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Introduction
Circuses became a primary form of commercial entertainment that transcended class distinctions and provided space for all people to enjoy extravagance and wonder. Ringmasters became giants of performance across North America and established a new sphere of experience and fun that had never been seen before. Even though this entertainment was revolutionary, it didn’t come without a cost, as it thrived under the exploitation of disabled people and animals to create shock factor and ‘oddities.’ -
John Bill Ricketts Brought the First Circus to the US from Great Britain
The first circus in America took place in Philadelphia on April 3, 1793. Ricketts' Circus company formerly performed in Great Britain starting in 1791. Ricketts was a well known equestrian in the UK and established the Circus Royal in Edinburgh alongside John Parker. Ricketts' Circus travelled for seven years across the continent, 'introducing' North America to the circus. This circus paved the way for circuses in general to become top entertainment across America. -
Hachaliah Lyman Bailey Establishes 'Bailey Circus' with the Purchase of "Old Bet"
Hachaliah Bailey was owner of the first circus elephant in America, Old Bet, and decided to tour the 'Bailey Circus' after seeing the attention the elephant garnered. This in turn, popularized the traveling menagerie. Nephew of Hachaliah, Frederic Bailey, employed James McGinnis, who would later take on the name 'Bailey' and inherit the circus. In 1922, 'Old John' led a pilgrimage to the Elephant Hotel in Somers, NY to pay homage to Old Bet (pictured). -
Barnum Makes his Foray into the Entertainment World with the Purchase and Exhibition of Joice Heth
Phineas Taylor Barnum grew up in Connecticut before moving to New York to pursue entertainment in 1834, at 24 years old. In 1835, he purchased, Joice Heth, a blind, elderly slave woman, who he advertised as being 161 years old and the nursemaid of George Washington. -
Barnum's American Museum Opens in Manhattan
Barnum acquired Scudder's American Museum in 1841and hoped to put on a spectacle that would attract extremely large audiences. He did this promotion by hiring a band, painting the sides of the museum with murals of the attractions inside, and having stunts performed outside. He embraced his role as a humbug, writing anonymous claims of the artifacts being fake in order to draw people in to see for themselves. This museum transformed low and high culture into a completely hybrid culture. -
Feejee Mermaid
Made in Japan in the early 1800s, the Feejee mermaid was one of Barnum’s most well-known oddities, launching him to stardom. Barnum purposefully posed questions about the item’s authenticity to draw crowds into his museum to see it for themselves. In his autobiography, Barnum described the mermaid as “an ugly dried-up, black-looking diminutive specimen, about 3 feet long. Its mouth was open, its tail turned over, and its arms thrown up, giving it the appearance of having died in great agony." -
Confederate Army of Manhattan Attempted and Failed to Burn Down Barnum's Museum
The Confederate army was attempting to upset the reelection of Abraham Lincoln in their plan to expand the Confederacy into the North. To do this, they planned set multiple fires in NYC, Boston, Chicago, and Cincinnati. Barnum's museum was one of the sites targeted, but most of the fires did not start, or were contained quickly. -
Barnum's American Museum Burns to the Ground
Barnum's museum burnt down in July of 1865 in one of the largest fires in NYC, but of unknown origin. This destruction was met with very mixed reactions, with many lamenting the loss of such an entertaining and educative space in the city, while others cheered for the end of the museum and the fraud that took place there. The loss of such an influential commercial entertainment space was deeply felt in the nation, for it was a space that was crucial in developing 19th century urban culture. -
Barnum's New Museum Opens
Less than two months after the demise of Barnum’s original American Museum, P.T. Barnum opened his “New Museum” on Broadway between Prince and Spring Streets. -
Barnum's New Museum Burns to the Ground
Three years after its opening, Barnum’s new American Museum burned down as well. It was an extremely cold day, and the ruins sat frozen well after the fire had been put out. This time, the fire was the end of Barnum’s now twice-destroyed museum, and he turned instead to politics, and later, the circus. -
