This collection of primary sources brings together a series of documents derived from archives, journals, newspapers, out-of-print books, memoirs, letters, and other written materials pertaining to the circus during the long nineteenth century (1789-1919). Historians concur that the ‘modern’ circus emerged in London in the late-eighteenth century, following the entrepreneurial initiatives of Philip Astley (1742-1814). It soon spread to Scotland, Ireland, France, Russia, Scandinavia, and other regions of Europe. Introduced to the United States by and English equestrian, John Bill Ricketts, in 1793, the modern circus transformed into a movable tent show by 1825. Following the Civil War and the development of railroad transport, the uniquely American circus transformed again into an ‘industrialized juggernaut’ capable of entertaining a large and diverse population from coast to coast. Transmitted across the globe through the British colonial project, the circus flourished in the colonies of Australasia, South Africa, South- and Southeast Asia, and was nourished by traditional performance forms of China, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia. The modern circus evolved through interaction with different geographies, socio-political contexts, new technologies, cultural heritage, and absorption of vernacular performance forms. Accompanied by extensive editorial commentary, and edited by an international team of scholars, this collection will be of great interest to students and researchers of circus studies, theatre and performance studies and cultural history.
This collection of primary sources brings together a series of documents pertaining to the circus during the long nineteenth century (1789-1919). Accompanied by extensive editorial commentary, this collection will be of great interest to students and researchers of circus studies, theatre and performance studies and cultural history.
Volume I: Circus in Great Britain
Acknowledgments
General Introduction
Volume I Introduction
Part
1. A Century of Circus in Bristol
1. Park Row Circus Plans(1886), Illustration, Bristol Archives, Building
Plans and Indices of the City Planning Officer, 22/8c.#
2. Astleys Wonderful Troop, Bristol Gazette & Public Advertiser, 10
September
1789.
3. Report of Amphitheatre construction, Bristol Mercury, 1 March
1790.
4. Handy & Franklins Troop, Bath Chronicle & Weekly Gazette, 15 December
1791.
5. Mr Taylors benefit at Handys Circus, Bristol Gazette and Public
Advertiser, 26 April
1792.
6. Last week of the Catauba Indians, Bonner & Middletons Bristol Journal,
13 February
1796.
7. Poney Races, Bonner & Middletons Bristol Journal, 24 February
1796.
8. New Circus Intelligence, Bristol Gazette & Public Advertiser, March 3
1796.
9. Catauba Indians and the Poney Races, Bonner & Middletons Bristol
Journal, 5 March
1796.
10. Olympic Circus,Bristol Gazette and Public Advertiser, 15 June
1799.
11. Charles Dibdin the Younger, Olympic Circus poem, Bristol Gazette &
Public Advertiser, 11 July
1799.
12. Charles Dibdin the Younger, IV: Parker and Davis. 1799, The Memoirs of
Charles Dibdin the Younger. ed, G. Speaight (London: Society for Theatre
Research, 1956 [ 1830]), 34-38.
13. Shows, Exhibitions, Machinery etc, list of St Jamess Fair stalls &
fees, Bristol Archives, Fair accounts, giving details of stall, rent
collected, name of holder (some copies from account book 1807 - 1839),
1721-1830, Records of the Anglican Parish of St James', St James' Fair, P
St-J F10,
1811.
14. During the Fair, Bristol Mercury, 4 September
1820.
15. St Jamess Fair Circus & Menagerie advertisements, Bristol Mercury, 1
September 1821
16. Wombwells Immense Royal Menagerie, Bristol Gazette, 31 July
1823.
17. Wombwells Menagerie, Bristol Mercury, 4 August
1823.
18. Merchant Taylors Menagerie, Bristol Gazette, 25 September
1823.
19. Ducrows Amphitheatre, Bristol Mirror, 5 November
1825.
20. Ryans New Grand Equestrian Arena, Bristol Gazette, 23 August
1827.
21. Ryans Circus and Spacious Arena, Bristol Mercury, 25 August
1829.
22. Ryans Equestrian Circus, Bristol Mercury, 7 September 1833
23. Ryans Royal Amphitheatre, Bristol Mercury, 20 June
1839.
24. Ryans Amphitheatre, Bristol Mercury, 16 November
1839.
25. POLICE INTELLIGENCE, WEDNESDAY, Bristol Mercury, 22 August
1840.
26. RYANS CIRCUS, Bristol Mercury, 12 September
1840.
27. Provincial Intelligence, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, Bristol Mercury, 24 October
1840.
28. Ryans Circus, North-Street, Bristol Mercury, 14 November
1840.
29. Sales by Auction, Bristol Mercury, 25 December
1841.
30. Price & Powells New Circus Royal, & Ducrows National Olympic Arena
of Arts, Bristol Mercury, 16 April
1842.
31. Ducrows Arena & The Circus Royal, Bristol Mercury, 16 April
1842.
32. To Carpenters, Builders, &c., Bristol Mercury, 11 June
1842.
33. Battys Circus Royal, Bristol Mercury, 23 July
1842.
34. Battys Circus, Bristol Mercury, 23 July 1842
35. Great Novelty! Bristol Mercury, 6 August
1842.
36. Clifton and Bristol Polytechnic, [ Ryans Circus] Bristol Mercury, 3
December 1842
37. Cornwalls Temple of Wonder, Bristol Mercury, 24 December
1842.
38. Hughess Circus Royal, Bristol Times & Mirror, 14 December
1844.
39. Report of accident to Mr Ryan, Bristol Times & Mirror, 31 October
1846.
40. William Cookes Royal Circus, Bristol Times & Mirror, 25 December
1847.
41. A Treat for the Million, Bristol Times & Mirror, 18 May
1850.
42. Allied Circus, Bristol Mercury, 27 December
1856.
43. Pablo Fanques Circus, Bristol Mercury, 27 December
1856.
44. Pablo Fanques Circus, Bristol Mercury, 3 January
1857.
45. Important Decision, Bristol Mercury, 13 March
1858.
46. Zoological Gardens, Bristol Daily Post, 5 August
1861.
47. Ginnetts Circus in Bristol, Western Daily Press, 20 February
1877.
48. Excerpt from An Old Mans Recollections Of St Jamess Pleasure Fair,
Bristol Mercury, 25 December
1880.
49. Licensing Application for Messrs Sangers Circus, Western Daily Press,
11 November
1886.
50. Messrs. Sangers Circus, Bristol Mercury, 12 November
1886.
51. Opening of Messrs Sangers Circus, Bristol Mercury, 16 November
1886.
52. Attendance of Magistrate, Bristol Mercury, 10 December
1886.
53. Excerpt from Christmas Amusements, Western Daily Press, 24 December
1886.
54. Henglers Grand Cirque, Western Daily Press, 7 September
1888.
55. Henglers Circus, Bristol Mercury, 11 September
1888.
56. Buffalo Bill in Bristol, Western Daily Press, 29 September
1891.
57.Buffalo Bill in Bristol, Bristol Mercury, 29 September
1891.
58. Harry Bow [ William Henry Bow], Extracts on Buffalo Bills Wild West Show,
1891, Bristol Archives, Diaries of W. Harry Bow, 31416/1
59. Henglers Circus: The Water Novelty, Western Daily Press, 11 October
1892.
60. Cinderella At Henglers Circus, Western Daily Press, 29 August
1893.
61. Action by a Circus Rider, Bristol Mercury, 30 June
1893.
62. Professor Crockers Horses at the Drill Hall, Western Daily Press, 20
November
1894.
63. Harry Bow [ William Henry Bow], diary extracts on circus acts at the Zoo &
Sangers Circus, 1894, Bristol Archives, Diaries of W. Harry Bow, 31416/8.
64. Lord George Sangers Circus, Bristol Mercury, 21 June
1894.
65. Boswells Pavilion Circus, Bristol Mercury, 2 September
1895.
66. Lord John Sanger & Sons Circus, Bristol Magpie, 2 December
1897.
67. Barnum & Bailey Big Show, Bristol Mercury, 15 August
1898.
68. Earths Greatest Show, Bristol Mercury, 16 August
1898.
69. Barnum and Baileys Show, Bristol Mercury, 22 April
1899.
70. The Italian Circus at the Palace, Bristol Times & Mirror, 2 July
1901.
71. The Royal Italian Circus, Western Daily Press, 18 April
1911.
72. Bristol Exhibition, Western Daily Press, 11 June
1914.
Part
2. The Long Eighteenth Century
2.1 The Late-eighteenth Century Circus
73. William Garbott, The New River, a Poem, (London, c.1728), 18, 21-22,
25-26.
74. Letter from Patty Astley to Mr and Mrs Pownall, Astley Theatre Cuttings,
British Library, Vol. 1 (TH.cts/35, item 1171).
75. George Speaight (ed), Memoirs of Charles Dibdin the Younger (London: The
Society for Theatre Research, 1956 [ 1830]), 17-21.
