American Experience - Season 4 - Eps 12: Barnum's Big Top
P.T. Barnum was huckster, con man, promoter and entertainer. His American Museum featured ancient relics side by side with such "living curiosities" as lions, snakes, bearded ladies and Siamese twins. In 1871 he took the whole show on the road; it traveled by rail. Barnum introduced the idea of three rings, and his "Jumbo the Elephant" added a new word to the English language. By the time he teamed up with James Bailey, his circus had become "The Greatest Show on Earth."
About American Experience
Title: American Experience
First Air Date: 1988-10-04
Last Air Date: 2025-02-25
Status: Returning Series
Rating: 7.5/10 (from 32 votes)
Language: EN
Seasons: 38
Total Episodes: 396
Network: PBS
Genres: Documentary
Production Companies: GBH
Synopsis
TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.
