Bandwagon, July-August 1960

Bandwagon, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Jul-Aug), 1960. Note: Only some articles are included in this online edition. Not all illustrations are included. Scroll down for the article you are looking for in this issue. 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.

King Bros. Circus

Reviewed by Joseph T. Bradbury. Bandwagon, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Jul-Aug), 1960, pp. 3-4.

King Bros. Circus opened its 1960 season with a winning stand April 16 at Warner Robbins, Ga. The show, now in its second year under the present ownership, appears to have found the formula that pleases both the organized fans and the general public alike and should be headed for another highly successful season. The circus is practically the same size as a year ago but has several new and pleasing acts in the performance and has flashed up the general appearance of its equipment to give it as fine a look as any show on the road today.

RAMCO Inc. is the owner of the outfit with members of the Cristiani family being the principal stockholders, The 1960 staff is as follows: Remo Cristiani, President; Adolfo Cristiani, Vice President; Bobby Hall, Secretary-Treasurer, Benny Cristiani, Manager; Justino Loyal, Equestrian Director; Sam Warren, Legal Adjuster; Gaylord Maynard; Supt. menagerie; and Max Bell, Supt. Cookhouse.

Benny Cristiani, who is the guiding light of the outfit, is most personable and friendly to visiting fans and makes the visitor feel completely at home, The show creates a wholesome atmosphere everywhere it plays and it is a real pleasure to spend a day on the lot. As was true of the old "Sunday School Shows" in the past such as Sparks and Downie Bros., grifters, drunks, and wiseguys are simply not found on the lot, The show is of the opinion that the public wants and will support a clean, traditional, under canvas circus and the highly successful 1959 season the show had bears this out.

The lot in Warner Robbins was located adjacent to the huge Williams Shopping Center which has parking spaces for several thousand cars. This is an excellent location in the fastest growing town in Georgia, which is the site of the big U. S. Air Base. The show also opened here in 1959.

The big top, which was new last year and used all season but still in good condition, is an 80 ft. round with three 40 ft. middle pieces and has orange and blue stripped sidewall. Canvas is the traditional white. Top is supported by 4 center poles, a row of 20 quarter poles, and a row of side poles. All poles are made of lightweight aluminum.

Seating capacity of the tent is much greater than is normally found in a top this size. Grandstand chairs are 8 high and are comfortable, built in blocks of 4 to insure easier unloading and loading. Blues are 12 high. Seats come almost to the ring curbs leaving little or no room for a track hence show uses no opening spec although the wild west concert horses do traverse the track a few times. Performance is given in three rings, Lighting is adequate and all newly painted props give interior of the big top a neat appearance.

The combination sideshow-menagerie top is a beauty. It is brand new, made by U. S. Tent and Awning Co. and has snowy white canvas and bright orange and blue sidewall. It is about a 50 ft. round with two 20 ft. middles. There are new sideshow banners painted by Tom Cooper using metal backs. The banners show colorful art work and give the midway an attractive flash. Charles Roark manages the sideshow and also does punch and magic acts. Carlos Leal does outside fire eating and bally and does fire and sword acts inside. Elephants and caged animals are housed in the top with other stock in the backyard.

The show carries two elephants. One is Lois, purchased from Ringling-Barnum and on the show last year, and the other is a punk named Sheena which was purchased this past winter to replace Babe who died. The young bull is a fine specimen but hasn't as yet been broken to work.

Show has two cages of animals. One is a long semi painted red with large yellow letters, KBC, and houses 2 lionesses, 4 dogs, 1 porcupine, and 3 monkeys. Other sideshow equipment is also loaded on this vehicle. The other cage is Tony Diano's straight bed truck which contains 1 brown bear, 1 lioness, 1 baboon, and 1 chimp. This truck is painted in the Diano colors of yellow and orange and has Diano's name and trademark on it.

Stock on the show include 6 horses, 5 ponies, and 1 llama. Aldo Cristiani has his 10 very beautiful Doberman pinscher dogs in a cage truck in the backyard.

The truck color scheme is much better and flashier this year than last. All trucks are painted and lettered. They were painted by the firm of Cooper and Morgan of Sarasota and are as attractive as any ever viewed by this writer. Tractors and cabs are painted a light blue with the semi trailers red with a large white triangle on the sides which point toward the front of the vehicle. Inside the triangle the show's title is painted in red and blue. This is the color scheme basically used with some variations. Several units have yellow trim and scroll work.