76. Charles Dibdin, The Elder, Royal Circus Epitomized (London, 1784),
21-24.
77. Thomas Read, The History of the Royal Circus Introductory to the Case of
Mr. Read, Late Stage Manager of that theatre in a letter to a friend (London,
1791), 6-20.
78. Jacob Decastro, The Memoirs of J. De Castro, Comedian ... Accompanied by
an Analysis of the Life of the Late Philip Astley ... Also an Accompanying
History of the Royal Circus, Now the Surrey Theatre; and an Historical Sketch
of Sadler's Wells. Likewise Scarce Theatrical Advertisements (London, 1824),
148-160.
79. James C. Dibdin, The Annals of The Edinburgh Stage with an account of the
Rise and Progress of Dramatic Writing in Scotland (Edinburgh: Richard
Cameron, 1888), 332-340.
80. Frederick W. Hawkins, The Life of Edmund Kean, 2 vols. (London, Tinsley
1869), Vol.1, 39-41.
81. An Act for the Control of Theatrical Representations 1788 Public Act, 28
George III, c. 30
2.2 Performers and Performances
82. Philip Astley, Natural Magic: or Physical Amusements Revealed (London,
1785), 25-27.
83. S. Hooper, A Guide to Health, Beauty, Riches, and Honour (London, 1785),
51-55.
84. An equestrian career: George Smith, the Little Devil, 1787-1807
(compilation of newspaper sources: Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, Ariss
Birmingham Gazette, Manchester Mercury, Bristol Mercury, Newcastle Chronicle,
Caledonian Mercury, The Times, Hampshire Chronicle).
85. Rope Dancing at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, Bury and Norfolk Post, 6
December
1786.
86. Scaglionis Dancing Dogs at Swanns Amphitheatre, Livery Street,
Birmingham, Ariss Birmingham Gazette, 5 November
1787.
87. Equestrian Performances at the Botanic Garden, Leith Walk, Edinburgh,
Caledonian Mercury, 19 July
1788.
88. Frederick Wilkinsons Sagacious Dog at Bathwick Fields, Bath, (Bath
Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 29 October 1789).
89. Pugilism at the Edinburgh Equestrian Circus, Caledonian Mercury, 3
March
1792.
90. Pony races at the Edinburgh Equestrian Circus, Caledonian Mercury, 6
February
1796.
91. Fireworks at Joness Amphitheatre, Mr. Higginss Livery Stable Yard,
Oxford, Oxford Journal 7 May,
1796.
92. The Antipodean Whirligig at the Edinburgh Equestrian Circus, Caledonian
Mercury, 21 January
1799.
93. Anon. The History and Comical Adventures of Harlequin and His Pleasing
Companion Columbine (1790).
94. Nathaniel Wanley, The Wonders of the Little or Moral World: Or a General
History of Man (London, c.1790), 115-117.
95. William Frederick Pinchbeck, Witchcraft or the Art of Fortune Telling
Unveiled (Boston, 1805), 54-59.
96. Pierce Egan, Astleys Spanish Horse, in Sporting Anecdotes (London
Sherwood, Jones and Co., 1825),
458.
Part
3. The Nineteenth-century Circus
3. 1 Circus Life
97. William Clarke, Every Night book: or Life after Dark (London: T.
Richardson,1827), 22-24.
98. James Grant, The Great Metropolis Vol. 2 (London: Saunders and Otley,
1837) 77-80.
99. Henry Valentine, Behind the Curtain (London: G. F Frost, 1848?),
100-102.
100. Peter Paterson, Behind the Scenes or the Confessions of a Strolling
Player (Edinburgh: D. Mathews, 1858), 89-97.
101. William F. Wallett, The Public Life of W. F. W., the Queens Jester: An
Autobiography, J. Luntley (ed.), (London: Bemrose and Sons, 1870), 86-94.
102. Charlie Keith, Circus Life and Amusements (Derby: Bewley and Roe, 1879),
5-10, 28-30.
103. Charles W. Montague, Recollections of an Equestrian Manager (London: W
and R Chambers, 1881), 25-28.
104. Sangers and Howes and Cushings Circus, The Preston Chronicle, 18
June
1870.
105. Samuel Wild, The Original, Complete and Only Authentic Story of Old
Wild's: ... a Nursery of Strolling Players ... Being the Reminiscences of
Its Chief and Last Proprietor, Sam Wild. Edited by Trim [ i.e. W. B.
Megson]. Reprinted from the Halifax Courier (London: G. Vickers, 1888),
112-113, 189-195.
106. Whimsical Walker, [ Thomas Henry Walker] From Sawdust to Windsor Castle
(London: Stanley Paul, 1922), 8-10.
107. James Lloyd, My Circus Life, Etc. (London: Noel Douglas, 1925), 15-17,
20-23.
108. George Sanger, Seventy Years a Showman (London: J. M Dent, 1927),
181-190.
109. E. H. Bostock, Menageries, Circuses and Theatres (London: Chapman &
Hall, 1927), 129-140.
3.2 Performances Explained
110. Charles Dickens, (ed.), The Trick of the Trapeze, All the Year Round,
Vol. 8, No. 186, (Nov 15, 1862), 232-235.
111. George Forrest, The Trapèze- Single and Double, Every Boy's Magazine,
1 June, 1863, 360-370.
112. William Henry Cremer and Wiljalba Frikell, Magic No Mystery; Conjuring
Tricks with Cards, Balls and Dice ... By the Author of The Secret Out [ i.e.
W. Frikell]. Edited by W. H. Cremer. With ... Illustrations. 1876, 45-47.
113. Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald, The World behind the Scenes (London:
Chatto and Windus, 1881), 55-60.
114. Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald, Music Hall Land (London: Ward and Downey
1890), 49-50.
115. Chas E. Griffin, How to become a Contortionist or Bending Made Easy, by
an old professional (New York, 1896).
116. Albert A. Hopkins, Magic Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions
(London: Sampson Low, Marston and Company, 1897), 139-163.
3.3 Risky Business & Representation: Aerial Performance
117. Leotard, The Flying Man, The Era.
118.M Leotard, the Gymnast, The Field, 1 June 1861,
476.
119.Lofty Tumbling, Chamberss Journal, 13 June 1861, 28-30.
120. Musicus, To the Editor, The Musical World, 22 March 1862,
186.
121. Amusements for the People, Tomahawk, 18 July
1868.
122. Royal Amphitheatre and Circus Advertisement, The Era, 1 March
1868.
123. Royal Amphitheatre, The Standard, 11 March
1868.
124.Royal Amphitheatre, The Morning Post, 7 April
1868.
125. Advertisements, The Standard, 5 June
1868.
126. A New Lady Gymnast, The Era, 15 September 1878
127.Leona-Dare at The Oxford, The Era, 6 October 1878
128. Summary of this Mornings News, Pall Mall Gazette, 14 March
1879.
129. Birmingham - Myerss Hippodrome, The Era, 25 Jan 1880
130.Royal Aquarium, Morning Post, 12 March 1879
131. Westminster Aquarium, The Era, 16 March 1879
132.Westminster Aquarium, Morning Post, 16 October 1883
133.Amusements in Edinburgh - Mosss Varieties, The Era, 13 February 1892
134. The Empire Palace, Portsmouth Evening News, 10 October 1893
3.4 Children and the Circus
135. Ellen Barlee, Acrobats, in Pantomime Waifs; or, A Plea for our City
Children (London: S.W. Partridge & Co, 1884), 111, 113-27.
136. Ellen Barlee, Appendix: Juvenile Acrobats, in Pantomime Waifs; A Plea
for our City Children (London: S.W. Partridge & Co, 1884), 273-6.
137. Ellen Barlee, Theatres, Music-Halls, etc., in Pantomime Waifs; A Plea
for our City Children (London: S.W. Partridge & Co, 1884), 34-40.
138. Juggling, in Routledge's Book of the Circus (London: Routledge: 1892),
36-9.
139. Frances Stratton, Nan the Circus Girl (London: J.F. Shaw & Co, 1898),
11-16, 26-28, 33-36.
140. Kenneth Grahame, The Magic Ring, in Dream Days (London and New York:
John Lane, The Bodley Head, 1899), 72-93.
141. Henry Camille Bordeaux, The House, trans. Louise S. Houghton (London:
J.M. Dent & Sons, 1916), 228-234.
142. An Act to regulate the Employment of Children in places of amusement in
certain cases, 24th July 1879 (The Childrens Dangerous Performances Act,
1879)
143. An Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to, and better Protection of
Children, Child Protection Act, 1889 (The Childrens Charter)
144. An Act to extend the Age under which the Employment of young persons in
dangerous Performances is prohibited, 6th August
1897.
