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Showmen & Promoters

“Men, women, and children who cannot live on gravity alone need something to satisfy their gayer, lighter moods and hours, and he who ministers to this want is, in my opinion, in a business established by the Creator of our nature. If he worthily fulfills his mission and amuses without corrupting, he need never feel that he has lived in vain.”–P. T. Barnum

Showmen and impresarios– without them there are no shows. From the granddaddy of American showmen, Phineas Taylor Barnum, to such modern day legends as Ward Hall, showmen are an essential element of the show.

Performers in this category:

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Robert Ripley Autographed Photo

Added Dec 25 2024

Charlie Lucas at Hubert’s Museum

Added Oct 20 2024

Andy Potato Chips with Charlie Lucas at Hubert’s Museum

Added Oct 20 2024

Tintype of Sharp Operator & His Puppy

Added Sep 1 2024

P.T. Barnum, 1888

Added Aug 20 2023

Lew Alter’s Sideshow Group with Schlitzie

Added Jul 29 2020

RAY MARSH BRYDON’s Store Show, 1946

Added Dec 17 2019

Lala Coolah, The Showman, in 1913

Added Jun 3 2019

World Circus Side Show Season Pass Signed By Sam Wagner

Added Mar 4 2019

Singer’s Congress of Human Freaks Letterhead

Added Nov 6 2016

Mr. & Mrs. Tex Cooper, Showman and Midget Wife

Added Nov 5 2016

P.T. Barnum’s Museum Fires Postcard

Added Apr 17 2016

Sarkis & Sterling Double-S Museum

Added Sep 7 2015

Duke Mills Business Card

Added Jul 22 2015

Clyde Ingalls & Daisy Doll

Added Jul 13 2015

Nate Eagle

Added Mar 25 2015

Robert Ripley

Added Feb 25 2015

Farini, “El Niño” and Madame Farini

Added Oct 18 2014

Barnum’s Museum Frozen After Fire

Added Oct 12 2014

Mademoiselle Ernestein

Added Oct 12 2014

Mlle. Ernestine, Souvenir

Added Oct 12 2014

Barnum, 1857

Added Oct 12 2014

Standing Barnum

Added Oct 7 2014

P.T. Barnum

Added Oct 7 2014

Barnum in about 1880

Added Oct 6 2014

P.T. Barnum, 1889

Added Oct 6 2014

P.T. Barnum, by “Mora”

Added Oct 6 2014

P.T. Barnum

Added Oct 6 2014

Barnum’s American Museum Postal Cover

Added Oct 6 2014

Barnum’s Dream

Added Oct 6 2014

P.T. Barnum Portrait & Autograph

Added Oct 6 2014

P.T. Barnum & Commodore Nutt

Added Oct 5 2014

Barnum’s Hobby

Added Oct 5 2014

P.T. Barnum Is Dead.

Added Oct 5 2014

Captain Paul Boyton (4 Pages)

Added Jul 27 2014

Captain Paul Boyton

Added Jul 27 2014

Porter’s Freak Animal Show

Added Mar 16 2014