Three P.T. Barnum posts in one day? This is unprecedented! I’m pretty sure I’ve never done that for anybody, two is the max. But I just so happened to have gotten three ideas for new Barnum posts today, and two of them (including this one) were easy to knock out. So herewith the third, an organized finding aid to our many posts on the father of American Show Business. Use it in good health!
GENERAL
On Barnum’s Life and Significance
A P.T. Barnum Walking Tour of New York City
Why The Greatest Showman is the Biggest Piece of Crap
7 Reasons Why Donald Trump is Not like P.T. Barnum But Far, Far Worse
MISFORTUNES
The Death of Jumbo the Elephant
HOAXES
“Washington’s Nurse” Joice Heth
ATTRACTIONS (General)
“Swedish Nightingale” Jenny Lind
Kate and Ellen Bateman, Child Thespians
Professor Donaldson, Balloonist
LITTLE PEOPLE
The Marriage of Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren
GIANTS
WOMEN WITH BEARDS
HAIRY PEOPLE
CONJOINED TWINS
“FAT”
ASSORTED “BORN DIFFERENT”
“Living Skeleton” Isaac Sprague
BARNUM AND RACE (AND “MISSING LINKS”)
RIVALS AND COLLEAGUES
SUCCESSORS
BARNEMUESQUE
L. Frank Baum/ The Wizard of Oz
OTHER VOICES
And, as a special treat, a brand new podcast by friend Adam Gertsacov, who has been playing P.T. Barnum onstage for years. Listen to that here.
And you can peruse the P.T. Barnum section of Tralavanche here.