday in Allegheny City, Pa., . . . Prominent successes were made by Hughes and Fannon, the McGinleys, Zella, Nick Hughes, Emmerson and Acton, Marlow Sisters, the Washington Brothers and Cardonia. New York Dramatic News, June 6, 1891.

Martell & Co. - 1884

      Martell & Co.’s Consolidated Two-ring Circus and Menagerie. Officers - Martell & Co., proprietors; Jas. T. Johnson, manager; Sam Lent, first advance agent, with 8 men; M. B. Lewis, second advance agent, with 6 men; Jack Wells, master of canvas; Menton World, train master. Company - The Martells, four in number, bicyclists; the Johnson Family of five, riders and gymnasts, with trick horses and ponies; three Martinetti Bros., clowns and pantomimists; Pete Conklin, clown; the two Harrisons, men-serpents; Ed. Sylvester and son, Alf. Ruy, iron-jaw; Reynolds, fish-scale man; Terey Family, roller-skaters; Miss Levis, ascensionist. New York Clipper, May 3, 1884.

McDonald's - 1900

     Walter J. McDonald's Shows. Opening date April 21, 1900. People recently engaged: May Orrin and J. L. Davenport, riders; Signor Cereno and Family, Leo Blondin, William De Vario, Frankie Barry and her troupe of twelve poodles, Stall and Carlysle, the Johnson Trio, and Prof. Robert Kirkpatrick's concert band of fourteen pieces. New York Clipper, March 17, 1900.

McMahon's - 1891

      Following is the full roster of McMahon’s International Hippodrome, Circus and Menagerie: John S. McMahon, proprietor; Joseph B. McMahon, manager; John Prendergast, treasurer; George Costello, general agent; Frank R. Clifton, press agent; T. J. Brown, contracting agent; C. H. Hawbaker, manager advertising car; George Finkham, boss bill poster with fourteen assistants; Mike Cohen, calcium lights and stereopticon; Professor John Talbot, caliope player; John S. McMahon, four horse rider; Toto Siegrist, bareback and principal somersault rider; James Kincade, bareback trick rider; Bam Bennett hurdle rider; William O’Dell, scene rider . . . New York Dramatic News, March 28, 1891.

      Nothwithstanding the disagreeable weather experience by McMahon’s Circus since their opening in Oregon and Washington, business is reported to be entirely satisfactory . . . New York Clipper, May 16, 1891.

      McMahon's New Rail Road Shows. Circus, Wild Animal Exposition and Grand Anthropological Museum. Jo-Jo Europe's Greatest Wonder, the autocrat of the curiosity world, engaged at a salary of $1,00 per week. Queen Jumbo and Romeo, the ??? moving mountains. The Standard (Ogden, UT), September 13, 1891. Ad.

      The Coming Show. The Cincinnati (O.) Enquirer says: McMahon's Circus . . . The keen-eyed emissary of the Czar who accompanies Jo-Jo, on being questioned as to Jo-Jo's salary, says he receives $1,000 per week. Not the least attractive feature of the great show is the monster pachyderm, Queen Jumbo, the largest elephant in the world. The performance of Jumbo and mate Romeo . . . Evening Gazette (Reno, NV), September 20, 1891.

      The Circus. The Chicago Times says that "McMahon's show . . . Having traveled all over the world and being familiar with everything in the arenic line, . . . While in Russia with his circus troupe on hearing that Barnum had secured the largest elephant in the world for exhibition from the zoological gardens, London, Mc said he knew of a larger animal and on his return brought Romeo and mate, the two largest and heaviest animals ever seen, and now with Jo-Jo, all Europe's greatest wonder, the autocrat of the curiosity world, a trio never equaled as attractions. . . ." [McMahon's Circus at Reno, Sept. 26th.] Evening Gazette (Reno, NV), September 24, 1891.

Miller & Freeman - 1888

      . . . Miller & Freeman Circus and Menagerie . . . Mr. James Murray is the most brilliant in the ring . . . The perilous parachute decent of Professor Ned Hathaway was witnessed by thousands . . . Daily Advocate (Newark, OH), April 5, 1888.

      Miller & Freeman's circus shows today in this city. The train did not arrive in the city until 10:30, making it too late for the procession to take place. . . . Admission 25 cents. Prof. Colby leaped from a balloon at a distance of about 1,000 feet this afternoon. Daily Advocate (Newark, OH), May 3, 1888.

      A Land Slide Causes a Circus Train to Be Wrecked Near Steubenville. Steubenville, O., May 7. - A land slide on the Cleveland & Pittsburg railroad near this place was run into Sunday by Miller & Freeman's circus train. The accident happened in a deep cut known as the "Backbone," where a watchman is stationed every day except Sunday. The engine and five cars left the track. The cars are so badly wrecked as to be utterly worthless. . . . Elmer Ellsworth, of Cincinnati, the colored cook attached to the circus, was instantly killed. None of the sleeping cars containing the performers, or the stock cars loaded with horses, left the track. The cars that were wrecked contained the canvas wagons and baggage trucks, and the circus will lose over $3,000. They were on their way from Zanesville, O., to Newcastle, Pa. . . . Daily Advocate (Newark, OH), May 7, 1888.

      Miller & Freeman's circus is having a great deal of hard luck this year. The press dispatches report of another wrecking of their train, this time between Springfield and Rockville on the New England road. Several employees were severely injured but none fatally. Weekly Tribune (Harnellsville, NY), June 8, 1888.

