Program: The Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth official program for Nasuha, New Hampshire, July 3, 1893 [red paper]

Program for the The Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth official program for Nashua, New Hampshire, July 3, 1893. Printed on red paper, the Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth letterhead is at the top. Said letterhead features a portrait of P.T. Barnum on the left and J.A. Bailey on the right, and the name The Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth between them. Information about expenses and location of HQ is printed on the left side of Barnum, and information about the extent of the circus is printed on the right side of Bailey. Beneath them are advertisements, as well as part one of the official program of events that continues on page two. That page is dominated by the rest of the program, as well as information about the outside museum. The program continues on page three. The back of the page tells the reader to WAIT FOR THE CONCERT in large letters, but also includes the last part of the program which describes the performance of Imre Kiralfy's Columbus, and the Discovery of America. Advertisements are placed throughout. Measures 18 by 12 inches. Unknown printer. Imre Kiralfy (originally Königsbaum) (January 1845-April 28, 1919) was a Hungarian born producer of spectacles, with a number of his elaborate productions being put on by the Barnum and Bailey circus. Originally working to produce shows with his brother Bolossy, the two put on what were known as spectacles - elaborately staged multi-media productions with music, lavish costuming, massive sets, dancing, extensive use of new electrical lighting, and minimal emphasis on dialogue. The two had a successful partnership, but split in 1887 following a falling out for reasons unknown. Imre went on to produce shows like Nero; or the Fall of Rome, Columbus and the Discovery of America and The Fall of Babylon that toured as a part of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Kiralfy died in Brighton, England on April 28, 1919. Barnum is best known for his involvement with the circus that bore his name, but his circus ventures came about when he was in his 60s. The first show was called P.T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus. Railroads propelled the circus to success, making it easier to reach a number of locations, and the intake was significant. Barnum then opened the New York Hippodrome with similar acts. In the 1880s, he encountered competition from other circuses. A merger between Barnum's show and the Great London Show of Cooper, Bailey, and Hutchinson formed the Barnum and London Circus. Negotiations in 1887 formed the Barnum and Bailey circus. The name remained until 1919 when it became the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. It came to an end in May 2017 when the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus ceased performances after 146 years.