Dan Rice (1822-1901)

"Yankee Dan" Rice was the first clown to be star of a circus. In his unusual costume of red, white, and blue stripes, stars, top hat and chin whiskers, he was the prototype for "Uncle Sam." Well-known for his Shakespearean quips, he was called President Lincoln's court jester. As an aphoristic, wisecracking philosopher, he was a forerunner of Will Rogers. Rice earned twice as much as President Lincoln and was a generous philanthropist. The showman was an accomplished animal trainer: he presented an act with a trained rhinoceros and was the only person in circus history to present an elephant walking a tightrope. He campaigned for Zachary Taylor as president, inviting him to campaign on the circus bandwagon, whence the expression "to jump on the bandwagon."

Date:
1870 circa 5 years
Original Format:
Carte de Visite
Item#:
MES20140
Photographer:
C. D. Fredricks & Co.
Height:
1236px
Width:
758px
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