Photograph: Linda and Nellie Jeal, circus equestriennes, with white horses
MSS 027 Box 5 Folder 1 Item 06
circa 1905 (Date manufactured/created)
Oversized cabinet card photograph of circus equestrienne Linda Jeal (1852 - 1941), at right, and "Nellie Jeal" (Elena "Nellie" Ryland) at left, posed with two white horses in front of a circus tent, where onlookers peeking out at the top of tent wall can be seen. Linda's sister Elena (nicknamed Nellie) Jeal Ryland was also a circus equestrienne, but more likely the Nellie in this photograph is Linda's niece (1875 - 1955), named after her mother. Linda performed with her sister, and eventually, in the early 20th century, performed with her sister's daughter, also nicknamed Nellie, whose mother died at a young age. Nellie kept a diary of her travels with her mother in the early 1890s. Linda Jeal had initially learned her profession from George Ryland, her brother-in-law and father of the younger Nellie. The penciled inscription on the back of the photo is difficult to discern at the top, but appears to be "Kitty Sharpe" and below that some indistinguishable letters or words followed by "Kitty Smith." The center inscription is clear: "Linda & Nellie Jeal Barnum & Bailey Great Show." That the phrase states "Nellie Jeal" instead of Nellie Ryland seems to support the idea that the young woman on the left is the niece, taken under her aunt's wing. The circa date of 1905 for this photo is based on biographical information in Olympians of the Sawdust Circle which says the younger Nellie rode with her aunt in 1905. It may actually have been a longer period of time, or intermittently so, and this photo may pre-date 1905.
Linda Jeal was notable for her many daring stunts on horseback, such as performing on a running globe, and various hurdle acts and stunts, especially leaping through a hoop of fire. She was called Queen of the Flaming Zone, and was said to be the most spectacular equestrienne of the 19th century, becoming a star with Barnum's circus in 1879. She is featured in at least one color poster of the 1880s. She was criticized at first for redesigning her costume to eliminate loose trims and fabric, making it form-fitting in order to reduce the chance of it catching fire. Her costume in this photo, however, is not the jockey-like outfit she designed for herself. The tight, fitted bodice is a dark solid color silk and is ornamented with artificial flowers, and delicate trims, while her short flared skirt appears to be made of light color and lightweight fabrics. Nellie wears a similar costume and her skirt appears to be made with flounces (deep ruffles). These costumes suggest some performances did not involve flaming hoops. The photo was undoubtedly given by Linda Jeal to her friends Edwin Fritz Smith and Catherine "Kitty" Sharpe Smith.
The Smiths were also associated with Barnum's circus, and Linda Jeal became a close friend. They named one of their sons after her, Jeal Smith. Edwin Fritz Smith was a circus performer who emigrated to America in the early1870s. He was born in Liverpool, England, the son of a tailor, in 1849 and was apprenticed to a "mountebank" from the age of 8 to 15 to learn tumbling, leaping, and acrobatics. He performed with his master, William Chantrell, and other apprentices as the Chantrell Family. Fritz won a prize, a silver belt in recognition of his talent, when he was about 13 or 14. After completing his apprenticeship he taught his older brothers Sidney and Alfred, and for about five years the three performed throughout Great Britain and in Europe as the Fritz Brothers. After Alfred was killed in an accident on stage, Fritz struck out on his own and partnered with another acrobat about the same age, James Cassim, The two traveled, among other places, to India, possibly because James' father had emigrated from India (his mother was Scottish), and they also performed in Spain and in France. The two of them left England sometime in the first half of 1870 headed to South America with a newly formed circus company, Courtney and Sanford, who promised to pay high salaries. The company opened in Lima, Peru, on June 1, 1870. Ultimately Fritz and his partner Cassim were left stranded, along with other performers, when the company went bankrupt and the owner disappeared. They finally succeeded in returning to the coast and finding a ship to get them to San Francisco where they performed for some time before heading east across the U.S. They worked in San Francisco for a time and then began working their way east. In New England Fritz met Catherine "Kitty" Sharpe and the couple married in August of 1874. She was a sand dancer, also known as a clog dancer or jig dancer, performing on stage in music halls and vaudeville; she also performed comic songs. The couple had five children. They traveled with their eldest child to Australia, where their second child was born. The journey proved to be quite an ordeal, and caused Kitty to refuse to travel overseas again. Fritz's entire career was devoted to performance and he became the head clown for Barnum & Bailey in the late 1880s. Fritz knew James A. Bailey very well, as he worked for Bailey and his partner James Cooper prior to Barnum & Bailey. He was also previously employed by the Adam Forepaugh circus enterprise. Kitty did not want him to travel abroad when Barnum & Bailey decided to go to England in 1889 so Fritz left the circus to work on stage, creating the Great Pantomime Trick House Act with a short succession of partners. He performed with his second son and namesake "Eddie" as clowns, and Eddie later became a partner in the Trick House Act. Fritz was forced to retire from stage after an injury in the Trick House Act, but he continued to be involved in the entertainment world. The Smith family settled in Saratoga Springs, New York, around 1883 when their third child was born, and Kitty and Fritz remained their until they died. Kitty's parents and one of her sisters and her husband also settled in Saratoga Springs, forming an enclave of circus and vaudeville performers.
