Barnum founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus, however was not only a discoverer of talent ha was an author, publisher, philanthropist and at one point a politician "I am a showman by profession...and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me" Barnum is credited for introducing the phrase "There's a sucker born every minute"
When he was 25, Barnum paid $1,000 to obtain the services of Joice Heth, a woman who claimed to be 161 years old and the nurse of George Washington. "Unquestionably the most astonishing and interesting curiosity in the world!" read one of Barnum's handbills. Barnum exhibited her in New York and New England, raking in about $1,500 per week.
P.T. Barnum was already referring to his enterprise as "The Greatest Show On Earth" -- and it was! "P.T. Barnum's Traveling World's Fair, Great Roman Hippodrome and Greatest Show On Earth" covered five acres and accommodated 10,000 seated patrons at a time ... and, to reach more people, took to the rails. - B
Barnum entered the circus world at 61 years old. He merged "P. T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome" with a traveling circus and museum of "freaks." It then became:
"P.T. Barnum's Travelling World's Fair, Great Roman Hippodrome and Greatest Show On Earth,"
Then in 1881 they merged again with James Bailey and James L. Hutchinson, "P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show On Earth, And The Great London Circus, Sanger's Royal British Menagerie and The Grand International Allied Shows United," Although this titles was too long, they then shortened it to "Barnum & Bailey's." This was then the largest circus the world had ever seen. - B
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