3.5 Menageries, Exotic Animals, and Horses
145. Isaac Van Amburgh, Van Amburghs Magnificent Collection of Trained
Animals, A Concise Account Interspersed with Anecdotes of Mr. Van Amburgh's
Celebrated Collection of Trained Animals, etc (London: J. W. Peel, 1841),
3-12.
146. Peter Hanley, Random Recollections of the Stage. By an Old Playgoer
(London, Diprose and Bateman, 1883), 38-40.
147. Charles Frederick Holder, Jumbo, in The Ivory King (London: Sampson
Low & Co, 1886), 64-68.
148. Frank C. Bostock, Origin and History of Wild Animal Training, in The
Training of Wild Animals (New York: The Century Co, 1903), 23-33.
149. Carl Hagenbeck, Training Wild Animals, in Beasts and Men: Being Carl
Hagenbecks Experiences for Half a Century among Wild Animals (New York:
Longmans, Green, and Co., 1909), 118, 121-26, 129-30, 133-36, 139-40,
143-46.
150. Mixed Species Act with tigers, lions, polar bears and brown bears.
German, late-nineteenth/early-twentieth century. (Image)
151. Lord George Sanger, How Buck-Jumping Horses are Trained, in Seventy
Years a Showman (London: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1927), 192-94.
152. A. H. Kober, Circus Nights and Circus Days, extracts from the diary of a
circus man, trans. Claud W. Sykes (London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co 1931),
154-164.
153. An Act to regulate the Exhibition and Training of Performing Animals, 30
June
1925.
3.6 Patents
154. 1869, No.
447. Walking on Ceilings, etc. Patent lodged by Alfred Walter
Taylor.
155. 1877, No.
4587. Appliance for Theatrical or Gymnastic Performance. This
is Farinis second, improved patent for firing performers out of a canon.
156. 1882, No.
753. Travelling Building for a Circus. Patent lodged by
Charles Henry Keith.
157. 1890, No.
9047. Apparatus for Producing Nautical or Aquatic Scenes in
Circus Arenas, Theatres, and the like. Patent lodged by Albert Henry
Hengler.
158. 1891, No.
2041. Improvements in and relating to Bicycles (patent filed
by Nicholas Edward Kaufmann).
159. 1892, No.
8708. A New or Improved Gymnastic Apparatus
(velocipede/bicycle on rope /wire with trapeze). Patent lodged by Cornelius
Latelle and Richard Latelle.
160. 1892, No. 11,675. Apparatus for use in Performances of Physical Strength
and Endurance. Patent lodged by George Mulhall, otherwise known as George
Testo.
Bibliography
Index
Volume II: Circus in North America
Acknowledgments
General Introduction
Volume II Introduction
Part
1. Origins & Impresarios
1. Letter, George Washington to Samuel and Elizabeth Willing Powel, 24 April
1793.
2. New-York, May 15, Federal Gazette (Philadelphia), 17 May 1793, p.
2.
3. Excerpts from the papers of Benjamin Franklin Brown (1830s), The John and
Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Circus Museum.
4. The Traveling Circus, excerpt from The Life of P.T. Barnum (New York:
Redfield, 1855), pp. 177-178.
5. A New Circus, The New York Herald, 31 May 1846, p.
3.
6. Circus for Sale, The New York Herald, 27 August 1846, p.
3.
7. Spalding & Rogers Circus Fleet, Gallipolis Journal, 17 June 1852, p.
3.
8. P.T. Barnums Grand Colossal Museum and Menagerie, The Evening Post
(Cleveland), August 6, 1852, p.
3.
9. The Great Exhibitions of Van Amburgh, Den Stone, and Tyler, Three Distinct
Features in One Entertainment (1855). The John and Mable Ringling Museum of
Art, Tibbals Circus Collection Booklet Inventory, Box 10, Folder
19.
10. Spalding & Rogers New Railroad Circus, Springfield Daily Republican, 7
May 1856, p.
4.
11. The Great National Circus under the direction of Mrs. Chas Warner
formerly Mrs. Dan Rice (1864), The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art,
Tibbals Circus Collection Booklet Inventory, Box 26, Folder
11. Excerpt
12. Castellos Circus, Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 30 June 1869,
p.
3.
13. Forepaugh As He Was, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 26 January 1890, p.
7.
14. A Caesar Among Showmen, The New York Times, 19 April 1891, p.
20.
15. W. C. Coup, How Barnum Circus was Started, New York Clipper, 16 May
1891, p.
169.
16. The Circus Trust, The Indianapolis Journal, 16 July, 1899, p.
3.
17. Story of the Ringling Brothers: Starting as Boys with a Penny Circus and
Creating the Largest Show in the World, in The Circus Annual Season 1903 A
Route Book of Ringling Brothers' World's Greatest Shows (1903), The John and
Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Circus Museum.
18. Four Generations of a Family, The Billboard, 7 December 1901, p.
16.
Part 2: The Circus as Business
2.1 Business & Logistics
19. Tony Parker (J.B. Agler, clown), On the Road with a Wagon Show:
Fifty-Three Years (1910), p.14. The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art,
Sarasota, Florida, Stuart Thayer Collection.
20. Letter, H.W. Franklin to John Center, August 11, 1857, in Albert Dressler
(ed.), Californias Pioneer Circus (San Francisco: H.S. Crocker), 1926, p.
69.
21. S.P. Stickney & Sons Worlds Circus, The Montreal Star, Thursday, 14
May 1874, p.
3.
22. Montague vs. Forepaugh, etc., New York Clipper, 17 February 1883, p.
782.
23. Sheriffs Sale, Garnett Journal-Plaindealer (Kansas),12 October 12,
1883, p.
5.
24. The Circus Sale, Garnett Journal-Plaindealer (Kansas), 21 December
1883, p.
1.
25. Circus Privileges, Morning Journal and Courier (Connecticut), 6 March
1884, p.
1.
26. Charles Ringling journal, 1884, excerpt, The John and Mable Ringling
Museum of Art, Circus Museum.
27. Incendiary, The Boston Globe, 22 November 1887, p.
1.
28. Short Notes, Appleton Post (Wisconsin), 8 August 1889, p. 3, and
29. Eph Williams Famous Troubadours, The Freeman, 12 February 1910, p.
6.
30. How a Circus is Run, New York Tribune, 22 March 1891, p.
16.
31. A City Built in Two Hours, Philadelphia Inquirer, 21 April 1895, p.
25.
32. With a Circus in Mexico: A Kansas City Man Tells of the Amusement
Enterprise in the Republic, The Kansas City Star, 1 March 1900, p.
8.
33. Lighting a Circus, Electrical World and Engineer, 23 May 1903, p.
904.
2.2 Corporate Circus
34. Articles of Agreement, Spalding, Rogers, & Barnum, reprinted in New York
Daily Herald, 24 March 1856, p.
1.
35. Letter, P.T. Barnum to W.C. Coup, 8 October
1870.
36. Greatest Show on Earth Correspondence, Nathans, Bailey, & P.T. Barnum,
1870s.
37. Barnum, Bailey, & Hutchinson Partnership Agreement, 26 August
1880.
38. The Forepaugh Show Sold: Now There Will Be an Aggregation of Circus-Ring
Talent, The New York Times, 14 January 1892, p.
1.
39. What! No Peanuts? Can It Be Circus?, Chicago Inter-Ocean, 23 March
1906, p.
12.
40. Otto Ringling letter in support of purchase of Barnum & Bailey show,
1907, Illinois State University Special Collections, Milner Library.
41. James L. Hoff, Status of the Barnum & Bailey Show The Billboard, 26
October 1907, p.
5.
42. Circus Men May Form an Anti-Trust League, Nebraska City News Press, 20
June 1907, p.
4.
2.3 Labor
43. Little Ones on Bicycles: The Exhibition at Barnum's Circus Not
Interrupted, The New York Times, 31 March 1883, p.
2.
44. Season of 1894, Casualties: Health, Official Route Book of the Adam
Forepaugh Shows: Presenting a Complete Chronicle of Interesting Events and
Happenings and Valuable Data, for the Season of 1894, Circus World Museum
(Baraboo, Wisconsin).
45. Too Much Prosperity Hurt the Big Circus, Washington Times Herald, 8
November 1903, p.
21.
46. Circus Musicians Go on Strike for Wages, The Plain Speaker (PA), 26
June 1905, p.
1.
47. Telegram from Francis B. Loomis to Theodore Roosevelt, 27 August 1905,
Theodore Roosevelt Papers, Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
48. Letter from William F. Cody to Joseph T. McCaddon, 25 May 1907, Buffalo
Bill Center of the West (Cody, Wyoming).
49. Cole Brothers Sign Circus Agreement, Show World, 16 January 1909, p.
16.
2.4 Brand & Marketing
50. Broadside, $1,500,000 in Challenges - P.T. Barnum to the Public, 7
April 1873, Barnum Museum 2016.036.001 (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
51. The Advance Department, in Route Book of Cooper, Bailey & Company's
Great London Circus, Sanger's British Menagerie, International Allied Shows,
for the Season of 1879, p.4, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Circus
Museum, Route Books.
