Offered here are very rare, real photos of the London Ghost Show circus performing in Seattle, Washington circa 1905. You may have seen this on websites- these are the actual photos! The history: after a fire destroyed the famous Yesler mansion in 1901 at Third & Fourth Streets from Jefferson to James streets, the empty lot was used for various purposes. The circus set up there and the Whittelsey couple took these two photos which show a performer on the vortex ramp at the top and descending down it. Also visible are crowds of people attending, the huge tents of the circus, and the old Seattle buildings in the background such as the First Baptist Church on 4th Avenue. This and the other listings of similar grouping of vintage photos we currently have are from the Seattle, Washington Delia and Lewis Gates Whittelsey family photo album. He was a clerk employed with the Water Department and he took many photos of Seattle around the turn of the century 1900’s, 1910’s and 1920’s. In particular, he took photos of the Denny Hill Regrade projects where many buildings and hills were razed and lowered in elevation with much of the fill going to the downtown area to fill in the “swamp” areas that are now waterfront. Two are of the London Ghost Show. The Old Happenings lettering is Not on the item.
