Inscribed in ink lower right: “Circus Phila. / May 21st 1948”. From the estate of the artist; estate stamp verso. In fine condition. From the artist’s sketchbook.

From April 7 to May 9, 1948, The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed in Madison Square Garden, New York attracting a record attendance of 925,000. Thereafter, the Circus continued onto Boston and a tour of the eastern United States (NY Times, May 9, 1948). One of the spectacles included John Murray Anderson’s (American 1886-1954) Broadway pageant, “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. This page from Henry Pitz’s sketchbook shows sketches of some of the props from this performance.