Who's Who in the American Circus
Sturtevant's List of Circuses 1895 - 1899

Published in the Circus Fans Association of America's periodical White Tops in the 1960s, Charles Gates Sturtevant compiled this list of circus performances in early times in America, and of the later organized travelling circuses for each year down to 1952. He compiled this valuable resource from the records of newspapers, theatrical and sporting journals, programs, bills, posters, route books and other sources. There will be typographical and other errors in this information. Additional sources should be used to confirm the information. Optical Character recognition (OCR) was used for this online edition. Sources and Abbreviations Sturtevant uses.

Information should be confirmed with additional sources.

1895	Barnum & Bailey (N Y Clipper F 9, Apr 6 1895)
1895	Ringling Bros (Clipper Apr 13 1895)
1895	John Robinson
1895	Sells Bros
1895	Great Wallace Circus (to California)
1895	Walter L Main (21 & 3 cars)
1895	L W Washburn (Clipper Jun 24 1895)
1895	Lemen Bros
1895	L H LaPearl
1895	W H Harris Nickle Plate
1895	New Great Syndicated Shows (Willie Sells & Rentfrow)
1895	Sands & Astley (C McMahon pro)
1895	Sig Sautelle & Chas Ewers (Clipper Mch 30 1895)
1895	Scribner & Smith (Clipper Apr 13 1895)
1895	Gollmar Bros (wagons) (Clipper May 18 1895)
1895	John H Sparks
1895	Chas Lees' London (Clipper Apr 20 1895)
1895	Bob Hunting (Clipper Apr 6 1895)
1895	Welsh Bros (Clipper May 4 1895)
1895	American Railroad Shows
1895	W B Reynolds
1895	W C Clark
1895	Thos L Davis
1895	Chas Hall
1895	W F Kirkhart
1895	Hall & Showers (Clipper May 18 1895)
1895	Morrison & Ragland
1895	Clark Bros
1895	Wood Bros.
1895	Baker & Earnhart
1895	Stadel Bros
1895	Irwin Bros & Lewis
1895	Livingston Bros (SA & WC)
1895	Geo W Hall
1895	Renos' Oriental
1895	Belford & Howard
1895	Nelson's Hippodrome
1895	Sam Dock
1895	Sig Harris
1895	Campbell Bros
1895	Prof H B Gentry (California)
1895	Prof R C Marque
1895	Ballenger Family
1895	F E Davis Queen & Crescent
1895	G W Richards
1895	E E Rices' Coney Island Circus (Clipper Jun 8 1895)
1895	Melvin, Royal & Jacobs
1895	Miller Bros & Erwin
1895	A L Salvail
1895	John W Robinson
1895	Hurlburt & Cahoon
1895	Geo Burtsch
1895	M L Clark
1895	J W Cook
1895	Cook & Baker (Clipper Jun 8 1895)
1895	Sun Bros (Clipper Mch 30, Apr 10 '95)
1895	Pearson & Hoffman
1895	Ben Potter
1895	Chas Bartine
1895	Billie Barlow
1895	Burton's Show
1895	Billy Nelson
1895	Bonheur Bros
1895	Curtis & Oqawa
1895	Geo S Cole (Clipper Mch 30 1895)
1895	Dieffenbachs
1895	Rigall & Butler
1895	Leftwich & Perry
1895	H B Tucker
1895	L L Riggs
1895	Dan St Julians' Royal
1895	Rices' Circus Carnival
1895	Great American Show (J M Barry pr) (Clipper July 6 1895)
1895	E G Fladeland
1895	Capt. W D Ament
1895	Andersons Circus
1895	Wintermute Circus
1895	Sheas' Circus
1895	Refner Bros
1895	Gillette Family
1895	Norris Bros's Dog & Pony Show (H S Rowe mgr)
1895	E L Kinneman