52. Their Scheme, Life, 26 June 1884, p.
364.
53. Freaks are not Freaks, Chicago Tribune, 11 February 1899, p.
10.
54. Injunction Served on a Show Manager, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,
25 August 1900, p.
9.
55. Bleistein v. Donaldson Lithographing Co., 188 U.S. 239 (1903), pp.
239-253.
56. Paul Latzke, Fortunes and Freaks in Advertising: When the Circus Comes
to Town, Saturday Evening Post, 22 August 1903, pp. 4-5.
57. Men in Barking Business are Paid Large Salaries, The Elyria Reporter,
18 December 1905, p.
4.
58. Circus Billers are Victorious in Sport, Show World, June 19, 1909, p.
13.
59. Louis E. Cooke and R.M. Harvey, Handling the Advance, The Billboard,
April 15, 1911, pp. 7,
72.
Part
3. Circus Acts
60. Ricketts Equestrian Circus, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 7 October 1794,
p.
3.
61. Lailsons Circus, Porcupines Gazette (Philadelphia), 18 July
1797.
62. New Pavilion Arena, Daily National Intelligencer and Washington
Express, 20 April 1846, p.
4.
63. An Exciting Scene: M. Blondins Feat at Niagara Falls, The New York
Times, 4 July 1859, p.
3.
64. A Phenomenon on Horseback, New York Tribune, 27 January 1860, p.
5.
65. Zampillarrostation, New York Daily Tribune, 5 December 1861, p.
7.
66. Amusements: Theatrical: Academy of Music - Leotard, The New York Times,
30 October 1868, p.
7.
67. Tony Denier, How to Join the Circus and Gymnasium (New York: Happy Hours
Co., 1877), excerpt.
68. Letter, P.T. Barnum to George Starr regarding Zazel,
1889.
69. A Famous Equestrienne, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, 27 August 1880, p.
7.
70. Walking on the Ceiling Head Down, Scientific American, 5 July 1890, p.
8.
71. Peeps Under the Big Tent. Glimpses at Some of the Barnum and Bailey
Performers, Brooklyn Daily Times, April 30,
1896.
72. Brilliant Spectacle to be Seen in Boston after a Five Years Tour of
Europe, The Boston Globe, 6 June 1903, p.
5.
73. Circo Orrin, El Mundo Ilustrado, 4 February 1906 (year 13, vol. 1,
no. 6), np.
74. LAuto Bolide, Seattle Sunday Times magazine section, 13 August 1905,
p.3.
75. Wonderful Strong Woman a Model of Grace and Beauty, La Grande Observer
(Oregon), 20 August 1912, p.
6.
Part
4. Allied Arts & Spectacle
4.1 Variable Bodies & Sideshow
76. The Siamese Twins, The North Star (Vermont), 4 May 1835, p.
1.
77. The Bearded Lady from Switzerland, Barnums American Museum playbill, 9
July
1853.
78. Hybrid Indian!, the misnomered bear woman, Julia Pastrana (Concord, NH:
Steam Job Press of McFarland & Jenks, 1855)
79. Sketch of the Life, Personal Appearance, Character and Manners of Charles
S. Stratton (New York: Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck, 1863), excerpt.
80. Barnums New York Museum Collection of Living Wonders, Titusville
Herald (Pennsylvania), 29 April 1868, p.
3.
81. A wonderful book. The lives of three very remarkable persons; Mr. John
Battersby, skeleton, Mrs. Hannah Battersby, mammoth lady, Zanobia, the
renowned African fan cannibal child (Philadelphia: np, 1871).
82. The Wild Men of Borneo, The Crescent (S. Carolina), 19 April 1877, p.
1.
83. Wild Men of Borneo, Brooklyn Times-Union, 19 April 1877, p.
3.
84. Biography of Myrtle Corbin, the four-legged girl (New York: New York
Popular Publishing Co., 1881).
85. Freak in Side Show Tells of Circus Life, Saint Paul Globe, 21 August
1904, p.
20.
4.2 Spectacle
86. Perilous Descent in a Balloon, York Gazette (Pennsylvania), 28 August
1838, p.
1.
87. Welch, Delavan & Nathans National Circus, Wheeling Times and
Advertiser, 25 April 1848, p.
3.
88. Circular Letter, P.T. Barnum, 9 August
1882.
89. The Beautiful Oriental Pageant of Lalla Rookh, The North Missouri
Register, 1 September 1882, p.
3.
90. Real Black Tent of Startling Mysteries, in Courier: The Barnum and
Bailey 15 New United Shows for Monday, 22 April 1889, p.
8. [ IMAGE]
91. The Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth, With Imre Kiralfys Nero,
or; The Destruction of Rome, The Sun (New York), 6 April 1890, p.
26.
92. The Circus Napoleon, Evening Standard (Kansas), 30 April 1891, p. 3
93. 1776 - The American Revolution!, The Cincinnati Post, 1 May 1893, p.
2.
(excerpt from ad, THE ADAM FOREPAUGH SHOWS: Circus, Menagerie, Hippodrome,
Grand Horse Fair!)
94. Our Electric Light, poster for Great London Circus, Sangers Royal
British Menagerie Consolidation with Cooper, Bailey & Co.s Great
International Allied Shows (1879). [ IMAGE]
95. A Genuine Novelty, The Minneapolis Daily Times, 25 February 1894, p.
9.
96. There Can Be Only One Like This, Rough Rider Annual,
1902.
97. Chauncey Yellow Robe, The Indian and the Wild West Show, Society of
American Indians Quarterly Journal, January-March 1914, pp. 39-40.
4.3 Menageries & Performing Animals
98. The Elephant, Philadelphia Daily Advertiser, 25 January 1797, p.
1.
99. Exhibition of Living Animals, Charleston Daily Courier, 5 March 1808,
p.
1.
100. Now or Never, The Richmond Enquirer, 3 May 1808, p.
1.
101. A Brief Biographical Sketch of I. A. Van Amburgh, and an Illustrated and
Descriptive History of the Animals Contained in the Menagerie, by O.J.
Ferguson (date unknown), excerpt .
102. Thrilling Incident at the Menagerie, St. Joseph Gazette (Missouri), 17
November 1848, p.
2.
103. Mr. Barnum Does It, Morning Journal-Courier (Connecticut), 21 April
1880, p.
1.
104. The Elephants Cross the Bridge, The New York Times, 18 May 1884, p.
2.
105. Playing With Snakes, South-Western Presbyterian, 14 June 1883, p.
6.
106. Forepaugh & Sells Bros. Circuses, The Portland Daily Press, 3 June
1899, p.
3.
107. Captain Woodwards Trained Sea Lions, in Forepaugh-Sells courier, 30
October
1901.
108. Adgie in a Den of Playful Lions, The Omaha Daily News (Nebraska) 22
April 1901, p.
5.
109. A Notable Enterprise, The Billboard, 23 March 1901, v.13, i.12, p.
22.
110. City News, Franklins Paper The Statesman, 6 July 1906, np.
Part
5. Audience Experience & Material Culture
111. A Law for Suppressing of Mountebanks (1773), Acts and Laws of the State
of Connecticut, in America (New London: Timothy Green, 1784), p.
161.
112. The Circus (Philadelphia: American Sunday-School Union, 1857).
113. Grand Forest City Circus, Catoctin Clarion (Maryland), 3 August 1872,
p.
3.
114. Lincoln Attends a Circus, in T.G. Onstot, Pioneers of Menard & Mason
Counties (Forest City, Illinois: T.G. Onstot, 1902),
Chapter III, pp. 46-50.
115. Amusements: Great Crowd at John Robinsons Circus, Birmingham
Post-Herald, 6 November 1886, P.
4.
116. Making War on Tights, The Atlanta Journal, 16 March 1897, p.
9.
117. Yesterdays Big Circus, The New Haven Journal-Courier, 4 May 1900, p.
8.
118. Circus Women a Credit to Their Calling and an Honor to Their Sex,
Marion Daily Chronicle, 13 August 1902, p.
7.
119. The Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth: The Mathews Sisters, Female
Jesters Together with Miss Dunbar the Lady Ring-Master, Strobridge
Lithographing Company,
1896.
120. The Passing of the Girl in Tights, San Francisco Call, 3 September
1905, p.
3.
121. A Circus Minus Gauze and Spangles, Buffalo Evening News, 27 March
1907, p.
9.
122. Perry Great and His Show Good, The Eureka Herald (Kansas), 14 January
1909, p.1.
123. Lowerys Minstrels, the Best Under Canvas, Indianapolis Freeman, 31
May 1913, p.
6.
124. George Conklin, The Ways of the Circus: Being the Memories and
Adventures of George Conklin, Tamer of Lions, (New York: Harper, 1921), pp.
