Medicine Shows

Not too many persons are left today who still remember the old medicine shows that used to make their yearly visits to the small country villages. One of the largest of the traveling shows in the country was the Kickapoo Medicine Company of New Haven, Conn. It was formed about 1881 and had at least 75 road shows traveling about the country. It employed hundreds of Indians from assorted tribes, however, all were portrayed as members of the Kickapoo Nation. This Company sold out in 1912 for a quarter of a million dollars.

Bedford was one of the towns on their circuit. An unusual story about one of these appearances appears in the history of the Bedford fire company.

The main patent potion they offered to the public was called 'Sagwa!' It was a strong medicine that claimed to cure most ailments of man. Other products were 'Kickapoo Indian Oil', 'Salve', 'Worm Killer' and 'Cough Syrup'. (The latter proved to be Jamaica Rum and New Orleans Molasses).

Another large traveling Medicine Show that flourished in the 1800-1890's was known as the Oregon Indian Medicine Company. Oddly enough, this Company never originated in Oregon. It was started in Corry, Penna. This company's famous product was 'Ka-ton-ka', which was supposed to have been made from Indian herbs by Modoc and Nez Perce Indian tribes in Oregon. (An analysis later proved the product consisted of a mixture of alcohol, sugar, aloes and baking soda, with perhaps a little artificial coloring added).

Many other smaller shows traveled about the countryside every summer. Some were just a one night stand while others stay for a week or more. To drum up trade and interest they would put on various contests. Every person who made a purchase of their products received a certain number of ballots by which he or she could cast their votes for the prettiest baby or the most popular young lady or gentleman in the community. Those who received the highest number of votes, tallied at the last night's showing, would receive a beautiful present. Contests of this nature were bound to create interest. Friends and relatives were certain to encourage others to cast their votes for their favorite contestant.

Generally the public was alerted to the coming of the show several weeks in advance by large colored and picturesque posters tacked up on the sides of blacksmith shops, barns and store fronts. For the privilege of erecting these posters the owners of the buildings were given free passes to the shows. In larger towns a parade was usually held with painted Indians on broken down ponies and cowboys and cowgirls putting on their simple acts of lassoing. When a show came to a small town, a space was rented in a field adjoining the village. Here the main tent was erected along with one or two Indian tepees on the side. To raise curiosity among the towns people as well as the country people who came into town, the Indians would 'practice’ their dances and chants to the beat of the War Drum in front of their tepees. This was a sure way of bringing in the quarters and fifty-cent pieces quickly every evening.

Every show had its famous glib pitchman who would try to thrill the crowds with his promulgated esoteric cogitations about the 'Genuine Native Medicines' that were guaranteed to cure corns, bunions, rheumatism or cancer.

Sometimes a brilliantly painted Indian with his bonnet of feathers and necklace of bear claws would appear on the platform in front of the tent. He would be introduced to the crowd as 'Chief'. His beautiful daughter, dressed in white buckskin with many beaded designs and a beaded headband, which held her black hair, would be presented as 'Princess'. Her sweet smile to the crowd was certain to loosen the purse strings of the farmer as she passed through the crowd selling her magic medicine. Generally the bottles of the -medicine had heavy worked labels of the Indian product. Some labels would show an Indian admiring his growing healing plant. One company sold its products in a bottle that was shaped like an Indian maiden. Another product sold at these shows was the famous rattlesnake oil. This was said to be a sure cure for all aches and pains. No doubt a few bottles of this oil can be found in some of the old homes today.

Actually the medicine shows date back to the eighteenth century. They became so numerous that various states enacted laws prohibiting the sales of any "Physick," Drugs or Medicines of unknown composition. Such practices were believed to destroy the health and welfare of the users instead of improving them. The plays, tricks of juggling and other acts of unusual dexterity and agility of the performers in each show were felt by many to lead to the corruption of manners and morals of the younger generations as well as a detriment to good and religious beliefs.

The medicine shows became quite popular from the post Civil War period to the beginning of World War I. Perhaps the crux of the medicine shows took place after the turn of the century and later. The Barnum and Bailey and Buffalo Bill Cody shows came into the picture.

It was also not unusual at this period, or perhaps a little earlier for communities to be visited by 'charlatans' who drove a small one-horse wagon. Each side of the covered wagon was gaily painted with advertisements of his products. They were called 'buckboard riding peddlers'. Many a frontier or backwoods housewife became a regular customer.

These men like to be known as 'Indian doctors', 'botanic physicians' or 'herb doctors'. However to the public he was known or often dubbed as a plain 'quack'. At this period there were very few licensing laws to keep them from plying their trade.

Perhaps most of them were fakers and charlatans, but there must have been a few who were honest men who really believed in themselves and that their medicines were able to relieve pain and suffering by their fellowman.