Jane Oakes has been teaching people history for over 40 years. She lives in western NY and gives talks on her areas of interest, among which are Opera Houses, Graham’s Crackers, and Circuses. Jane has been described as “one of the area’s most popular historical speakers whose well-illustrated programs are always lively and engaging.”
Oh, the excitement of seeing a poster announcing that a circus was coming to your town! Many a young person dreamed of running away with the circus, and some did. NYS has many interesting connections with American circus history. From ‘Yankee Robinson,’ who gave the Ringling Brothers their start, to P.T. Barnum’s “Ossian Giant,” you’ll meet some New Yorkers who followed the lure of the sawdust circle.