228-232.
125. C.G. Sturtevant, Circus Band Music, The Billboard, 19 March 1927, p.
94.
126. Young America Will Be Out in Force Today, The Arizona New Republican,
21 September 1914, p.
10.
Bibliography
Index
Volume 3: The Circus in Australia
Acknowledgments
General Introduction
Introduction to Volume 3
Part
1. Australian Circus Foundations, 1833-51
1.1 Early Innovations
1. The Amphitheatre, Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane), 1 May 1847,
2.
2.Circus Royal of Tasmania, Colonial Times (Hobart Town), 3 November 1848,
3.
3. Australian tightrope dancer, Courier (Hobart Town), 18 November 1848,
2.
4. Circus, Little Bourke Street, Port Phillip Gazette & Settlers Journal
(Melbourne), 5 June 1849,
5.
5. John Askew, A Voyage to Australia and New Zealand (London: Simpkin
Marshall and Co., 1857), 105-06.
6. Circus Royal of Tasmania, Hobarton Guardian, or, True Friend of
Tasmania, 4 October 1848,
2.
7. Circus Royal, Hobarton Guardian, or, True Friend of Tasmania, 7 October
1848,
3.
8.The Amphitheatre, Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston), 15 February 1851,
99.
1.2 Luigi Dalle Case & his Foreign Gymnastic Company, 1841-43
9. Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney Gazette & New South Wales Advertiser, 21
August 1841,
3.
10. Request For permissn. to erect Gymnasium,
1841.
11. The Olympic, Australian (Sydney), 29 January 1842,
2.
12. Signor Dalle Case, Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston), 4 March 1843,
2.
1.3 Radfords Royal Circus, 1847-48
13. Radfords licence application for the public Exhibition of
Horsemanship,
1847.
14. Christmas Time, Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston), 25 December 1847,
2.
15. The Circus, Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston), 26 January 1848,
2.
16. The Circus, Courier (Hobart Town), 5 April 1848,
2.
17. The Circus, Hobart Town Advertiser, 8 September 1848,
2.
18. Radfords Circus, Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston), 5 August 1848,
3.
1.4 Edward (Hughes) La Rosiere & John Jones, 1850-51
19. Jones, request for a license to hold a circus of horsemanship,
1850.
20. Rosier request for a license to hold a circus of horsemanship,1850.
21. Royal Australian Equestrian Circus, Sydney Morning Herald, 15 October
1850,
1.
22. Royal Australian Circus, Sydney Morning Herald, 24 December 1850,
1.
23 The Circus, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 January 1851,
1.
24. Mr Jones Benefit, Sydney Morning Herald, 1 March 1851,
1.
Part
2. Australian Circus Life
2.1 Indigenous Performers
25. Aboriginal Protection Act, Victoria, 1869, 33 Vic c.
3.
26. Old Billy Jones, Bulletin (Sydney), 9 March 1895,
9.
27. The Australian black Little Alick, Illustrated Sydney News, 23 June
1855,
71.
28. Death, Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong), 7 July 1856,
6.
29. Serious Accident at Greta, Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners Advocate,
17 August 1896,
4.
30. Inquest, Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners Advocate, 20 August 1896,
8.
31. Alick, the aboriginal, Bulletin (Sydney), 10 October 1896,
12.
2.2 Social conditions
32. Monster Public Meeting of the Balaarat Diggers, Banner (Melbourne), 25
November 1853,
10.
33. Clermont, Peak Downs, Australian Town & Country Journal, 3 May 1873,
16.
34. Mary Salmon, An Old-Time Circus, Australian Town & Country Journal, 3
August,
34.
35. Te Whero, A Morning in a Circus Tent: Behind the Scenes at
Fitzgeralds Show,
Sydney Mail & New South Wales Advertiser, 26 April 1905,
1055.
2.3 Daily routines
36. Onlooker, Spangles & Sawdust: A Chronicle of Colonial Circus Life,
Theatre: An Illustrated Theatrical Journal, (Sydney),
No. 1, 2 December 1907, 12-14
No. 2, 2 January 1908, 12-13
No. 3, 1 February 1908, 12
No. 4, 2 March 1908, 8-9
No. 5, 1 April 1908, 11
No. 6, 1 May 1908, 10
No. 7, 1 June 1908, 16-17
No. 8, 1 July 1908, 16-17
No. 9, 1 August 1908, 14-15
No. 10, 1 October 1908, 14-15
No. 11, 1 December 1908, 15-16.
2.4 Memorials
37. Wide Bay and Burnett Districts, Brisbane Courier, 31 January 1889,
3.
38. A King of the Ring, Port Fairy Gazette, 24 April 1900,
3.
39. Personal, Age (Melbourne), 16 April 1903,
5.
40. At Poverty Point, Bulletin, 16 May 1903,
30.
41. Death of Dan Fitzgerald, The Great Circus Proprietor, Catholic Press, 8
February 1906,
22.
2. 5 Children and the Circus
42. 1887 Neglected Childrens Act, Victoria (excerpt)
43. 1890 Infant Life Protection Act, Victoria (excerpt).
44. 1892 NSW Child Protection Act, (excerpt)
45. Obit, Mrs. Ellen R. Dowd (Nellie Ridgway), Nambour Chronicle and North
Coast Advertiser (Queensland), 26 December 1952,
7.
46. The Stage (UK), 22 February 1884,
3.
47. Ridgways Pavilion, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), 20 September 1886,
7.
48. Ridgeways Circus, The Argus (Melbourne), 1 November 1886,
6.
49. Ridgways Pavilion of Varieties Melbourne Punch, 16 December 1886,
8.
50. Ridgways Pavilion of Varieties, Hamilton Spectator, 27 January 1887,
3.
51. Contract for Ernest McMurtry (a.k.a. Ernie Shand), apprenticed to the
FitzGerald Brothers Circus,
1894.
52. Hobart Police Court, Launceston Examiner, 5 January 1889,
3.
53. Experiences of A Circus Boy, Argus, 27 November 1891,
10.
54. Alleged Cruelty to a Child, Sydney Morning Herald, 1 August 1893,
3.
55. FitzGerald Bros. New Circus: Interesting Chat with their Right-Hand
Man, (excerpt), New Zealand Mail, 21 March 1901,
30.
56. Con Colleano, typescript memoir (excerpt), c.
1941.
Part
3. Australian Circus Business
3.1 Business Conditions
57. Ten Mile Creek, Albury Banner & Wodonga Express, 14 October 1871,
14.
58. St Leons Circus Troupe, Gundagai Times & Tumut, Adelong and
Murrumbidgee District Advertiser, 20 December 1878,
2.
59. Under the Tents: Capt. Jack Sutton, writing from Hawera, New York
Clipper, 12 June 1897,
235.
3.2 Financial management
60. Theatre Royal, Sydney miscellaneous papers, together with some papers
of Samuel Lazar, ca. 1864-1895, Theatrical Receipts & c, Mitchell Library,
Sydney, A 652: The Asiatic Circus Troupe, Receipts March 3-9, 1875, 7; March
10-13, 1875, 6; March 15-20, 1875, 5; March 22-27, 1875, 4; March 29-April 5,
1875, unpaginated.
61. Running a Circus, Referee (Sydney), 30 January 1907,
12.
62. Charles Owen Peart, contract to perform with the FitzGerald Brothers
Circus,
1895.
3.3 Law & Order
63. To the Editor, Geelong Advertiser & Intelligencer, 19 August 1852,
2.
64. Amusements at the Diggings, Bells Life in Sydney and Sporting
Reviewer, 30 April 1853,
1.
65. Supreme Court. New Court. Sitting at Nisi Prius, Friday, 11th May
1855.
Before His Honour Mr Justice Barry and Special Juries of Four; Berg v.
Lewis, Argus (Melbourne), 14 May 1855,
6.
66. To the Editor, Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston), 9 January 1864,
5.
67. St Leons Circus Company, Wagga Wagga Advertiser, 20 February 1878,
2.
Part
4. Visitors from Overseas
4.1 Worrell and Gardner North American Circus
68. Worrell & Gardiner North American Circus Company seeking renewal of a
theatrical licence to operate in the Colony of Victoria,
1860.
4.2 Cooke Zoyara and Wilsons World Circus
69. Cooke, Zoyara, and Wilson's Mammoth Circus, Sydney Mail, March 10,
1866,
2.
70. Mr James Cooke, of the World Circus, Illustrated Sydney News, March 16,
1866,
4.
71. Tom Cringle, Ella Zoyara, The Beautiful; The Fairy of the Magic Ring
(Melbourne: Clarson, Massina, & Co, 1866).
72. The Ella Zoyara Hoax, Mount Alexander Mail (Victoria), July 23, 1870,
3.
73. Mummer Memoirs, Truth (Perth), 26 November 1910,
6.