In addition to the cage mentioned above Tony Diano has two other pieces of equipment on the show. One is a large tractor and semi trailer which is used to haul the show's stock. It is painted and titled in King colors of red, white, and blue but also has Diano's name and trademark appearing on the sides. The other vehicle is a straight bed truck used for stake and chain and has a stake driver mounted on the rear. This truck likewise has King colors and title with also the Diano name. Truck equipment features all late models in good condition. No units are numbered.

Truck lineup is as follows. Note "s" denotes tractor with semi trailer.

*Editor's Note: Diano loaned the show the old Biller Bros. pole wagon after a wreck in Kentucky in May ruined the show's pole truck.

1. -s- Ticket and office.

2. -s- Sideshow equipment and cage. Cage contains 2 lionesses, 4 dogs, 1 porcupine, and 3 monkeys.

3. Cage (Diano) contains 1 brown bear, 1 lioness, 1 baboon, and 1 chimp.

4. -s- Light plant.

5. -s- Elephants (2). Sleeper compartment also in truck.

6. -s- Props and sleeper.

7. -s- Stock (Diano) 6 horses, 5 ponies, 1 llama.

8. -s- Scats.

9. -s- Seats.

10. -s- Poles and canvas.

11. Stake driver, stake and chain.

12. Panel truck for cookhouse.

13. Panel truck for props.

14. Concessions.

Also on the lot is Dick McLaughlin's walkthrough snake show truck, Aldo Cristiani's dog truck, and about 8 privately owned house trailers and truck sleepers.

The cookhouse uses a small canvas top with several tables. Joe Smiga is concession manager and has two nice roomy tops. All concession equipment is newly painted and looks good. McLaughlin's snake show and a pony ride complete the midway concessions.

Lee Hinckney, veteran circus bandmaster, leads a fine little four piece bond which has two trumpets, 1 trombone, and drums. Although small it is still very live and in the opinion of this reviewer far superior to an electric organ or canned music. The band uses several circus marches and gallops and specializes in old standards such as "Rosalie," "Beautiful Lady in Blue," "Somebody Stole My Gal,” “Sidewalks of New York" and other such tunes that have been used to cue circus performances for years.

Ticket prices this year are adults $1.25, children 90 cents with reserves going for 60 cents. Concert tickets are 25 cents and sideshow 25 cents.

The 1960 performance runs approximately 1 1/2 hours and is a good one. It is announced by Benny Cristiani at the mike who does a swell job in warming the audience to the show. At opening matinee he acknowledged presence of Mrs. Vicki King in the audience. Justino Loyal who opened the season on Cristiani Bros. Circus came on the show to handle the chores of equestrian director and to supervise the performers in general. Outstanding acts of the performance are the Benny Cristiani family leaps, the riding of the Cristiani's and Evy Karoly, Aldo Cristiani's trained dobermans, and Jean Warner's chimp, Mr. Mike.

The 1960 performance on opening day was as follows:

1. Clown number, which is used to warm up the audience and open the show. No walkaround spec is given.

2. Bar Act with Pete and Gracie Ivanov and Pepe Canestrelli.

3. Aerial Ballet featuring Oreste Canestrelli, head balancing on trapeze.

4. Chimp Act, featuring Mr. Mike worked by Jean Warner.

5. Clown Boxing Number with Italo and Francesco Fornasari.

6. Evy Karoly and her high school horse.

7. Gaylord Maynard on trampoline.

8. Riding Act with Evy Karloy, assisted by Margaret Karoly. (Very good.)

9. Loop the Loop Trapeze with Gracie Ivanov. (This one gets good audience reaction).

10. Aldo Cristiani's trained Doberman pinscher dogs, ten in number. (Something different and very good).

11. Wire Act with Remo Loyal, 17 year old son of Justino Loyal.

12. Riding Act, featuring Justino Loyal, Cosetta Cristiani, Pepe and Oreste Canestrelli, and Italo Fornasari.

13. Cristiani Troupe Teeterboard Act with Chita, Cosetta, Remo, Benny, and Tripoli Cristiani.

14. Swinging ladders.

15. Elephant Act. (1 bull)

16. Leaps with Benny, Remo, and Tripoli Cristiani, Oreste Canestrelli, and Italo Fornasari.

Several clown walkarounds end a couple of concert announcements are featured during the performance. Show uses five clowns. Clowning is adequate and some good props are in evidence. The Wild West Concert is headed by the Chief White Cloud Indian Family. Chief and his troupe have exceptionally good costuming.

