Sells-Floto Circus, United States , was founded in 1902 and the first elephant arrived in 1902. Sells-Floto Circus closed down in 1932.
H. H. Tammen writes from Denver, May 9: "My dear Patrick. The big event was the birth of a baby elephant, which we have named "Little Hutch." It occurred April 26, at San Francisco, Cal. Our San Francisco engagement was the largest ever played, I believe, by any circus that ever visited there, all of which was due, of course, to the exploitation of the baby elephant. And what made the business larger than it ever was before was that after playing to six turnaways out of eight performances, with immense crowds in front of the canvas, we sold tickets admitting the people to the menagerie, which included the baby elephant, and to the side show for twenty-five cents. On one occasion ther were so many people in the side show and menagerie, which is 110 round top with three forties, that we had to stop selling. I don't think that is has ever been recorded where a circus tent of 160, with three fifties, eighteen tiers high and reserves fourteen, with 700 extra chairs in front of the reserves, and then on the hippodrome track, was filled this way. The famous baby elephant born with Sells-Floto Shows at Salinas, Cal., April 25, died at Pendleton, Oregon, June 6. The loss is a severe one to the management. The birth of this elephant startled the scientific world. Everything was done to keep it alive. With the birth of the elephant the Sells-Floto business took on enormous proportions.
