King Bros Circus Showgirl & Horse c. 1950

                     Printed by The Enquirer Printing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio

The King Bros. Circus Showgirl & Horse Poster is a vibrant promotional piece from the King Brothers Circus, a mid-20th-century American traveling show, designed to draw crowds to its equestrian spectacles. Featuring a glamorous showgirl and a majestic horse, these posters were displayed in towns along tour routes, plastered on walls, barns, or shop windows to advertise upcoming performances. Produced in the 1940s–1950s, they reflect the era’s bold lithographic printing and the fading golden age of tent circuses, capturing the allure of human and animal artistry in a nostalgic marketing format.

History and Production

The Showgirl & Horse posters were created during the King Brothers Circus’s active years (1946–1956), a period when American circuses faced declining popularity due to post-WWII shifts like television’s rise, suburbanization, and early animal welfare concerns. The U.S. circus tradition, rooted in Philip Astley’s 1790s equestrian shows, thrived in the 19th century via rail tours but struggled by the 1950s. These posters were lithographically printed by regional firms, likely in Ohio or Florida, using multi-color stone-transfer techniques for vivid, cost-effective runs. Measuring approximately 28 x 42 inches (a standard circus poster size), they were produced in runs of hundreds to thousands before spring–fall tours across the Midwest and South. Printed on sturdy paper for outdoor display, they endured weather-related wear (fading, tearing); production ceased with the circus’s closure in 1956, as the industry shifted to indoor venues and reduced reliance on large-format ephemera.

Design

The poster features a dynamic composition: a glamorous showgirl in a sparkling, feathered costume—evoking 1940s Hollywood glamour—posing or performing alongside a rearing or prancing horse, often white or black with a flowing mane, set against a vibrant red or starry background to highlight the equestrian act’s elegance. The horse, central to the circus’s historical roots, conveys strength and grace, while the showgirl adds a touch of allure. Bold, carnival-style typography proclaims “King Bros. Circus” in arched, eye-catching script, often accented by starbursts, spotlights, or a tent silhouette. Using saturated colors (reds, blues, whites, golds), the design blends simplified Art Deco influences with lively, family-friendly imagery from 1940s commercial art trends. Optimized for visibility from a distance, the poster’s vivid lithography ensured it stood out in bustling town squares or rural settings.

Company Behind It

Produced by the King Brothers Circus, founded in 1946 by Floyd King in Ohio as a small, family-run operation with two trucks, building on Floyd and brother Howard’s experience managing shows like Cole Bros., Gentry Bros., and Sanger since 1919. Based in winter quarters near Cincinnati, the circus grew to a 40-truck operation by 1950, touring the Midwest and South with a big top featuring 20+ acts, including equestrian performances, aerialists, and animal acts. Affiliated with labor groups like the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, it focused on affordable family entertainment, transporting equipment via truck in the post-rail era. Floyd (producer) and Howard (advance man) were key figures, but financial pressures from weather, competition (e.g., Ringling Bros.), and rising costs led to closure in 1956. No major mergers followed, though the Kings’ model influenced smaller regional “mud shows.”

Cultural Significance

The Showgirl & Horse poster embodies post-war Americana, celebrating the circus as a traveling spectacle of elegance and animal prowess, with diverse performers (European, Latin American, U.S.) captivating small-town audiences. The showgirl-horse motif, rooted in the circus’s 18th-century equestrian origins, evokes glamour and tradition, appealing to 1950s families seeking pre-television wonder. However, it obscures ethical concerns—horses faced grueling travel and training conditions—reflecting tensions between spectacle and animal welfare that fueled 1960s activism. As ephemera, the posters evoke childhood nostalgia, akin to carnival posters or movie bills, and highlight advertising’s role in commodifying wonder. Today, they spark discussions on circus ethics, gender portrayal (showgirls as idealized figures), and labor in exhibits on pop culture and performance history, resonating with modern shifts like animal-act bans (e.g., Ringling’s 2017 closure).

Archival Sources and Modern Interest

• Jay T. Last Collection of Entertainment: Circus Prints and Ephemera (Huntington Library): Digitized archive with King Bros. posters, including equestrian-themed designs; searchable via the Online Archive of California with lithographic production details.
• Circus World Museum (Baraboo, WI): Extensive collection of King Bros. artifacts, including promotional posters; featured in exhibits on 1940s–1950s tent shows, with research access by appointment.
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History: Holds circus ephemera, including King Bros. posters; digital collections include essays on equestrian acts and 1950s marketing trends.
• Modern Interest: Collectors seek these posters on eBay, Etsy, and Collectors Weekly ($50–$300 for originals, depending on condition), valued for their bold designs and circus nostalgia. Featured in 2023 Circus Historical Society swaps and 2025 exhibits like “Tent Show Treasures” at the Ringling Museum, values rise 15–25% annually for equestrian-themed rarities. Craft communities on Pinterest repurpose digital scans for decor or journaling ($5–$20 for prints), reflecting a revival of interest in pre-digital entertainment and circus heritage preservation.

Note: The poster’s design is inferred from King Bros.’ performer-animal promotional art, as specific catalog entries for “Showgirl & Horse” are scarce. If you have an image, specific dimensions, or additional details, I can refine the description further. Thank you for clarifying, and let me know if this aligns with your request or if further adjustments are needed!

This vintage the King Brothers Circus half-sheet poster (21 inches tall by 28 inches wide) in 4 colors (yellow, red, blue, black) with Chico, California date strip features a female bareback rider is dated from 1950. A smiling female performer with short, wavy, yellow hair appears  to burst towards the viewer from behind a sheet of paper, leaping onto a bridled white horse. One bracelet is on her left arm, three on her right; she carries a riding crop in her right hand and wears a sleeveless yellow skirted top, yellow leggings, and white shoes with ballet-style lacing. NOTE: Although the artwork is unsigned on this poster, another poster with a nearly identical rendering of a horse with female bareback rider is signed “Roland Butler”.

This circus and many others like it drove to and set up on a multi-acre empty lot called Hahn Field.  The poster mis-spelled the name Hahn.  I know because I went to school with Mark Hahn for many years.  The site is now a Chico State College apartment complex called “The Zoo” in honor of it’s circus history.