24.00USD
A hush falls over the audience. Even the calliope has ceased its melodious charm. The ringmaster, with an almost sinister air of mystery, doffs his black silk hat and bows deeply. The air is heavy with the smells of freshly roasted peanuts and apples, popcorn, sawdust, the manure of animals, the sweat of a closely packed crowd. All eyes are glued to the center ring, in delighted anticipation of the unknown. What thrilling spectacle is about to unfold? We can expect tightrope-walkers, acrobats, dancers from strange and forbidden kingdoms, that daring young man, or woman, on the flying trapeze, jugglers and clowns. We are under the big top, the largest tent on the circus grounds, its central pole as big around as the trunk of a great tree, reaching from the eye-dazzling lights and sequined colors of the central ring, up, up into the heights of impenetrable darkness and gloom.
In this section, "Under the Big Top," we hope to entice you with the romantic images of circus performers, and of variety artists whose acts appeared on the bills not only of circuses, but of those variety shows that played on a stage, at a time when the movie industry was still in its earliest infancy, when, before the advent of television, or even radio, entertainment was always live.
In 1906, the 7 Grunathos, lately having fulfilled their obligations to the Ringling Bros. Circus, would play the Hippodrome Theater. This, from an announcement in Variety that year. In the same issue of Variety, there was a brief article expressing industry concerns over the mounting threat posed by the new "moving picture" industry, forcing out vaudeville, and displacing it as the popular entertainment of the people.
In 1912, the 7 Grunathos were being given third billing at the Wyoming County Fair, in Warsaw, New York.
Ah well, times change. Vaudeville gave way to the silver screen, radio gave way to television, and television, newspapers, the film industry, and the record industry, appear to be gradually, or maybe not even so gradually, giving way to the internet.
But in viewing them through the lens of our little time machine, the 7 Grunathos are sumptuously costumed and elegantly photographed. We are guessing that, as they are pictured here, they are at the height of their fame. Such a gorgeous card. Please examine our high res scans for detail.
Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.
And please come visit our blog at:
redpoulaine.blogspot.com
where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!
***Our apologies to our wonderful international customers for the sudden increase in shipping costs. We have been advised that our international postal rates have pretty much doubled, so until we see what's what, we're charging 8.00 dollars for 1st class shipping in a rigid photo mailer. But we're not interested in making a profit with our shipping fees, and we will refund any amount left over beyond our cost.