This vintage sideshow banner features the Sacred Ape of India. The striking hand-painted banner is an authentic piece of mid-century American carnival history. Measuring approximately 90 inches tall by 94 inches wide, it was produced by the Baker-Lockwood Company of Kansas City, Missouri. They were a well-known maker of circus tents and banners during the golden age of the traveling sideshow.
The banner boldly advertises the “Sacred Ape from India,” a mysterious and exotic attraction that promised curious spectators a glimpse of a “real live ape” inside the show tent. Featuring vivid original paint on canvas with an orange border and corner grommets for hanging, the artwork captures the dramatic flair that once lined bustling fairgrounds and carnival midways across America.
The hand-painted imagery depicts a powerful ape striding through lush grass, rendered in expressive detail against a soft blue and green background. The lettering across the top reads “SACRED APE FROM INDIA” in classic circus style, evoking the colorful showmanship and storytelling of the era.
This Sacred Ape sideshow banner stands as a beautiful example of Americana and folk art. This unique artifact reflects the spirit of adventure, curiosity, and entertainment that defined the traveling circus and sideshow tradition. It has survived in remarkable condition for its age, with honest wear consistent with outdoor use, adding to its authentic patina and charm.
A wonderful display piece for collectors of vintage carnival memorabilia, folk art, or 20th-century Americana, this banner is not just an artifact, it’s a window into a bygone world of wonder and spectacle.
MAKER: Baker-Lockwood, Kansas City, MO
PERIOD: 1940’s-1950’s
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
MATERIALS: Painted canvas, leather tabs and steel rings.
SIZE
HEIGHT: 90 in. (229 cm)
WIDTH: 94 in. (239 cm)
NOTE: Measurements are for the canvas banner and do not include the leather tabs and steel rings for hanging.
CONDITION: This authentic sideshow banner is in wonderful condition. The paint is very nice and stable, with no signs of deterioration, losses, cracking or flaking. The canvas itself, is in very good condition with one minor tear just under the letter A of sacred. There is some fading and wear, which is consistent with what you would expect to see on a sideshow banner of this age.
All four reinforced corners with leather tabs and steel rings are intact and appear to be original. This banner is in remarkable condition, considering they were hung and stretched tightly on frames and exposed to the weather, rain or shine.