1895	W E Burk's N Y Circus (Clipper May 18 1895)
1895	Coffree, Burtine & Purvis
1895	Frank Hall
1895	Bartelmess & Kings Female Circus
1895	Nelson Bros
1895	A F Tuttle
1895	Bentley's Country Circus (Clipper Aug 10 1895)
1895	W H Smith
1895	Howes & Cushing
1895	Prescotts' Show
1895	D W Perrine
1895	Bayenton & Cummins
1895	J G O'Briens Great Esposition (Clipper Apr 20 1895)
1895	Mayos' Circus
1895	Reid & Irving
1895	J W Goodrich & Kimm
1895	Cooper & Co
1895	Mohawk Valley Circus (Clipper Apr 13, 1895)
1895	E Haags' European Pavillion
1895	Gorman & Shaeffer
1895	Deuls' Dog & Pony Show
1895	Cecil A True
1895	James Irwin
1895	Fred Locke
1895	Harmston's Circus (Java) (Clipper Jun 8 1895)
1895	Orrin Bros (Mexico)
1895	Jas Donovan (Cuba)
1895	Pubillones do
1895	Tony Lowande No. I & No. 2 Cuba
1895	John Nelson (S America)
1895	Frank A Gardner (do)
1895	Sheddman Bros (Jamaica)
1895	Buffalo Bill Wild West
1895	Pawnee Bills' Wild West
1895	Ed Shipps' Indoor Circus
1896	Barnum & Bailey (Clipper Apr 11 1896)
1896	Ringling Bros (47 cars)
1896	Forepaugh-Sells (To California)
1896	John Robinson - Franklin Bros
1896	B E Wallace (Clipper Apr 11 1896)
1896	Walter L Main (Clipper Mch 28 1896)
1896	Lemen Bros
1896	L W Washburn
1896	J M Rentfrows' Gt Syndicate
1896	W H Harris Nickle Plate
1896	Hall & McFlinn
1896	Sig Sautelle (Clipper Apr 11 1896)
1896	Sun Bros (Clipper Mch 28, May 30 1896)
1896	Welsh Bros
1896	Geo W Hall
1896	Billy Barlow Burton
1896	Baker & Earnhart
1896	Bond Bros
1896	J W Goodrich's New American
1896	Bob Hunting
1896	North American (M Welcome mgr)
1896	Sangers Circus
1896	Van Amburgh Show (F A Robbins Mgr)
1896	McDonald & Reichold (Clipper Apr 18 1896)
1896	J H Sparks
1896	Chas Bartine
1896	Great Olympic (A F Tuttle Pr)
1896	W C Clark
1896	Mons La Place
1896	J H La Pearl (Clipper Apr 4 1896)
1896	Gollmar Bros (Wagons) (Clipper May 30 1896)
1896	True & McVeigh (Clipper Apr 18 1896)
1896	Sutton & Jackson
1896	Dieffenbachs'
1896	Orton Bros
1896	Chas Lees' London (Clipper Apr 4 1896)
1896	Hecker & Warrick
1896	Dave W Perrine
1896	Great Eastern (Ed La Barre Mgr) (Clipper Apr 11 1896)
1896	Welsh, Sands & Co
1896	The European Circus
1896	Boynton's Great Western
1896	West Bros
1896	White & Stevens
1896	Prof J W Lees' United Shows
1896	A L Stranton
1896	Perry's Syndicated Shows
1896	Great American (J M Barry Mgr)
1896	McPhee (Andrew Downie) & Kiser
1896	Wood Bros
1896	Thorn, Besley & Thorn
1896	M L Clark
1896	Ellet Bros
1896	Lewis & Dunlap
1896	Rixford Bros
1896	Prescott & Co
1896	L B Lent & Co
1896	Andress & Showers
1896	Sam Dock
1896	Hergelroth's Circus
1896	McCormick Bros
1896	Rice's Circus Carnival
1896	Stowe Bros (Frank & Jas.)
1896	Bristol's Dog & Pony Show
1896	Norris' Dog & Pony Show
1896	Gentry Bros
1896	J E Yagers Imperial
1896	J F DeLand
1896	White's Circus
1896	Geo Burtsch (Clipper Apr 11 1896)
1896	G W Allen
1896	Kirkhart & Ryan
1896	Jas G Bentley & Cos' Old Fashioned
1896	McGowan & Busby
