The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-10-14
A MASTER CONSOLIDATION.
]. A. Bailey and Sells Brothers Strike
Hands In Uniting Americas
Two Greatest Shows

In referring to the recent consol
idation of the Great Adam Fore
paugh Show with Sells Brothers
enormous united railroad shows,
which is to exhibit at Alexandria
on Tuesday, Oct. Goth, tho press
of New York City speaks of it as
a contamination destined to :exer-
else a most potent and far-reach.
ing influence in arenic affairs, and
such it undoubtedly is. The Her.
aid terms "the new aggregation
one of the most powerful in the
world" The World says: "Un-
der the new arrangement all the
cages, cars, horses, and the me,
nageries, material and parapher-
MALTA of the Forepangh Show will
now be added to the already big
SHOW of Sells Brothers." The
Journal says it is deal involving
two of the largest amusement ell
terprises iu the country" The
Record says that it brings into al
lance the three biggest show en-
terprises in the world"
Adam Forepaugh Show was
founded in 1864 by the able and
extraordinarily successful mama
ager whose name it bears, and for
over thirty years has maintained a
a leading position among the
greater tented enterprises. 1t has
always been a most popular and
all-round great show, and is spec
tally strong and attractive in it's
menagelie department.
On the death of Mr.. Forepaugh,
MIR. j. A. Bailey became sole own
or of this show, for which it is
stated, something like a quarter OF
a million dollars was paid. Mr..
Bailey is also sole owner OF the
Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show
on Earth and has a joint interest
in the Buffalo Bill Wild West
Show.
Messrs. Ephraim, Lewis, and
Peter Sells form a noted circus
triumvirate and their show has
been a dominant one for a quarter
Of century, during which time it
has not only achieved a most Ell
viable and lucrative national: rep
utation, but also won much fame
and many sheckels in Australia
and the far Antipodes. They are
among the wcalthiest and most in.
fuential residents Of Columbus,
Ohio, where the extensive winter
quarters of their show are located
| Il is therefore evident that the new
aggregation will not lack "the
sineWs of war.
The practical, material results
Of this consolidation are of impress
sive magnitude. Under one man
agement, and but for one price Of
admission, are stupendous!y con
centrated two separate, unsurpass
able menageries, circuses, hippo
dromes, and l'@rades; either OF
which has sing!y heretofore easily
taken rank as among the greatest
and most famous shows on earth
The tents, railroad trains and 9th
.er accessories Of exhibition and
transportation must necessarily BIT
Oh a proportionateiy gigantic scale
and the number of performers
people and horses employed un
precedented. Ii fact, 50 grand
rich, rare, and attractive is this
eliminating enterprise in zoologi
cal, arenic, ampbitheatrical and
spectacular display that it may
fairly be said to inaugurate new
era III popular entertainment, and
one which will compel AL others tt
either retire from the field or pu,
forth much greater efforts to Sc
cure recognition.
And while itsh0uld he considered
that this master coalition is III nc
sense Of the word either a monopo
ly, trust, or selfish combine for tn,
purpose of raising the prices of ad
mission, or of conflicting with 9th
er shows and showmen, from thu
nature of the individual interest,
represented, it incidentally lead,
up to at least the establishment O
a modified arenic millennium
among amusement giants, and tt
the advantage Of both the princi
pals aud the public, for not only i:
the maintenance of a high, pro
gressive, and reputable STANDARD
Of entertainment assured, through
the permanent cooperation o
managers Of undoubted RESPONSE
bility and character, but patrons
will get more-and the very hes
of everything-w without a penny
r additional costa double and mos
excellent contamination, justify
ing mutual congratulations ant
giving amplest promise of grea