In search of the Sons of Barnum goes to New York

Day 6. A visit to the New York public library suggests that there was a great deal of consternation in the City around 1919. Adventurous stuntsers were beginning to show little respect for the law. There is evidence that Harry Reichenbach got himself into real hot water when he was exposed, attempting to pay an official who had access to unidentified bodies at the City morgue.


Around that time there was a record number of down and outs and immigrant workers populating the facilities. Harry allegedly got hold of this information and an article suggests that he was planning to plant a corpse in Central park to publicise a movie. The counter theory was that he was being kippered by a rival press agent, angry that Harry had “acquired” a client. It seems that Reichenbach was questioned by the police but no charges were ever levelled against him. The newspaper articles seem to have leapt on the story to settle some old scores with the great publicist, who had hoodwinked them on numerous occasions. Delving deeper into the source material, it would seem that Harry’s scams are well documented and if he was going to pull off a coup with a stiff, it would have been spectacular. While the investigation was being undertaken, it took Harry off the market for about six weeks and during that period there were two major Broadway openings that Harry had no interest in. Perhaps the ploy was a ruse to keep the great man occupied so that the shows’ press agent could have the newsprint to himself during that time. The ruthlessness of those old operators is chilling. But if the fees were so high it’s understandable that dulling the rapier of the competition was essential