Gentry’s Dog and Pony Show in Nebraska

Today, “dog and pony show” is a term of derision applied to pretentious or over-dramatized performances or presentations lacking substance, or failing to meet the audience’s expectations. That was not the case during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when actual dog and pony shows, particularly those presented by Henry B. Gentry and his brothers, were considered not only credible, high-quality entertainment, but suitable fare for all ages and genders.