Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-02-07
SIDE LIGHTS on the
CIRCUS BUSINESS
lE1ET1uw-l T1I7--17Tz

G.. N. Thompson, one Of the best
known showmen in America, died at
his home on Friday night Of heart
trouble He was sixty-one years old.
! Mr.. Thompson was born December
Is, 1856 at Marseilles, ILL.,, where he
attended the public school. He be-
came identified with outdoor shows at
an early period in his life and re-
manned in that profession continuously
until the time of his death only two
months after the close of the season
of 1917, which he finished with Ring
ling Brothers circus at Memphis,
Tenn, November 5, apparently in the
best of health.
| Mr.. Thompson has been identified
with the following circuses as claim
agent, adjuster, or on the business
staff: S. B. Barrett, Doris & Robin, w.
w. Cole, Adam Forepaugh, Sells Bros,
IForepaugh & Sells Bros, Ben Wallace,
| Hagenbeck, Pawnee Bill, Buffalo Bill
and Ringing Brothers. His longest
period of service was with the Sells
Brothers Shows as assistant manager
and later as general manager, having
had charge Of the concern on its we'll
known trip to Australia, the first big
American circus to cross the ocean.
| At the termination Of the season in
November, Mr.. Thompson returned TO
his home at Saratosa. He enjoyed his
homecoming in his usual, happy man
ner, and especially the fishing in Sara
lsota bay, spending much of his time
the first four days after his return in
this manner. On the fifth day after his
arrival he was taken suddenly i'll, and
gradually failed until the end, which
came on Friday night, January 4.
Mr.. Thompson was unquestionably
one Of the most popular showmen the
outdoor world ever knew. Though his
earnings were great, he was OF that
typs which finds utmost satisfaction
in succoring to the needs OF others,
and it was a by-word Of the arena that
"Charley Thompson never turned any
body away"
|, He was charter member OF the
Showmen's League CT America, evlnc-
! ing an unwavering interest in the Or
ganization from the time Of its 1ncep-
ton. He was an Elk a Shriner and
32nd degree Mason.
He is survived by his wife, a son,
IRussel, who is in the navy, daugll-
ter, Mrs Alton Shinn, and a brother.
He was married at Morris, ILL.,, in 1884.
Interment was at Sarasota under
the auspices of the various Masonic
iorders of the city.
During Mr.. Thompson's long career
| in the business but few people posi-
blv have been closer to him than |. 1t
was back in the early sos with the
old Adam FOrepaugh show that Charlie
THOMPSON and I became fast friends
and although | drifted away from the
business years ago, we have kept III
touch with each other all these years
land it was about in 1904 that Charlie
Thompson associated himself with the
Hagenbeck circus and built up the nrst
IHagenbeck show in this country, and
the following season was its manager.
It was along during that summer that
the Hagenbeck show first exhibited III
GAINESVILLE, being located on what was
first known as the old Burr ROBBINS
farm It was there that | spent a day
with him. and as Charlie Thompson
was the manager he was always the
first on the lot in the morning and the
last one away at night, for he never
left the show grounds until the last
wagon had been put away. This was
the time that l babe my friend good
night.
MY next long visit with Charlie was
a. year ago last summer, when the
Ringing show exhibited in GAINESVILLE
: and acSer the afternoon show L was
Charles guest at dinner, and after
;? ward we found secluded place III
the shade near the main entrance
where for more than two hours we
: visited over the old days.
It was along near time for the even
ing show to open when two young men
appeared, neither Of them possibly
Emore than twenty years of age, and
the older one said, eve are looking
for a man by the name of Mr.. Thomp
SON."
| Charlie said, "Well, that's my name
what can I do for you?" The older
one being the spokesman said: "This
. morning one of your big wagons was
going from the grounds when they
turned short corner and one of the
long poles turned around and struck
the top of my automobile and we think
you ought to pay for it." 'Well, young
men," said Thompson, "we will agree
on that; any damage that we do to-
!, day we should pay for and are willing
, to-" After being shown the machine
and the damage that had been done
Mr.. Thompson asked how much they
thought that he ought to pay. They
told him that they would be perfectly
! satisfied with $500, as they thought
that it would be plenty to repair the
damage and Mr. Thompson immediate
" handed him his money and took a
! receipt, and the young men thanked
him. saving that this was a quick and