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30427.

Circus, Webster, MA Main Street. Information from Fred Dahlinger: This is the Howes Great London Show, the vehicle a large tableau called the Car of Commerce. Seth B. Howes had a long circus career.  The tall wagon with the gilded elephant aloft was in England in 1870 and was brought here for the 1871 tour of Howes Great London, which was managed by nephews.  It was a great show but never made much profit.  It was sold at auction in Augusta, GA in January 1877.  The physical plant and such were eventually acquired by James A. Bailey and partner James E. Cooper and the consolidated property came out in 1879 as the Great London show.  This, in turn, was merged with the Barnum show in late 1880 and came out in 1881 as Barnum & Great London and morphed into Barnum & Bailey for 1888. Two less scrupulous operators, Jerry Mugivan and partner Bert Bowers, brought out the Van Amburgh show about 1904, re-cycling an old circus performer’s name. They then used a variation on the Howes name, calling it Howe’s [possessive] Great London Show for about 1908 and into the 1910s.

From William Slout, Olympians of the Sawdust Circle:

HOWES, SETH BENEDICT. (August 15, 1815-May 17, 1901) Native of Brewster, Putnam County, NY. Often called “the father of the American circus.” At age 11, accompanied his older brother, Nathan A. Howes, in exhibiting Hachaliah Bailey’s elephant, “Betty,” through New England. First performed, Howes & Turner, 1826; rider, Nathan A. Howes’, 1832-38; equestrian manager (also performed as the Peruvian Hunter or the South American Indian Chief, in daring attitudes with spear, shield, bow & arrow, war club, etc.), Howes & Sands’, 1834-35; scenic rider, Eagle Circus/Cole & Co., 1837; proprietor (with Enoch Yale and John Miller), Miller, Yale & Howes, 1838; rider, June, Titus, Angevine & Co., Bowery Amphitheatre, 1839; E. C. Yale & Co., 1840, Howes & Mabie (Nathan Howes, Edmund F. and Jeramiah Mabie, proprietors), 1841-46. Said to be the first to have a billboard made or to paste paper out of doors (previously, advertising paper was tacked up). With P. T. Barnum, imported the first herd of elephants, 10 in all, seen in the country, which proved to be a great attraction. Imported the first drove of camels, which were trained to work in harness. 1848, joined with his brothers Nathan and Jacob to launch the Great United States Circus, said to be the largest such enterprise yet seen in America. Joined with Barnum, Sherwood Stratton and Lewis B. Lent, 1851, to organize Barnum’s Great Asiatic Caravan, Museum and Menagerie, opened June 1, 1851, and toured for 4 years. Went to France, 1852, where he met Henry Franconi, proprietor of the Paris Hippodrome, and conceived the idea of bringing such an establishment to the United States, which opened May 1, 1853. Engaged the Siamese Twins, Eng and Chang, for a year’s tour, which proved a success. Took a circus, menagerie and museum on the road featuring Tom Thumb, 1855. Following year, in partnership with Joseph Cushing, took the Great United States Circus to England, where the show remained until 1864, a feature being a stud of 70 cream colored horses. While there, introduced an American Indian troupe, which proved to be a great novelty. In London, January 26, 1861, at age 45, married Amy Moseley, a 19 year old equestrienne. Had 2 daughters from an earlier relationship, probably with a Sophia Kolia, but it is unlikely there was a marriage. Returned to America, 1864, triumphantly with Seth B. Howes’ Great European Circus, featuring Crockett and his den of lions and a caravan of ornate pageant wagons which he had acquired there. Went into semi-retirement, 1865, when he sold the show to the “Flatfoots,” who continued operation through 1871. Returned to England, 1870, leaving February 2 on the steamer Iris with his twin nephews, Egbert and Elbert. Put together a show there and tried it out for a season. Like the earlier visit, during this venture he made deals with Lord George Sanger for a collection of rare animals and ornate pageant wagons as a parade feature. Also engaged a number of English and European performers for an 1871 USA tour. All this, animals, chariots, personnel, and some circus paraphernalia were transported across the Atlantic in time to open an American summer season. At age 56, retired and turned the Howes name over to Egbert and Elbert. [Stuart Thayer: Howes was “a true pioneer of the tented circus.”) He was a tight-fisted manager who was responsible for launching many arenic careers; a shrewd businessman, a master showman, and became the wealthiest circus proprietor in America, acquiring prime real estate in Chicago and accumulating railroad stocks which allowed him to retire with an immense fortune to a mansion on Turk’s Hill, Brewster, NY. And died there, age 86, one of the greatest showmen of the 19th century American circus.

HOWES, EGBERT CROSBY. (February 26, 1830-April 10, 1892) Son of Nathan Alva Howes and Clarissa Crosby Howes and twin brother of Albert Crosby Howes. Born in Brewster, NY, one of 13 children. As a youngster, traveled with his father’s circus and as a young man went to England with Uncle Seth’s circus, 1857. Became manager of Howes & Cushing, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In London, married equestrienne Jennie Maude Jee, 1859, and begot 4 children. Returned to the USA with Howes Great European, 1865; treasurer, James Nixon and Dan Castello’s, 1868; manager, during its famous trans-continental tour to the Pacific coast, 1869; 1870, with Uncle Seth’s show, returned to London and organized the Great American Circus and Menagerie; (with brother Elbert), proprietor, Howes’ Great London Circus, 1871-73, until James E. Kelley and Henry Barnum took it over. Following the sale, was connected with P. T. Barnum’s, Adam Forepaugh’s and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Remained in the circus business until his death in Brewster, NY, age 61. Died from pneumonia brought on by a severe cold.

HOWES, ELBERT CROSBY. (February 26, 1830-1900) Son of Nathan Alva Howes and twin brother of Egbert Crosby Howes. Born in Brewster, NY, one of 13 children. In his youth, traveled with his father’s circus, and later went to England with his uncle Seth’s Great United States Circus, 1857. Active in the procurement of exotic animals for the concern; in Ceylon, acquired “some of the finest elephants ever exhibited”; 1871, became proprietor (with Egbert), Howes’ Great London Circus, a management which continued until James E. Kelley and Henry Barnum took over sometime in 1873. This ended Elbert’s circus activity. He settled in Brewster and focused attention toward politics; but an ambition to become a member of the New York State Assembly was never fulfilled. Occupied a 5 year position of town supervisor and, following, was the gate keeper of the Drewville Reservoir. Married Caroline Tanner of Danbury, CT, 1856. Following her death, 1867, married Melissa Tillotson.

30429.

Unidentified Fair. Banners for Side Show Freaks.