1902 - Circus Comes to Town

On Saturday June 28, 1908, the newspaper ad appeared in the Hamilton dailies. The circus would be coming to Hamilton on July 11.

The copy for the ad, which echoed the boasts appearing on posters which had gone up across the city, touted that the circus was “Earth’s Largest Show” :

“Adam Forepaugh, Sells Brothers – Enormous Show United

‘America’s Only Metropolitan Shows. An absolutely exact duplicate of the performances given at Madison Square Garden by these, the only shows big enough or good enough to exhibit in the Metropolis, and the Only Circuses, Menageries and Hippodromes that ever have or do exhibit in New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and other Eastern cities.”¹

¹ Hamilton Spectator.     June 28, 1902.

Besides the ‘All Star Clowns, Reigning Equestrian Queens and the 4 Herds of Elephants’ promised, special highlight was placed on the Loop the Loop on a Bicycle act, by Diavolo, a ‘Desperate Daredevil, Deriding Danger, Defying Death.’¹

Finally the poster and newspaper ads promised a ‘Grand, New, Free Street Parade.’

 Crowds started to appear along the published procession route of the circus on Friday, July 11, 1902:

“Forepaugh & Bells Brothers’ big circus came to town today, and the city took on a holiday appearance. The streets were crowded from early morning.”²

² “Many Thousands at Circus : And Greater Crowds Likely at Tonight’s Performance : A Fine Street Pageant”

Hamilton Times.  July 11, 1902.

However, when the advertised time for the procession to begin arrived, there was no parade. A rumor circulated that maybe the parade had been cancelled.

What was happening involved the circus management refusing to pay $100 to the city of Hamilton for a permit. The circus people claimed that the circus was being presented outside of the city limits, and that a permit was not needed. Inspector Brick noted that the circus needed to be supplied with water from city hydrants close to the site of the circus, and that the parade was indeed on city property. He was quoted as saying, ‘No pay, no procession, and no city water.’²

The circus managers’ attempt to avoid municipal permit requirements was standard business for them whatever city they visited. While the negotiations were behind closed doors, the circus men claimed that they did not have $100 in cash, and ultimately they consulted with Mr. C.K. Green, traction manager with the Hamilton Street Railway who agreed to put up the money.  $100 cash was handed to Inspector Brick with the commitment that it would be repaid to the HSR immediately after the days’ revenues from the box office were totaled.

From the Hamilton Spectator, July 12, 1902:

“The Forepaugh-Bells Bros.’ circus arrived here this morning, and the usual army of small boys was on hand to see just how the cars were unloaded and the big show put under canvas. So perfect is the organization that it doesn’t take long, and the average citizen is surprised at the way things are done.

“Those who were not curious to see the tents pitched were on hand early to see the procession. The crowds commenced to gather shortly after 9 o’clock, and they kept getting bigger and bigger.

“There was considerable consternation when it was rumored that the procession had been called off because of trouble with the civic authorities over the fees, but soon the bands were heard and in a short time, the procession was in sight. It was a very long procession, there being a large number of mounted men, prettily decorated wagons, chariots, elephants, and last, but not least, the steam calliope.

“There was nothing cheap about the procession. The horses were sleek and well-groomed, and the wagons were well-kept. There were not many open wagons. The procession made a very favorable impression.”²

There were two performances of the circus that day, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Both were very well-attended. The fronting of the required $100 by the HSR ensured that the performances went ahead. The loan was quickly repaid as receipts for both performances totaled well-over $20,000. The HSR also benefitted. While it may have lost some revenue when procession occupied the city streets, blocking the street cars, the loss would have been more than recouped by the fares paid by those taking the HSR along Barton street to the grounds and back.