Dan Rice

Mr. Carlyon discussed his biography Dan Rice: The Most Famous Man You’ve Never Heard Of, published by Public Affairs. Dan Rice was a 19th century showman, humorist, and public office-seeker. He was also a popular talking clown who began his own circus titled Dan Rice’s Great Show. His routines included speaking on issues of the day, and according to David Carylon, his act’s popularity brought national attention. This notoriety allowed him to run for office several times including a brief campaign for President. Then around the mid-19th Century, Americans became more interested in the theater and began to consider the circus as unrefined and lowbrow. Dan Rice was downgraded to children’s entertainment, and eventually faded from the American memory. close