Samuel W. Gumpertz (1868 – June 22, 1952[1]) was an American showman who played a part in the building of Coney Island's Dreamland.[2]
Samuel W. Gumpertz | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1868 Washington, United States |
| Died | (aged 84)[1] Sarasota, Florida, United States |
| Occupation | Entertainment industry talent promotor |
| Known for | Building Coney Island Dreamland |
Gumpertz was the talent manager of Harry Houdini, and he became right-hand man to John T. Ringling, last of the famed Ringling Brothers, and after Ringling retired in 1932, he took over the circus in the capacity of vice-president and general manager. and responsible for merging Ringling Brothers with Barnum and Bailey and the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus and the Al G. Barnes Circus [1]
Biography and career edit
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Gumpertz born in 1868, to Herman and Elizabeth Gumpertz, his father was a lawyer and veteran of the Civil War. Samuel started his career as a professional acrobat aged 9, with the Montgomery and Queen Circus after running away to join the circus, he took a part in every phrase of the industry, as an actor, producer and rough rider at Buffalo Bills Wild West Show, his career as an acrobat was short lived and Gumpertz resumed his schooling, however after his family relocated to San Francisco, three years thereafter, Gumpertz worked as a child actor at the Tivoli Opera House and as an agent traveled the world in search of indigenous people to perform in the popular ethnographic sideshows of the day, including Filipinos who were exhibited in an "Igorot Village", long-necked women from Burma and people from Borneo who performed as "wild men of Borneo,"[3] who Gumpertz reportedly 'acquired' by paying two hundred bags of salt to tribal leaders.[4]
Personal life edit
Gumpertz was married to Evie Stetson in 1922, who was a member of Webber and Fields Troupe after her death, he remarried Edith L. Green, his secretary of 22 years. after she died, he married a third time, to Beatrice Frances Wood of Methuen, Massachusetts[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Samuel Gumpertz, Showman, 84, Dies; Former Aide to John Ringling Was Circus Acrobat at 9-- Built Dreamland Park". The New York Times. 1952-06-23. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
- ^ Samuelson, Dale; Yegoiants, Wendy (2001). The American Amusement Park. p. 58. ISBN 9780760309810.
- ^ "Samuel W. Gumpertz". coneyislandhistory.org. 22 May 2015.
- ^ Berman, John S. (2003). Portraits of America: Coney Island. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, Inc. p. 64. ISBN 9780760738870.
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