Bandwagon, August, 1942

Bandwagon, Vol. 1, No. 9 (Aug), 1942. Note: Only some articles are included in this online edition. Illustrations are not included.

Brief History of the Sparks’ World Famous Shows - Season 1916

By C. E. Duble. Bandwagon, Vol. 1, No. 9 (Aug), 1942, p. 1.

The Big Top for that year was four poles, with two rings and an elevated stage. A well balanced program was presented. Just a few of the acts at that time were John and Maude Holland, riders; Conners Troupe on the tight wire; Hillary Long did a slide down an incline while doing a head stand; Capt. Tiebor's Seals; Merritt Belew trained horses and ponies; Mrs. York; Jung; McLain; Winslow and others were among the aerial performers and menage riders; Louis Reed was elephant man, and Fritz Brunner trained Lions. Jim and Dolly Eekew appeared with others in the Wild West Concert. Harry Mick was a female impersonator on the track before performance and created a lot of amusement,

Circus folks were surprised to pick up newspapers one morning in late November 1928 and read a dispatch that the Sparks World Famous Shows had just been sold to other parties - the American Circus Corporation, through H. B. Gentry. The large sum involved was not made public. The new owners operated the circus for the 1929 season, and the same year in September, John Ringling bought the five circuses of the American Circus Corporation e.g. Sells-Floto; John Robinson; Hagenbeck-Wallace; Sparks Circus and Al. G. Barnes, along with other titles including Buffalo Bills Wild West that had been shelved for some years.

The final year of the Sparks Circus was 1931, opening at Chester, Pa. and under the Ringling banner the show played the usual Eastern and New England territory as in former years also through the South. At the close of the season the train with all equipment was taken to Sarasota, Fla. The writer was informed a few years ago, the cars have lain there all this time on a side track, and the wagons on the ground in the open. The Sparks World Famous Shows we shall always remember as one of America's Representative Circuses.

Charles Sparks was owner of the Downie Bros., Circus 1930 to 1938. This was the "Barnum of all Motorized Shows" and made the old territory of the Sparks Rail Show. The Downie show was sold to other parties in February 1939, and it was operated by them for only one season.

Now retired, Chas. Sparks, is among the most highly respected and popular circus men of the White Tops. During his long career as Owner Manager, his splendid and clean organizations were, as the bills proclaimed; - "A Supreme Achievement in Clean Amusement".

Top

A List of Railroad Cars Reported For Use By Circuses For Season of 1911.

Compiled by the Pennsylvania Railroad - and sent to the Editor for publication by that well known circus fan and Collector - A.L. Chumley of Chattanooga, Tenn. All Members will no doubt be interested in this fine data, and many thanks for the opportunity to print the same is due to Mr. Chumley.

Title of Circus, Number of cars

Barnum & Bailey, 84
Ringling Bros, 81
Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill Combined, 48
Hagenbeck-Wallace, 45
John Robinson, 38
Sells-Floto, 30
Campbell Bros, 28
Cole Bros, 25
Norris & Rowe, 22
Gollmar Bros, 22
Miller Bros., 101 Ranch Wild West Show, 21
Howard Damon, 20
Yankee Robinson, 16
Rice Bros, 12
Dode Fisk, 11
Gentry Bros., - No. 1 Show, 10
Gentry Bros., - No. 2 Show, 9
Sun Bros, 10
Mighty Haag, 10
Welsh Bros, 8
M.L. Clark & Sons, 7
John H. Sparks, 7

Total cars for the 22 circuses - 564

Other circuses on the road in 1911 but not included above were:.

W. H. Coulter's R.R. Show
Thompkins Western Attractions
Cole & Rogers
Lucky Bill's Shows
Richards Bros., Wagon Show
Nelson Wild West Shows
Lombard's Imperial Shows (wagon)
Bronco Bob's Wild West
Kit Carson's Buffalo Ranch (r.r.)
J.E. Henry's Show
Howe's Great London Shows
Keystone Show
Honest Bill Show (wagon)
Forepaugh-Sells Bros.
Beckman's Animal Show
Jones Bros. Buffalo Ranch W.W.
Smith's Colossal Shows
Webb & Long Dog & Pony Show
Al.G. Barnes Wild Animal Shows
Famous Robinson's
Young Buffalo Wild West
Billie Boughton's Shows
Cole & Rice Show
Sig Harris' Show Beautiful
John Robinson's
John H. Morgan R.R. Shows
California Frank's All-Star W. West
J.H. Eschman's European Circus
Masterson R.R. Show

Top

"BANDWAGON"

BANDWAGON! What a name' The angels in Heaven have harps and choir. There's music in Paradise. Love is its "Father-Mother", and God is Love. So, when God gave language to the Earth, standing out, in bold relief, was "BAND-WAGON" - The Home on slides or rollers, for the musicians of Israel, to ride in. "Adam'' had the first show on Terra Firma, featuring himself; His Charming Wife "Eve"; the Educated Serpent; and, all the animals we now have. My, what a show grounds he had - the whole of God's "Garden of Eden"! The "Big Top" of Fig Leaf, The first Circus parade passed before "Adam", and he gave names to all the animals and everything that was in the pageant. When that first vehicle passed, in which was the first Circus Band, I can hear "Old Adam" thundering out its name, forever and forever, "Bandwagon". From then to now, Bandwagon progression has been wonderful. To my way of classifying, I believe "The Peacock Bandwagon", the old John Robinson "Ten Big" Shows had in 1905, 1906 and 1907, took the "Blue Ribbon," over all other such circus chariots. The sides were Monster Peacocks, woodcarved and perfectly colored. The Designer, Carver, and Gilder, was the late Edward Van-Skiak, gifted Draftsman, Painter, Musician, and Reserved-seat ticket salesman. And, every Chariot and Cage, following "The Peacock Bandwagon", in parade, was specially designed, and wrought, and painted by him. "Where did you got idea of the figures and characters you use?" I once asked him. "In Barbershops, and Hotel Parlors, and homes of the Elite, from the paper, and decorations on the walls, and roundabout", he answered. Only one Edward Van-Skiak - only one "Super Bandwagon", and that "The Peacock", his creation, on the Old John Robinson "Ten Big". Sweet it is to pay his memory tribute in "The C.H.S. Bandwagon" of today,

AND THE OLD WORLD RAMBLES RIGHT ALONG

Top