This fine old poster was found on eBay a while back. It makes a fine example of the unsung heroes of circus lore and legend, the artists. The people that worked for the Litho companies took their exquisite talents and brought a fantasy world to life in forms we could only imagine. I've painted before and have done well although I have painted anything in about twenty years.
As a Circus researcher, the art is something I have NOT studied but have always been mesmerized by. That is one of the HUGE reasons I can't wait to go to the CHS Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio next June 9, 10, and 11th to see the fabulous Strobridge exhibit that will be on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Having over 200 original works of art to display, there will also be historical documentation to accompany it all by some of the leading circus and art Historians in the world. You won't want to miss this one!
4 comments:
Ok, help my memory out here. Was Strobridge Lithograph located in Cincinnati? The city at one time was home to a number of printing firms.
Yes it was. Donaldson was in KY. just across the river from Cincinnati. Enquirer Printing still exists in Cincinnati.
Not to put too fine a point on it but Strobridge once had New York and London offices too.
Donaldson was located in Cincinnati until 1892 when it moved across the river to Covington, KY. When William Donaldson began publishing Billboard, however, its editorial offices were long located in Cincinnati. One of the greatest of the poster printers was Russell & Morgan, established in 1867 after Enquirer suffered a big fire. As a result, John Robinson lost a lot of posters so he joined others to create Russell, Morgan, & Co. This firm later spun off part of its business as U.S. Playing Card (ever play with Congress cards?). Russell-Morgan than became U.S. Printing & Litho and was a prime mover in a national consolidation, or trust, of show printers during the first years of the 20th century which Strobridge refused to join.
Dick Flint
Baltimore
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