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The Phineas T. Barnum Freak Show
Phineas T. Barnum began his long career in show business in 1835 promoting a hymn-singing black woman named Joice Heth. A nineteenth-century spinmaster of the art of publicity and hype, Barnum claimed that Heth was 161 years old. Moreover, Barnum said that she had been the boyhood nurse of George Washington.
Between 1841 and 1868, Barnum was the proprietor of the American Museum in New York City. The museum was said to contain more than 850,000 "interesting curiosities." More than 4,000 people visited the museum each day, with attendance swelling to 20,000 on holidays. Admission was 25 cents.
In 1860 Barnum published the poster appearing on the right featuring his latest star attractions....