Friday, October 08, 2010

Barnum Show #11


Scan13159, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

I think this P.M. McClintock Collection picture best shows the scope
and size of the show Mr. Bailey took to Europe.
You can even see the side show canvas crew ragging out the top.
The cook house at right slightly resembles the Kelly-Miller big top.
The menagerie at left has to be a 150 footer, you can imagine the
gilded parade cages spotted inside.
The banner line being half masted allows us to glimpse another tremendous crowd awaiting entry.

Posted by Buckles at 10/08/2010 05:52:00 AM

5 comments:

Harry Kingston said...

What a fantastic photo of the way it was.
I wonder what size the big top was and I noticed it was a 6 poler.
3 rings and 2 stages???
Also the poster's on the fence and that is the first time I have ever seen Barnum and Bailey advertise a 3 ring circus.
A move all that and get it all up in a few hours, WOW
Harry

08 October, 2010 08:59
Anonymous said...

Someone please tell me, roughly how many acres would all this canvas cover ? It looks so huge that one might think a jitney service to the various points would be in order. Thanks.

Paul G.

08 October, 2010 12:36
Roger Smith said...

In THE BIG TOP, Fred Bradna tells of Mr. Bailey making his show so large, it became a physically and mentally crushing to move. This most impressive lot scene posted in a long time staggers the mind in its vastness. Many have named James Bailey as the most able of the great circus managers, and here we see he certainly had to be. Bradna writes that every man and woman, star or no, from general manager down, labored with 300 horses and 30 elephants, and still moving the show was back-breaking and almost impossible. But a photograph like this proves what was done by the man Bradna calls "the greatest showman of his age".

09 October, 2010 04:13
Roger Smith said...

Among the most impressive lot scenes ever posted here, we return to the descriptions of Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth in Fred Bradna's THE BIG TOP. He tells of the show becoming so immense it was all but impossible to move. Every man and woman, from General Manager down, star or no, responded to the physical and mental ordeal demanded by set ups and tear downs. Bradna remembers that even with the labors of 300 horses and 30 elephants, the work was threatening to the spirit of the company. But it was said that Bailey was the most able of the great circus managers, and this photo proves he had to be. Barnum was so impressed, he was compelled to become a partner, and his admiration of Bailey's title of Greatest Show on Earth sealed his ambition. Bailey survived Barnum, and Bradna reminds us that hard-won and well-earned was his name as the greatest showman of his age.

09 October, 2010 19:46
Unknown said...

In Europe they were using a 3 ring 2 stage & hippodrome tent which could be set for either 15,000 or 13,000 (approx) capacity. The Tents in Europe could squeeze very tightly into 10 acres (one UK report) however, 15 seems the average quoted.
Southampton was one tight lot where tents were erected in the middle of a park full of flower beds & trees - they had problems & needed careful positioning!!
There were over 15 tents including one for the barber & one for bicycles + 103 assorted wagons - how big they were & space needed depends on who you listen to. Publicity (I wonder why?) always seemed to add feet to the larger ones as nobody was likely to check measurements - the 1899 inventory seems to reduce most sizes a bit.

Fred Neill

12 October, 2010 06:16

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)