Fred G. Johnson

Fred G. Johnson (January 1892, Chicago, Illinois – 11 May 1990, Sun City, Arizona ) was a prolific sideshow banner artist whose career spanned 65 years. His banner paintings were displayed at the Chicago World's Fair of 1933, called A Century of Progress, and by circuses such as Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey, and Clyde Beatty. He has been called the "Picasso" of circus art.

Sideshow and circus banners first appeared in Europe during the early 1800s. Hung outside shows or booths, they served the same function as that of decorative shop signs, advertising the contents within. At the height of their popularity from the 1870s to the late 1960s, sideshow banners were strung up at carnivals and traveling shows throughout the world. Early circuses routinely used brightly painted ones to lure paying customers to their quirky sideshows of freaks and curiosities – snake charmers, sword swallowers, two-headed babies and five-legged cows were some of the exaggerated attractions offered for 'your shock and amazement for just five cents!'. Circus banners were usually about high, but commissions could be any size. The largest Johnson ever produced was by "for a bughouse" which took him about 40 hours. On average, however, he turned out four a day. Johnson worked for that company for some 40 years from 1934 to 1974.

He later retired at the age of 89 and moved to Sun City, Arizona. He died May 11, 1990, at the age of 98. He was survived by son Ellsworth, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Most of his banners were lost, but survivors are preserved in circus museums in Baraboo, Wisconsin – home to Ringling Brothers – and Sarasota, Florida. as well as in the Carl Hammer gallery. Some were auctioned by Sotheby's in 1981, with titles such as "Minnie Ha-Ha the Monkey Girl" and "Dickie the Penguin Boy". In July 1989, the State of Illinois Art Center Gallery had an exhibit of his work. His works were subsequently shown by the Rockford Art Museum in 1991, which showcased “Fat Man”, an early work that had not been displayed prior.

In popular culture On the Season 3, Episode 1 episode of American Pickers on the History Channel, initially broadcast on December 6, 2010, pickers Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz visit Bushkill Park in Easton, Pennsylvania, where they purchase two sideshow banners. Appraiser William Leroy later identifies one of them as being by Johnson, which Leroy values at over $5,000 despite not being in the best of shape.