Newspaper advertisement for P. T. Barnum's Great Roman Hippodrome opening at the Back Bay in Boston, Massachusetts, and stated to "occupy four blocks." This item may have been printed as a newspaper insert, though the particular newspaper is unknown. It includes the program for August 3, 1874. The four-page document is largely composed of advertisements for a diverse array of products, from clothing to pianos and window shades, but also contains an enlightening column written by Barnum himself (page 2). In it he discusses the reasons behind his "bigger and better" approach, viewed by others as very risky, his desire to provide moral entertainment to the masses, and his view of himself as a reformer. The year, 1874, is early in his circus career, having entered into partnerships with William C. Coup and Dan Castello just three years before. Prior to his involvement with the circus, he was the proprietor of Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway in New York City, from 1842 to 1868. The top of the page features an illustration of the Hippodrome itself, showing an elongated oval surrounded by spectators in the stands. The Hippodrome was said to accommodate a crowd of 10,000. Horses and chariots are shown racing around the oval track, and separately, another group of racing horses that may be the famous stallions Barnum advertised. The main text on the front page lists all of the acts that were part of The Great Congress of Nations. Barnum acquired this "spectacle" show from George Sanger of Sanger's Great London Circus.
