William Cameron Coup
Encyclopedia
William Cameron Coup was a Wisconsin
businessman who partnered with P. T. Barnum
and Dan Castello in 1871 to form the "P. T. Barnum’s Museum, Menagerie and Circus". Previously Barnum had a museum at a fixed location in New York City
and the traveling circus allowed him to bring his curiosities to more paying customers. Coup's innovations were the circus train
to transport the materials from town to town. He also came up with the concept of adding a second ring to the circus.
. After his mother died in 1849 he moved from Martin County, Indiana
to Terre Haute, Indiana
. There he worked as a printer. In 1853, he joined Mabies' Grand Olympian Arena and U.S. Circus where he worked as the side show
manager.
Between 1866 and 1869 he managed the Yankee Robinson Circus then moved to a ranch in Delavan, Wisconsin
.
Dan Castello suggested he work with P. T. Barnum
. On April 10, 1871, Coup and Barnum created "P. T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Circus and Hippodrome" in Brooklyn, New York.
In 1876 he opened the New York Aquarium
and later organized "The Equescurriculum", "The New United Monster Shows" and several touring Wild West Shows
.
He lost most of his equipment in a train wreck near Cairo, Illinois
in 1887.
He died in Jacksonville, Florida
on March 4, 1895.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
businessman who partnered with P. T. Barnum
P. T. Barnum
Phineas Taylor Barnum was an American showman, businessman, scam artist and entertainer, remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the circus that became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus....
and Dan Castello in 1871 to form the "P. T. Barnum’s Museum, Menagerie and Circus". Previously Barnum had a museum at a fixed location in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the traveling circus allowed him to bring his curiosities to more paying customers. Coup's innovations were the circus train
Circus train
A circus train is a modern method of conveyance for circus troupes. One of the larger users of circus trains is the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus , a famous American circus formed when the Ringling Brothers Circus purchased the Barnum and Bailey Circus in 1907.In 1872 the P.T...
to transport the materials from town to town. He also came up with the concept of adding a second ring to the circus.
Biography
He was born in August 4, 1836 in IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. After his mother died in 1849 he moved from Martin County, Indiana
Martin County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,369 people, 4,183 households, and 2,877 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 4,729 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
to Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
. There he worked as a printer. In 1853, he joined Mabies' Grand Olympian Arena and U.S. Circus where he worked as the side show
Side Show
Side Show is a musical about Daisy and Violet Hilton, conjoined twins who make a change from being a circus act to becoming famous stage performers in the 1930s. The show was written by Bill Russell and Henry Krieger . The show starred Alice Ripley as Violet and Emily Skinner as Daisy...
manager.
Between 1866 and 1869 he managed the Yankee Robinson Circus then moved to a ranch in Delavan, Wisconsin
Delavan, Wisconsin
Delavan is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,463 at the 2010 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Delavan.-Economy:Delavan is home to the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, and Andes Candies.-History:...
.
Dan Castello suggested he work with P. T. Barnum
P. T. Barnum
Phineas Taylor Barnum was an American showman, businessman, scam artist and entertainer, remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the circus that became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus....
. On April 10, 1871, Coup and Barnum created "P. T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Circus and Hippodrome" in Brooklyn, New York.
In 1876 he opened the New York Aquarium
New York Aquarium
The New York Aquarium is the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States, having opened in Castle Garden in Battery Park, Manhattan in 1896. Since 1957, it has been located on the boardwalk in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The aquarium is managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society as...
and later organized "The Equescurriculum", "The New United Monster Shows" and several touring Wild West Shows
Wild West Shows
Wild West Shows were traveling vaudeville performances in the United States and Europe. The first and prototypical wild west show was Buffalo Bill's, formed in 1883 and lasting until 1913...
.
He lost most of his equipment in a train wreck near Cairo, Illinois
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
in 1887.
He died in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
on March 4, 1895.
Circuses
- W. C. Coup's Circus (1885–1889)
- W. C. Coup's Rolling Palaces
- Coup's Equescurriculum
- W. C. Coup's New United Monster Shows
- Coup's 10 Consolidated Shows