Program: Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth Madison Square Garden, 1884 [red paper]

Program for P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth and Great London Circus, Sanger's Royal British Menagerie, and Grand International Allied Show performing at Madison Square Garden some time during 1884. Printed on red paper, the program features portraits of J.A. Bailey, P.T. Barnum, and J.L. Hutchinson at the top of the first page. Centered on the first page is the first part of the program of events. The program continues on page two, and page three features a list of Hippodrome races. The back of the program is dominated by an advertisement for a medical compound called Biliousine. Advertisements are placed throughout the program. Measures 19 by 13.5 inches. Unknown printer. 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.