Evening star., 1943-06-20
Early Circus Days in Washington
BY John Clagett Proctor.

; BY John Clagett Proctor.
Some people never grow out Of the
habit of seeing every circus that comes
to town, regardless Of the expense, but
generally speaking the older folk feel
that they have seen about all there Is
to be seen along this line and are glad
TO sit back and let the younger genera
ton enjoy the show-and eat the pea
nuts, too.
But by no means have the seniors for
gotten the circus of their younger days
when P. T. Barnum, with his Greatest
Show on Earth" came to Washington
and paraded along some Of its main
streets. And Forepaugh's Circus must
not be omitted either.
Just when the first circus came to this
city, is question the writer is unable
to answer but this form of amusement
evidently grew out Of our early fairs,
which were said to have been held ito
amuse the country folk and draw custom
to the city," and these forms Of enter
tainment were held on the Mall, where
are now the Smithsonian grounds, from
about the time the Federal Government
was moved to Washington from Phila-
delphia in 1900.
"The Amphitheater"
At very early date-probably around
1820-a brick building is said to have
been erected on the south side of C
street between John Marshall place and
Sixth street for use as theater during
the summer months and circus during
the wintertime, and we are told 1t was
80 constructed that the sawdust arena
could be transformed into stage at any
time, and here for number of years
was the headquarters of Walkers Great
Southern Circus, when it was not on the
road.
The circus companies were then COM
paratively insignificant, as one would
imagine and often the performers were
called upon to put up and take down
the canvas, drive the teams and do other
stunts of similar character.
About 1880 the building was given the
name "The Amphitheater," and later the
property was taken over by Walker &,
Kimmel, who converted the lower por-
ton OF the building into the National
Livery Stables and made public hall
out of the upper story. The Amphi-
theater was also used for several years
for combined theatrical and circus per-
formances and here Joe Jefferson OF
Rip Van Wrinkle fame, and his father
and mother held up the theatrical part
of the show while the mother occupied
her spare time mending the circus per-
formers costumes. This old building
was removed during the summer of 1898.
In the early days circus performances
were held as near the center Of the city
as possible, and so, in April 1s46, we find
Howe's Circus erecting its tents on the
Mall between Seventh and Eighth
streets, "and near the Seventh street
canal bridge" Incidentally, the press
said that the performances were OF the
very first order, and the newspapers car
ried the following advertisement:
"HoWE'S CIRCUS
From Palmo's Opera House, New York.
Opened on Monday, April 13
Positively for Six Nights Only,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and
SATURDAY
Afternoon Performances With the
greatest female equestrian in the
world, Nine. Marie Macarte,
Whose wonderful and most admiring
riding has called forth deafening
shouts braves, huzzas and applause
from houses nightly crowded to excess
with the beauty and fashion OF New
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore,
and who has held the honor Of
appearing before Louis Philippe
and Queen Victoria, and the COM
bined courts of England and France.
and by them acknowledged the first
equestrienne of the age.
Dan Rice, the Prince of Clowns,
whose lively and grotesque delinea-
tions of Shakespearean characters has
gained for him the appellation OF the
Shakespearean Clown, is engaged and
will appear each evening.
Together with the most brilliant
combination of horsemanship, vault
ing, acrobatic and gymnastic feats.
etc., ever presented to the citizens Of
the District.
Price of admission, rs cents.
Doors open IN. Commence at 8
o'clock"