The photograph is part of a group of photos exchanged by fellow performers with the Smith/Sharpe family.
Linda Jeal was notable for her many daring stunts on horseback, such as performing on a running globe, and various hurdle acts and stunts, especially leaping through a hoop of fire. She was called Queen of the Flaming Zone, and was said to be the most spectacular equestrienne of the 19th century, becoming a star with Barnum's circus in 1879. She is featured in at least one color poster of the 1880s. She was criticized at first for redesigning her costume to eliminate loose trims and fabric, making it form-fitting in order to reduce the chance of it catching fire. Her costume in this photo, however, is not the jockey-like outfit she designed for herself. The tight, fitted bodice is a dark solid color silk and is ornamented with artificial flowers, and delicate trims, while her short flared skirt appears to be made of light color and lightweight fabrics. Nellie wears a similar costume and her skirt appears to be made with flounces (deep ruffles). These costumes suggest some performances did not involve flaming hoops. The photo was undoubtedly given by Linda Jeal to her friends Edwin Fritz Smith and Catherine "Kitty" Sharpe Smith.
The Smiths were also associated with Barnum's circus, and Linda Jeal became a close friend. They named one of their sons after her, Jeal Smith. Edwin Fritz Smith was a circus performer who emigrated to America in the early1870s. He was born in Liverpool, England, the son of a tailor, in 1849 and was apprenticed to a "mountebank" from the age of 8 to 15 to learn tumbling, leaping, and acrobatics. He performed with his master, William Chantrell, and other apprentices as the Chantrell Family. Fritz won a prize, a silver belt in recognition of his talent, when he was about 13 or 14. After completing his apprenticeship he taught his older brothers Sidney and Alfred, and for about five years the three performed throughout Great Britain and in Europe as the Fritz Brothers. After Alfred was killed in an accident on stage, Fritz struck out on his own and partnered with another acrobat about the same age, James Cassim, The two traveled, among other places, to India, possibly because James' father had emigrated from India (his mother was Scottish), and they also performed in Spain and in France. The two of them left England sometime in the first half of 1870 headed to South America with a newly formed circus company, Courtney and Sanford, who promised to pay high salaries. The company opened in Lima, Peru, on June 1, 1870. Ultimately Fritz and his partner Cassim were left stranded, along with other performers, when the company went bankrupt and the owner disappeared. They finally succeeded in returning to the coast and finding a ship to get them to San Francisco where they performed for some time before heading east across the U.S. They worked in San Francisco for a time and then began working their way east. In New England Fritz met Catherine "Kitty" Sharpe and the couple married in August of 1874. She was a sand dancer, also known as a clog dancer or jig dancer, performing on stage in music halls and vaudeville; she also performed comic songs. The couple had five children. They traveled with their eldest child to Australia, where their second child was born. The journey proved to be quite an ordeal, and caused Kitty to refuse to travel overseas again. Fritz's entire career was devoted to performance and he became the head clown for Barnum & Bailey in the late 1880s. Fritz knew James A. Bailey very well, as he worked for Bailey and his partner James Cooper prior to Barnum & Bailey. He was also previously employed by the Adam Forepaugh circus enterprise. Kitty did not want him to travel abroad when Barnum & Bailey decided to go to England in 1889 so Fritz left the circus to work on stage, creating the Great Pantomime Trick House Act with a short succession of partners. He performed with his second son and namesake "Eddie" as clowns, and Eddie later became a partner in the Trick House Act. Fritz was forced to retire from stage after an injury in the Trick House Act, but he continued to be involved in the entertainment world. The Smith family settled in Saratoga Springs, New York, around 1883 when their third child was born, and Kitty and Fritz remained their until they died. Kitty's parents and one of her sisters and her husband also settled in Saratoga Springs, forming an enclave of circus and vaudeville performers.
The photograph is part of a group of photos exchanged by fellow performers with the Smith/Sharpe family.
Gift of Susan Crozier Fairchild
MS-0027-501-006