139 
 
 
                               MEDICINE SHOWS 
 
         Medicine shows were popular for many years. The troupes 
    would travel from town to town. Liniments, ,ough syrups, health 
    tonics, corn remedies, snake oils, and elixirs seemed to be the 
    most popular sales pitch. 
 
          One medicine show in particular that came to Omro featured an 
     unusual aptraction.  On Saturday night,   to the man with the biggest

     feet, aVpair of shoes was given-free. During the week the men with 
     large feet were registered as to name and a foot measurement recorded.

     'When Saturday night arrived, size 12 foot won and the winner was 
     admitted free of charge. At the Jclose of the show he received his 
     pair ofv shoes free. He was compelled to open the box on stage.    In

     the box was a pair of-a-baby shoes! 
 
          At one time4.a Pony and Dog show was held' after the turn of 
     the century, in the vacant lots south of E. River Drive across the 
     street from 313 . This was about 1915. To attract passersby a 
     "Punch and Judy" puppet show was performed in a narrow booth
stand- 
     ing half way between the roadway and tent. With hand puppets and 
     raucous voices Punch with his club and Judy dodging it,, kept up a 
     continual to-do and come-hither performance. 
 
          Entertainments at the Opera House also had interesting stunts.

     1For example, some tickets purchased bore lucky numbers.   One hold-

     ing the luckly number was entitled to have a tooth extracted free 
     of charge. And, furthermore, the tooth pulling was performed on 
     stage before the entire audience ! 
 
     Th   Another Medicine show featured Kickapoo Indian remedies. 
 ýiv This was held in Bushnell Hall. A contest was held to select
the 
     prettiest girl in Omro. The winner was Bonnie Hoover (later Mrs. 
     Willis Rhoda), and the prize was a gold watch. 
          S Another exciting event in connection with the show was the 
# fact that H.C. Scott's" daughter Susie married the show manager and

     left Omro. However, the love-at-first-sight marriage turned out 
     to be a happy one as was proven years later. Susie's sister Amy 
     Scott married Del Livingston, the local depot agent. H.0. Scott 
     had a son, Russell.