Bandwagon, Mid-May, 1953

Bandwagon, Mid-May, 1953. 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.

Nixon and Kemp Great Eastern Circus

THE GREAT MUSICAL STEAM CALLIOPE COMING

Shows Calliope and 40 Horse Hitch. Steam Engine Pulled as Trailer

WILMINGTON, THURSDAY, AUG. 27
XENIA, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26
WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, AUG. 28

Featured

Choats Splendid New York Bross Bond.
Chinese Acrobats Tsin-cni-Hoang, Klangse and Chum-Chum.
Knife Throwing and Juggling Act.
Mons De Bach - Juggles on Horse - (Pad). (cut of horse and rider)
Arabian Acrobats - Azi Cheriff - Called the Snake of the Desert, aided by Ben-Fez, Hasson Ali, and Hamet the Jumper.
William H. Kemp - Clown.
Francois Seigrist - Clown and Leaper.
T. Armstrong - Tumbler.
Tom Liston - Clown - Stilt Walker.
Walter Amar - Hurdel Rider
R. Smith - Ballad Singer.
Master George and William - Juvenile Horsemanship.
Horace Nichols. - Equestrian Manager.
Madame Louise - Wire Walker - Ground to the top of the tent. (cut shown)

Comic song book sold - 10c.
Box 50c.
Pit 25c.
Children Half price to Box.

C. W. Fuller, Agt.

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My 1953 Trip To Tulsa, By Way of Fredonia, Kansas

On the morning of April 11, the phone rang and the Bernards asked me to go to Tulsa, Okla., to see the Gil Gray Circus. Fred and I had planned on going but "Guys and Dolls" came to Wichita on that date and as Fred is a stage hand along with all the other activities that he has he was unable to take me, so I had given it up. When the phone call come it was snowing and I said this is no day for visiting circuses. They reminded me that the Gil Gray show was showing in a building, so after a couple of phone calls to Fred, (who said you know you are dying to go, so go ahead) which I did.

We detoured by way of Fredonia, "Dad" White's town, to catch the opening of the Wallace and Clark Circus. By the time we got there it was a cold drizzly rain, the lot was not too for out and the first person to greet us was "Shorty" Linn. He took us to the side show which was about to open and introduced us to Dee Aldrich who proudly showed us a fine looking hippo, plus three big Semis with a bunch of well-fed looking animals. We then made the big top. They had the bull and four camels just inside the front door, talked to "Luke" Anderson, and then went to the ticket wagon to see Laura Anderson. Our old friend "Red" Rumble gave us a cup of hot coffee which sure hit the spot. Then we went to see Frank Ellis who has the finest looking big Chimp I have seen and is a real attraction.

Show looks swell on the lot, top is massive for a truck show, much as we wanted to, we were unable to stay for the matinee, as we still had a trip ahead of us. We missed "Dad" White as he had just left the lot.

We arrived at Tulsa, Okla., just as the big show was starting. The vast arena was packed and Gil Gray really puts on a beautiful show. The three Strobilite numbers are georgous. Wardrobe is out of this world. This makes the third year that we have caught the show at Tulsa, and each year surpasses the other. A. Morton Smith and Frank E. Schmitz were on hand from Gainsville, Texas, also a delegation of Shriners from Waco, Texas, who bought the show for next season.

Show does not put out a program so I will list some of the acts. Every one was good. The clowns have always been standouts to me. As most of them are in white face, Mickey McDonald was right at home as they have just purchased a new home there in Tulsa. Jack and Velma Harrison were also bragging on their new home that they have just built in Wichita on the site of the one that burned down recently. They are also proud grandparents of twins, a boy and a girl, born May 2nd in St. Louis, to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Zoppe.

George King's Camel and Llama act is a honey, a real novelty, and the three baby bulls steal the show. Hazel King's Liberty Horses are also standouts. Portis Simms presents a most unusual Dog and Pony act. The Zoppes Riding act goes over with a bang as well as their work in the unsupported Ladder act. Other fine acts were Lou Henderson's Chimp act, Bob Atterbury's High Wire act, the DeWayne Troupe, and a host of others. The Shrine gave a supper party after the show.

