Hometown History # 86: A Circus Comes to Town--1894

Pre-Internet, pre-TV, pre-radio, and pre-film, the circus coming to town was a pretty big deal. And the traveling shows, proliferated in number and variety, bringing novelty, knowledge, and maybe a hint of sinfulness to the little towns they visited.

In late August of 1894, a large ad in the Franklin Sentinel helped build the excitement with all manner of extravagant claims:

60 ACROBATS 30 HURRICANE RIDERS 5 MILITARY BANDS A REGIMENT OF CLOWNS ENOUGH TRAINED ANIMALS ALONE TO EQUIP A BIG MENAGERIE – THE FINEST HORSES OF ANY SHOW ON EARTH

IN OUR THREE RINGS 3 ELEVATED STAGES and HALF MILE HIPPODROME TRACK

You will see everything you ever saw before at a Circus but more than has ever been presented to the American Public by any show but this

DON’T MISS THE PARADE 10:30 AM – Will Exhibit at Franklin, Wednesday August 29.

The Sentinel’s coverage the next day was a little more measured in its language...

* * * * *

The Circus

The circus has come and gone. The animals roared, the horses pranced, the boys exclaimed and the cold cash was carted out of town early the next morning

The circus train of 23 cars arrived at Nason’s crossing early Wednesday morning. A crowd of curiosity seekers watched the unloading. The street parade started around 11 a.m. and was followed by the crowd up Central and down Main street.

All the animals looked as though they were well fed and well cared for. The main tent was a large one with plenty of room for a large crowd to see and be seen.

The show gave general satisfaction. The Japanese troupe, the slack rope act and the trapeze business were attractive features, and an experienced professor of music pronounced the band above the average of circus organizations....

A separate news item added some further context

The Game Stopped Suddenly

Wednesday officers Bent and Nickerson walked into a tent in the rear of the main canvas at the circus ground where a gambling game had been in progress, but no game was going on when they entered and the man in charge denied that any such business was carried on there until he was told that it is easy to hear conversation through a canvas. The man who claimed to be the proprietor of the establishment was told that the reputation of the concern had come to town in advance of the show and gambling would not be allowed. There was no further trouble.