Fiction vs. Fact! The REAL Story of PT Barnum

Fiction vs Fact! The REAL story behind the REEL story!  On Thursday, April 5th, 7:00 to 8:30 PM at The Barnum Museum By popular demand, Barnum Museum Executive Director Kathleen Maher will host an encore performance of her lively talk – Fact vs. Fiction! The Real Story Behind the Reel Story! Have you seen the 20th Century film The Greatest Showman yet? If you haven’t, go and enjoy! If you have already seen it, we are sure you have a lot of questions about the accuracy of P.T. Barnum’s life and times. Kathy has the answers and will share numerous bits and pieces of history that will set the record straight. All in the spirit of fun, Kathy’s talk will illuminate guests with an engaging journey through many key elements of the movie. From the depiction of Barnum’s childhood to his final bow with the Greatest Show On Earth, the talk will expand the screenplay and reveal even more fantastic stories of struggles and triumphs! Consider this a Spoiler Alert. As portrayed in the movie, Barnum had a hard childhood. Kathy is happy to say he (Barnum) “actually had a very pleasant childhood growing up in Bethel, CT and recounts many happy moments of his youth in his autobiography. And as many folks in Connecticut know, there is no ‘beach’ in Bethel! So there are all kinds of liberties taken with the screenplay. Many plots are entanglements of truths and fictions drawn from his life. The hour and forty-five minute movie covers about 50 years of his long and busy life, yet his daughters don’t age.” The talk will take place in our gallery. Come see the miniature suit worn by Tom Thumb when he met Queen Victoria, P. T. Barnum’s top hat, and a gold medal presented to him for his dedication to the Temperance movement. That’s right…Barnum was one of the leading champions of liquor reform and legislation! If you are curious about P.T. Barnum, excited about the movie, or just want to learn more about how the Barnum Museum was involved, come and enjoy a fun evening that will surely have you leaving with a new and refreshed perspective. You’ll never look at Hollywood the same way! ** PLEASE NOTE: SPACE IS LIMITED; THERE IS NO RESERVED SEATING. Doors open at 6:30 pm.  Tickets are on sale now (free to members, $5 plus fees to non-members.)  Register and buy tickets at Eventbrite. For questions, please call the museum at (203) 331-1104, x100.]]>