Adam Forepaugh & Sells Bros. United Shows 1910 or 11

These folks watching the 4-Paw-Sells elephants unload from this wooden elephant car appear to be more rural or Western and bundled up a bit on a chilly morning. One boy in knickers is more interested in the camera. In Nov. of 1907 the Ringlings bought the Barnum & Bailey Show from the Bailey Estate and found themselves owning the three biggest circuses in the country if not the world. The smallest, 4-Paw-Sells, moved on 76 cars with 3 more ahead but a decision was made to take this show off the road and store the equipment in Baraboo. So in 1908 and 09 they only sent out Ringling Bros. Worlds Greatest Shows and Barnum & Bailey, The Greatest Show on Earth wintering in Bridgeport. Legend tells us that due to some sort of disagreement Al Ringling decided to revive the 4-Paw-Sells Show in 1910 on his own. He brought back the eight elephants that had been leased to the Gollmar Show the past two seasons (the Forepaugh Dancing 8), three more that had also been out on lease and then purchased an act from the Hagenbeck Zoo consisting of Great Dane dogs and three young elephants making a total of 14, the herd being unloaded above. To handle the job George Denman was brought over from Barnum & Bailey. Legend further states that the death of Otto Ringling, the first of the founding brothers to depart was the reason for the final termination of the 4-Paw -Sells Show at the conclusion of the 1911 season. Most of the elephants were absorbed into the Ringling herd as well as Denman who would be boss elephant man with Ringling Bros. and later Ringling-Barnum thru 1933.