The name Rose’s Royal Midgets held an important place at theatres, circuses, and fairgrounds across three continents a century ago, even if each component of the troupe’s name crumbles to dust by the light of day (“Rose” was a pseudonym, the company held no Royal patent, and the word “midget” has passed out of use in polite society). This large touring production of Little People was the creation of one of show biz history’s great impresarios, Ike Rose, now forgotten but once in a league with names like Barnum and Ziegfeld as men who delivered full value for the price of a ticket. Peruse these pages for a glimpse into a vanished world, one as cynical as it was magical, but one that was also always fascinating.
Rose’s Royal Midgets contains a complete reprint of Rose’s own 1925 promotional booklet, dozens of restored historical photographs from the collection of editor Jim R. Moore, essays by show biz chronicler Trav S.D. (No Applause, Just Throw Money, the Book That Made Vaudeville Famous and the blog Travalanche), a foreword by sideshow maven James Taylor (Shocked and Amazed), and interviews with relatives of troupe member Gladys Farkas.
To purchase the book with the publishers discount click here.