Amazing stories of traveling circuses and their performers around the turn of last century.

When a carnie was attacked or in trouble, he would yell "Hey, Rube!" and all carnies in earshot would rush to his aid. Circus pioneer and legendary clown Dan Rice called it "a terrible cry", as no other expression in the language does, that a fierce deadly fight is on, that men who are far away from home [travelling circus workers] must band together in a struggle that means life or death to them."Hey, Rube!" is still the safety phrase used by many modern theatrical performers to alert security of a violent audience member, especially in outdoor or festival environments where entertainers are in close proximity with large numbers of intoxicated patrons.

"Ladies and Gentleman: May we offer for your kind indulgence our humnble effort, which tells of life among a red blooded class of people whom through many years of pleasant association we dearly love and understand. We make no attempt to present a complete history of the circus, as even faithful records of events during the period we cover are not told single handed and alone. More competent historians and skilled writers having capably told of the larger circuses, we mention them but briefly."