John Bill Ricketts

We return this week to the European equestrian style show popularized by Phillip Astley and the man who brought this style of performance to the U.S, John Bill Ricketts. Born in Scotland in 1760, Ricketts trained with Charles Hughes' riding school in London during the late 1700's before founding his own show which opened first in Edinburgh as the Circus Royal in 1791. The show traveled throughout Scotland and Ireland before relocating to Philadelphia where it performed in the equestrians's riding school at Twelfth and Market Street (then called High Street), roughly where the Gallery at Market East shopping mall stands today.

Among those present at Ricketts' earliest performances were George and Martha Washington whose attendance and the reports thereof all but assured Ricketts' American success. Ricketts soon took his show to New York where then president John Adams also attended. Like Astley, Ricketts often had custom amphitheaters built for the show, eventually owning some half dozen buildings in the U.S. and Canada. On his return to Philadelphia which served as the show's home base, Rickets had the show's original open air arena replaced with his Art Pantheon and Amphitheater, boasting artificial lighting, stage and arena spaces and seating for 1,200. The show eventually became so popular that Ricketts' was able to send his brother, Francis on the road with a second troupe.

Among Ricketts' major contributions to the modern circus was his addition, even more so than Astley's of variety acts to the equestrian show in which he starred. Ricketts' show boasted a series of clowns throughout, including the first Native American clown, John Durang, whose addition to the show was something of a coup for Ricketts as Durang was already an actor and dancer of note as well as being one of Washington's favorite performers. The show also included pantomimes and theatrical stage pieces as well as one of the first after show concerts which were regularly rotated in order to garner repeat business.

Ricketts also added what might be considered one of the first sideshows in circus history. After seeing his show during their first tour in Philadelphia, George Washington returned and offered to sell Ricketts the horse he rode during the Revolutionary War for a price of $150. The horse, who was by then too old to be of much use to Washington was exhibited around the country as part of Ricketts' show.

When both Ricketts' main amphitheater burned down in 1799, one in New York and the other in their home base of Philadelphia and the rent on the new Philadelphia location, a half collapsed building formerly owned by Philip Lailson became more than the circus could reasonably handle, Ricketts and a small portion of his cast left for a tour of the West Indies where he was able to recoup much of his money despite widespread illness among the cast. Selling the remainder of his horses, Ricketts attempted to sail back to England but was lost at sea along with the ship. In his wake, Ricketts left behind a new industry which would, in the coming century become one of the most widespread forms of American entertainment.