Advertisement: Ad for P.T. Barnum's Hippodrome at Back Bay in Boston
Unknown creator, American (created by)
August 3 1874 (Date manufactured/created)
Paper Documentary Artifact
19.25 in H
X
12 in W
Newspaper advertisement for P. T. Barnum's Great Roman Hippodrome opening at the Back Bay in Boston, Massachusetts, and stated to "occupy four blocks." This item may have been printed as a newspaper insert, though the particular newspaper is unknown. It includes the program for August 3, 1874. The four-page document is largely composed of advertisements for a diverse array of products, from clothing to pianos and window shades, but also contains an enlightening column written by Barnum himself (page 2). In it he discusses the reasons behind his "bigger and better" approach, viewed by others as very risky, his desire to provide moral entertainment to the masses, and his view of himself as a reformer. The year, 1874, is early in his circus career, having entered into partnerships with William C. Coup and Dan Castello just three years before. Prior to his involvement with the circus, he was the proprietor of Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway in New York City, from 1842 to 1868. The top of the page features an illustration of the Hippodrome itself, showing an elongated oval surrounded by spectators in the stands. The Hippodrome was said to accommodate a crowd of 10,000. Horses and chariots are shown racing around the oval track, and separately, another group of racing horses that may be the famous stallions Barnum advertised. The main text on the front page lists all of the acts that were part of The Great Congress of Nations. Barnum acquired this show from George Sanger of Sanger's Great London Circus.
Barnum is best known for his involvement with the circus that still bears his name, but his circus ventures came about in the early 1870s when he was in his 60s. The first show was called "P. T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus." Railroads propelled the circus to success, making it easier to reach a number of locations and far more people, and the intake was significant. Barnum then opened the New York Hippodrome with similar acts. In the 1880s, he encountered competition from other circuses. A merger between Barnum’s show and the Great London Show of Cooper, Bailey, and Hutchinson formed the Barnum and London Circus. Negotiations in 1887 formed the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth. After Barnum's death in 1891, Bailey contineud to operate the circus. After his death in 1906, Ringling Brothers bought the business and operated it separately from their own for over ten years. The name remained until 1919 when the two circuses were combined to become Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey. It came to an end in May 2017 when the circus ceased performances after 146 years.
Barnum is best known for his involvement with the circus that still bears his name, but his circus ventures came about in the early 1870s when he was in his 60s. The first show was called "P. T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus." Railroads propelled the circus to success, making it easier to reach a number of locations and far more people, and the intake was significant. Barnum then opened the New York Hippodrome with similar acts. In the 1880s, he encountered competition from other circuses. A merger between Barnum’s show and the Great London Show of Cooper, Bailey, and Hutchinson formed the Barnum and London Circus. Negotiations in 1887 formed the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth. After Barnum's death in 1891, Bailey contineud to operate the circus. After his death in 1906, Ringling Brothers bought the business and operated it separately from their own for over ten years. The name remained until 1919 when the two circuses were combined to become Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey. It came to an end in May 2017 when the circus ceased performances after 146 years.
BF 1994.007.002