A Day in the Snow

It was the first time the children of the circus had seen snow - taking time out from their demanding gymnastic training, they made this snowman on the front lawn. Claude lent his cap and Clara her shawl to decorate the forlorn creature.

Madame Bea, the Reader of Tea

Madame Bea, wife of Goodwin Appleton, was the in-house mystic with her specialty being tea-leaf reading. In the window of her store the following sign was displayed;

Madame Bea, The Reader of Tea,
Asks you to sit down, in her dimly lit lounge.
A brew of strong Oolong
Will hold the answers, to the questions
You’ve held onto for so long.

The tannin stained liquid,
Splashes forth into the porcelain cup.
And the unrestrained leaves,
Float about all amok.

Bea ruffles ger feathers
As she asks you to drink up.
The excitement grows,
To see what is at the bottom of that tea cup…

What do you see Madame Bea?

Bearded Betty

Bearded Betty made a comfortable living being a sideshow freak. Customers would pay a dime to enter a tent and watch her sing while she stroked her beard. This photo was taken on her twenty-first birthday before the cutting of the cake.

Levi Silas Pigeon

(1858 - 1939)

Began his career in the show business working with his father transporting the famous Esparanzo Flea Circus in the 1870’s.

Sometime around 1886, Levi left the family business and headed to Louisville, Kentucky where he joined Fitzhugh’s Great Vaudeville Company assisting the Great Hoxley as he wowed audiences with his “Cabinet of Curiosities”.

After having a run in with a knife thrower in 1889, Pigeon decided to establish his own traveling show, and the following year started one in his home town of New York.

Taking note of the popularity of the Vaudeville shows, Pigeon made sure to provide a variety of acts including a Freak Show, a Burlesque act, Strongmen & Acrobats.

The success of the circus allowed him to build the ’Pigeon Circus ~Pigeoniere Theatre’ in 1898, and this became the permanent home of the show.

The building of the theatre also allowed Pigeon to extend the list of attractions and stores. Over the years many stalls and booths were built to accommodate the Pigeon Circus vision; stores built included a dime museum, apothecary, curiosity shop and jewellery stand.

Above all, Levi wanted a place where the crowds could indulge in his ‘Menagerie of Delight’.