Cash Miller

Cassius Webster Miller, known as Cash Miller or C. W. Miller, was a well-known sideshow, girl show, animal show, and store show operator. He was born December 1, 1897, in Manchester, New Hampshire. His death certificate says he was born on March 13, 1899, but the 1900 US Census lists him as 2 years old that year. His father was Willard J Miller, and his mother Alice C Miller (Alice Sargent).
The first mention we find of Miller is in 1923, when he was an outside talker for The Wade & May Shows. In 1925 he is a talker on World at Home Shows for motordome “Dare-Devil” Walter Kemp’s show.
Cash had his Miller’s Modern Museum, a store show from 1930-1934. In January 1930 The Billboard reported he was doing great business in St. Louis, Missouri with this store show:
When The Billboard representative visited the museum Thursday there were the following attractions on the various platforms: “Ho Jo”, Bear Boy; ‘Scotty Kean” Scotch bagpiper; Frank Zorda,”magical slicker”; “Determination Eddie”, handless wonder; Edna-George [half-and-half]; “Alfred” the Alligator Boy; “Sailor Joe,” the noted tattooed man; [wild man] Hoz Wheeler “Haba Haba,” and Zip and Pip,” Patagonian pigmies. The executive staff consists of Cash Miller, manager; Doc Cox, Inside lecturer; Mrs. Cash Miller, inside matron; “Scottie” Kean, smoke artist; Herbie Mayo, front door, and Owen Webb, orator. “Candy” Sabbath has been doing the booking and advance work for the museum, which travels in five trucks and seven passenger cars, and the personnel consists of 22 people.Also in 1934 Cash managed the Ripley’s Believe-It-Or-Not traveling show after the closing of the Odditorium at The Century of Progress. The show utilized most of the top-tier sideshow performers from the fair. In 1935 and 1937 he brought a slightly different version of the Ripley’s show to the Rubin & Cherry Exposition. Cash had the sideshow for Beckmann & Gerety Shows in 1935. He ran a pit show with “Odd People” for Sol’s Liberty Shows, had the sideshow on Royal Palm Shows in 1937, and managed the sideshow for Marks Shows in 1938. Cash managed and ran the sideshow for Prell’s Broadway Shows and Endy Brothers-Prell Shows from 1939 and all through the 1940s. Sometime in the 1940s Cash also operated the well-known tourist attraction Miami Rare Bird Farm in the off-season. The business functioned as both a tourist attraction and as a dealer for monkeys, birds, snakes, and other animals to the trade. Cash also managed Ray Marsh Brydon’s Side Show at Savin Rock Amusement Park in 1948. His wife Gertie Miller operated girl shows along with her husband. Cash frequented Gibsonton, Florida in the off-seasons in his later years, and died in Tampa on May 9, 1966.
Related Images
THIS CONTENT IS RESTRICTED TO SUBSCRIBERS
Join now or LOG IN to view this content, you won’t be disappointed!