1880 Lighthall's Medicine Show
by Historic Image
Title
1880 Lighthall's Medicine Show
Artist
Historic Image
Medium
Painting - Print
Description
C. 1880 poster promoting one of the great medicine show salesman of the American West: Dr. J.I. Lighthall - The Diamond King. Lighthall claimed to be of Native Indian descent and studied the techniques of Indian Medicine Men. By the age of 24 he had a traveling sideshow which grew to 40 wagons, a brass band, trinket salesmen, herb sellers, acrobats, jugglers and plenty of Lighthall's homemade ' medicine '. The man wore wild diamond studded costumes, diamond rings - even a sombrero decorated with diamonds. His snake oil was said to cure everything but just a week after his thirtieth birthday The Diamond King died of smallpox.
Uploaded
July 11th, 2013
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