Thursday, August 14, 2008

Barnum & Bailey HORSEWOMEN Marseille date strip (1902)


Barnum & Bailey HORSEWOMEN Marseille date strip (1902), originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Chris Berry:

This particular one-sheet for Barnum & Bailey's 10-day stand in Marseilles in April of 1902 is unusual as a description is "crosslined" (overprinted) in French -- presumably over German from the season of 1901. Unlike the Barnum & Bailey lithos used during the German tour which trumpeted DIE GROESSTE SCHAUSTELLUNG DER WELT, most of the French posters had French descriptions of the attraction - yet still used "The Greatest Show on Earth" as the part of the poster title (in English). This particular lithograph is one of several which will be on exhibit at "The Big E" (Eastern States Exposition) in Springfield, Massachusetts Sept 12-28. The circus poster exhibit will also coincide with the Circus Historical Society's convention in Springfield Sept 21-24.

Posted by Buckles at 8/14/2008 11:41:00 AM

2 comments:

Raffaele De Ritis said...

The French program book of 1902 lists several female equestrian displays in the show.
The act portrayed on the poster is likely Minnie Johnson, who worked around the hippodrome track with her horse "Evergreen". The program describes this act in the tricks depicted on the posters.
Another presentation, display 3, was "the modern woman conquering the arena", presenting on the 3 rings the solo work of Lilian Humel, Rose Wentwostl, Bertha Clark.

Just a curiosity for the elephant fans: that year in France the elephants opened the show. On ring one, Conklin presented (always translated from French) "a troupe of great pachiderms in novel dances and exercises"; on ring 2, George Denman with a "troupe of young elephants doing several tricks and difficult exercises"; on ring 3, "troupe of elephants, superbely educated and trained, delivering surprising works anf games", presented by George Bates.

14 August, 2008 14:07
Roger Smith said...

OFF SUBJECT, ON REBECCA, RE: LARRY ALLEN DEAN: The Duchess called me this morning, asking me to tell everyone she misses the blog and hopes one day to be back--especially so she can tell Larry to get well in a hurry, and wishes she could, these are her words, "Kiss his ow-ees and make him all better."

Condolences to Rebecca who lost her 15-year-old Chow-mix pet this morning. She'd had him 14 years.

Rebecca hopes to meet and thank all who helped her these recent weeks.

Allow me to add another Get Well to Larry from the West Coast.

Roger Smith

14 August, 2008 19:09

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)