medicine show

noun

1. a traveling troupe, especially in the late 1800s, offering entertainment in order to attract customers for the patent medicines or purported cures proffered for sale.

Word History and Origins

Origin of medicine show¹

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

Example Sentences

They could be revival show tents or medicine show circus tents; McTell had connections to both.

From The Daily Beast

This has nothing to do with the old school of lightning rod salesmen trained in medicine show methods.

From Project Gutenberg

Every medicine show or other show that comes to town has to git a permit from me, else they can't show.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Brown asked several persons there about the traveling medicine show with the colored banjo player.

From Project Gutenberg

"Bunny thinks that colored banjo player with that medicine show may be Fred Ward," said Mrs. Brown.

From Project Gutenberg

After running away from home he joined the medicine show, because it gave him a chance to play the banjo he liked so well.

From Project Gutenberg