1896	Scribner & Smith
1896	Sparks & Allen
1896	Howes London
1896	Wood Bros (Ed Shipp Mgr)
1896	Ballenger Family
1896	J C Rose & Co
1896	Prof John Whites Show
1896	Stadell Bros
1896	Brandon Bros
1896	Hickman Bros
1896	Flynn's Great Western
1896	Haag's Circus
1896	Frank B Hubin
1896	W B Reynolds
1896	Meyatt & Morrison
1896	Henry Andrews
1896	Reno's Oriental
1896	Lewis & Charlotte
1896	De Macks' Circus
1896	Short & Quinlan
1896	Teets Bros
1896	Wintermute Bros
1896	Cooper & Co (R W Hennessey Mgr) (8 cars) (Clipper Feb 22 1896)
1896	Hamilton Bros (Clipper May 30 1896)
1896	Huston's Young America Show
1896	Frank W Withams
1896	Belfords Circus
1896	A B Collier
1896	Bonheur Bros
1896	Tony Hamilton
1896	Frank B Miller's Royal
1696	Oliver Bros
1896	Tine & Wright
1896	Wm Kincaid
1896	Mollie Bailey
1896	Great Columbian
1896	Capt W D Ament
1896	E G Fladeland
1896	Ferleman Bros
1896	E Maurices' Old Fashioned
1896	Bachelder & Rames
1896	Henry F Sanger
1896	D A Kennedy (Clipper Apr 18 1896)
1896	Buffalo Bill's Wild West
1896	Pawnee Bills' Wild West
1896	Ed Shipps Indoor
1896	Orrin Bros (Clipper Feb 15 1896)
1896	F A Gardner (S America) (Clipper Apr 11 1896)
1896	Jas Donovan do
1896	C H Farrons do
1896	Sig Quiros do
1896	Ceballos & Tatali do
1896	Circo Escoces (Mme Poison) (Cent America)
1896	Chiarini (do)
1896	Walker Bros (Canada)
1897	Barnum & Bailey (58-4 cars) (Clipper Apr 10 1897)
1897	Ringling Bros (53 cars) (Clipper Apr 17 1897)
1897	Forepaugh-Sells
1897	B E Wallace (Clipper Apr 24 1897)
1897	John Robinson & Franklin (Clipper May 8 1897)
1897	Walter L Main (To California) (Clipper Feb 20 1897)
1897	Leman Bros
1897	L W Washburn (32-3 cars) (Split to two shows) (Clipper F 13 1897)
1897	La Pearls' Circus (Clipper May 8 1897)
1897	[New York Circus, Frank A Robbins Prop - Robert Sabia]
1897	Bob Hunting
1897	Welsh Bros
1897	Sig Sautelle (Clipper Mch 27 1897)
1897	Hummel, Hamilton & Sells (Willie)
1897	Geo W Hall & McFlinn
1897	Gollmar Bros (Wagons) (Clipper May 29 1897)
1897	Sun Bros
1897	W H Harris Nickle Plate
1897	Campbell Bros
1897	Cooper & Co (J R W Hennessy Pr) (Clipper Mch 13 1897)
1897	John H Sparks
1897	Gentry Bros
1897	Sipe, Dolman & Blake
1897	T J Jeavons & Goldstein
1897	Ira C Wards' Great London
1897	J M Goodrich
1897	Rigall Bros
1897	Whitney & Robbins
1897	Price & James
1897	J C Yagers' Imperial
1897	Howes' London (J C O'Brien pr)
1897	McCormick Bros
1897	DeWolfs' New York Circus
1897	C F Prescott (broke up)
1897	Buckley's Equescurriculum
1897	Skerbeck Family
1897	Martin Rutter
1897	Huston's Young American
1897	Gilliam, Girard (or Gifford) & Culbertson.
1897	Meredith & Bilz
1897	Perry & Matthews
1897	DeLands Circus
1897	Great New York Show
1897	Great United Circus
1897	Rogers & Castello
1897	Rettigs' Roman Hippodrome
1897	James & Loss
1897	Metropolitan Circus
1897	E Haag's Circus
1897	Manion & Miller
1897	Duggan Bros
1897	Frank Adams
1897	IIer(?), Burke & DeWitt
1897	John M Keating
