The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-09-15
EARLY CIRCUS DA1s.
Reminisc ences of the Career Of Uncle
John Robinson.

lie started lie IN BLACKSMITH
shop brushing the flies from horses
and holding nags that came to be
shod, but soon tired Of the monot-
ony and at the age of eleven years
ran off and joined Blanchard's Cir
Gus. Blanchard was an Englishman
and had established a number OF
circus houses in all the larg,
towns Of New York. He began as
a property boy about the time tlla
Rockwell. who after Yards became
a celebrated circus man, started
into the business.
These were the days of the circus
in its infancy. A troupe was COM
plete when it had nine horses and
seven men Three pieces composed
the band, a clarionet, hurdy- gurdy
and bass-drum. The inclosure
around the ring was covered with
no roof One page Of the Enquirer
was larger than the biggest poster,
and a huge wood cut Of plain black
in the middle of the page was the
only pictorial cut The ring was
made of boards and stakes, so that
falls were frequent and dangerous
to life and limb. Night perform
ances were very scarce except in
| the larger towns, and then the lights
were two tallow dips that the slight
est breeze extinguished. The cir
Gus people were a rough crowd and
Travelled by night in wagons, ike a
pack of gypsies, yet great was the
excitement when they came to town.
Farmers left their plows, merch
ants closed their stores. male and
female, every age and sex, turned
"ut to see the show. Al I'D c..sc c!.ca !
trumpet announced that the all inn
portait event was about to happen.
and for months circus day would
serve as a calendar from which to
reckon the rest of the days Of the
year. Circus men In those days
were no unwelcome guests at the
taverns, as board and keep were
ony 371 cents a day, and if the
circus was good one and the land
lord and his family had plenty of
comps" then he wrote the bill
down on cake of ice and charged
the jolly testers not cent. There
was no two-hundred-dollar license
to pay, no dead heads to pacify with
free passes; nothing was charged
for ground rent; the small poster
was enough for the town rare ami
mails, costly trappings, rich and
gorgeous, were unheard Of, hence
were not looked for. There was
little or no heavy work and fun for
the million. It was III these times
and such shows that John Robin
son learned his business. He soon
termed to tumble. to vault, leap
and ride horses. He early showed
a rowing disposition, and one of his
first ventures was to own horse.
1t was not long before he owned
several, and gradually got his start
in this way. He became interested
in several shows, coming back to-
his boyhood home in winters.
Uncle John Robinson first ap-
peared in Cincinnati to make it his
home in 1854. After selling bis in
terest in the circus known as Robin
son & Eldrich's Circus, he remained
idle for one season. He was no
man to lead an indolent life, how
ever, and was on the lookout for
new venture. An opportunity was
soon offered, and he purchased the
Flag d Amar Circus and Menagerie.
With this show he Travelled North
in summer and South in the winter
until 1858, when he took in William
Lake, and for the seasons Of 1859,
go, 81 and '62 the SHOW was known
as the Robinson & Lake Circus and
Menagerie. In 1863 Mr.. Robinson
took his brother Aleck into part
nership, and the firm was known as
Robinson & Bros. This lasted only
for one season. Then the show was
known as Old John Robinson,
which name still remains.
He turned out the best talent
that was ever in the profession
James Robinson, who is still living
and yet holds the championship of
the world for horseback riding
James Hernandez. the most grace
full and finished rider that ever
backed a horse John Robinson, a
son Of his brother, known as
"Aleck's John" a prominent bare
back rider; Mrs. Helen Robinson, a
daughter Of Aleck, who now lives
in Utica, New York, who was a eel
ebrated bareback rider, but was in
jured thirty years ago and compelled
to abandon the business. John
Robinson, Jr., who excelled as
general performer, riding, somer-
sault act, two ponies four ponies
tumbling and ieaping; Cordelia
Gu!ick, who was famous bareback
rider. In his day Uncle John him
self was a great four-horse rider.
One Of his fests. then was1o do an
act called The Courier Of st. Pc
tersburs." He dashed around the
ring on four blooded horses, carry