Program: P.T. Barnum's Daily Show Program for Boston, Mass., 1876

Program entitled P.T. Barnum's Daily Show Program intended for Boston in 1876. At the top of the program is the text, with a portrait of P.T. Barnum between the words Daily Show and Programme. Below Barnum is a depiction of the exterior of the circus, with crowds beginning to move towards the tents. In the center is the start of the program itself, which continues on pages two and three. All of the program is surrounded by ads. Page four is entirely advertising, and page five focuses on a buffalo chase by six young chiefs as well as other elements of the show and the promise of a concert. The back of the page features a depiction of chariot races around the track within the circus, along with additional advertisements. 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.