This brilliant, richly illustrated biography of a 19th century performer introduces readers to the most famous American they've never heard of, while exploring the history of entertainment and the cult of celebrity. Circus clown and presidential candidate: A 21st century punch line, that conjunction made perfect sense to the mid-19th century, in the person of Dan Rice. A runaway at 13, Rice was a pig presenter, strongman, lecturer, comic singer, blackface clown, before joining the dazzling world of circus. Creating Dan Rice ...
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This brilliant, richly illustrated biography of a 19th century performer introduces readers to the most famous American they've never heard of, while exploring the history of entertainment and the cult of celebrity. Circus clown and presidential candidate: A 21st century punch line, that conjunction made perfect sense to the mid-19th century, in the person of Dan Rice. A runaway at 13, Rice was a pig presenter, strongman, lecturer, comic singer, blackface clown, before joining the dazzling world of circus. Creating Dan Rice's Great Show, and labeling himself the Great American Humorist, he spoke out on issues of the day until he become one of the most famous men in America. So what happened? Why did Dan Rice disappear? Why have so few people ever heard of him? Propelled by a vague urge of "refinement"-which mostly meant quiet audiences-American amusements began to stratify in the mid-19th century. The raucous antebellum jumble of performers and audiences and forms split along a new performance hierarchy of high and low. Circus, though still vastly popular, became seen as essentially lowbrow, good only for children, simple jokes, and nostalgia. In that changed world, Rice's aggressive humor became an embarrassment, and his robust connection with a noisy, participatory audience became seen as a civic threat. David Carlyon weaves a remarkably rich portrait of turbulent times that raised one ambitious, creative man to glorious heights and then, embarrassed by its enthusiasm, buried him in sentimentality and finally oblivion.
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Add this copy of Dan Rice: the Most Famous Man You'Ve Never Heard of to cart. $25.01, good condition, Sold by Goldstone Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Ammanford, CARMS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2001 by PublicAffairs, U. S.
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Good. No Dustjacket. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
Add this copy of Dan Rice: the Most Famous Man You'Ve Never Heard of to cart. $10.38, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by PublicAffairs.
Add this copy of Dan Rice: the Most Famous Man You'Ve Never Heard of to cart. $10.38, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by PublicAffairs.
Add this copy of Dan Rice: the Most Famous Man You'Ve Never Heard of to cart. $10.38, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by PublicAffairs.
Add this copy of Dan Rice: the Most Famous Man You'Ve Never Heard of to cart. $10.38, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by PublicAffairs.
Add this copy of Dan Rice: the Most Famous Man You'Ve Never Heard of to cart. $10.38, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by PublicAffairs.
Add this copy of Dan Rice: the Most Famous Man You'Ve Never Heard of to cart. $11.54, good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by PublicAffairs.
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Good. Good condition. Good dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
Add this copy of Dan Rice the Most Famous Man You'Ve Never Heard of to cart. $25.00, very good condition, Sold by Between the Covers-Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester City, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by PublicAffairs.
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Near Fine in Very Good jacket. First edition. Near fine in very good dust jacket. Remainder mark, spine ends bumped, dust jacket lightly shelf rubbed with some smudge marks on covers and bottom of spine, spine ends bumped.
Add this copy of Dan Rice: the Most Famous Man You'Ve Never Heard of to cart. $80.75, new condition, Sold by GridFreed rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Las Vegas, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by PublicAffairs.
Add this copy of Dan Rice: the Most Famous Man You'Ve Never Heard of to cart. $19.50, good condition, Sold by Montclair Book Center rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Montclair, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by PublicAffairs.
