Early Forms of Entertainment In America

January 18, 2014 By Editor

International Independent Showmen’s Museum Keeps Early Form of Entertainment Alive

History of Traveling Shows In America

Long ago, when the country was still young and everything was infinitely possible, mile-long railroad trains loaded with colorful wagons full of exotic mysteries traveled through the darkness of night bringing the only form of entertainment that many in early America would ever experience.

Remembering this important part of Americana and the interesting people who spent their lives being a part of it is what the International Independent Showmen’s Museum is all about. It is a museum that showcases those early forms of entertainment in America. As the talker standing on the bally stage would have told you “The Big Show is On The Inside.”

Come visit me and see firsthand, the real history of traveling shows in America and the mark that all the hard working people left here in the Tampa Bay, Gibsonton and Riverview, Florida area at The International Independent Showmen’s Museum.

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International Independent Showmens Museum

When Lash Larue's western movie acting career ran out, like many of Hollywood's faded western stars, he took his bullwhip on the road, traveling with circuses, carnivals and Wild West shows.
Here's a photo of his western show over on the Royal American midway.
A little known fact : It was Lash Larue who taught Harrison Ford his skills with a bullwhip for all the Indiana Jones movies. ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago ·

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International Independent Showmens Museum

Fire has always been the most fearful thing on a carnival or circus. An errant spark, a relaxed cigarette or briefly unattended flame could cause an out of control conflagration on any show, especially in the old days.
Canvas was waterproofed with a mixture of gasoline and paraffin, sawdust and straw were routinely spread on a midway to wick off moisture and present a pleasant avenue for customers to walk on. Rail cars, rides, and wagons were made primarily of aged wood which was usually covered in layers of dried oil-based enamel paint.
Lighting in the coaches was provided by the flame from a smokey kerosene lamp and when it turned cold, heat in the cars was produced from a red hot, coal or wood burning stove.
Sparks and hot ash routinely rained down from the old wood and coal-fired steam locomotives onto the roof of the coaches and wagons riding on the wooden flats and the moving cars were force-fed oxygen as they sped through the wind. The friction of the cars steel wheels against the rails, especially on a curve, sent hot sparks flying that often looked like a 4th of July celebration.
Older friction bearings on the cars running gear often ran dry of lubrication causing flaming 'hot boxes' that if not quickly noticed by someone, would result in the loss of several cars before the train could be stopped.
There's no explanation of how this car fire occurred in the Ziedman & Pollie shows sleeper 'Portsmouth' in 1917 but it looks like an accidental interior fire. Although it was strictly against the rules on most shows, people routinely used gasoline stoves to heat coffee and cook their food over the jumps in their staterooms and everybody smoked cigarettes or cigars in those days.
It's a testament to the cautious preventive habits of the old timers that these disastrous fires didn't happen even more often than they did. ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago ·

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Early Forms of Entertainment In America

International Independent Showmen’s Museum Keeps Early Form of Entertainment Alive

History of Traveling Shows In America

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