1897	Fisher, Guthrie & Walters
1897	Bonheur Bros
1897	Louis Parker
1897	W V M Wixon
1897	Cullen Bros
1897	Tuttle & Cos' Olympic
1897	Ballengers Circus
1897	M L Clark
1897	W C Clark
1897	Sam Dock
1897	Teets Bros
1897	Richold's Show
1897	Merlins' Circus
1897	Jas Sloan's Great Atlantic
1897	Dieffenbachs'
1897	Wintermute Bros.
1897	Bartholomews' Equines (California)
1897	Coffres Circus
1897	G W Belford
1897	Vernello Family
1897	Rich & Campbell
1897	Carroll Family
1897	Gissenger Bros & Holland
1897	The European Circus
1897	Stang Bros
1897	Bob Robinson
1897	Capt. W D Ament
1897	Joe McMahon
1897	Perines' Oriental
1897	Renos' Oriental
1897	Plamondon Bros
1897	Mons La Place
1897	A P Collier
1897	Chas E Rice
1897	Rippal & Boller
1897	Ashton & Ferleman Bros
1897	J M Barry's Great American
1897	Wood & W E Ewers
1897	George W Allen
1897	Marshall Bros
1897	Great Northern Show
1897	Buffalo Bills' Wild West (Clipper May 1 1897)
1897	Pawnee Bills' Wild West
1897	Colorado Charlie
1897	Orrin Bros (Mexico)
1897	Stirk & Donavan (S America)
1897	Frank A Gardner do
1897	Chiarini do
1897	John Nelson do
1897	Mme Poisson (Central America)
1897	Pubillones (Cuba)
1897	Martinho Lowande (Porto Rico)
1897	Tatali & Alverez do
1897	Doris' Winter Circus (Clipper Nov 27 1897)
1897	Ed Shipps Indoor Circus
1897	Geo Hartzells Indoor Circus
1898	Barnum & Bailey (in Gt Britain) (67 57 ft cars)
1898	Ringling Bros
1898	Forepaugh Sells
1898	B E Wallace (to California)
1898	John Robinson (Ringling Bros Lessees)
1898	Walter L Main
1898	Lemen Bros
1898	J H LaPearl
1898	L W Washburn
1898	Gollmar Bros (wagons) (Clipper May 28 1898)
1898	Frank A. Robbins (15 cars) (Gil Robinson interested) [Should read "Frank A Robbins Circus (10 cars) - folds in Hartford, CT May 18)" - Robert Sabia]
1898	Bob Hunting (bought by Welch Bros & made #1 show)
1898	Campbell Bros (Clipper Jun 4 1898)
1898	Sig Sautelle (Clipper Apr 23 1898)
1898	W H Harris "Nickle Plate"
1898	Sun Bros (Clipper Apr 30 1898)
1898	Welsh Bros (MH & JT) #1 (railroad) (Clipper Apr 30 1898)
1898	Welsh Bros #2 (Wagon)
1898	W C Clark (Clipper Apr 2 1898)
1898	John F Hummel
1898	Cooper & Co
1898	Orton Show
1898	J H Sparks
1898	Haags Circus
1898	Buchanan Bros
1898	Chas Bartine
1698	Tuttles Olympic
1898	Bonheur Bros
1898	Renos' Oriental
1898	Gibbs & McGregor
1898	Gilmore Clark & Co
1898	Potts & Cookston
1898	Cullen Bros
1898	Trout & Foster
1898	Marshall Bros
1898	Geo R Robbs
1898	Barlow Bros
1898	New Orleans Circus (F H Heath & T J Pooler)
1898	Skerbeck Family (Clipper May 28 1898)
1898	Will F Bollers Little Giant Circus
1898	Ed Rush & Pete Grothe
1898	Chas Lee
1898	Capt W H Stewart
1898	Chas Bentley
1898	Jeavons' Circus
1898	McFlinn & Hobson
1898	J Augustus Jones
1898	F DeLand
1898	Capt W D Ament
1898	Murphy & Hickey
1898	Hatch, Meredith & Tedron
1898	Leandor Bros
1898	St Julian Bros
1898	Stevens & Smith
1898	Gifford & Culbertson
1898	W W Moore
1898	The International Circus
1898	Wintermute Bros
