P. T. Barnum is Subject of Historical Lecture

Born in Bethel, Phineas Taylor Barnum got his start selling raffle tickets in that village and later worked at a grocery store where he unabashedly cheated his customers, according to Bob Berthelson, who gave a slideshow presentation on P.T. Barnum during a Monday Historical Society of Newtown lecture at the C.H. Booth Library.

Barnum was perhaps one of history’s best known and most successful showmen and among the country’s first millionaires, who grew up in an environment where trickery was not only accepted but expected, said Berthelson, an American history buff who has given more than 1,000 lectures on historical subjects.

“Trickery acted as a form of Yankee entertainment,” Berthelson said.

The well-attended presentation went through the highlights of Barnum’s life, including his first curiosity, Joice Heth, a woman who claimed to have been present when President George Washington was born, his purchase of the Scudder’s American Museum in New York City and the many homes Barnum built in Bridgeport – most of which burned down.

Berthelson also told the story of Charles Stratton, who was hired by Barnum at 4-years-old and transformed into 11-year-old General Tom Thumb, among one of the most well-known small-stature acts in history. Stratton went on tour in Europe with Barnum, with one planned seven-week tour in Europe lasting for four years, Berthelson said.

The two eventually became friends and even in death were buried near one another in Bridgeport. Barnum eventually settled in Bridgeport, where he built homes and funded major development projects, including the construction of East Bridgeport. Barnum was even named mayor for a one year term in 1875, Berthelson said.

Other highlights of Barnum’s career included some of the techniques he used to draw crowds, such as the large ad signs he would hang on the museum that were the forerunners of present-day billboards, Berthelson said.

In addition to fake exhibits – such as a supposed embalmed mermaid from Fiji that was eventually discredited, Barnum presented natural wonders in his museum, including ocean and river gardens.

“Barnum was a pioneer in living natural history,” Berthelson said.

Among one of his most costly gambles that paid off several times over was Jenny Lind, the so-called “Swedish Nightingale,” whose singing reputation preceded her, and at the hands of Barnum became one of the most anticipated acts in U.S. history, spurring sales of paraphernalia in her image even before her arrival in the country by ship, which was greeted by 40,000 people.

It was later in life when Barnum began a traveling museum and circus, which he dubbed the now famous term, “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Barnum eventually became partners with one of his biggest competitors, James A. Bailey. It was through the circus that Jumbo, one of the most well-known towering elephants was acquired.

Most of Berthelson’s presentation was based on the book, “P.T. Barnum: America’s greatest showman” by Philip B. Kunhardt, which is available at the C.H. Booth Library.