MEDIA CONTACTS

Shannon H. Standley:  210.357.1876

shannonstandley@wittemuseum.org
Jim Dalglish:  210.357.1870
jimdalglish@wittemuseum.org

RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 5, 2010

The Greatest Weekend on Earth is Coming to the Witte

            SAN ANTONIO—Join two national scholars for a weekend of exploration into the fascinating world of the circus! Held in conjunction with the current exhibition Circus Folk: Secrets Behind the Big Top, the Witte Museum is proud to host American Studies scholar and author Janet M. Davis, Ph.D. for an in-depth discussion of the circus in American life; and Andrew Erlich, Ph.D., author, psychologist and nephew of Jake Erlich, one-time “tallest man in the world.”

     Join Janet M. Davis, Ph.D., 6-8 p.m., January 14 for Come One, Come All!, an intriguing evening of little known secrets, circus history and a visit to the exhibition. Davis is a Chair at the University of Texas at Austin for the departments of American Studies, History and Intercultural Studies; and is the Director of the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies. Davis is the author of the top-selling book, The Circus Age: Culture and Society under the American Big Top. Admission is free for museum members; $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Hurry! Hurry! Come hear the remarkable story of Jake Erlich. At 8 feet 6 ½ inches in height, Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus Side Show billed him as “the tallest man in the world.”  A giant in more ways than meet the eye, he was also a silent film star, artist, poet and much, much more. Join his nephew, Andrew Erlich, Ph.D., for The Long Shadows 7 p.m., January 15 and 1:30 p.m. January 16. Discover how this “Texas Giant” turned a liability into an asset and found freedom through self expression. Admission is $5 for museum members and students, and $10 for adults.

For more information call 210.357.1900 or visit www.wittemuseum.org