1898	Sam Dock
1898	Holloway Bros
1898	James M Goodrich
1898	Norton & Jones
1898	Hill A G & Robinson Edw H
1898	Shott & La Place
1898	Teets Bros
1898	Harry Tulip
1898	Jones & Bilz
1898	E T Basye & Co
1898	Chas Bartine
1898	Baker & Earnhart
1898	Maginley Circus
1898	Ed Shipps Winter Circus
1898	J B Doris Winter Circus
1898	Orrin Bros (Mexico)
1898	Circo Trevino do
1898	Geo W Hall do (Clipper May 21 1898)
1898	Bert Willison (Hawaii & S Seas)
1898	Buffalo Bills' Wild West (Clipper Apr 9 1898)
1898	Pawnee Bills Wild West
1899	Barnum & Bailey Ltd (Capitalized in Gt Britain) (Clipper Apr 22 '99)
1899	Ringling Bros (Clipper May 20 1899)
1899	Forepaugh & Sells (Clipper Apr 29 1899) (First Opening in Madison -Square Garden) (NYC)
1899	B E Wallace (Clipper Apr 22 1899)
1899	John Robinson (Clipper May 27 1899)
1899	Walter L Main (Sold at Auction Jan 24 1900) (Clipper Ap 22, Jy 22 '99)
1899	Lemen Bros
1899	J H La Pearl (18 cars) Sold Sep 1 to B E Wallace (Clipper Jn 24 '99)
1899	Gollmar Bros (wagons) (Clipper Jun 10 1899)
1899	Campbell Bros (12 cars) (Clipper Jun 10 1899)
1899	Harris' "Nickle Plate"
1899	Sig Sautelle
1899	Welsh Bros
1899	Barlow Bros Ed P & C N
1899	Sam Dock
1899	Ernest Haag
1899	Sun Bros (Clipper Ag 26 1899)
1899	Cooper & Co
1899	John H Sparks
1899	R Z Orton
1899	Bonheur Bros
1899	Fred Buchanan
1899	Gentry Bros #1
1899	Gentry Bros #2
1899	Gentry Bros #3
1899	Gentry Bros #4
1899	Tuttles Olympic
1899	Cullen Bros
1899	Shott Bros (J D Wm, John H & Ed)
1899	Wintermute Bros
1899	Matt Ballenger Family
1899	Bob Peasley
1899	J W Hettler's Great International (Clipper Jun 10 1899)
1899	Renos Oriental
1899	E H Allbright
1899	Frank Adams
1899	Mitchell's Pavilion Circus
1899	Elton Bros' Gt Eastern
1899	Inter-Ocean Shows
1899	McCormick Bros
1899	C A Whitney
1899	Great American Circus
1899	Goodrich J W & M McLaughlin Jas.
1899	Gibbs Olympic
1899	Mollie Bailey
1899	Amazon Bros (M LaPlace mgr)
1899	W O Williams
1899	Dave W Perrin
1899	Trout & Foster
1899	Capt W H Stewart
1899	Oliver Scoff
1899	St Julian Bros
1899	Adells' Circus
1899	C O Taylor
1899	G W Belford
1899	Great Eastern (Jas H Gray & H C Wheeler)
1899	Wood Bros
1899	Perry & Matthews
1899	Martin LeRoy
1899	Skerbeck Family
1899	E G Russells Family Show
1899	Will Bollers' Little Giant Show
1899	Daytons Circus
1899	Astleys Circus
1899	Capt W D Ament
1899	Holloway Bros
1899	A H Reed
1899	G W Hall Jr
1899	Kilgore & Barber
1899	Becker & Robinson
1899	Leavitt & Seamon
1899	Tanner Bros
1899	Butler Hull & Scobel
1899	Liles' Circus
1899	Asa Barker
1899	Geo S Ely
1899	M L Clark
1899	Ewers Bros
1899	Prescott & Co
1899	Reicholds' Circus
1899	Stang Bros
1899	Orrin Bros (Mexico)
1899	Pubillones (Cuba)
1899	Royal English Circus (Porto Rica)
1899	Fitzgerald Bros (Australia)
1899	Wirths' Circus do
1899	Flying Jordans' Show do
1899	Harmstons Circus (Far East)
1899	Frank Fillis do
1899	Ed Shipps' Winter Circus
1899	Buffalo Bills' Wild West
1899	Pawnee Bills' Wild West

