Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-10
HOW TO RUN SHOW.
The Cost OF Amusing the PubIie-SOme
Startling Figures.


Cincinnati Enquirer.
Through the kindness Of Mr.. John Rob
insOn, Jr., We are enabled 20 give our read
ers some interesting items in regard to the
internal economy of q travelling circus COM
pany. We tIke period Of ten years last
past, and present the various expenditures
while son the move" for that time. We
shall afterWard speak Of the expenses Of
wintering. Upon looking over the books
Of the company we find that
s.hOtel and livery" amounted TO
100000; "Advertising,1 $4,000; "In-
cidentals," SlS9,55O; "Smithing," $3.50;
aLOts," So, 900; Lights S24, ,4g7; "WOOd-
work." S26, PA; 'Harness," Sl5,9jT; ali
censes,' corporation, county, State and
Government, S1j1, AS. And during the
six years last past the cost Of transpOrta-
tiOn by railroads amounted to S226,O0O
The grand total reaches the enormous sum
Of 81, 81, ,I3j. These figures were taken
by our reporter from the Itinerary, a jour
nal in which every item Of income and
expenditure is entered day by day, as well
as general notes upon the route travelled.
We gather from this book that within
eighteen years this company has passed
over III, ,S53 miles, distance Of about four
times around the world.
Fifty-One years ago old John Robinson,
as he is called in the profession, began the
circus business, aud retired only a short
time AGO to enjoy the ease and wealth he
has earned by prudence and industry. But
the troupe that gained an enviable reputa-
ton through his exertiOns Fas never been
disbarded, and is nov fOurishing under
the management Of his sons. This show
starts out from Cincinnati every spring, re-
turning in time to fit out for the succeed
ing campaign. It is from.the books Of this
company that we have made the extracts
given above, and we now propose to present
some account Of its composition, and to
mention the amounts expended in this city
dming the annual arehtting.
In visiting the stables on Race street we
found more than sixty horses, all in pine
condition, though just returned from ten
months journey. Many Of these are val
liable on account Of the training required
to fit them for the ring, among them two
mdaege horses from the hands of FrancoDi,
and a trick horse taught by Mr.. Sam Stick
ney. Fifty or more shaggy shelties are tied
TO long rUpe extending the length Of the
stables. These ponies were imported BY
Mr.. Robinson, andiwere carefully selected
for their diminutive size. They are used
as teams in the "Liliputian ChariOts."
About forty cages of animals will travel
with the show this spring. Here are no. |
the wolves, bears and foxes Of the menage-
lies Of Olden times, but rare and curious
beasts-the giraffe, the rhinOcerOs and the /
great seals at the head.
The expense Of feeding these animals I
during their stay here is, Of course, great, I
but a small sum in comparison with the I.
bill; for, at the end Of the /.
season, every cage requires painting, and I
many Of them extensive repairs. The |.
three shops Of Ohlsen & HavekOtte are /
filled with RObinsOn's cages in various /
stages Of renovation, afIOrding work to a |
large number Of mechanics. And here we |
saw the splendid band-WagOns, glittering !
with gold and glass. One of these is |
adorned with some remarkably fine wood !
and cost, when new, five thou |
sand dollars. Then, too, the Canyass-WOrk- |
ers find employment in mending the tents, |
and the hands Of three or four shops are /
busied in making harness, or in repairing /
the old sets; and when we think Of the 1
many other things that must be done to 1
prepare the show for the road, We must say I
that the RObinson's get off cheaply at SjO,-
900 or 100000.
Here, certainly, are expenditures enough /
To make one wonder how the business can
be made remunerative, and yet we have
said nothing in regard to the salaries paid
to the performers, and the wages demanded
by the army Of gTOoms and tent men.
What these amount to we do not know.
We had some hesitation in asking what each
Of the well-knOw artists Of this troupe re-
Ceived, but we we're told in a general way