Medicine Show
Medicine Show (dt. About medicine shop ) were about traveling by horse traders who operated the sale of miracle drugs and other products as part of entertainment programs. This form of sales event was particularly popular in the United States in the 19th century .
Mostly, elixirs ( snake oil ) were offered on medical shows , which were supposed to help against all possible ailments. The entertainment program could include musical performances, magic performances, acrobatic numbers, a flea circus , a freak show, and the like.
One of the last and at the same time largest medical shows was the Hadacol Caravan , which traveled through the southern United States in the 1940s to market the “Hadacol” drug. Well-known music and Hollywood stars were part of the stage program. Country musician Ramblin 'Tommy Scott toured the States with his Medicine Show until the 1990s .
Several later music groups named themselves in the style of the medical shows, including Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band and Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show .