Phineas T. Barnswallow, a Barnum-spoofing promotor in the first Sesame Street Live show
P. T. Barnum (Phineas Taylor Barnum, 1810-1890) was a promoter and showman whose various entertainment enterprises, usually with florid names, included the variety troupe "Barnum's Grand Scientific and Musical Theater" and the longer-lasting success of Barnum's American Museum in New York City (which combined the freak show, wax museum, zoo, sometimes actual or pseudo-scientific methods, and displayed "curiosities" as well as a flea circus). He promoted General Tom Thumb (a 25 inch little person who he took on tours and performed before Queen Victoria) and Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind's American concert tour, while melodramas, operettas, and pantomimes were staged at the American Museum. Barnum was associated with hoaxes as much as showmanship, such as the fabricated "Fiji mermaid" on display in his museum, as well as his skill at promotion and advertising.
Late in Barnum's career, he launched a mobile equivalent of his museum, "P. T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome" which became a circus (later joining with the circus James Bailey) and for which Barnum coined the term "The Greatest Show on Earth," a phrase which would become associated with circuses in general. In addition to established Barnum acts like Tom Thumb, Barnum acquired Jumbo, an African elephant who previously resided at the London Zoo (and whose name was used for subsequent elephants in other circuses, including the film Dumbo). Over a decade after his death, the circus merged with Ringling Brothers to become the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Walt Kelly, in his comic strip Pogo, turned Barnum into recurring character P. T. Bridgeport (named after Barnum's birthplace), a bear on the fringe of show business, politics, and anything needing promotion who spoke in billposter-style letters with stars and pointing fingers. Dramatizations and musicals based on Barnum's life tend to emphasize the circus aspect over the museum and hoaxes.
References[]
- Circus owner P. T. Bunkum (specified in the script as "a Barnum-type") visited Sesame Street in Episode 1451, seeking new acts for his Bunkum and Ballyhoo Circus (even auditioning Oscar's flea Fernando). His punning name references Barnum's hoaxes and exaggerations, while the Ballyhoo part reflects his advertising skill.
- Phineas T. Barnswallow in the Sesame Street Live show A Sesame Street Mystery: The Case of the Missing Rara Avis is closer to the 19th century perception of Barnum, a promoter and huckster who tours with Barnswallow's Barnstorming Aviary (recalling the names of Barnum's variety troupe and museum) who tricks Big Bird into joining his show.
Connections[]
- Roger Ashton-Griffiths played Barnum in Gangs of New York (2002 film)
- Glenn Close played Charity Barnum in Barnum (1980-1982, Broadway)
- Zac Efron played Phillip Carlyle in The Greatest Showman (2017 film)
- Fred Garbo was a replacement as the chief bricklayer and a pre-show entertainer and understudied Tom Thumb in Barnum (1980-1982, Broadway)
- George Hamilton played Francis Olmsted in P.T. Barnum (1999 TV movie)
- Peter Howard was musical director for Barnum (1980-1982, Broadway)
- Hugh Jackman played Barnum in The Greatest Showman (2017 film)
- Burt Lancaster played Barnum in Barnum (1986 TV movie)
- Jeremy Stone was vocal director for Barnum (1980-1982, Broadway)
- Lillias White was a replacement as Joice Heth in Barnum (1980-1982, Broadway)
- Michelle Williams played Charity Barnum in The Greatest Showman (2017 film)
- Thick Wilson played a museum passerby in Barnum (1986 TV movie)
- Zendaya played Anne Wheeler in The Greatest Showman (2017 film)