National Republican., 1880-08-21
HORSE OPERA AND sAWDUsT ACTORS.

HOhSE OFERA AND bAWDC6T ACIVHc'
Some Points from Mr.. Coup's Life as
Manager-A Steamboat show--The New
York Hippodrome-Jhe FIRST Railroad
show.
The circus is an ancient institution and
there have been wild beast shows ever since
Noah assembled his famous collection in the
ark. But 1t has remained for the last quarter
Of q century and for Americans 10 develop the
circus aud menagero to startling proportions,
rushing through the land in special palace
cars and traversing the whole union In
| single season. Tho appetite Of the American
people seems to grow with the circus itself, aud
though the expenses Of running u show" in-
crease every year, the receipts at The ticket
office keep pace With the expenses. Coup's
/ New Monster Shows" Is n fair expo
ncut of tho progress made in show
enterprise, In order to got some ftcts
of interest regarding this great show, a
| REPUBLICAN reporter oycrhauled the press
agent OF Coups combination, Mr.. Frank J.
| Pulling, an CN-iuurnalis', who has found the
rush aud hustle aud field for enterprise in the
SHOW" business even more fascinating than
the life Of a journalist.
when and how did Mr. Coup start in the
show busines,Y inquired tho reporter.
| "lGe started in 1870 in partnership with Dan
| Costello from whom lie purchased an interest
! ia n show TO 90 up the lakes from Chicago,
| travelling in steamboats,. lie made $4,000
that season, besides q large amount of show
| properties"
What is Mr. Coup's history since lie made
| his first ycutureY'
"Tho following spring--1s71-ho organized
| for Barnun what was known rs the Worlds
Fair, then the largest travelling show ever In
existence, 1t Travelled by wagon. In 1879 Mr.
Coup proposed to Barnum to put,tho show on the
cars This was done, aud it was the first time
n N.ail 41,.. al "a
show was run that way for two years In
| 1873 Barnum went TO Europe. Mr. Coup con-
ccived the idea OF the hippodrome In New
| York aud tclegraphod TO Barnum to know If
he would join him in the enterprise. Barnum
telegraphcd back: No; too great; make no
money Mr.. Coup said that other parties
| would 70 IN with him, aud Immediately
mado preparations to build. Upon that
Bornum changed his mind aud te!e-
graphcd that lie would go in providing
tho show would be known as Barnum's hip.
podrome. In 1875 Mr.. Coup, having become
tired of travelling, sold out his interest in tho
hippodrome to two New York spectators,
who are running It yet They cut down the
show and run 1t under the name OF the Bar
mum show, by which name it is still known.
| Mr. Coup was an equal partner with p Il.
Barnum in the show all the time. though the
| fact was not generally known. In 1876 Mr..
Coup started the aquarium in New York, lav-
ing made up his mind never 10 own another
tent. While In the aquarium he bought the
famous Broncho horses, aud found them such
Il success that he thought it would be good
thing 10 put them on the road. That Is what
mado him break his resolution. lie sold out
the aquarium and started out with his present
show which he then called the eequCscurriculum.
He had then the menagerie, horses, japanese
troupe and dogs. Lest year he made many
additions to 1t. This year he added still more
to it, until now 1t is said to he tho largest
travelling show in existence. The canvas
covers three acres Of ground"
"What becomes of the show in the winter ?'
We'll it goes into winter quarters like an
army. At the end OF last season we wntcrcd
in Louisville. Mr.. Coup rented the exposition
building and the properties were stored there"
What is the history Of the present season
up to dateW
,"Tho season was opened in the exposition
building in Louisville on April Z. On
the first afternoon, is is calculated, We
turned away over 5000 people. Thi:
was only a foreshad owing OF the for
. tunes of the show during the season. Sine;
then we have travelled through Kentucky
Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan
Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, West
Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland aud Vir
giuia, and nre now oil our way through thC
southern states. Everywhere the show ha
met with uucxamplcd success. Ifyou want (
of the season las been the birth of the baby
sea lion. This prodigy was brought to life il
Wooster, Ohio, OH tue 24th Of June"
"rho expense of the show must be enor
mousY suggested the reporter.
Enormous Why it costs fair fortune t
- run ii Que week"
How do you work up an interest in tn
: show2'
"Thcro are six agents and thirty bill.postcl
and distributors always ahead of the show
who travel in special ears of their own. The
= travel from one to four weeks in advance.
addition TO the train which conveys the sho'
n about the country Mr. Coup owns two advei
q tising cars. One Of these cost $4,000. 1t
Pullman car and it is oruamented wit
genuine oil paintings on canvas stretche
over the outside. Inside there are sleopin
= accommodations for twenty-four men. Th
"show" train is three'quarters OF mile /
length. When on the road from two to fou
locomotives, according to the grade, are use
in drawing it. The railroads furnish the oct
motives and the right Of way"
< "How do you manage when you strike roaC
with different gaugcsW
THAT is easy enough. The cars are a
fitted with what is called the compromi
wheels and aXes, which can be adjusted 50
= to run on any road"
Mr. Pilling gave many more interestin
facts concerning the personnel Of the shot
/, which THE REPUBLICAN has not space
print at the present time.
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THE Rowland Dental Association, 2ll Fou