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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HAROLD A. BUSHEA

September 2, 2026 By Editor

Early Carnival Contracting … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals

MARY LOU OSTERSTOCK GASKILL

September 2, 2026 By Editor

Early Carnival Owner and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals, Early Pioneer

American Amusement Company

September 1, 2026 By Editor

The Short-Lived Show That … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals

FRANK “HARRY” SOURBECK — Young Pioneer of the American Midway

September 1, 2026 By Editor

A Young Showman at the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals, Early Pioneer

PROFESSOR MCMILLIN

June 16, 2026 By Editor

Professor Albert Alexander … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Carnival Show Owner Biographies, Early Carnivals

GEORGE FRANCIS DORMAN

June 14, 2026 By Editor

From Circus Performer to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Carnival Show Owner Biographies, Early Carnivals

BENJAMIN “BEN” WILLIAMS

June 4, 2026 By Editor

The Barber Who Built a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Carnival Show Owner Biographies, Early Carnivals

ED A. EVANS

May 6, 2026 By Editor

ED A. Evans Greater … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals

Canton Carnival Company

May 5, 2026 By Editor

Frank Gaskill created the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Carnivals

Carnival and Circuses Traveled From City To City By Truck

May 5, 2026 By Editor

Early Days Moving Carnival … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 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

HAROLD A. BUSHEA

Early Carnival Contracting Agent, Manager, and General Director Harold A. Bushea belongs among the important figures of the formative American traveling midway not because his name appeared above the title of a famous carnival, but because he helped make the organization behind one of those early carnivals work. Before entering the carnival business, Bushea was […]

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 […]