Johnny J. Jones

Johnny J. Jones (June 8, 1874 – December 25, 1930) was an American carnival showman, the founder and manager of the Johnny J. Jones Exposition. The Exposition was one of the first to use steel railroad cars and one of the largest of its kind, exceeded in size only by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. In operation for over 50 years through the continental United States and Canada, the show reached a total of 50 steel cars carrying 100 wagons during its heyday in the 1920s.

A native of Arnot, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Jenkins was the son of Welsh immigrants, working alongside his father in the local coal mines from the age of ten. He graduated to hawking newspapers first on the streets and then aboard the Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train, where he also sold sandwiches, cigars and sundries. Du Bois, Pennsylvania historian Major Israel McCreight recalled: “After the arrival of the 1 o'clock train Johnny J. Jones could be heard yelling at the top of his voice, "Pittsburgh Gazette; all about the big fire."

Jones wed Etta Louise "Hody" Hurd in 1920 and fathered a son, Johnny J. Jones, Jr. (1921). In his mid-40s at the time, he would not have long with his family. Jones had developed an alcohol problem in his youth, and in the mid 1920s was hospitalized for alcoholism. The impact on his health was profound. He died of renal failure at the age of 56 on Christmas Day in 1930.

Jones entered the carnival business in 1895 with his purchase of a cane rack booth at a local fairground and opened his first small traveling fair in 1899. Localized to Western Pennsylvania, 'The Johnny J. Jones Ferris Wheel Company featured a miniature railroad and Ferris wheel among its entertainments. Jones's carnival evolved to become the "Johnny J. Jones Exposition Shows & Trained Wild Animal Exhibition" in 1906 when he added a circus, and he began touring regionally through the Eastern United States and Canada. In 1916, he expanded into the west.

His fame grew along with his program; in 1917, he was featured on the covers of Billboard and Optimist magazines. Jones had a reputation for running a clean operation, suitable for children. By 1928, Jones had two traveling carnivals. He combined these into the second-largest traveling show in America, the 50 car, 100-wagon exhibition coming in behind Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

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