Advertising with the Circus
What is more fun than a circus? Perhaps anticipating the arrival of the circus. We have two original, intact sets titled “Tom Thumb Circus Cut-Outs” that worked both for the local business to get their name out and to advertise the circus coming to town.
Each cut-out book has 11 single sided pages highlighting different circus attractions. The cover page is longer to fold around the inner pages, representing the front of the Big Top.
Above the gate is printed “Fritzie’s Breads, Sturgis, Michigan.” It was on E. Chicago Road in the 1920s.
This “made to order” advertisement cut-out book was printed by the G. R. Rathburn Company in Grand Rapids. I researched the printing company but could find nothing so I sent an email to the Grand Rapids Public Library. The historian on staff was also unable to find any record of the existence of the G. R. Rathburn Company. He added that it could have been a short-lived company. During that time many printing businesses came and went, some lasting only a year or two.
Although there is no year for this cut-out book, the Library of Congress lists it as being published between 1900-1930. Since the bakery was in town during the 1920s it narrows it down even more.
Rachel Boland is a dedicated volunteer archivist and researcher at the museum
