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The Marvelous Humpty Dumpty Circus
- Steve Gould
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
There is something truly marvelous about toys! A toy can spark a child’s imagination, providing hours of enjoyment. Toys also offer insight into the past. The Southampton History Museum's wonderful collection of Schoenhut Humpty Dumpty Circus toys reminds us that circus-themed toys were very desirable in the early 1900s. Why were circus figures so popular then? Investigating this question reveals how American entertainment evolved during the late 19th and early 20th century, from theater to circuses and toys.
At the beginning of the 1900s, many Americans lived in rural areas where opportunities for recreation and entertainment were limited. Imagine no movie theaters, television, or internet! What did people do to break the monotony of daily routines? One form of respite was found in travelling circuses which crisscrossed the country, offering a chance to experience exotic and spectacular performances. When a circus came to town, the entire community all but shutdown as people excitedly gathered to watch elephants and clowns on parade.
Hoping to capitalize on the popularity of circuses, in 1903 Albert Schoenhut (1849–1912) purchased the patent for a toy modeled after "Humpty Dumpty," a theatrical clown character famously portrayed by George L. Fox (1825–1877) during the 1860s/70s. This toy clown proved to be so successful, it became one of the most popular American toys of its time.
Above left: "G.L. Fox The original Humpty Dumpty," ca. 1875. Image of a lithograph by Henry A. Thomas, Artistic Litho., NY (The Library of Congress). Above right: Schoenhut's Humpty Dumpty toy (Southampton History Museum Collection)
Albert Schoenhut's family came to the United States from Germany in the 1860s, settling in Pennsylvania. In 1872, Albert started a company that made toy pianos in Philadelphia. Shortly thereafter, it expanded to include dolls and other wooden toys. The company’s business exploded with the success of the Humpty Dumpty Clown toy. Schoenhut quickly created an entire line of circus toys, known as The Humpty Dumpty Circus. Every year new toys were added and listed in Schoenhut's Marvelous Toys Catalog.
The Humpty Dumpty Circus eventually featured lion tamers, acrobats, carnival wagons, tents, exotic animals, and more clowns. These toys were designed to be played with and most were poseable so they could be arranged in a variety of different combinations. The early figures were often hand-crafted and hand-painted.
The popularity of the Humpty Dumpty Circus peaked around 1910. During World War I, the company had to make changes to the toys when supplies from Germany were cut off. After the war, additional changes were made to reduce production costs and increase sales. Some toys were reduced in size and hand-painted details were replaced.
Unfortunately, the A. Schoenhut Company did not survive the Great Depression of 1929 and went out of business in 1935. Although Schoenhut's company did not survive, many examples of its Humpty Dumpty Circus toys survive today. These vibrant objects remain highly sought-after by collectors and preserved by museums. The Southampton History Museum is thrilled to share these wonderful historic toys.
