Early Carnivals Archives - Traveling Carnival History, American Circus History, Sideshow History, and more . . .

Traveling Carnival History, American Circus History, Sideshow History, and more . . .

Old Carnival Photos, Carnival History, Circus History, Traveling Shows

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Traveling Show History
- Traveling Carnivals In America Brought Earliest Form of Entertainment
  - Patent Medicine Shows
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    - The Butterfly Circus
History Of The American Carnival
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Carnival Show Owner Biographies
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Old Carnival Midway Photos
Carnival Midway Shows

After The Chicago World’s Fair In 1893

March 7, 2026 By Editor

TRAVELING CARNIVAL … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals

FRANK GASKILL

March 3, 2026 By Editor

Frank Gaskill Biography from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Carnival Show Owner Biographies, Early Carnivals

JOSEPH G. FERARI

March 1, 2026 By Editor

Show Owner Joseph G. Ferari … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Carnival Show Owner Biographies, Early Carnivals

VICTOR DAVID LEVITT

February 28, 2026 By Editor

Victor D. Levitt — Pioneer … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Carnival Show Owner Biographies, Early Carnivals

Snapp Brothers Shows

January 25, 2026 By Editor

Ivan S. and William R. Snapp, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals

World Of Mirth Shows

January 22, 2026 By Editor

The World of Mirth Shows … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals

Crafts 20 Big Shows

February 26, 2015 By Editor

Crafts 20 Big Shows Legacy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals

The Great Johnny J. Jones, an Early “Master Showman”

October 23, 2012 By Editor

Johnny J. Jones An Early … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals Tagged With: carnival, circus, Johnny J.Jones, showman

The Death of The “Arabian Giantess”

April 10, 2012 By Editor

Story By Doc Rivera Many … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals

Greater Show World Magazine

April 6, 2012 By Editor

Greater Show World … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Circus History, Early Carnivals

Books About Gibtown

Gibtown, Through The Camera Lens of Diana Phillips Book – Gibtown, Through The Lens of Diana Phillips

Carnival

John Dillinger's Car An short story in the site Sideshow World

Carnival and Circus Links

Buckles Blog Spot An interesting site full of carnival and circus information and photos from the past to present day.
Carousel World worlds leading collectors, and foremost authorities on antique carousels and carousel art.
Circus Blog A cool site loaded with historical information about the circus and carnival.
Circus Historical Society Circus Historical Society
Greater Show World….The Voice Of Show Business 1936 An amazing old magazine full of articles describing the Show Business Midways of 1936.
http://dick-dykes.blogspot.com/ A nifty site filled to the brim with cool videos, great stories and pictures.
National Carousel Association Index of North American Carousels
Sawdust and Spangles This is a great site for circus historians and circus model builders.

Carnival and Circus Museums

C. W. Parker Carousel Museum 1901 C.W. Parker Carousel Museum
Carnival World Museum American Carnival History Cultural Museum
Circus Historical Society Circus Historical Society
Circus World Museum Baraboo Wisconsin Circus History Museum
Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum Carousel History Museum
The Carousel Museum Carousel History Museum
The Ringling Circus Museum Ringling Cuircus Museum

Carnival and Circus Research Sources

Billboards Online at World Radio History Billboards from 1894 – 1921
New York Clipper New York Clipper Trade Paper – Carnival, Circus, Theater, Music
Old "Billboard Magazines" From A Bygone Era Old Billboard Magazines Starting From 1942 Featuring Ads And Stories From The Sawdust Trails Of The Times

Carnival Organizationa and Associations

Gibtown Bike Week I I S A and Showman’s Shrine Club sponsors Gibtown Bike Week Annually
International Independent Showmen's Association International Independent Showmens Associationor IISA, Gibsonton

Carnival, Circus, and Gibsonton Images

USF Showmen's Museum Photograph Collection USF Digital Collection of images portraying the life and times of American Carnival and Circus including Gibsonton

Side Show History

Carny World A link to some sideshow history and “freaks”
Shocked And Amazed Sideshow Seen Through A Modern Lens
Side Show World A site for great stories, photos and links to the backend of the midways of America
The Human Marvels A collection of historical “freaks” and brief discriptions of their histories

USF Showmen's History

Showmen's Oral History Project Andy Huse, assistant librarian in USF Tampa Library Special Collections, interviews association members involved in circuses, rodeos, and carnivals. Home-based in Gibsonton, Florida, the Showmen’s Association interviews document the careers of various sho
USF Showmen's Museum Photograph Collection USF Digital Collection of images portraying the life and times of American Carnival and Circus including Gibsonton

Magic Acts

Midway Magic Acts – Houdini and Hilliar Were Great Friends William J. Hilliar was a magician and author who edited Billboard‘s “Magic and Magicians” page for many years. He was also close friends with Houdini. “That friendship will always stand out as one of the dominating factors in my life,” said Hilliar. In 1933, Hilliar […]

Carnivals

After The Chicago World’s Fair In 1893

TRAVELING CARNIVAL HISTORY Showmen packed up their belongings, hooked up their wagons, and went back to the life they had before, and everything could have ended at that point for the populace of the carnival world. If anyone had Vegas Odds for the success of traveling carnivals at that time, nobody in their right mind […]

Carnival Movies

Showbiz And The Big Screen

Hollywood And The Midway Movies Come To The Tented World If you’re like me, you love old films that have anything to do with ‘The Biz’. Victor Mature is great in the 1959 classic: The Big Circus which is an example of a little known Hollywood gem. Elvis Presley in Roustabout features colorful scenes from the […]