Ivan S. and William R. Snapp, with Backing from showman Clarence Wortham, their brother-in-law, joined forces to create Snapp Brothers Shows
There is no archive of Snapp Bros. Shows documentation known to exist. What little information does exist is as follows:
Belle Snapp married Clarence A. Wortham, a great railroad carnival owner in the early 20th century. Wortham got the nickname “The Little Giant,” but as to how, remains somewhat of a mystery.
Her two brothers, Ivan S. and William R. Snapp, joined their brother-in-law in the carnival business, becoming ride men in his employ in 1914. They were with ‘Wortham’s Great Alamo Shows’ in 1918 and 1919. The brothers banked their earnings, investing a reported $80,000 to $100,000 in their entirely new ‘Snapp Bros. Shows’ for 1921. Clarence A. Wortham, who passed away in 1922, was a major investor in the framing of the Snapp Brothers Carnival.
Announced as a 20-car outfit, a railroad contract set the size at fifteen cars in May 1921. It grew to 25 cars in 1922, cutting back to 20 in 1926 and 1927. Snapp Brothers, like so many other carnivals, was killed off by the Great Depression. Widower
Belle Snapp Wortham, their sister, put a thirteen-car Snapp property up for sale in early 1930. No buyer identity has been found, and whether it was sold as one lot or piecemeal is unknown.
Photographic coverage of the Snapp operation is rare. One view of the show train is in Billboard, October 18, 1924, page 86, with a portrait of the brothers and later midway views in a 1933 or later issue of the generic circus and carnival program titled “Circus Magazine.” A photo postcard of Dick O Brien’s Jazzland Minstrels in 1928 is the only other photo out there.
What you see here are personal photos from a private photo album that came into the possession of the museum a while back. These eight photos (of 25) are part of the only known photographs of this show, a show like so many others, that has faded into the dim obscurity of history and might well have been lost for all time if it hadn’t been for the insight and generosity of the donor.
Now they will live on, educating and amazing the future generations that will follow behind us.
Enjoy them, they are only a part of the personal collection of the Byers family that spanned their lives around various shows for many years. We are privileged to have them.
May 12, 1926: FROM THE LAFAYETTE DAILY ADVERTISER – CARNIVAL AT THE FAIRGROUNDS
CARNIVAL OPENED TUESDAY NIGHT AT FAIR GROUNDS
Here is an example of a newspaper article for Snapp Brothers:
“The Firemen’s Carnival got underway Tuesday night at the Fair Grounds here, with a good sized crowd on hand to enjoy the attractions furnished by the Snapp Brothers Shows.
Delayed in arriving here, due to remaining at Lake Charles a day longer than had been planned on account of the successful engagement staged in that city, the Snapp Brothers Shows did not reach here until Monday night and it was necessary to do some fast work in order to have the opening Tuesday night. With the exception of a few attractions, however, the shows and riding devices were ready for Tuesday night, and by tonight the management states that everything will be in readiness.
Snapp Brothers carry a large number of attractions and these attracted much interest Tuesday night when amusement seekers visited the different features along the big midway.
The newspaper carrier boys for the DAILY ADVERTISER are to be special guests of the carnival management tonight and will be given free admission to the various features.
Bill Geyer, in his cloud swing act is furnishing thrills as the free at traction set for 10:00 o’clock each night at the Fair Grounds.
The carnival from which the local fire department is to receive a share of the proceeds, is to continue each night this week and also Sunday night.”
