Jake and Henry Hecker’s traveling medicine show was photographed by Gus Meier after it had erected its tents in Alma for a show in about 1900. Photo Courtesy Richard Hecker

Today’s Photo Friday is a real rarity, a view of a traveling medicine show taken between 1890 and 1900 at Alma, Kansas by Alma photographer, Gus Meier. An arena with bleachers has been erected for the show, and individual medicine salesmen have tents along the south edge of the grounds. This medicine show was owned and operated by Jake and Henry Hecker of Wamego, Kansas. This show was located on the site where the Stop-2-Shop is located today at 100 Missouri Street in Alma.

Inside the arena, a large sign painted on canvas advertises “Hecker Bros. Pepsin of Cherry, In a Glass of Ice Water, Tea, or Lemonade, Summer Drink, At Druggists and Grocers.” As the sign faced the crowd the image was isolated and “flipped” as a mirror image for this view. Photo Courtesy Richard Hecker

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Jake and Henry Hecker’s traveling medicine show was photographed by Gus Meier after it had erected its tents in Alma for a show in about 1900. Photo Courtesy Richard Hecker

Inside the arena, a large sign painted on canvas advertises “Hecker Bros. Pepsin of Cherry, In a Glass of Ice Water, Tea, or Lemonade, Summer Drink, At Druggists and Grocers.” As the sign faced the crowd the image was isolated and “flipped” as a mirror image for this view. Photo Courtesy Richard Hecker