We arrived at the building the next day around one o'clock intending to make a short visit with the folks and leave early for Wichita. Instead it was around four o'clock when we left to go to the hotel to pick up our bags. The agreement with "Buster" Bernards girl friend when we left Wichita was that he was to get her back to Wichita early Sunday so she could get some things done before having to start at work Monday. Well, we were merrily on our way when out on the prairie the car just gave a cough and died, we were out of gas. It was just getting dark, and no filling station in nine miles. Across in the distance I saw the roofs of a farm house, and I suggested that "Buster" go get some gas there but he said that he was afraid of dogs. I said that I wasn't, so we started out. The girl friend stayed in the car. The farmer was most affable, said sure he would give us some gas, but that we would have to wait until he was through milking the cows as he had a milking machine on them and couldn't stop it. While waiting he asked us where we had been and I told him to Tulsa to a circus, that was enough, he told me all about the first circus he had seen as a boy (couldn't remember the name of it). The cows run dry and it was getting later and later and I knew said girl friend was getting madder and madder. We finally got the gas and got back to the car, and started off again. Girl friend was now asleep in the back seat. "Buster" had spent a number of years on the U.S.O. shows across during world war the second and we were talking about the shows over in Europe, finally "Buster" said, "you know we should of gone through Cleveland beore now, that is where we turn off." I said, "Gee whiz, we passed it about an hour ago, don't you remember I said Cole and Walters played here on the 17th." He didn't think so and we got out the maps and sure enough we were 52 miles beyond Cleveland. I said, "Turn this thing around as quick as you can as I know what an explosion there will be from that back seat." We had to stop at Wyono to pick up "Buster's" mother and Aunt, who had been waiting for us since two o'clock in the afternoon. We finally got there and then said girl friend had to eat. After we got out of the hotel it was after ten o'clock so we headed for Wichita on high, running through one of the little towns at at least seventy. We heard the wailing sound of a siren. The girl friend said, "I didn't know they had ambulances in these small towns." As you guessed it, it wasn't an ambulance but a policeman who ran us into the curb.

Naturally, the first thing he asked was "where we thought we were going" and "Buster" very tearfully told him of all our hard luck and he added that Aunt Minnie was very sick and he had to get her home. Aunt Minnie groaned very realistically at this point. The policeman didn't look too believing and he said to Aunt Minnie, "You really are sick," and she groaned again. So he said, "Well I should put you all in jail and hold your trial in the morning, but if she is sick, I will let you off with a fine." So back we went to the courthouse where we waited until they got the Judge or someone out of bed, and it cost $13.00. We arrived in Wichita around two o'clock in the morning.

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The 'Singing Strong Man'

It is seldom that one meets with a Strong man that writes and produces his own songs, yet that is what Leonard Austin does, who with Eldon Hope has started the Golden West Publishing Co. of Lorimor, Iowa. He produced 190 songs for a New York Music Publisher at little profit to himself, as their contract with the Dixie Music Publishing Co. has run out, they formed their own publishing company.

Billy Austin, as he is known to Show folks has had a varied career. He has five battle stars for service with the 67th Evacuation Hospital Unit in the European theatre. He worked 18 months after the war as a laboratory technician in a Munich, Germany, hospital.

At 22 years of age he joined Kruzo's Worlds Fair Museum at Oskosh, Wisconsin. He hitchhiked to the job, but could not find a wagon wheel to use in his act, so obtained a couple of flywheels and a bar making a 70-pound weight which he would Military Press from shoulder to arms length overhead with one hand twenty-five times at each show, doing twenty shows a day and offering five dollars to any man who could put it up more times with two hands than he could with one hand. Once he had to put it up 52 times to keep from losing his money. This is a very good record for any Strong Man. He weighed 170 pounds then, and is as strong as an Ox now at 150 pounds.

The next show he was on was the Sells-Sterling Circus, a four ring circus which traveled through Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Missouri. He was in the Side show and did his Strongman act and Fire eating. King Baille was manager of the annex and did magic, Joe Sweet did one man band and sword swallowing, Bob Peasly and wife and daughter, Velma, were also on this show.

He knew Fred and Bette Leonard, The Ortons, Trapeze Act Heel and Toe Catch by Theresa Morales, Manual Macias, Mexican Wire Walker, The Hodgini Bros., Riders, as well as William, Pete, and Al Lindeman, on this fine Motorized circus.

He traveled with the Sparton Bros. Circus through Missouri and Arkansas, and had some harrowing experiences on this Show, coming very near losing his life while doing The Hangman Act, when one of the helpers become tangled in the rope used in pulling him up to the top of the tent.

The Wolf Bros. Carnival was another one he was on for a short time doing a Singing act, (using his own songs).

One season on the Byers Bros. Carnival, he was in the Pit Show with the Midget Major Little, one of the smallest men alive. His weight was 18 pounds and Austin would hold him out to arms length on the palm of his hand, he also did the Electric Chair act, Hangman act, and Fire Eating. After each show the Barkers would say, "He lives again."

