"There's a sucker born every minute"

[aircooled]

interesting read.

His brother-in-law Joseph McCaddon, no admirer of Barnum, attacked him regularly and had no reason to smooth over a statement that would have been a disastrous public relations mistake. Writing at the time, McCaddon said that it was unlikely for the showman to have uttered the phrase, "he was too shrewd an advertiser to directly accuse his public of ignorance, and of being suckers." Barnum may have thought it but he didn't say it, and yet the myth persists to this day.

 

[smc13]

Supposedly one of Barnums competitors said it. Barnum made a Fake Cardiff Giant (the original was a fake as well) and got people to see it by saying it was the real Cardiff Giant. His competitor who had the real Cardiff Giant said "there is a fool born every minute" about the people who went to see PT's fake one (of course the real one was a fake as well).

http://www.sniggle.net/barnum.php

http://www.historybuff.com/library/refbarnum.html

 

[Demon-Xanth]

To quote PT Barnum's sign:
This way to the egress!

 

[Mucho]

Another example of revisionist history. imho

 

[chrisms]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
To quote PT Barnum's sign:
This way to the egress!

You suck.