4.3 Chiarinis Royal Italian Circus
74. Chiarinis Royal Italian Circus, Sydney Morning Herald, June 18, 1873,
5.
75. Chiarini Silk program, Haymarket Reserve, June 11,
1880.
76. Program, Chiarinis Royal Italian Circus and Performing Animals, Sydney,
1884.
77. Letter, Chiarini to Sydney City Council, inviting Mayor and Aldermen to
the circus for a special performance in their honour. 1880
78. Letter, from Chiarinis agent, Guilo Agrati, to Sydney City Council,
requesting reduction in rent, c. 9-17 June
1880.
79. Chiarini in New Zealand, 1879 (image).
80. Selection of brief newspaper articles, Chiarinis in New Zealand
1879-1880.
4.4 Cooper and Bailey (US)
81. The Australian Tour of Cooper, Bailey and Cos great International
Allied Shows
1877.
82. The Circus Procession, The Herald (Melbourne), January 18, 1877, p.
3.
83. Cooper and Baileys Menagerie and Circus, Argus (Melbourne), January 9,
1877,
6.
84. Letter to the Chief Commissioner of Police, Melbourne, March 6, 1877,
about loading/embarking animals, and paraphernalia at the Queens Wharf,
Melbourne
85. Cooper and Bailey accounts, tour of 1876-77.
86. Letters of thanks to Cooper, Bailey & Co. from the Mayor and clergy in
Auckland
4.5. Harmstons from The East
87. Harmston's Grand Circus & Royal Menagerie program, New Zealand,
1898.
88. Announcement of arrangement between Harmstons and FitzGeralds
circuses, Sydney Morning Herald, November 27, 1897,
10.
89. Harmstons Circus, pre-show announcement, Age, December 8, 1897,
5.
90. Harmstons Circus (review), Age, December 15, 1897,
5.
4.6 Frank Fillis Circus from South Africa
91. Sawdust and Spangles: Some Sketches of Circus Life, Illustrated Sydney
News, January 21, 1893,
18.
92. Arrival of the Innaminka, Express and Telegraph (Adelaide), March 17,
1893,
2.
93. Mr F. E. Fillis: An Interesting Interview, Express and Telegraph
(Adelaide), March 18, 1893,
6.
94. Filliss Circus: The Water Pantomime, Express and Telegraph (Adelaide),
March 30, 1893,
4.
4.7 Herbert Family case study
95. Te Whero (pseud.), A Morning in a Circus Tent: Behind the Scenes at
FitzGeralds show, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, April 26,
1905,
1055.
96. The English Circus, Launceston Examiner, June 18, 1880,
2.
97. A Peep at the Shows, Queensland Figaro (Brisbane), March 24, 1883,
7.
98. John D. FitzGerald, The Fitz-Gerald Brothers Circus: a narrative of
adventure, of picturesque incident, and of Australian pluck and enterprise,
unpublished MS, 51-53.
99. John D. FitzGerald, The Fitz-Gerald Brothers Circus, unpublished MS,
61.
100. Ridgways Circus, Age (Melbourne), November 1, 1886,
5.
101. The Three-in-One Circus, Western Star and Roma Advertiser, May 2,
1888,
2.
102. Worlds Circus, Sydney Morning Herald (advertisement), December 15,
1888,
2.
103. Sells Circus: The Opening Night, Australian Star (Sydney), November
20,
1891. 7.
4.8 The Wild West Show in Australia
104. Harmstons Wild West Show and Circus, Queensland Times, Ipswich
Herald and General Advertiser, February 17, 1891,
3.
105. Wirths Wild West Show, Auckland Star, September 26, 1890,
2.
106. Wirth Bros. Wild West Show, Express and Telegraph (Adelaide) December
18, 1890,
4.
107. The Noble Red Man: American Indians before the courts. Deserted and
Desperate, Australian Star, July 23, 1891,
5.
108. Dr. Carver's Wild America, Sydney Mail and New South Wales
Advertiser, 7 February 7, 1891,
314.
109. Alexandra Theatre The Scout, review of the show, produced by Dr.
Carver, Alfred Dampier and Garnet Walch, Age, May 12, 1891,
6.
110. Wild Australia, program, Festival of Empire, Crystal Palace, London,
1911.
111. Wild Australia, Sporting Life (London), May 22, 1911
112. Wild Australia (Image)
Part
5. Australian Artistes Overseas
5.1 James [ Munro] Melville
113. The Circus, Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane), 22 December 1855,
2.
114. The Circus, Nashville Daily Union, 25 March 1864,
3.
115. Training a Circus Rider: Reminiscences of a Veteran in the Ring, New
York Times, 17 February 1881,
3.
116. Deaths in the Profession, New York Clipper, 26 November 1892,
611.
117. Vaudeville, Sioux City Journal, 29 November 1908,
18.
5.2 Ella Zuila & George Loyal
118. Theatre Royal, Evening Journal [ Adelaide], 23 January 1869,
2.
119. The Loyals, Telegraph [ Brisbane], 9 February 1874,
3.
120. Shot from a Cannon, New York Clipper, 26 July 1879,
142.
121. Arrested in Her Airy Flight, Richmond Dispatch [ Virginia], 25 August
1879,
3.
122. An Interview with Ella Zuila, Era [ London], 6 May 1893,
16.
5.3 Alfred St Leon & Family
123. Under the Tents, New York Clipper, 21 May 1898,
196.
124. Features at St Leons Circus, Spokane Chronicle, 6 October 1898,
7.
125. How I Train My Trick Horses for Daring Feats in the Circus Ring, San
Francisco Examiner, 4 June 1899,
31.
126. The Reigning Equestrienne of the World La Belle Leona, Forepaugh &
Sells Brothers Enormous United Shows, St Louis (Missouri), Courier dated 20
April
1903.
127. Notes from the Great Wm. P. Hall Shows, New York Clipper, 15 July
1905,
535.
128. Pubillones, Diario de la Marina (Havana), 9 November 1906,
6.
5.4 The Wirth circuses, world tours, 1888-1900
129. Extracts from Under the Big Top: The Life Story of George Wirth, Circus
Proprietor, a series published in Life (Sydney),
1933.
Bibliography
Index
Volume IV: Circus in India
Acknowledgments
General Introduction
Introduction to Volume IV
Part
1. The First Touring Indian Artists- The Jugglers, Tamers, and
Wrestlers
1. Engraving of Indian jugglers Mooty and Madua Samme performing the Chinese
stick play, Prague, c.
1822.
2. Ramo Samee at Royal Coburg Theatre, juggler, Handbill,
1821.
3. The Celebrated Indian Jugglers and Theatrical Performers, For One Night
Only (Australia), Handbill,
1852.
4. Wonder of Wonders Rowes American Circus- Indian Jugglers, Argus
(Melbourne), May 21, 1853, p.
8.
5. W.A.C., Journal of a Trip to Melbourne, South Australian Advertiser
(Adelaide, SA:1858-1889), January 30, 1861, p. 3
6. Ancient Indian Jugglers, Star (Ballarat, Victoria), August 3, 1861, p1.
7. Indian Juggling - Once a Week, Victorian Farmers Journal and Gardners
Chronicle (Melbourne), May 18, 1861, p604.
8. Death Transcription of Mahomet Cassim, NSW Registry of Births, Deaths
and Marriages, May 29, 1863
9. Indian Juggler Tricks, Darlings Down Gazette (Qld.), September 10, p.
1.
10. H. Dutt, Lieut. Suresh Biswas. His Life and Adventures (Calcutta: P. C.
Dass, 1899), pp. 114-117.
11. William Hazlitt, Indian Jugglers, Table Talk- Essays on Men and
Manners,
1828.
12. Wirths Circus, Kapunda Herald (South Australia), September 2,1904, p.
5.
13. Bilbys Circus, Hamilton Spectator (Victoria), October 14, 1912, p.
4.
14. Wirths Circus, The Sydney Morning Herald, April 5, 1927, p. 12
Part
2. Traveling Artists from Asia
15. Che-Mah, the Chinese Dwarf, Childhood and Education, 1882
16. Carl Hagenbecks Ceylonese Exhibition in Islington, poster, 1886
17. Article 14- No Title, Ceylon Village in Manchester, The Times of India,
May 12, 1886, p.
5.
18. Tannakers Great Japanese Entertainment, poster,
1886.
19. Repatriation of certain Burmese jugglers alleged to have been deserted
at Liverpool in a destitute condition, Government Record, National Archives
of India,
1898.
20. The Barnum and Bailey: Supreme Pageant Aladin and His Wonderful Land,
poster, Collection of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Tibbals
Collection,
1917.
21. Bertram Mills Circus: Scottish Tour Inaugurated in Edinburgh, A
Wonderful Show, Linlithgowshire Gazette, July 5, 1935, p.
6.
22. Moving a Tented Town, The Evening Telegraph, July 23, 1935, p.
2.
