New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-22
FROM PEANUTS TO CIRCUS RINGS.
RAPID PROGRESS TO THE coNrEoLoF LARGE COM
BINATION.

RAPID PROGRESS TO THE CONTROL OF LARGE COM
BINATION
Tho nrcss agent of +. A. Robbins who has started
winter circus in New York, is n p Babcock young
six footer who done much WORK Tor various new
YORK Journals Mr.. Babcock was chatting the other
day about various matters when inc haho VI MI oo
bins came up. and he said:
Let me say, quite outside OF my PROFESSIONAL oof
nection with him. that Mr.. R0bblns's history Is ONO
that would make a good newspaper story "hS' ho
,s only thrtyone years OF age yet his circus Is no"
second only to those Of and Forepaugh under
whose canvases he selling peanuts anu cahule
within ten years. He is an lndanian' born IN inc
town NJ Ed nburg where his father DR.. Franklin ROD
hins is a successful physician. Just before MS HI
teenth birthday the fy-by night circus Oh hohh"e
Cooper e. whitby came through the town III was DIV
f the old wagontrain ccuses, before the DIG DAYS vi
railroad trans portation. MI Robbins ran away rum
home TO follow the fortunes of this combination lie
"a Ioo,onade and peanuts. He followed this business
tor eigbt years-n 1872 with Sells Brothers, In 1913
with George F. Bailey, in 1874 with werner hehder
con e. snrinper in 1873 with Melville. Mckinley &
Cook in s76 with Barnum. in 1877 and '79 with Van
Amburg in 1870 with Forepaugh. In 1876 no sofa
candy and peanuts for BaInum in the same American
Institute Building where he Is now proprietor I'D
1850 he rented a candy privilege with the circus
of Pullman Brothers & Hamilton. BY the way, many
of these names am giving you are new In Ne"-iorh
but they indicate how many circuseS there are III INC
country which rarely never appear In Newly orK.
In as1 MI Robbins bought the old stage wagons OF
the Newport and Herkimcr stage line lie mao soIno
performing dogs and and small canvas. ITO Dought
two horses and with this equipment ana SIX persons
"a performers started out through Connecticut auu
New England to give circus performances III eounus
rather ridiculous, doesn't it, He had SIX wagons
He got farmers to haul five OF them from each stsnd
70 the next town. until he made money enough 10 Duy
a second span Of horses. He came In at tho end oi
the season with twenty two horses. He had married
that wear His wife sold tickets He himself CUT the
centre pole for his tont In the WOODS every to 10
fore 1t was set up. there being no facilities 10r carry
ing one with them This little show had the hgn,
sounding tile OF g The Great METROPOLITAN Ai,o ou
shows, II was. however, success financially, "h,ch
was the main thing With Mr.. Robbins He had asc
made some reputation. for next year W. '" ,oIe iet
him have four cages Of animals credit. with which
tho concern was enabled to start ont as FRANK n
Robhins's Geological and Equestrian Exposlton
"Ths wear he made money also ana then w. d.
BunneIl the museum man. ent"red into part
nership with him. and stocked his show with curos-
tiles Thus the show became known as The New,
York Circus G. p. Runnelps Museum and the 'entra
park Managerial That year was so prosperous tha
In 1894 he sold his and horght his first train
~ cars fen In numher with which lie went into the
Fastern States and Canada TITS was the frst circ's
that over exhibited Prince FHward's Island we
cars and all the animals ~ which motto" has ncen
W AIDE since he orenNd AZ the American lnstnte hrre
10 can no called lnctv for the reason that In
all his career hos missed only seven engagements
on account Of .he weather.