Early Springfield Ordinances
From Directory of the City of Springfield
John W. Kees & Co., Springfield. 1852
AN ORDINANCE
To license and regulate plays, shows and exhibitions in the city of Springfield.
Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the council of the city of Springfield, That before any person or persons, whether citizens or otherwise, shall be permitted to exhibit in said city, any theatrical performance of any kind or description, any circus, menagerie, puppet-show, tumbling, rope or wire dancing, ballancing [sic], slight [sic] of hand, or any natural or artificial curiosity or deception; or representation of any kind, real or fictitious, or any musical concert or musical performance of any kind whatever, for which compensation is demanded or in any way received, such person or persons shall first apply to the mayor of said city and obtain from him a license for that purpose.
Sec. 2. The mayor shall be authorized to issue license for the exhibitions and performances aforesaid at the following rates per day, to wit: circus forty dollars, menagerie forty dollars, and every other species of exhibition or performance such an amount as he may think fit to impose, not less than two dollars nor more than ten dollars per day; and every license issued under the authority of this ordinance shall specify the place, the number of days and the particular dates upon which the performance or exhibition therein permitted shall take place.
Sec. 3. This ordinance shall not be so construed as to require license as aforesaid for the giving of any concert or the conducting of any exhibition not indecorous or of an immoral tendency, the net profits of which are devoted exclusively to religious, literary, scientific, or charitable purposes, or to the benefit of any fire company in this city.
Sec. 4. If any person or persons shall exhibit or participate in exhibiting in said city any of the shows, performances or exhibitions embraced in this ordinance, (except as provided in the third section,) without first having obtained a license therefor according to the provisions of this ordinance, such person or persons, on conviction thereof before the mayor, shall, for every such offense, forfeit and pay a fine of not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars, with costs of proceedings.
This ordinance to take effect and be in force from and after the publication thereof.
JAMES M. HUNT
Mayor of the city of Springfield
SAMUEL PARSONS,
Recorder
Passed July 5, 1851.