Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-19
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act-a double somersault on the ground, or
over the backs of elephants. While these
were being done the rest of the perform
ance stopped, the music became hushed
and the audience drew a long breath, pre-
paratory to the universal shout of ap-
prevail which invariably followed. This was
always ushered in with great solemnity
by the managers. or leathern-lunged an
nouncer, as indeed were all thrilers of
that day They were also advertised with
great particularly and in the most ex-
travagant terms.
The flying trapeze sensation came after
these other thrillers, and for time held
the lead in public estimation. One daring
mid-ar act quickly succeeded another.
double and quadruple acts followed, each
more sensational and dangerous than those
which had gone before. And they held the
center of the circus stage until brushed
aside in turn by the mechanical thriller.
During all this time the show itself had
developed into the gigantic combination.
The first combined circus and menagerie
was by Turner and Jim June father of
Lewis f. June subsequently a partner of
p. T. Barnum. This was some twenty
years after Turner had started out with his
little circus. There were several travelling
menageries already. but the first combina-
ton was the small Turner circus and the
smaller Jim June menagerie
1t proved highly profitable, for in those
days the circus was considered by many
good people wholly disreputable, if not
ungodly, and the study of animals formed
a good excuse for seeing just how wicked
| the circus really was.
| George F. Bailey, a son-in-law of Aaron
| Turner. became the manager of the COM
| bined shows in 1917 or 1S4S This Bailey
| no relation to the late James A. Bailey
| was afterward. and for many years, part
| ner of P. T. Barnum until 1879. when, as
! one of the fiat foot party he was super
seeded by James A. Bailey and ]. L. Hutch
| inson.
| / have often heard George F. Bailey re-
| late his experiences with the Turner show
The receipts of the show he once said
did not touch 800 day oftener than once
| a week. very small amount of printing
was used. Newspaper space in a weekly
| dailies did not exist over the route-cost 81
a week at the outside, the more cuts the
| better, as 1T saved typesetting; and the
publisher would gladly give you the bene-
| were far enough ahead of the show.
During my management of the Turner
| show the eleder Turner was engaged in
building his hotel at Danbury, Conn, and
such a thing spending a dollar on the
show property was not to be thought of.
The old band wagon had fairly rotted away
and been cast aside, the musicians riding
in an old box wagon.
Il remember that when We played In
Washington the band was taken up to the
White House in this old vehicle and under
the portico serenaded the President, much
to his edifcation. Without consulting
Turner, contracted for a bandwagon to
be built in Cincinnati and shipped to
| frankfort, KY, to be placed upon an old
| running gear. When he heard Of the
enormous expenditure of 1898 l was called
to account in characteristic terms:
- George, you are going to ruin me- pro-
tested Turner, and 1 was instructed to
cancel the contract.
But it was too late; the chariot was
awaiting us at Frankfort. The new
chariot proved a great feature of the
parade, and the old man forgave me for
what proved a money-maker all along the
line
From this it would appear that new