Lively advertising print for the dime museum operated by W. D. Hagar and W. T. Campbell 1883-1885. Shows throngs of people entering the mansard-roofed building, heavily adorned in signage and over 40 pictures of the museum's performers, at the northwest corner of Ninth and Arch Streets. Signs read "Specially Adapted for Ladies & Children: Open Daily from 1 to 10 P.M."; "Curiosities Constantly Arriving From All Parts of the World"; and "Philadelphia's Pleasure Palace Containing Countless Curiosities / Peerless Parlor Peformances." Other signs announce the hours of operation, the museum's purpose for the "instruction and amusement" of ladies and children, and the admission price - 10 cents. Performer's pictures primarily depict human curiosities and include tattooed men and women, a bearded lady, clowns, a two-headed woman, little people, an armless man, a man eating a slate, exotic and native costumed figures, as well as a magician and a ventriloquist. Graphics also show exotic animals and birds. Building also adorned with flags promoting the museum and its attractions, including "birds, beasts, and mechanical marvels." In the street, three street cars (nos. 44, 33, and 26) and one wagon, advertising Hagar & Campbell's, travel and stop in front of the museum. Wagon is composed of billboards illustrated with an image of seven women with floor-length hair and captioned "Seven Wonders of the World.", Also shows adjacent buildings, a crowd of people at the side of the museum, and pedestrians and passersby in the street, on the sidewalk, and near and looking at the street vehicles. Print also contains portraits of owners W. D. Hagar and W. T. Campbell in the upper corners. By 1884, Campbell and Hagar were officers in the Barnum and London show managing "Privileges." Campbell stayed with Barnum until at least the early 1890s., Date inferred from title., Gift of Barbara Fahs Charles and Robert Staples., POSP 286
Date
[1883]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department ***BW - Advertisements - H [P.2013.82]
