Sells Brothers Circus was a circus founded by Ephraim, William, Lewis and Peter Sells in
Columbus,
Ohio
Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
,
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
.
History
The circus, more formally known as the Sells Brothers' Quadruple Alliance, Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus, ran from 1862 to 1863 and again from 1871 to 1895. The circus was based out of Columbus, Ohio in an area that was known as Sellsville in Clinton Township along the Olentangy River near King Avenue.
Sellsville was of considerable size, and many animals and staff lived in the area during the off seasons. It merged with the circus operated by
Adam Forepaugh to form the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers' Circus in 1900.
It later merged with the
Floto Dog & Pony Show to become the
Sells Floto Circus
The Sells Floto Circus was a combination of the Floto Dog & Pony Show and the Sells Brothers Circus that toured with sideshow acts in the United States and Canada during the early 1900s.
History
Frederick Gilmer Bonfils and Harry Heye Tammen ow ...
.
The 1901
silent film
A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...
''
Day at the Circus'' by
Edison Manufacturing Company
The Edison Manufacturing Company, originally registered as under the name of the United Edison Manufacturing Company and often known as simply the Edison Company, was organized by scientist / inventor and entrepreneur, Thomas A. Edison (1847–1 ...
features a parade and horse race from the circus.
See also
* The
Circus House, located in Columbus, Ohio
*
Charles Mayer, an elephant trainer and animal collector for the circus
References
External links
Sells Brothers Circusat Josephine's Journal
at Short North
Biographical sketch of Lewis Sellsfrom "Centennial History of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio", 1904
{{Authority control
American circuses
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus