Booklet: The Fall of Babylon

Booklet for the Fall of Babylon produced and directed by Imre Kiralfy at Oakland Garden, Boston. Priced at 10 cents, this booklet features a full color cover. On the left side of the cover is an open book that reads "prophet of Daniel" that stands beside a depiction of a golden lamassu (winged bull with a man's head). A figure, pointing, towers over them. The rest of the cover is dominated by an attack on Babylon, with armies shown to be charging at the city and its walls while a great fire roars in the background. Within is a three page pull out in full color, depicting a grand parade of Babylonian soldiers, women, and horses. The rest of the booklet features a description of the performance using vivid language, essentially giving a summary of each scene. Advertisements are peppered throughout. A full color ad for B.A. Atkinson and Co's Largest House Furnishers in the World is on the back. Imre Kiralfy (originally Königsbaum) (January 1845-April 28, 1919) was a Hungarian born producer of spectacles. A number of his elaborate productions were put on by the Barnum and Bailey circus. Originally working to produce shows with his brother Bolossy, the two put on what were known as spectacles - elaborately staged multi-media productions with music, lavish costuming, massive sets, dancing, extensive use of new electrical lighting, and minimal emphasis on dialogue. The two had a successful partnership, but split in 1887 following a falling out for reasons unknown. Imre went on to produce shows like "Nero; or the Fall of Rome," "Columbus and the Discovery of America" and "The Fall of Babylon" that toured as a part of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Kiralfy died in Brighton, England on April 28, 1919. Barnum is best known for his involvement with the circus that bore his name, but his circus ventures came about when he was in his 60s. The first show was called P.T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus. Railroads propelled the circus to success, making it easier to reach a number of locations, and the intake was significant. Barnum then opened the New York Hippodrome with similar acts. In the 1880s, he encountered competition from other circuses. A merger between Barnum's show and the Great London Show of Cooper, Bailey, and Hutchinson formed the Barnum and London Circus. Negotiations in 1887 formed the Barnum and Bailey circus. The name remained until 1919 when it became the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. It came to an end in May 2017 when the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus ceased performances after 146 years.