Cape Cod, MA
Music Circus

In the early to mid-1950s St. John Terrell expanded his theater kingdom by establishing a series of other tent theaters in the New Jersey/Pennsylvania area. He thus created a "theater circuit," where productions traveled from one tent to another. He also established a Music Circus in Miami, FL.

• Brandywine Music Circus (Concordville, PA)
  Its first season was 1956.
• Camden County Music Circus (Haddonfield, NJ)
  Its first season was 1956
• Neptune Music Circus (Asbury Park, NJ)
  Its first season was 1952
• Miami Music Circus (Miami Beach, FL)
  Its first season was 1951

• Sacramento, CA Music Circus - Its first season was 1951
• Rosecroft, MD Music Circus - Its first season was 1959
• Rye, NY Music Circus
• Cape Cod, MA Music Circus - Its first season was 1950

Aldrich would parlay his previous successes to gain a buzz for his project dubbed the Cape Cod Music Circus. The fireproof tent seating 1,000 spectators would hold events over a ten-week summer season. Aldrich would present the high class musicals, comedies, and operas. Though they would not have scenery due to space constraints, there would be lavish costumes and a nine-piece orchestra.

After months of anticipation opening night of the Cape Cod Music Circus in Hyannis, MA came on July 4, 1950 with a performance of Sigmund Romberg's operetta "The New Moon." The first season went off without a hitch for Richard Aldrich and his associate Julius Fleischmann ending the inaugural season on Labor Day Weekend with a performance of "Show Boat."

In December 1950 the tent and all of its chairs were moved from Hyannis to St. Petersburg, Florida. It would be a part of the new Treasure Island Music Circus (not to be confused with the Miami Music Circus also at a location called Treasure Island), a joint venture with music circus originator St. John Terrell.

The 1951 season opened with Moss Hart's "The Great Waltz," and attendance would remain high.

On June 16, 1953 a lawsuit for breach of contract was filed by the originator of the music circus concept, St. John Terrell, against Richard Aldrich and Cape Cod Music Circus. Terrell claimed that in March 1950 he had agreed to help setup the Cape Cod Music Circus and produce or supply shows for a weekly fee and percentage of the gate. Aldrich's lawyer shot back that Terrell actually breached the agreement by not creating the Music Circus of America Corporation as he had promised.

In December 1953 the courts found in favor of Terrell. The decision forced the 'music circus' name to be dropped. A contest was held to find a new name and in January 1954 the Cape Cod Melody Tent was born.

The Melody Tent would relocate to a piece of property along West Main Street just behind the former Dutchland Farms restaurant. The new locale would have hardtop flooring, upgrading from the dirt and grass of the old venue.

Source: capecod.com/