James Anthony Bailey (July 4, 1847 – April 11, 1906), born James Anthony McGinnis, was an American owner and manager of several 19th-century circuses, including The Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth.[2][3]
James Anthony McGinnis was born July 4, 1847[2] to Edward and Hannora McGinnis in Detroit, Michigan. Edward McGinnis died in October, 1849 of cholera and in 1855, James was orphaned when his mother died. James then went to live with his older sister, Catherine Gordon.
Life with Catherine was difficult as she tended to be overbearing and harsh. Sometime between 1859 and 1860, James ran away from Catherine's home and found a job and a place to stay on a farm about 10 miles outside the city of Pontiac, Michigan. Finding life on the farm unrewarding, 13-year old James wandered into Pontiac where he found work at the Hodges House Hotel.[2]
After working at the hotel for a time, he was discovered by Colonel Frederic Harrison Bailey, a nephew of circus pioneer Hachaliah Bailey, and an advance man for John Robinson and Bill Lake's traveling circus.[2] F.H. Bailey gave McGinnis a job as his assistant, and the two traveled together for many years. McGinnis eventually adopted F.H. Bailey's surname to become James A. Bailey.[4]
Circus lifeEdit
In his diary, James' brother-in-law Joe McCaddon writes that Bailey recounted stories of how he left the circus world at age 16 and went to work as clerk to a sutler during the Civil War.[2]
In 1866, with the war over, he went back to work for Bill Lake, who now owned his own circus with his wife Agnes Thatcher Lake. During this time, James met Ruth Louisa McCaddon of Zanesville, Ohio. James and Ruth became friends, fell in love, and were married in December 1868. The very next year in Granby, Missouri, Bill Lake was shot and killed. With her husband dead, Agnes Lake became the first woman in the United States to own a circus[2] (Agnes Lake would later marry famous gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok, who worked for a short time with Buffalo Bill Cody, whose Wild West Show James A. Bailey would one day manage).
Bailey later associated with James E. Cooper, and by the time he was 22, he was manager of the Cooper and Bailey circus. He then met with P.T. Barnum, and together they established Barnum and Bailey's Circus (for which Bailey was instrumental in obtaining Jumbo the Elephant) in 1880, with their combined show opening the following spring in Madison Square Garden.[4]
Barnum was the face of the circus, but James Bailey was the hard worker who insisted on staying behind the scenes. Barnum once wrote to him that James managed the show “ten times better than I could.”[2]
Equestrienne Josie Demott Robinson wrote in her autobiography that, “Mr. Barnum was the advertiser, who loved the limelight, who rode around in the ring, and announced who he was. But Mr. Bailey was the businessman, content to be invisible...and interested only in the success of the show.”[2]
Bailey was considered by many to be a genius at logistics. His organizational skills for transporting people, animals, and equipment was copied by the military of more than one country.[2]
He hired Pinkerton Detectives to travel with the show and protect circusgoers from grifters and thieves.[2]
He established “Orphan Day”, one day a year when orphans could attend the circus for free. He was often known to carry children who couldn't walk into the circus tent and find them a seat away from the crush of the crowd.[2]
Following Barnum's death in 1891, Bailey managed not only The Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth, but in 1894, took on the management of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.[2]
In his book about the circus, Earl Chapin May wrote, “Probably...no circus owner and manager left more sincere mourners than the thin little magnate known to millions as James A. Bailey.”[2]
Taped beneath a photo of James Bailey in the scrapbook of employee Harrison Gunning is a small scrap of paper that reads, “P.T. Barnum was the great showman, but Mr. Bailey was the supreme of all circus managers, past and present.”[2]
^Allen, Robert (December 29, 2017). "A strangled elephant, circus mishaps and Detroit's ties to 'The Greatest Show on Earth'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
^ abcdefghijklmnopAdams, Gloria (July 9, 2021). James A. Bailey - The Genius Behind the Barnum & Bailey Circus (1 ed.). Stow, OH: Slanted Ink. ISBN978-1736768815.
