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- Hasselback Family Acrobats, 1882 - Professional photographers began producing cabinet cards in 1867. Consumers quickly preferred them over earlier cartes-de-visite, which were mounted on smaller cardboard stock. Through the early 1900s, Americans commonly exchanged and collected cabinet photographs of family, friends and celebrities. This 1882 example features the Hasselbacks, a family of acrobatic performers.
- 1882
- Collections - Artifact
Hasselback Family Acrobats, 1882
Professional photographers began producing cabinet cards in 1867. Consumers quickly preferred them over earlier cartes-de-visite, which were mounted on smaller cardboard stock. Through the early 1900s, Americans commonly exchanged and collected cabinet photographs of family, friends and celebrities. This 1882 example features the Hasselbacks, a family of acrobatic performers.
- "P.T. Barnum's Own Illustrated News for the Season of 1878" - Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum (1810-1891) entered the circus business in 1876 after a 40-year career as a showman. In this presumably self-published newspaper, Barnum highlighted his past entertainment endeavor and announced his lineup for the 1878 "Greatest Show on Earth" circus. Barnum's circus featured animal menageries, clowns, automata, acrobatic horse-riders, and human "curiosities" such as Captain George Costentenus--a heavily tattooed man.
- 1878
- Collections - Artifact
"P.T. Barnum's Own Illustrated News for the Season of 1878"
Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum (1810-1891) entered the circus business in 1876 after a 40-year career as a showman. In this presumably self-published newspaper, Barnum highlighted his past entertainment endeavor and announced his lineup for the 1878 "Greatest Show on Earth" circus. Barnum's circus featured animal menageries, clowns, automata, acrobatic horse-riders, and human "curiosities" such as Captain George Costentenus--a heavily tattooed man.
- Circus Poster, Adam Forepaugh & Sells Brothers Circus Presents The Five Millettes, 1899 - In the late nineteenth century, printers developed a lithograph method that produced brightly colored posters. In advance of a circus coming to town, general agents glued these eye-catching generic posters to building walls, fences, and in window displays. To announce when and where the performances would happen, local printers sometimes provided letterpress paper date strips to paste onto the posters' lower margin.
- 1899
- Collections - Artifact
Circus Poster, Adam Forepaugh & Sells Brothers Circus Presents The Five Millettes, 1899
In the late nineteenth century, printers developed a lithograph method that produced brightly colored posters. In advance of a circus coming to town, general agents glued these eye-catching generic posters to building walls, fences, and in window displays. To announce when and where the performances would happen, local printers sometimes provided letterpress paper date strips to paste onto the posters' lower margin.
- Circus Poster, Barnum and Bailey Circus Presents "The Marvelous Zedoras and Alar the Human Arrow," 1896 - In the late nineteenth century, printers developed a lithograph method that produced brightly colored posters. In advance of a circus coming to town, general agents glued these eye-catching generic posters to building walls, fences, and in window displays. To announce when and where the performances would happen, local printers sometimes provided letterpress paper date strips to paste onto the posters' lower margin.
- 1896
- Collections - Artifact
Circus Poster, Barnum and Bailey Circus Presents "The Marvelous Zedoras and Alar the Human Arrow," 1896
In the late nineteenth century, printers developed a lithograph method that produced brightly colored posters. In advance of a circus coming to town, general agents glued these eye-catching generic posters to building walls, fences, and in window displays. To announce when and where the performances would happen, local printers sometimes provided letterpress paper date strips to paste onto the posters' lower margin.
- Trade Card for Adam Forepaugh & Sells Bros. Circus, "Sultans Own Sons of the Desert," 1870-1890 - In the last third of the nineteenth century, promoters used a popular medium--trade cards--to announce shows, activities, and community events. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements, which survive as historical records of leisure in the United States.
- 1870-1890
- Collections - Artifact
Trade Card for Adam Forepaugh & Sells Bros. Circus, "Sultans Own Sons of the Desert," 1870-1890
In the last third of the nineteenth century, promoters used a popular medium--trade cards--to announce shows, activities, and community events. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements, which survive as historical records of leisure in the United States.
- Martha Graham Dance Company in "Acrobats of God," with Sets by Isamu Noguchi, 1960 - Martha Graham -- considered by many to be the mother of modern dance -- and sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi were collaborators for over fifty years. Together, they produced more than eighteen original dance performances -- Noguchi as the set and prop designer and Graham as choreographer and dancer. Noguchi's spare but innovative designs paired perfectly with Graham's choreographic style.
- 1960
- Collections - Artifact
Martha Graham Dance Company in "Acrobats of God," with Sets by Isamu Noguchi, 1960
Martha Graham -- considered by many to be the mother of modern dance -- and sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi were collaborators for over fifty years. Together, they produced more than eighteen original dance performances -- Noguchi as the set and prop designer and Graham as choreographer and dancer. Noguchi's spare but innovative designs paired perfectly with Graham's choreographic style.
- Circus Poster, Forepaugh & Sells Brothers, "Terrific Flights over Ponderous Elephants...," 1899 - In the late nineteenth century, printers developed a lithograph method that produced brightly colored posters. In advance of a circus coming to town, general agents glued these eye-catching generic posters to building walls, fences, and in window displays. To announce when and where the performances would happen, local printers sometimes provided letterpress paper date strips to paste onto the posters' lower margin.
- 1899
- Collections - Artifact
Circus Poster, Forepaugh & Sells Brothers, "Terrific Flights over Ponderous Elephants...," 1899
In the late nineteenth century, printers developed a lithograph method that produced brightly colored posters. In advance of a circus coming to town, general agents glued these eye-catching generic posters to building walls, fences, and in window displays. To announce when and where the performances would happen, local printers sometimes provided letterpress paper date strips to paste onto the posters' lower margin.