Traveling Shows
During the Gilded Age, the expanding national railroad system allowed for the creation of the popular and economically successful traveling show industry. Circuses, Wild West shows, and other performances brought entertainment to Elmira. Each show introduced new acts which encouraged people to return each time the show was in town.
The Gilded Ideal
New railroad technology, including greater load-bearing abilities and longer rail cars, enabled circuses to carry more materials, thus enlarging shows. Faster train speeds granted traveling companies the ability to perform hundreds of shows per year. This technology provided local entertainers the opportunity to take their shows around the country and allowed businessmen like P.T. Barnum to grow rich.
The Tarnished Reality
While many traveling show creators became rich and famous, it was often through the exploitation of performers. Freak shows were popular attractions which displayed human "oddities." Many circuses became famous for exhibiting people with disabilities and those from foreign cultures. Although some of these shows were billed as educational, they were mostly designed to profit from the public’s curiosity.