^"A Cesar Among Showmen. James A. Bailey, The Partner And Successor Of Barnum. He Is The Creator Of The Modern Circus. His Tremendous Energy And Working Ability. How He Became What He Is" (PDF). New York Times. April 19, 1891. Retrieved 2007-07-21. One of the most modest little men that ever lived has been forced to the front by the death of P.T. Barnum. James Anthony Bailey for ten years has been Mr. Barnum's partner. He can, without exaggeration, be called the creator of the modern circus. He has lifted the circus to a standard that renders almost ridiculous the laws that once were so necessary for its regulation.
^ ab"The Circus: Transcript, Part 1". American Experience. PBS. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
^"James A. Bailey, King Of Circus Men, is Dead. News Kept From Performers Till The Show Was Over. Widow Gets Circus Stock. Showman Died Of Erysipelas At His Country Home Near Mount Vernon After A Week's Illness" (PDF). New York Times. April 12, 1906. Retrieved 2007-07-21. While the band blared and the clowns made fun and the elephants walked around at the circus last night for the thousands in Madison Square Garden, there were few among the spectators who knew that James A. Bailey, the backbone of the "greatest show on earth", lay dead in his home, The Knolls, near Mount Vernon.
^"Woodlawn Cemetery • Crematory • Conservancy | New York's World Class Cemetery Since 1863". www.woodlawn.org. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
^"The Circus: Transcript, Part 2". American Experience. PBS. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Anthony Bailey.
American Experience: The Circus: The Life and Times of James Bailey, Part 1
American Experience: The Circus: The Life and Times of James Bailey, Part 2
American Experience: The Circus: The Life and Times of James Bailey, Part 3
james, anthony, bailey, other, people, named, james, bailey, james, bailey, disambiguation, july, 1847, april, 1906, born, james, anthony, mcginnis, american, owner, manager, several, 19th, century, circuses, including, barnum, bailey, greatest, show, earth, b. For other people named James Bailey see James Bailey disambiguation James Anthony Bailey July 4 1847 April 11 1906 born James Anthony McGinnis was an American owner and manager of several 19th century circuses including The Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth 2 3 James Anthony BaileyBornJames Anthony McGinnis 1847 07 04 July 4 1847Detroit Michigan USDiedApril 11 1906 1906 04 11 aged 58 Mount Vernon New York USResting placeWoodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx New YorkOther namesJames A Bailey professional title Known forCo founder of Ringling Bros Barnum amp Bailey Circus 1 Managing Buffalo Bill s Wild West Show 2 SpouseRuth Louisa McCaddon m 1868 wbr James Bailey House in Harlem New York City Contents 1 Early life 2 Circus life 3 Death and legacy 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditJames Anthony McGinnis was born July 4 1847 2 to Edward and Hannora McGinnis in Detroit Michigan Edward McGinnis died in October 1849 of cholera and in 1855 James was orphaned when his mother died James then went to live with his older sister Catherine Gordon Life with Catherine was difficult as she tended to be overbearing and harsh Sometime between 1859 and 1860 James ran away from Catherine s home and found a job and a place to stay on a farm about 10 miles outside the city of Pontiac Michigan Finding life on the farm unrewarding 13 year old James wandered into Pontiac where he found work at the Hodges House Hotel 2 After working at the hotel for a time he was discovered by Colonel Frederic Harrison Bailey a nephew of circus pioneer Hachaliah Bailey and an advance man for John Robinson and Bill Lake s traveling circus 2 F H Bailey gave McGinnis a job as his assistant and the two traveled together for many years McGinnis eventually adopted F H Bailey s surname to become James A Bailey 4 Circus life EditIn his diary James brother in law Joe McCaddon writes that Bailey recounted stories of how he left the circus world at age 16 and went to work as clerk to a sutler during the Civil War 2 In 1866 with the war over he went back to work for Bill Lake who now owned his own circus with his wife Agnes Thatcher Lake During this time James met Ruth Louisa McCaddon of Zanesville Ohio James and Ruth became friends fell in love and were married in December 1868 The very next year in Granby Missouri Bill Lake was shot and killed With her husband dead Agnes Lake became the first woman in the United States to own a circus 2 Agnes Lake would later marry famous gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok who worked for a short time with Buffalo Bill Cody whose Wild West Show James A Bailey would one day