Week Three of the P.T. Barnum saga. This week we talk about Barnum's attempts to rehabilitate his relationship with his family and his reputation with the world.

Though it seems like he did some real work on his marriage it seems like his reputation as a dishonest humbug man would be set in stone.

We talk about the real relationship between him and Jenny Lind "The Swedish Nightingale" and Barnum's failed attempt to rebrand himself as a purveyor of high brow entertainment.

Then we get into Barnum as an investor with a spotty track record and a shady real-estate deal that would eventually lead to his complete bankruptcy.

Eventually Barnum drags himself back out of debt and tries his hand at Politics becoming a representative to the Connecticut State Legislature. Serving for two terms, promoting his abolitionist and temperance beliefs.

Then his life is riddled with fires from the destruction of Iranistan to the American Museum Burning down twice within a couple years.

Barnum would never own a major museum again but this may have given him the push to create his famous circus which we will talk about next week.

Enjoy!

Sources:

“Barnum: An American Life” by Robert Wilson(2020)

“Topsy: The Startling Story of the Crooked Tailed Elephant, PT Barnum, and the American Wizard, Thomas Edison” By Michael Daly(2013)

Send us a text! Let us know what topics you want us to cover!

Week two of The P. T. Barnum Story and we get into some more racist shenanigans. We talk about more of Barnum's early acts and the use of blackface in his shows.

Then we get into the purchasing of The American Museum and some of the wild exhibits Barnum Put into it. Including one of Barnum's most famous living wonders "General Tom Thumb".

We talk about how Barnum met 5 year old Charles S. Stratton and worked with the boy to create the character of Tom Thumb. Tom Thumb quickly becomes one of Barnum's most successful acts eventually touring with him around England and Europe performing for nobles and Royalty including Queen Victoria.

We will also talk about Barnum's strained relationship with his wife Charity and his inability to just be home with his family.

And we will finish the episode with the construction of a massive home and estate that Barnum called "Iranastan"

Hope you enjoy!

(Photos for the episode will be on our Instagram and our website time codes below.)

Sources:

“Barnum: An American Life” by Robert Wilson(2020)

“Topsy: The Startling Story of the Crooked Tailed Elephant, PT Barnum, and the American Wizard, Thomas Edison” By Michael Daly(2013)

Photos:

Pic 1- The American Museum (36:45)

Pic 2- Fiji Mermaid (41:40)

Pic 3+4- Tom Thumb +Barnum (49:10)

Pic 5- Tom Thumb as Napoleon (54:55)

Pic 6+7- Tom Thumb's Carriage (1:15:34)

Pic 8, 9, 10- Iranastan (1:26:18)

Send us a text! Let us know what topics you want us to cover!

This week we are beginning the story of P.T. Barnum aka "The Greatest Showman". He was a showman, museum owner, international celebrity, Politician, and of course co-owner of the Barnum and Bailey Circus.

There is so much to get into in this story he was both a Con artist and a beloved entertainer, he maybe owned a slave woman for a short time but also became a big advocate for the abolitionist movement. He was a naturalist but also led to the deaths of SOOOO many elephants.

We will talk about his childhood and his wily grandfather who loved playing practical jokes including one particularly cruel joke played on Young PT Barnum that lasted for over 10 years. Then we get into some of Barnum's early schemes, hoaxes, and humbugs.

Then we will finish the episode with a very old blind slave woman named Joyce Heth who became Barnum's first major exhibition.

So much to get into and we hope you enjoy it!

Sources:

“Barnum: An American Life” by Robert Wilson(2020)

“Topsy: The Startling Story of the Crooked Tailed Elephant, PT Barnum, and the American Wizard, Thomas Edison” By Michael Daly(2013)

Send us a text! Let us know what topics you want us to cover!