Born at Duncombe, Ia., 39 years ago, Austin has had six months of piano lessons, plays a good accordion, a bit of fiddle, and plenty of guitar. He has just published a booklet called "50 Song Poems by The Singing Strong Man." A few of the titles are "Pretty Dog Rover,” “Mother's Moonlight Prayer," "Gone, Like My Boy-Days," "Life in the Saddle," and "The Drunkard's Song."

"The Iowa Waltz," which Leonard wrote three years ago and later assigned to the New York company, is considered one of his best. The Melody Mountain Boys song it over KWD. Of late, "Cowboy Em," Mischler of the Docey Doe Boys has presented it often over WHO. Robert B. Austin, Leonard's Father, has also written eleven songs.

While overseas, Austin met and married Amalia Scharnagl, a Czechoslovakian girl. Their daughter, Eva Maria, 5, was born in Munich. He is at present Head Male Attendant at The Horton Rest Home at Winterset, Iowa, and thus ends the story of "The Singing Strongman," who has now organized The Golden West Publishing Co. of Lorimar, Iowa, to publish his own Music and Songs.

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Circus Coming To Brantford on Coronation Day

Three aldermen have been named as the city council's representatives on a committee to study the Brantford Junior Chamber of Commerce proposal of suitable arrangements for recognition in Brantford of Coronation Day in Brantford.

The Jaycees are sponsoring a circus here Coronation Day and Mayor Howard E. Winter has suggested that Brantford's celebration be "tied in" with the coming of the King Bros. and Cristiani Circus of Macon, Georgia, which has undertaken to give at least two performances, afternoon and evening, under Jaycee sponsorship.

Reville Hitchon, President of the Jaycees, said today that the King Bros. and Cristiani family of 28 members were a well-known circus organization, having joined forces several years ago. They are one of the few existing circuses which still give the parade of "The good old days." A road show, instead of travelling by rail, the 3 ring circus has 48 vehicles, together with steam calliope, and the proposed parade would extend at least a mile.

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C.H.S. Member To Go on the Road This Season

Bandwagon, Mid-May, 1953, p. 10.

John Cloutman of Dover, New Hampshire, is returning to circus life. He has already started his duties. He will be happy to see any C.H.S. member so make yourself acquainted with him.

The following is from the Foster's Democrat:

John C. Cloutman, county editor of Foster's Democrat is leaving the Democrat staff to become press representative with the Hunt Bros. Circus for the season. He leaves Saturday, April 11th, for the show's winter quarters in Burlington, N. J.

Mr. Cloutman has been with the Democrat for a period of 18 years. He first joined the staff as reporter in October of 1926 and remained with the paper in that capacity until the spring of 1935 when he joined Russell Bros. Circus as press agent. In the fall he returned to the Democrat and in 1936 become an employe of the Supply department at the Portsmouth Naval shipyard, remaining there as a supervisor until December of 1944 when he returned to the Democrat.

Since that time he has been county editor, in charge of county correspondents and also served as rewrite man.

He is a member and past master of Granite Lodge, No. 65, F. & A. M. of Salmon Falls, was a charter member of the Dover Lions club from which he resigned in August 1952; and is a member and former head usher of St. John's Methodist church.

Hunt Bros. Circus, owned by Charles T. Hunt, Sr., and his sons and daughter is now in its 61st season and Mr. Cloutman will travel with the show, handling public relations and is also to publish and have charge of the sale of the show's program.

Prior to coming to the Democrat in 1926 Mr. Cloutman had served as timekeeper for the John Robinson Circus for that season. He has maintained his interest in the circus world in the interval and for the past few years has been giving illustrated lectures on the circus. Also for the past 23 years he has been well known in entertainment circles throughout New England as a magician under the professional title of Jacola & Co. and serving as Johnny Cee, master of ceremonies.

His many friends, both on the Democrat and in Dover join in wishing him the best of luck in his return to the circus world.

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Notes from Baraboo

Word has been received from Baraboo, Wisc., regarding the proposed Museum. There is a movement afoot to buy the old camel barn and the big horse barn next to it in what was formerly Ringlingville, as there lies the true circus history and the old time circus atmosphere. There is land enough that goes with the purchase that a park can be made along with the buildings.

The back end of the horse barn has the old training ring in it, with the old mechanic still there.

I feel sure that all of the circus fans, and the citizens of Baraboo feel that this is truly the right place for a circus museum.

John M. Kelly has purchased the Columbian band wagon.

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