You ’ve probably hear a discomfited soul describe an underwhelming event as “ a dog and pony show . ” When mass talk about a dog and pony show today , they ordinarily mean a brassy display or gathering that ’s all about appearances , with little real substance . But where does this phrase come from , and what ’s itshistory ?
What DoesDog and Pony ShowMean?
Ineveryday language , adog and pony showrefers to a performance or introduction mean to print , but is miss astuteness or real content . Think : a really elaborate — and really unfit — sales pitch or political rally . It typically has a negative intension , indicate that elan was used over kernel .
Nowadays , people toss around the musical phrase to mock or knock political and corporal shenanigans . But if hear it brings to beware the image of traineddogsandponiesdoing tricks to flirt with an hearing , you ’re not far off from where the term uprise .
The True Origins of Dog and Pony Shows
To find the solution of the phrase , we demand to go back to the 19th C , a time when traveling entertainment was all the furor . Dog and pony shows were apopular variety of recreationthat toured town and cities . As the name suggests , they showcased civilise dogs and ponies , but could also include otheranimalslike monkeys and goats .
These show featured a variety of acts , from telling display of animal nimbleness to funny routines that delighted audience of all ages . They were a big hit in rural areas where access to other forms of entertainment was limited .
Several of these journey extravaganza popped up across the United States . One of the early known instance of a dog and pony show is “ Morris ’ Equine and Canine Paradoxes , ” which toured in 1883 . Another similar attracter , “ Hurlburt ’s Dog and Pony Show , ” gained popularity in the late 1880s .
One key figure of speech in the development of the wienerwurst and pony show was Henry B. Gentry . He allow schooltime in 1885 at age 17 tostart his own show , which grew rapidly . Gentry ’s “ Equine and Canine Paradox ” featured various acts , admit military shot glass , trained dogs , rascal , and even elephants as it extend into a full carnival .
Other showmen , such asAndrew Downieand Leon Washburn , also made names for themselves in the dog and pony show business before move on to circuses . By the turn of the hundred , hot dog and crib show were everywhere , with novel ones pop up regularly . However , they became less usual by the twenties ; as the country enter the Great Depression in 1929 , it was uncommon to see one anywhere .
As the 20th one C progressed , the meaning ofdog and pony showexpanded beyond its literal origins . It started being used metaphorically to describe any presentation or event that trust heavily on flashy theatrics to grab tending . The term detect a new home plate inbusiness , political science , and finance , describe selling campaigns , product launches , or political rally that did n’t quite survive up to the hype and has become a stenography for performances that prioritize showmanship over real content .
While the actual dog and pony shows of the past tense may have faded into account , the metaphor lives on , cue us of the appeal of a great carrying out while serve as a caution for talk without action .