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Abbreviations: Help with some of the abbreviations found in this listing:

BB = Billboard; S & T Jour/Journal - Sporting and Theatrical Journal.
do = ditto
Gt = Great; Cent = Central (e.g. Cent America). Many place names are abbreviated, e. g. Bost. for Boston, W. I. for West Indies.
Prs, pro = Proprietors
Circuses: RB for Ringling Bros., etc.
Months: My=May, Jy=July, S=September, N=November, D=December, etc.

Sources Sturtevant lists:

Bentley. The diary of William Bentley, D.D., pastor of the East Church, Salem, Massachusetts. By William Bentley, 4 volumes, Salem, Essex Institute 1905-1914.

Braathen. Private collection of Sverre O. Braathen. This collection is now largely at the Illinois State University, Bloomington, Illinois.

T. A. Brown's History. Brown, T. Allston, A history of the New York stage, from the first performance in 1732 to 1901, Publisher B. Blom, 1964, 3 volumes (first published, New York, 1903).

Chloupek records, Circus fan and collector James V. Chloupek took notices from scrapbooks and posters and supplied them to Sturtevant.

C A Day, Charles H. Day, circus press agent. He contributed articles to the New York Clipper, Billboard, New York Dramatic Mirror, and the Sporting and Theatrical Journal for over thirty-five years. Also penned several short volumes, such as Show Life.

Greenwood. Greenwood, Isaac J. The Circus: Its Origin and Growth prior to 1835, NY: Burt Franklin, 1970 (originally published 1898).

Glenroy's. John Glenroy, Ins and Outs of Circus Life, Boston, MA: M. M. Wing, 1885.

O'Dell's [sic]. Odell, George Clinton Densmore, Annals of the New York Stage, New York: Columbia University Press, 1927-1949, 15 volumes.

Scholl's. Private collection of Walter Scholl. Sholl's collection is now largely at Illinois State University, Bloomington, Illinois, but a second collection was dispersed piecemeal in the 1990s.

Gil Robinson. Gil Robinson, Old wagon show days, Cincinnati, OH: Brockwell Company, 1925.

Rowes Memories. Joseph Andrew Rowe, memoirs and personal correspondence relative to the circus business through the gold country in the 50's. Albert Dressler (Editor), California's Pioneer Circus,1926.

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Circus Historical Society, Inc. and Circus Fans Association of America