manage Bailey later associated with James E Cooper and by the time he was 22 he was manager of the Cooper and Bailey circus He then met with P T Barnum and together they established Barnum and Bailey s Circus for which Bailey was instrumental in obtaining Jumbo the Elephant in 1880 with their combined show opening the following spring in Madison Square Garden 4 Barnum was the face of the circus but James Bailey was the hard worker who insisted on staying behind the scenes Barnum once wrote to him that James managed the show ten times better than I could 2 Equestrienne Josie Demott Robinson wrote in her autobiography that Mr Barnum was the advertiser who loved the limelight who rode around in the ring and announced who he was But Mr Bailey was the businessman content to be invisible and interested only in the success of the show 2 Bailey was considered by many to be a genius at logistics His organizational skills for transporting people animals and equipment was copied by the military of more than one country 2 He hired Pinkerton Detectives to travel with the show and protect circusgoers from grifters and thieves 2 He established Orphan Day one day a year when orphans could attend the circus for free He was often known to carry children who couldn t walk into the circus tent and find them a seat away from the crush of the crowd 2 Following Barnum s death in 1891 Bailey managed not only The Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth but in 1894 took on the management of Buffalo Bill s Wild West Show 2 Death and legacy EditBailey died of erysipelas in 1906 at age 58 at his home in Mount Vernon NY 5 He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx New York City 6 His widow subsequently sold the circus to the Ringling brothers in 1907 who eventually merged the rival operations in 1919 7 nbsp Bailey Estate on Lincoln Avenue in Mount Vernon NYIn his book about the circus Earl Chapin May wrote Probably no circus owner and manager left more sincere mourners than the thin little magnate known to millions as James A Bailey 2 Taped beneath a photo of James Bailey in the scrapbook of employee Harrison Gunning is a small scrap of paper that reads P T Barnum was the great showman but Mr Bailey was the supreme of all circus managers past and present 2 James A Bailey was inducted into the International Circus Hall of Fame in 1960 and into the Circus Ring of Fame in Sarasota Florida in 1990 2 References Edit Allen Robert December 29 2017 A strangled elephant circus mishaps and Detroit s ties to The Greatest Show on Earth Detroit Free Press Retrieved December 31 2017 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Adams Gloria July 9 2021 James A Bailey The Genius Behind the Barnum amp Bailey Circus 1 ed Stow OH Slanted Ink ISBN 978 1736768815 A Cesar Among Showmen James A Bailey The Partner And Successor Of Barnum He Is The Creator Of The Modern Circus His Tremendous Energy And Working Ability How He Became What He Is PDF New York Times April 19 1891 Retrieved 2007 07 21 One of the most modest little men that ever lived has been forced to the front by the death of P T Barnum James Anthony Bailey for ten years has been Mr Barnum s partner He can without exaggeration be called the creator of the modern circus He has lifted the circus to a standard that renders almost ridiculous the laws that once were so necessary for its regulation a b The Circus Transcript Part 1 American Experience PBS 9 October 2018 Retrieved 16 November 2018 James A Bailey King Of Circus Men is Dead News Kept From Performers Till The Show Was Over Widow Gets Circus Stock Showman Died Of Erysipelas At His Country Home Near Mount Vernon After A Week s Illness PDF New York Times April 12 1906 Retrieved 2007 07 21 While the band blared and the clowns made fun and the elephants walked around at the circus last night for the thousands in Madison Square Garden there were few among the spectators who knew that James A Bailey the backbone of the greatest show on earth lay dead in his home The Knolls near Mount Vernon Woodlawn Cemetery Crematory Conservancy New York s World Class Cemetery Since 1863 www woodlawn org Retrieved 2022 01 17 The Circus Transcript Part 2 American Experience PBS 9 October 2018 Retrieved 16 November 2018 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Anthony Bailey American Experience The Circus The Life and Times of James Bailey Part 1 American Experience The Circus The Life and Times of James Bailey Part 2 American Experience The Circus The Life and Times of James Bailey Part 3 James Anthony Bailey at Find a Grave The Affairs of James A Bailey by Richard E Conover Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Anthony Bailey amp oldid 1170534784, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
