Buckles Blog: Barnum & Bailey floats and tableaux #6

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Although labled "Cleopatra's Barge" it appears that several "Musketeers" have gotten on the wrong float.

Anonymous said...: I think they are pirates, boatjacking the barge.
We sure have a lot to criticize about someone elses bad day.
cc; 29 March, 2007 08:13
Anonymous said...: This is a famous float solely associated with the Adam Forepaugh show, their Cleopatra’s Barge. It was new in 1882 but severely damaged in an 1889 railroad wreck. Rebuilt and slightly altered, it was used through early 1900s in parades of the Forepaugh-Sells show but never Barnum & Bailey. Your photo appears to be the earlier version of the 1880s.
Dick Flint
Baltimore; 29 March, 2007 12:49
Anonymous said...: You may have confused the Cleopatra barge with the Phonenician Galley of 1903, which did indeed serve on B&B and was then transfered by Bailey over to Forepaugh-Sells when Henry Ringling was there. Wrong Middle Eastern dynasty. The barge ended up in the hands of Hugh Harrison in 1906 and it's uncertain if he succeeded in selling it off to any buyer. A boat is still a hole in the water, surrounded by wood and into which you throw money.; 29 March, 2007 13:24
Anonymous said...: Anonymous, You got that right about a BOAT! Been there/done that.; 29 March, 2007 14:30

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