The circus was a major source of entertainment in America in the early 1900s. It was very big business and no fewer than eight circus companies brought their big tents and animal acts to Illinois. These companies included Barnum and Bailey’s Greatest Show, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, Cole Brothers World Toured Shows, Gentry Brothers Circus, Hagenbeck-Wallace Shows, Miller Brothers, Norris and Rowe Circus, and Ringling Brothers. It is unknown which circus company Baumann depicted but it had “Wild Animals in Startling Acts.” This was serious entertainment to the town and city folks and men and women dressed in their Sunday finery.