Bandwagon, September 1952

Bandwagon, September, 1952. Note: Only some articles are included in this online edition. Illustrations are not included. The Circus Historical Society does not guarantee the accuracy of information contained in the information in these online articles. Information should always be checked with additional sources.

English Circus Cannon Act Mishap

Over 4,000 people rose suddenly to their feet when the safety net gave way during one of the acts at Chipperfield's Circus during the second house at night.

It was near the end of the show when the only double cannon act in this country was taking place. The two performers, Luis Raluys and Juanita Bersunces, had entered the cannon and been shot into the air. The large audience watched them as they fell towards the safety net and then suddenly it happened. The net gave way at one of the corner posts and they hit the ground. Mr. Raluys appeared to be shaken, but otherwise unhurt. Miss Bersunces' face was seen to screw up with pain and she was carried out by four of the attendants.

On inquiry at the Circus today one of the officials said that neither performer was seriously injured, although Miss Bersunces sprained her ankle.

The official explained that there are six poles supporting the safety net. It was one of these that gave way, which meant that the net took the performers on the first landing, but dropped them on the second bounce.

As there was no serious injury to either performer the act will go on as usual tonight.

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Mighty Haag Shows

One of the widely known and highly respected circus owners of our time was Ernest Haag. For almost 42 years his circus, The Mighty Haag Shows toured the country, its name a household word in some sections. The grand old man of the circus world passed on in February, 1935. Few if any showmen had a more humble beginning than Mr. Haag. Readers of the Bandwagon I am sure will enjoy his story as told to one of the staff of the Billboard, while on a visit in Cincinnati some years prior to 1935. His account follows:

It was at the age of 12 that he along with several other boys, played hookey from school and fearing that they might get a thrashing from their dads, hopped in a box car headed for wherever it might go. After riding awhile all the boys except Haag became afraid, left the box car and hiked back to Plymouth, Indiana, their home town. Haag kept riding and riding until he found himself in Philadelphia, later going to New York City and other points in the East.

The next thing for Haag to do was to try and make a living, so he obtained a shoe-shining outfit (an old one of pocket size) and earned a few nickels, at the some time getting a few more by selling newspapers. This he continued to do until he was about 16. In his home town he was quite a musician for his age; in fact had led a local orchestra, and as he had circus inclinations his eyes were next turned in that direction.

His first show engagement was as alto player with T. Cooney, band leader with "Windy Smith", who had a show known as the Robinson Two-Car Show which operated for a season or two. After leaving there Haag made fairs, picnics, and old soldiers reunions selling juice. With each drink he gave a prize (spend a nickel and get a prize, was his speil) and he believed he was the originator of that plan. For four or five years he did that kind of work - until he saved about $1,000. His next venture was a minstrel show, which proved a failure and Haag went back to box car traveling, and later again selling juice - for a few years.

Then his ambition to become a 'circus feller' reappeared. After saving a little more money selling juice he bought a small tent and a few ropes for $20 from an old side show man by the name of Squire Bowman and used it for a side show on fairgrounds. While along the Red river one day at Shreveport, La., he saw a fisherman with a flat boat and it gave him an idea. The fisherman was approached, a price of $20 offered for the boat and Haag was soon the owner. He then managed to rig up a few seats and obtained a bass drum only to learn that performers were needed to put on a performance. He scouted around until he picked up a performer named Jim Alberta, whose specialty was blackface. As Haag was about to float down the Red river, Ed Conklin a juggler happened along and hailed Haag who immediately joined him out. So down the river they went stopping at different sand bars, where they gave what they termed a circus. The main feature of the show was Haag's prize with each drink of lemonade. From the Red river they went on the Catawba, then down the Bayou Teche, which emptied into the bay. The “circus" called merely "The Big Show" moved downstream because there was no transportation to pay. Upon reaching the bay "The Big Show" was unloaded and placed on a two-wheel cane cart drawn by three mules abreast. With this cane cart Haag made the lower Red river, and the French country.

It was after this cane cart tour that he bought his first team of horses and wagon (a common old farm wagon, perhaps on Old Hickory). The circus was next transported all the way to Kansas - a one wagon show so to speak. From then on Haag bought wagon after wagon and added to his baggage stock.

It was later that he used the title, Haag's Mighty Shows, and then later Mighty Haag Shows. In the spring of 1909 he put the show on rails and traveled that way to the close of the season 1914, touring much of Eastern Canada during the seasons and the Eastern and Southern states. When Haag had it on wagons the very first time he confined his territory to west of the Mississippi river. After closing the railroad show and going back to wagons, later trucks, he played East of the Mississippi which was the territory as long as the show continued. He gave William R. Kellogg a great deal of the credit for the early success and growth of the Haag show. There were many others who received their schooling under the Haag banner.

Ernest Haag considered himself very fortunate in that he was always able to do things without first having to borrow money. He was the owner of considerable real estate at Shreveport, La., where he had a beautiful home, and he also had a home at Marianna, Fla., not to mention other properties in that state as well as in Oklahoma. For 18 years he was a director of Shreveport's largest bank, the Commercial National.

Haag's mission in this world, to use his own words, was to, "make everybody feel good."

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”America” Calliope

The "America" calliope formerly owned by Cole Bros. Circus has been purchased by the Cleaver-Brooks Company of Milwaukee. This wagon will now be used for advertising purposes. The wagon has been completely renovated; however, nothing has been done to alter its outside appearance.

Its first use will be at the Wisconsin State Fair where it will be up on a platform in front of the manufacturers' building, and there will be regular concerts played on this old vehicle.

This company has been interested in obtaining a real steam calliope for years and when I heard about it early this year, I told Mr. Fred Hainer, Vice President of the company, of the availability of the "America" calliope.

Together we went to Peru and he purchased this wagon on the spot. At the same time we acquired from the Cole Bros. Circus the two fairy tale floats - the "Old Woman In The Shoe" and "Mother Goose". All three of these were shipped to Milwaukee on a truck. The "Mother Goose" float is now residing in my backyard; while the "Old Woman In The Shoe" float was purchased by Mr. Roland K. Wilde of Milwaukee, another C.H.S. fan.

With Cole Bros. disposing of all of their equipment, I believe that these three wagons, which have no further use for any other of the small truck circuses in the country, have been saved from the graveyard.

They are all gems, as you know. The little floats being over 60 years old and the "America" wagon being over 50 years old.

Of the entire series of floats that were built for Barnum & Bailey back in 1890, only three are in existence today. The Cinderella float is the third one, now owned by Terrel Jacobs.

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