Harry Lewiston - Return To Circus Life

Return To Circus Life

In 1920, Lewiston went to Peru, Indiana, the winter quarters of five railroad circuses. He was hired by the John Robinson Shows, where he first worked as an usher, then as a "candy butcher," selling concessions during the show as well as during the concert after the show. After the circus season ended for the winter, he worked as a candy butcher for the Union News Company on their train the West Point Railroad, which traveled back and forth from Atlanta to Jacksonville.

In 1921 and 1922, Lewiston worked as a candy butcher and concessions buyer for Howes Great London Circus. In his autobiography, he mentions that this is when he learned conning, grafting, and short-changing techniques. He then wintered with Christy Brothers Circus in Houston and worked in their ticket booth the following season, where he began to practice his short-changing technique. Over the next few years, he worked as assistant manager of concessions and as the purchasing agent with Gollmar Bros. Circus, then as a ticket seller for Gentry Brothers circus, where he dated a hoochie coochie dancer. Subsequently, he switched to Golden Brothers Circus, where he ran the hamburger stand, sold balloons and novelties, and also served as the substitute announcer. This was his first experience as a barker, referred to as a "talker" in the circus community (though "barker" will be used throughout this entry for ease of understanding).

In early 1925, he worked with the newly-formed Carolina Minstrels, an all-black troupe based in Shelbyville, Kentucky. He "strutted downtown at the head of the band to make announcements," and also sold reserved tickets, supervised equipment unloading and setup, and sold prize candy. Later that year, he switched to Miller Brothers 101 Ranch show, where he worked as a ticket seller and sideshow announcer. He worked for Miller Brothers again the following year, but was fired by Joe Miller for short-changing patrons. Lewiston was hired by the Boyd and Linderman Shows to organize and hire performers and musicians for a hoochie coochie show. After the touring season ended, he ran a (fixed) betting wheel for Pollack's 20 Big Shows. In early 1927, he worked as a candy butcher and a fill-in performer for Pat Whale's Traveling Burlesque Show, and then briefly ran a brothel/speakeasy in Kansas City, Missouri before the police shut it down.