‘Dispatch’ report from 1910 on Sellsville and Sells Brothers Circus
The Columbus Dispatch
Monday May 20, 2013
(Original print date: Oct. 2, 1910, The Columbus Evening Dispatch)
Probably no other institution ever advertised Columbus more widely than the Sells Brothers’ Circus, which made Columbus its home for about 20 years, traveling out through all the states and even reaching Australia on one tour.
Lewis Sells was the main projector of this enterprise, though when joined by his brothers, Ephriam, Peter and Allen, the later contributed energy and business judgment that carried the business to success.
Lewis Sells was born in Columbus, November 12, 1841 and died here September 5, 1907. He lived most of his life here, though in his boyhood he spent some time in Cleveland and received his higher education in Hiram College.
It was in 1871 that he set about the organization of the show business. In 1872, the plan was carried out, his three brothers joining him in it. They got together about $35,000 using all their combined capital and borrowing to their full ability. They started with but one tent and no elephant. Their first exhibition was given in Columbus, April 27, 1872. Home people were kind to them and they took in $1,540. It was a wagon show, of course, and from here they went to Circleville and then to Bainbridge.
They did a losing business, and their funds running low, Ephriam was sent back to Columbus to borrow more money. The newspapers punned on the name of Sells and made fun of the fact that the show had no elephant. To counteract this, they placed the show under the name of “Paul Silverburg” and bought an old elephant that soon afterward died. They had postered the elephant, however, and it drew. The show made some money, which was sent back to their home bank in Columbus for deposit, but in a few months, the bank failed and the show had to close for the season.
read more:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/05/20/20-where-we-live-sellsville.html
The Columbus Dispatch
Monday May 20, 2013
(Original print date: Oct. 2, 1910, The Columbus Evening Dispatch)
Probably no other institution ever advertised Columbus more widely than the Sells Brothers’ Circus, which made Columbus its home for about 20 years, traveling out through all the states and even reaching Australia on one tour.
Lewis Sells was the main projector of this enterprise, though when joined by his brothers, Ephriam, Peter and Allen, the later contributed energy and business judgment that carried the business to success.
Lewis Sells was born in Columbus, November 12, 1841 and died here September 5, 1907. He lived most of his life here, though in his boyhood he spent some time in Cleveland and received his higher education in Hiram College.
It was in 1871 that he set about the organization of the show business. In 1872, the plan was carried out, his three brothers joining him in it. They got together about $35,000 using all their combined capital and borrowing to their full ability. They started with but one tent and no elephant. Their first exhibition was given in Columbus, April 27, 1872. Home people were kind to them and they took in $1,540. It was a wagon show, of course, and from here they went to Circleville and then to Bainbridge.
They did a losing business, and their funds running low, Ephriam was sent back to Columbus to borrow more money. The newspapers punned on the name of Sells and made fun of the fact that the show had no elephant. To counteract this, they placed the show under the name of “Paul Silverburg” and bought an old elephant that soon afterward died. They had postered the elephant, however, and it drew. The show made some money, which was sent back to their home bank in Columbus for deposit, but in a few months, the bank failed and the show had to close for the season.
read more:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/05/20/20-where-we-live-sellsville.html
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