23. The Big Top at Kirkclady: Bertram Mills Circus, The Fife Free Press.
July 20, 1935, p.
2.
Part
3. Precarious Conditions of Indian Artists in Foreign Lands and a Public
Outcry
24. Distressed Indians in the South of France; lately employed in a circus
as acrobats, British Library Archives. Collection Indian Office Records and
Private Papers.
25. Proposed Removal of Quarantine by Egypt against arrival of artists from
Madras, Government Record, National Archives of India,
1892.
26. Removal of Quarantine by Egypt against arrival of artists from Madras,
Government Record, National Archives of India,
1892.
27. Passport granted to Babu Jogendra Nath Paul, and thirty-one members of
the Great Indian, Circus, proceeding to Java, Government Record, National
Archives of India,
1897.
28. Native jugglers, dancers, and circus attendants prohibited from embarking
from Bombay for any country out of British India, Telegrams and Memorandum
by the Commissioner of Bombay, Government Record, National Archives of India,
1900.
29. Letter from British Embassy, Berlin with Memorandum regarding Travelling
Indian Showmen engaged by Mr. John Hagenbeck, Berlin. With enclosure of
particulars of passports of Indian troupe touring Germany, including children
and adults, National Archives of India,
1926.
30. Making Show of Indians, Germans Exploit, Pampering Morbid Taste,
Protest Unheeded, Forward, August 2,
1926.
31. India misrepresented, Bombay Chronicle, August 9,
1926.
32. Exhibition of Indians at Berlin, Fulminations of Carl Hagenbeck,
Forward, August 17,
1926.
33. Indians in Berlin Zoo, The Tribune, November 14,
1926.
34. Indians in a German Zoo, Exhibition Closed, Leader (Allahabad),
November 13,
1926.
35. Exhibition given by Indians in Berlin under the direction of Mr.
Hagenbeck, Legislative Assembly Proceedings, South Asia Archive, March 4,
1927. pp. 1648-49.
36. Removal of the ban on Herr John Hagenbeck of the Hagenbeck family
circus proprietors and animal dealers of Hamburg (Germany) visiting India,
Government Record, National Archives of India,
1929.
Part
4. Touring International Circuses in India
37. McCollums Circus, On the Maidan, Calcutta, Playbill. South Asia
Archive,
1864.
38. McCollum and Cousins Circus, (review), The Times of India, November
29, 1865, p.
3.
39. Wilsons Great World Circus, The Times of India, April 22, 1879, p.
1.
40. Miss Cookes Medal, The Friend of India and Statesman, No.2313, Vol.
XLV, July 1, 1879, p.
579.
41. A Happy New Year- Chiarinis Royal Italian Circus and Performing
Animal, (poster), Richard Flint Collection,
1881.
42. Chiarinis Royal Italian Circus and Performing Animals. The Athenaeum &
Daily News, Asiatic Society of Mumbai Archive, December 17, 1881, p.
1.
43. Chiarinis Royal Italian Circus and Performing Animals, The Times of
India, March 11, 1881, p.
1.
44. Wilsons Great World Circus, The Times of India, March 3, 1883, p2.
45. Blondin Blondin Blondin, Early Calcutta Advertisements, 29 January
1884.
46. Wilsons Great World Circus, Early Calcutta Advertisements, January,
1885.
47. Abell, Klaer, and Olmans Circus, The Times of India,
1888.
48. Fillis Circus: An Exciting Incident, The Times of India, February 23,
1891, p.
3.
49. Cookes Circus, The Statesman, July,
1895.
50. George Lansbury; enquires as to whereabouts of brother, performing with a
circus in India, 14 Apr 1896
51. Harmstons Circus, (review), The Times of India, February 14, 1902, p.
5.
52. Harmstons Grand Circus and Royal Menagerie of Wild Animals, Madras,
December 26, 1905, Silk Programme, Theatre and Performance Collection.
Accession No. S.15-2007. V & A Archives, London.
53. Harmstons Grand Circus and Royal Menagerie of Performing Wild Animals,
Calcutta, December 28, 1906, Silk Programme, Theatre and Performance
Collection. Accession No. S.769-1982. V & A Archives, London.
54. Fitzgerald Bros. All New Circus and Menagerie of Highly Educated Wild
Animals, The Times of India, February 10, 1905, p.
3.
55. Col. Frank Fillis Circus, The Times of India, January 29, 1918, p.
3.
56. Maurice Wirth, of the Wirth Circus Family, transcript of interview,
1920. Maurice Wirth interviewed by Michelle Rayner, ABC Radio National,
Australia, Transcription by Mark St. Leon.
57. Thrills for Bombay- Bostocks Circus Attractions, The Times of India,
March 8,
1923.
Part
5. First Indian Circuses
58. The Great Indian Circus, The Times of India, February 3, 1876, p.
3.
59. Prof. Ramchandra Raos Marhatta Circus, Circus Programme, (Year
Unknown).
60. Grand Indian Circus, The Times of India, November 23, 1883, p.
2.
61. Grand Indian Circus, The Times of India, November 24, 1883, p.
2.
62. The National Circus, Early Calcutta Advertisements, 5 December,
1883.
63. The Grand Indian Circus, The Times of India, January 25, 1884, p.
1.
64. Roys Indian Circus, Early Calcutta Advertisements, September 12,
1885.
65. Professor Chatres Circus, The Times of India, April 9, 1888, p.
5.
66. The Great Indian Circus, The Times of India, October 6, 1890, p.
3.
67. The Great Indian Circus, The Bangalore Spectator, April 11, 1893, p.
1.
68. Professor Boses Great Bengal Circus, Early Calcutta Advertisements,
1900.
69. Chatres Indian Circus, The Times of India. November 16, 1908, p.
5.
70. Prof Devals Circus, The Times of India. November 3, 1911, p.
5.
71. State Ceremonies (during Delhi Durbar)-The Badshahi Mela- Patiala and
Rampur Circus, book section, 1911, p.
92.
72. Karlekar s Grand Circus, Circus Programme, December 18,
1914.
73. Karlekar s Grand Circus, Circus Programme,
1915.
74. Karlekar s Grand Circus, Special Circus Programme (year unknown).
75. A Hindu Ballyhoo, The Literary Digest, July 7, 1917, p.
57.
76. Karlekars Royal Circus and Menagerie of Performing Wild Animals, The
Times of India, January 29, 1918, p.
3.
77. Karlekars Circus: Frenchman's Daring Feat in Motor, The Times of
India, April 1, 1929, p.
6.
78. Karlekars Circus: Terrifying Motor Car Turn, The Times of India, April
16, 1929, p.
4.
79. Abanindra Krishna Basu, Bangalir Circus, (Bengali with quotations in
English), 1938/2018.
80. Abanindra Krishna Basu, Bangalir Circus, (Bengali with quotations in
English), 1938/2018.
Part
6. Women Artists in Indian Circus
81. Abanindra Krishna Basu, Bangalir Circus, (Bengali with quotations in
English), 1938/2018.
82. Miss Tara Bai: The Indian Lady Sandow, The Bombay Chronicle. March 12,
1914, p.
9.
83. Sushila Sundari with Shumbha and Nishumbha Tigers, (image) Banganibasi,
Archives for the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Image from
before
1924.
84. Sushila Sundari with Tigress Lakshmi, (image), Bangalir Circus,
Original Publication by Publicity Studio,
1938. Re-published by Gangchil
Publications,
2013.
85. Sushila Sundari in a Pyramid Act, (image), Bangalir Circus, Original
Publication by Publicity Studio,
1938. Re-published by Gangchil Publications,
2013.
Part
7. Strongmen in Circuses and their Acts
86. Shyamakanta Banerjee, in Strongmen over the years (A chronicle of
Athletes) (Oudh Printing Press/ South Asia Archives, 1942), pp. 6-12
87. Health and Hygiene A Weakling can become an Athlete Rash Behary
The Gymnast, India Tomorrow, August 6, 1933, pp. 585-586.
88. Saint Nihal Singh, The Indian Hercules: The Amazing Feats of Professor
Rama Murti Naidu, The Strand Magazine. 1915, pp. 695-696.
Part
8. Circus Tents
89. Public Meeting to Protest Against the License Tax, The Times of India,
February 20, 1878, p.
2.
90. Article 12-No Title (Chiarinis Circus), December 1, 1880, p.
3.
91. Fillis Circus, February 24, 1891, p.
5.
92. The Circuses, The Times of India, January 23, 1904, p.
8.
Part
9. Non-human Performers from India in International Circuses
93. The Circus, Sydney Daily Telegraph, June 2, 1880, p.
3.
94. Woodlochs Circus, South Australian Register, December 24, 1894, p.
7.
95. Harmstons Circus, Barrier Miner, December 11, 1897, p.
4.
96. Fitzgeralds Circus, South Australian Register, June 9, 1897, p.
6.
97. Harmstons Circus, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners; Advocate,
February 24, 1898, p.
5.
98. Article 3 No Title, The Times of India, January 5, 1898, p.
5.
99. Lennons Circus, Hamilton Spectator, August 1, 1911, p.
4.
100. Eronis Circus, St. Arnaud Mercury, October 10, 1914, p.
4.
101. Wirths Circus, Brisbane Courier. May 28, 1930, p.
24.
Part
10. Indian Circuses and Artists on International Tours
102. Chatres Circus, The China Mail, July 12, 1902, p.
4.
103. Chatres New Indian Circus, The China Mail, July 12, 1902, p.
5.
104. Chatres Circus, The Hong Kong Weekly Press and China Overland Trade
Report, July 19, 1902, p.
51.
105. Liners to and From Orient: Shinano Reaches Port Has Indian Circus on
Board, The Daily Colonist, November 5, 1902, p.
4.
106. Hindoo Circus, The Billboard, November 22, 1902, p.
13.
107. Empresss First Circus: Epoch-Making Performance at Pekin, The Evening
Telegraph. November 11, 1903, p.
3.
108. Jas P. Schooner, A Visit to the Summer Palace with Chatres New Indian
Circus, The North China Herald and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette,
November 20, 1903, pp. 1074-75.
109. Chatres Indian Circus (in Hong Kong), The China Mail, November 26,
1903, p.
4.
110. Kannan Bombayo at Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, (image), Billy Rose
Theatre Division Collection: Circus and Magic Posters, New York Public
Library,
1933.
111. Bertram Mills Circus: Forthcoming Visit to Edinburgh for Two Weeks,
Linlithgowshire Gazette, June 28, 1935, p.
6.
112. The Big Top at Kirkcaldy: Bertram Mills Circus, The Fife Free
Press. July 20, 1935, p.
2.
113. Circus Children, The Yorkshire Post, July 22, 1937, p.
8.
114. Bertram Mills Circus: Coming to Boston next Monday, The Skegness
News, May 26, 1937, p.
7.
Bibliography
Index
Volume V: Clowns and Clowning
General Introduction
Volume V: Introduction
Part 1: Clown Genres
1.1 The Equestrian Clown
1. Franconi as Mme Angot on horseback at the Cirque Franconi. Martinet,
Paris. Colored engraving. Laurence Senelick collection.
2. E. D. Manne, Le Cirque Franconi. Détails historiques sur cet établissement
hippique et ses prominents écuyers (Lyon: Louis Perrin et Martinet, 1875),
repr. in P.-R. Lévy, Les clowns et le tradition clownesque (Sorvilier:
Editions se la Gardine, 1991), pp. 295-98.
3. Mme B., née de V., Le Cirque Olympique ou les exercices des chevaux de MM.
Franconi(Paris: Nepven Librairie, 1817).
4. The Taylor of Brentford at the Cirque Olympique, Paris. Colored engraving.
Public domain.
5. I. Greenwood, The Circus. Its Origin and Growth Prior to 1835 [ 1898] (New
York Burt Franklin, 1970), pp. 54-56.
6. J. Durang, The Memoir of John Durang American Actor 1785-1816, ed. A. S.
Downer (n.p.: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1966), pp. 68-69.
7. Eastern Argus (Portland, ME), 7 August to 11 Oct. 1816, qtd. in S. Thayer,
Annals of the American Circus 1793-1829 (Seattle: Dauven & Thayer, 1993), p.
77.
8. J. Turnour, The Autobiography of a Clown as told to Isaac P. Marcosson,
1909 (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1931), pp. 50-54.
9. Amusements, New York Clipper, 26 June 1858, p.
79.
10. The Circus, The Knickerbocker 13 (January 1839), pp. 74-76.
11. G. Van Hare, Fifty years of a showmans life or The Life and Travels of
Van Hare (London: Sampson Low, Marston, 1893), pp. 8-9.
12. Detectives Outwitted by an Actor, Era (London), 29 August
1869.
13. O. Preuß, Cirkusclowns, Belhagen und Klasings Monatsheft 1 (1895-96),
pp. 97-98.
14. D. Alperov, Na arena starogo tsirka. Zapiska klouna, ed. V. E.
Beklemisheva (Moscow: Khudozhestvennaya literatura, 1936), pp. 66-68.
15. Turnour, Autobiography of a Clown, pp. 55-56.
16. Jules Turnour. Pencil sketch by Jolly Bill Steinke. Laurence Senelick
collection.
17. Die-cut of Clown and mule, c.1890. Laurence Senelick Collection.
18. H. W. Root, The ways of the circus being the memories and adventures of
George Conklin, tamer of lions (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921), pp.
148-49.
19. C. Bernard, Bernards Half Century Circus Reviews and Red Wagon Stories
([ Savannah, GA]: Chas. Bernard, 1930), p.
75.
20. Ill. Peppino el
88. Photograph.
21. J. C. N., Prologue, Pepe Podestá, Nuevas canciones inéditas del gran
Pepino 88 para cantar con guitarra (1897), qtd. in R. H. Castagnino, El circo
criollo. Datos y documentos para su historia 1757-1924 (Buenos Aires: Plus
Ultra, 1969), p.
91.
22. E. G. Velloso, Lo primeros dramas en los circus criollos, Boletín de
estudios de teatro 2 (1936), pp. 22-23; qtd. in Castagnino, El circo criollo,
p.
102.
23. A. Smith, A Month in Constantinople (Boston: Barbury and Guild, 1852), p.
77.
1.2 The Acrobatic Clown
24. Gontard, Cirque Olympique. Drawing by Paul; lith. Delaunois. Laurence
Sen
Gillian Arrighi is an independent scholar who was until recently Associate Professor and Head of Creative and Performing Arts in the School of Creative Industries, University of Newcastle, Australia. She has published numerous journal articles and chapters in edited volumes on popular entertainments, child actors, and acting theory.
Kim Baston was until recently Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Drama at La Trobe University, Melbourne and is a member of the curriculum advisory group of the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA). Her research interests include popular entertainments in the eighteenth century, circus history and culture, and the intersection of music and theatre.
Aastha Gandhi is an Assistant Professor teaching graduate program in Performance Studies at B.R. Ambedkar University, Delhi. Her area of research engages with the circus, migration, networks, and discourses of the performing body. A degree in law and proficiency in dance adds to her multi-faceted and inter-disciplinary approach to research. Her forthcoming book, A Critical History of the Indian Circus: Performance, Networks, and Migration (Palgrave Macmillan) frames the evolution of Indian circus history and practice through mobility, migration, and actor-networks.
Kate Holmes is an honorary fellow at the University of Exeter. She has recently finished working as a postdoctoral researcher on the major collaborative UK Arts and Humanities Research Council funded Theatre and Visual Culture in the Long Nineteenth Century project. As part of this project, she researched popular entertainments as an integrated element of visual culture and managed impact activities such as exhibitions. Kates research has also considered how world events influenced circus performers careers and explored how audience experience was guided by differences in early twentieth century North American and British circus spaces.
Betsy Golden Kellem is a scholar of the unusual. She is the author of Jumping Through Hoops: Performing Gender in the Nineteenth Century Circus (Feminist Press, 2025). Her writing on circus and entertainment history has appeared in outlets including The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, The Washington Post, The Public Domain Review, Atavist Magazine, Smithsonian, Atlas Obscura, and Slate. Betsy is a two-time regional Emmy winner and has served on the boards of the Barnum Museum and the Circus Historical Society.
Jenny Leigh Du Puis is an Assistant Professor in the School of Fashion at Columbia College Chicago. In her scholarly career as a PhD candidate with Cornell University, she explores the past, present, and future of circus costume through presentations, publications, and the curation of digital and physical clothing exhibitions. Her professional career in circus costume includes working with such companies and organizations as Cirque Us, Circus Smirkus, Circus Couture, Circus Culture, Circus Juventas, Sunset Circus, and Cirque du Soleil's KÀ.
Matthew McMahan is assistant professor of comedic studies at Emerson College, where he teaches the history and theory of comedy. He is the author of Border-Crossing and Comedy at the Théâtre Italien, 1716-1723 (Palgrave Macmillan), and numerous articles and reviews on vaudeville, clowning, farce, and French theatre.
Jennifer Lemmer Posey is Tibbals Curator of Circus at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida, a campus of Florida State University. She has been working with circus collections and the diverse circus community for twenty years. With research interests focused on the relationship of the circus arts, mass media, identity, and popular culture.
Mark St Leon is a freelance lecturer in accounting, economics and management, now retired. Descended from one of Australias earliest circus families, he pioneered the study of Australias circus and travelling show people.
Laurence Senelick is Fletcher Professor Emeritus of Drama and Oratory, Tufts University, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. For many years he served as an adjudicator of the International Mime & Movement Festival in Philadelphia. He has published many books and articles on popular entertainment.