"P.T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Hippodrome" is Established
When Barnum's circus opened in Brooklyn, he promoted it as "the largest group of wonders ever known...My great desire is...to totally eclipse all other exhibitions in the world." The circus featured any of his former performers from the museum, and he established a permanent Hippodrome in NYC in 1874. This Hippodrome set the precedence for the circus spectacular, and Barnum shows were first class experiences and performances. This was a show of "freaks" that attracted wide audiences in NY. -
P.T. Barnum Merges with James Bailey to Form "Barnum & Bailey Circus"
"The Great London Show" under the management of James Bailey was taking the world by storm and encroaching on the American market for Barnum's circus, so he suggested a merger. "Barnum and London Circus" opened in New York in 1881, and was met with huge success. This circus traveled over 12,000 miles across North America garnering exuberant attention and success for Barnum and Bailey both. -
Jumbo the Elephant is Purchased by Barnum and Becomes Primary Attraction of "Barnum & Bailey Circus"
After his capture in Africa as a calf, Jumbo, an African Bush Elephant, spent most of his life at the London Zoo, where he was a popular attraction known for giving rides to children. But as Jumbo matured, he became more aggressive and the zoo agreed to sell him to Barnum. Barnum & Bailey spent approximately $30,000 to purchase and transport Jumbo, but made up this sum within 10 days of Jumbo’s arrival in the US, where he drew huge crowds to their circus, quickly becoming the main attraction. -
Jumbo Leads Barnum's Troupe of 21 Elephants Across the Brooklyn Bridge
As the world’s longest suspension bridge of its time, the safety of the Brooklyn Bridge drew great skepticism from New Yorkers. Less than a week after its opening, the New York Times reported a woman tripping and falling up the steps to the bridge, prompting a stampede that left 12 dead and many more injured. To demonstrate the safety of the bridge, Barnum suggested a publicity stunt wherein Jumbo led a procession of 20 elephants and 17 camels, reassuring New Yorkers that the bridge was steady. -
"Ringling Bros. World's Greatest Show" Created
Beginning in Wisconsin in 1884, the Ringling Bros Circus quickly became the pinnacle of the American circus, becoming the largest and most famous by the 1930s.The show started with 5 of the brothers, but the last 2 joined shortly after the start. Each brother had a specialty which helped the circus grow effectively and garner success. A decade after their start, the Ringling Bros went to New York to settle a divide of the US with B&B Circus rather than competing head to head. -
Jumbo the Elephant is Killed by a Train
After only three years with the Barnum & Bailey circus, Jumbo was hit and killed by an unscheduled freight train. Just 24 when he died, he was still an adolescent, and though already tall for his species at 10’7”, he likely would have continued to grow, perhaps even reaching the height that Barnum often claimed he was— 13 feet tall. Jumbo’s death remains a site of debate, some suggesting that Barnum purposefully had Jumbo killed in order to obscure his rapidly declining health and mistreatment. -
Ringling Bros. Acquires "Barnum & Bailey Circus"
After P.T. Barnum’s death in 1891, Bailey continued to tour Barnum & Bailey’s Circus until his own death in 1906. Following his death, The Ringling Bros. Circus acquired Barnum and Bailey’s for $400,000 dollars, but continued to operate the two shows separately. -
Ringling Brothers Circus Merges with Barnum and Bailey to Create “Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus” Promoted as “The Greatest Show on Earth”
World War 1 brought new challenges for the circus. With many young men off at war in Europe, the Ringlings lost not only audience members, but also faced a labor shortage and transportation difficulties on the railroad. In order to mitigate these challenges, the Ringlings joined their original show with the Barnum & Bailey circus to create the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows.” -
Conclusion
Circuses and freak shows rose to prominence as part of the development of commercial leisure spaces as a popular form of entertainment. These performances exhibited American culture’s growing preoccupation with the foreign and the exotic, routinely exploiting people of color and disabled people. Barnum reimagined the American spectacle, his legacy looming large in our popular culture both as an innovative showman and a deeply unethical humbug. -