The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-05-03
GEO. B. BUNNELL,
SHOW BUSINESS
VETERAN, DEAD
(Contiued from Page IL


cry. Mr.. Bunnell, shorn of his mus
Barnumesque, stepped smilingly into
his carriage and was driven around
the ring salaaming right and left,
amid deafening applause.
This little entf acte continued
during the week or two that Mr..
Barnum was i'll and made Mr.. Bun
nell very solid gentleman with
the great circus man. For, notwith-
standing that upon the first night of
Mr.. Barnum's temperance he was
loudly Kissed and pronounced a fake,
while cries for the real thing went
up from thousand threats, Mr.. Bun
nell made a hit with him and they
became warm and constant compan-
ions
1t was in fact G. B. Bunnell who
helped BarnlIm win his second wife
1t happened in this wise: Nancy Fish.
who afterward became Mrs. Barnum.
was on her way over from England
to marry the bareback rider Of Bar
NUNS circus. The day she arrived
in New York, her lover died in New
Orleans. A consultation was held
among the ring performers, all of
whom had expected a grand blow
OUT on the occasion of the wedding.
Mr.. Barnum was made chairman of
the meeting and when he found that
Nancy Fish was the daughter Of an
old acquaintance Of his. he volunteer
ed to go as far as Pfttsburg to meet
her, that the news of the death of her
loer might be broken gently to her.
In the meantime there was flashed
over the wire news Of the burning of
his New York museum
With Mr.. BunneA he started north.
Half way between New Orleans and
P1ttsburg he was robbed of all his
money. amounting to four or five
n N 1n11
to his rescue, reserving from the
money he gave Mi. Barnum only
enough to carry him to New York
city.
1t was in the early eighties that the
men interested in the side show bust
ness began to look about for an op-
g'ortun1ty to keep their freaks and
other attractions busy through the
winter, when the circus was in winter
quarters, and the rise of the museum
Ter1od'' in this country began. Mr..
Brnnell was one of the first to see the
Advantages and opportunities in it and
soon was established in New York at
Nirth street and Broadway. He also
mad branches in Brooklyn and in
RockaWay Beach. Soon after he got
an option On an attraction known as
"Old London Streets, which was To-
Gated just opposite Trinity church. at
the corner of Wall street, in New
York. Mr.. Bunnell intended to turn
this antiquated show into an up-to-
date museum with the intention of es-
tao1sh1ng chain of museums to en-
able his attractions to "play time"
just as is the custom in the present
audeville circuits. The lessees of the
attraction refused to allow the char
acter the place to change. SO the op-
ton was surrendered
Mr.. Bunnell then secured control of
a museum in Buffalo, N Y. and soon
had chain of these houses From
the museum business into the legiti-
mate theatre enterprise was an easy
step. One of his first legitimate
theatres was the Halves Opera House
in this city, which he rented from the
Halves estate. He ran this theatre,
until as stated, he secured control of
the Hyperion in New Haven.
Mr.. Bunnel was man of much en-
terprise, hustle and energy and it was
these qualities that made him sue
cesSful in his chosen field.
The funeral arrangements completed
this afternoon provided for funeral
at Greens Farms, Saturday afternoon.
and burial in Mountain Grove Gene
terry. Bridgeport. Rev Livingstone
Wells. of Guilford, lifelong friend of
the deceased. will oficiate. The
knights Templar service will be held
at the grave.