The Nelson Supply House

Of the old time gaff makers' creations, The Nelson Supply House's "Mummified Curiosities" are among the most gruesomely beautiful, most fully conceived attractions ever sold. The imagination and quality which went into creating them allowed Nelson to sell his creations "C.O.D. with the privilege of examination"(1). But proprietor William "Billy" Nelson didn't just sell you a $25 papier-mâché gaff— he sold you a whole show. Supplying the banners, a scripted pitch, and the attraction itself, Nelson generated a whole business for the showman.