      While Miller & Freeman’s train was making the run, June 3, from Springfield, Mass. to Willimantic, Ct., on the Springfield division of the New England Railroad, the low truck of one of the cars struck a switch frog at East Long Meadow and threw the canvas car and one other down an embankment and badly injured the following: Jacob Meyers, James A. Jackson, Chas. Cryne, Richard Orman, Jasckson Morse, John Meagin, Harry Kiernan and Edward Locksley. The injured men were carried to the hospital. James A. Jackson was hurt the worst, the canvas wagon rolling upon him. New York Clipper, June 9, 1888.

      Miller-Freeman circus . . . Prof. Charles Colby, the second aeronaut, while performing the parachute jump from the balloon at Marlboro on Thursday, fell upon the roof of a house, broke his leg and will be disabled about four weeks. Fitchburg (MA) Sentinel, June 22, 1888.

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      Victory Arena, or Nichols' Extensive Circus. The entertainments will commence with a superb cavalcade and allegorical representations of the four quarters of the globe, America, Europe, Asia and Africa, showing a succession of intricate manoevers; with eight beautiful and highly trained horses, and actually performing the difficult mazes of the Waltz and Star Dance, with various other difficult feats. Mr. S. Miller, the celebrated equilibrist. Miss C. Devine & Master W. Nichols, mounted on the unparallelled twin ponies, Kanko and Osceola, go through their celebrated Allemand. Positionist and Pro??? artists, transformations and contortions. Mr. Nichols will introduce his niece, Miss Elizabeth Devine, who will ride a single horse, and represent many beautiful, daring, and classical attitudes never before attempted by one of her age, being only 12 years old. Clown to the whole performance Mr. G. Knapp. Master Aymar, as young Nimrod, on his beautiful horse, Mazeppa, will introduce a variety of feats. Mr. Howes will introduce the Learned Water Poodle Dog Monk. Master W. Nichols will perform many astonishing feats, riding on his head &c. and will go through the scene of his Flat Head Warrior, or armed Horseman of the Missouri, and portray the manners and customs of the Aborigines. Comic songs and other performances. Star and Republican (Gettysburg, PA), August 14, 1838.

Nixon & Kemp

      The veteran, but keenly observant and reminiscent, Mons. La Thorne writes as follows to the Clipper from his retirement in this city:
      Reading in your obituary columns two weeks ago of the death of William H. Kemp, the old time clown, I observed several discrepancies; and, as the Clipper is usually accurate on all subjects, I will try and set it right on this. Mr. Kemp came to this country in the Winter of 1846 and opened at the Bowery Amphitheatre, this city, under the management of John Tryon. The clowns there at the time were Sig. Felix Curlo and Sam Thrift. John Gossin was not a member of the company. Mr. Kemp’s performance consisted in walking a barrel, and carrying another one in his hands. He afterwards had a globe made, and used to carry Master Geo. Nixon on his shoulders up and down an incline run. When the circus closed, in the Spring, he went to work at his trade (gold beater). In the following Fall he was again at the Amphitheatre. This time he produced an old English pantomime, which was very successful. He next started with Mr. Nixon in the traveling circus of Nixon & Kemp. This flourished for some years. Then he settled down, and disappeared entirely from the show business. He launched out extensively in the gold beating business, and, as his material was considered the best in the market, he rapidly accumulated a fortune. He was not a good talking clown, as his cockney dialect did not suit the boys. He was a trick and pantomime clown. Mme. Mccarty was not the wife of Mr. Kemp, nor any relation to him. She came to this country a year before he did, and opened at Seth B. Howes’ Circus, then performing at Palmo’s Opera House. She was the first lady equestrienne in the country to jump over banners, through balloons, etc. "White Tents," New York Clipper, May 9, 1891.

      According to his marriage record, William H. Kemp was born in England, the son of Thomas Kemp and Maria Eganton. He married Martha M. Stanley Tye on October 3, 1866 in Manhattan, New York. In the censuses from 1850 to 1880, William’s wife was listed as Martha or Martha M. Martha was born in England. Her parents were John H. Stanley and Martha Brooks. From: Extracted marriage record, FHL, Batch No.: M005678.

Norris & Rowe - 1910

      The only premature closing was that of the Norris & Rowe Show which was taken over by the creditors at Newport, Kentucky, on May 9, and transferred to the Hagenbeck-Wallace winterquarters at Peru, Indiana, where the show was sold at auction to satisfy the claims against it. A peculiar incident of the sale was the purchase of a larger part of the outfit by one of its former proprietors, Walter Shannon, who was backed up by H. E. Brotherton, of Ashtabula, O. At the end of the time allotted by the court for the purchase money to be paid over, Mr. Shannon acknowledged his inability to raise the necessary funds, thereby forfeiting the $3,000 guarantee which he had put up as a deposit.
      At the second sale, Mr. Shannon again appeared as a bidder, and was announced as the purchaser of the outfit for the sum of $15,000 plus the $3,000 guarantee which he had deposited. But the court ruled against this sale and Messrs. Shannon and Brotherton were in a good way to lose a large part of the $18,000. But the subsequent and final sale of the property brought a sufficient sum to pay off the debts incurred in quartering the show during the time it has been held in abeyance to the actions of the purchaser and the decisions of the court, and to satisfy the chief creditors. As the case stands, Messrs. Shannon and Brotherton are reputed to have lost in the neighborhood of $6,000(?) on the transaction. "The World of White Tops," Billboard, Xmas Number, 1910.

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