The year was 1835. A huckster had just had his business shut down...an illegal lottery system that had been quite lucrative. He turned his attention to starting a traveling show. That man's name was P.T. Barnum.
His first foray into the world of the traveling showman started on June 2, 1835. The show, which started in New York, featured a wrinkled old black lady who Barnum claimed was 160 years old. He also claimed that she had been the nurse for George Washington.
The lady who Barnum was showcasing was named Joice Heth. She did "appear" to be very old. Many people did believe that she was all that Barnum was claiming. The media of the day debated the claims, which led to Barnum claiming that he would do a public autopsy after her death.
Heth died on February 19, 1836. Barnum went ahead with the public autopsy and his claims about her were disproven by Dr. David L. Rogers. Barnum claimed that the body was not Heth's and that she was currently on tour in Europe, but later admitted that it was all a hoax.
Barnum then toured with a variety troupe for about 5 years. In 1841 he bought his now famous business, Barnum's American Museum. The museum contained a variety of oddities, curiosities, and hoaxes, including the Feejee Mermaid.
Barnum is claimed to have said, "I don't believe in duping the public, but I believe in first attracting and then pleasing them." He justified his hoaxes as a way of attracting people and entertaining them.
Barnum began touring with part of his collection. Colonel Tom Thumb was one part of his show. Thumb's real name was Charles Sherwood Stratton. At the age of 4 Stratton was hired by Barnum. At that time he was reportedly only 25 inches tall and weighed 15 pounds. He hadn't grown at all since he had been 5 months old. In his teenage years Stratton did grow to be 3 feet 4 inches tall.
Colonel Tom Thumb and Barnum were able to tour the world. They met Queen Victoria and Abraham Lincoln, as well as many other famous people of the day. Working together they made a very comfortable living.
In 1870, at the age of 60, Barnum began a circus. In 1881 he merged his circus with the circus of James Bailey. This formed the Barnum and Bailey circus. The Barnum and Bailey circus was bought by the Ringling Brothers who toured until they went out of business in 2017.
After years of running scams and hoaxes surrounded by a sprinkling of legitimate shows Barnum was well-suited to get into politics. He was in the Connecticut legislature and also was voted as mayor of Bridgeport.
In 1890 Barnum suffered a stroke and passed away in April of 1891. His legacy is tough to evaluate. Was he just a huckster? Was he the greatest showman? Was he a flim-flam artist or an entrepreneur? One thing is for sure...he left his mark on the world.
A side note...there is little evidence that Barnum ever toured Wannaska.
His first foray into the world of the traveling showman started on June 2, 1835. The show, which started in New York, featured a wrinkled old black lady who Barnum claimed was 160 years old. He also claimed that she had been the nurse for George Washington.
Heth died on February 19, 1836. Barnum went ahead with the public autopsy and his claims about her were disproven by Dr. David L. Rogers. Barnum claimed that the body was not Heth's and that she was currently on tour in Europe, but later admitted that it was all a hoax.
Barnum then toured with a variety troupe for about 5 years. In 1841 he bought his now famous business, Barnum's American Museum. The museum contained a variety of oddities, curiosities, and hoaxes, including the Feejee Mermaid.
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| Barnum hoax made by sewing the head of a monkey to the body of a fish |
Barnum began touring with part of his collection. Colonel Tom Thumb was one part of his show. Thumb's real name was Charles Sherwood Stratton. At the age of 4 Stratton was hired by Barnum. At that time he was reportedly only 25 inches tall and weighed 15 pounds. He hadn't grown at all since he had been 5 months old. In his teenage years Stratton did grow to be 3 feet 4 inches tall.
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| A young Charles Sherwood Stratton with PT Barnum |
In 1870, at the age of 60, Barnum began a circus. In 1881 he merged his circus with the circus of James Bailey. This formed the Barnum and Bailey circus. The Barnum and Bailey circus was bought by the Ringling Brothers who toured until they went out of business in 2017.
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| 1903 Barnum and Bailey Poster |
After years of running scams and hoaxes surrounded by a sprinkling of legitimate shows Barnum was well-suited to get into politics. He was in the Connecticut legislature and also was voted as mayor of Bridgeport.
In 1890 Barnum suffered a stroke and passed away in April of 1891. His legacy is tough to evaluate. Was he just a huckster? Was he the greatest showman? Was he a flim-flam artist or an entrepreneur? One thing is for sure...he left his mark on the world.
A side note...there is little evidence that Barnum ever toured Wannaska.
Don't tempt me to go there as I may suggest something derogatory about any one of my neighbors in and about the Wannaska area -- should I be coerced or threatened with closure of the Guinness Extra Stout Brewery in neighboring Gatzke, where I know, for a fact, the B & B Circus did visit. It was quite the event and talked about for years afterward.
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