preview

P. T. Barnum: The Greatest Showman

Decent Essays

The Greatest Showman The passionate, exaggerated; P.T. Barnum is known to the world as the “Greatest Showman” for his impactful role in entertainment. Barnum was one of the most influential showmen of all time because he used his gifts, talents, and skills in order to better the lives of the people around him. Not only was Barnum a fantastic showman, but was also a politician and businessman. Even though Barnum was involved with other professions, he said of himself, “I am a showman by profession...and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me,” (Kunhardt). Because of his love for show business, Barnum transformed the modern day circus, which entertained and brought joy to generations of people all over the world. Phineas Taylor Barnum …show more content…

But, on July 13, 1865 the museum really did burn to the ground. It was one of the most “spectacular” fires New York City had ever seen (P.T. Barnum Wikipedia). The public could see animals jumping from the building, but many were burned to death. Two beluga whales that had been exhibited were boiled to death in their tanks during the fire (P.T. Barnum Wikipedia). This fire did not bring Barnum down, but instead led him to recreate the idea of the circus. After the fire, Barnum needed to turn to a new plan that continued to bring delight to people all over the world. Barnum’s next greatest success was his circus. He called it the “Greatest Show on Earth.” Even though P.T. Barnum’s greatest achievement was his circus, he did not enter into the business until the age of sixty (P.T. Barnum Wikipedia). Barnum’s circus was an “entertainment phenomenon.” The show’s main attraction was an African elephant named Jumbo that was purchased from the London Zoo in 1882. The “Circus King” exhibited many interesting humans in his circus like midgets, giants, bearded ladies, fat ladies, and limbless …show more content…

Due to Barnum’s fabulous advertising skills, Jenny Lind was already a celebrity in America (P.T. Barnum Wikipedia). Approximately forty thousand people had greeted her at the docks when she arrived and twenty thousand more greeted her at the hotel (P.T. Barnum Wikipedia). Her tour began on September 11, 1850 (P.T. Barnum Wikipedia). Overall, Barnum made about five hundred thousand dollars from the tour, which is equal to about fourteen million seven hundred and eight dollars in the year 2017 (P.T. Barnum Wikipedia). Phineas Taylor Barnum died on April 7, 1891 at the age of eighty. He suffered from a stroke in Bridgeport, Connecticut. On the day he died, Barnum asked about the box office receipts of the day and a few hours later was dead (P.T. Barnum

Get Access