Booklet: "District Railway Guide to Olympia and the Life and Work of P. T. Barnum"
Barnum and Bailey (associated with)
1890 (Date manufactured/created)
Booklet entitled "The District Railway Authorised Guide to Olympia with Life and Work of Barnum, America's Great Showman, with map of London and Plan of Olympia." The booklet was printed for the 1890-1891 run of Barnum & Bailey's circus in Olympia, London, England. Since it contains maps to and from the venue both from London and outside of London and a train schedule, it was presumably sold as a promotional piece in advance of the show's arrival so that people could plan their visit. The booklet also contains a plan of the site itself; a guide to Olympia; and a condensed version of Barnum's biography. The cover features a portrait of Barnum, along with the full title and price, two pence (printed as one word since commonly pronounced as "tuppence"), and publication information: "Alfred Boot & Son, Printers, 24, Old Bailey, E. C." The top and bottom margins contain advertising. Inside, several pages of advertising include large illustrations. This is a substantial booklet of more than sixty pages.
Barnum is best known for his involvement with the circus that still bears his name, but his circus ventures came about 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 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 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 died in 1891, Bailey continued to run the business. Ringling Brothers acquired the circus after James A. Bailey's death in 1906. The two circuses were operated separately until 1919, when they were combined to become Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth. The circus closed in 2017, giving their last performance on May 21 of that year.
Barnum is best known for his involvement with the circus that still bears his name, but his circus ventures came about 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 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 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 died in 1891, Bailey continued to run the business. Ringling Brothers acquired the circus after James A. Bailey's death in 1906. The two circuses were operated separately until 1919, when they were combined to become Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth. The circus closed in 2017, giving their last performance on May 21 of that year.
2012.011.006