Dr. H. May’s Traveling Medicine Show Memorabilia

Dr. H. May was an infamous huckster who traveled throughout the rural US between 1880 and 1910 with a large “medicine” show promoting his miraculous “Cure-All.”

This highly decorated snake box housed the exotic snakes which were used as part of his bally-hoo spiel to attract customers for his “health” lecture and convince them to buy his tonic.  Size:  23″H x 31″W x 22″ D.

Accompanying this box is an original sideshow banner of the Alligator Woman.  Great condition and coloration.  Size:  60″ x 45″.

Provenance:  James Eastland, Peabody, MA.  Purchased from a New Hampshire family who were part of the original medicine show.

References: 

Nostrums and Quackery, The American Medical Association.

Medicine Shows: Conning People and Making Them Like It, Mary Calhoun.

“Traveling Medicine Shows,” James Eastland.