Opening day weather was clear and hot. Almost a full house was on hand for the matinee and a good crowd there at night. Sideshow business was good and the very hot and dry day made concession business very good.

The show's advance is handled by Jack Burke, general agent, and Pat Hanlon and Ed Hiler, contracting agents. The show puts up a good amount of colorful stock paper and billed thoroughly the Warner Robbins vicinity.

King Bros. features a much better performance than those usually found in a canvas show this size, this being of course the result of the outstanding showmanship of the Benny Cristiani Family and other fine acts. With the comfortable grandstand the show can also play the larger cities as well as the 5,000 to 25,000 towns for which the show was framed to play. It is a medium sized show, compact, easy to load and unload, and can move and set up on time without making the man and truck killing longer jumps which plague the larger motorized shows. As a result the show can nearly always count on adequate matinee business and not be hampered by losing the midway crowd which has filed away in disgust waiting for a 5 or 6 p.m. matinee. The show is easy to set up requiring only a minimum permanent canvas and prop crew. Barring unforseen events the show should return to quarters this fall a real winner.

Top

Young Buffalo Wild West Show. Part II

Since my first article on the Young Buffalo Show appeared in Bandwagon a year ago, I have been surprised at the number of fans who will help you dig a little deeper, so a more complete history can be chronicled. This article will complete the routes for the four years the show was owned by Mr. Vernon C. Seavers, and a few facts gleaned from interested fans especially Bob Parkinson from whose collection the 1912 Chicago dates were borrowed, thanks to Otto Schieman of South Bend, Indiana who provided this article with the only photos of the show I believe exist; and to Don Marcks of California whose father collected quite a lot of newspaper clippings on the show and Don was only too glad to pass some of this information on to me; and of course to Mr. Joe R. Smith the original Young Buffalo, who always answered questions I bothered him with.

In retrospect fifty years have passed since the Young Buffalo show made its first tour, yet in reading about the show in ads and reviews you feel a little sad that such shows do not exist to delight young and old, except to read about them in articles such as these.

Now for some additional facts that I have rediscovered about the Young Buffalo Show. The Show was usually routed east of the Mississippi River, and it made only one tour of the south. It always had a strong wild west program, and an even greater one after Col. Cummings joined the show for the 1912 season. Col. Cummings is best known for getting together the greatest gathering of American Indians when he organized the Indian Congress for the St. Louis Worlds Fair at the turn of the century, when every tribe was represented. Later he took his own wild west show to Europe and was quite a successful showman. On the Young Buffalo Show he had the Far East Contigent; Arabs, Singalese, Burmese, elephants, camels, etc. Another rather famous personage on the show was Roy Choisser, "Crazy Ray" to his friends who not only was the calliope player on the show but the first couple of years did the announcing.

As to the show itself, it had no great difficulties its four years on the road, just the usual number of minor ones; such as the strike of the cowboys in Washington; a Cossack killed in Cumberland, Md., when his horse fell; a wreck on a Sunday morning as the train was pulling into Louisville, Ky., rampaging elephants, etc.

One of the best remembered publicity stunts on this show was pulled by an advance agent who was refused publicity by a Detroit newspaper editor because he thought the show was too small to extend it this privilege, The agents stroke of genius was a newspaper ad offering to pay for any dogs delivered to his hotel room by nine o'clock the following morning; the dogs to be used as the main course in a Indian feast. When the hotel lobby was filled with kids and dogs long before nine the next morning he had all the publicity the show needed; needless to say no dogs were used for an epicurean delight.

When the show played Chicago in 1912 for two weeks, showing a different city lot every day, it must have been a thrill to the fans to see a show put up and torn down every day and witness the parade of horse drawn wagons on their way to the next days stand every night over the city's streets. The show train was not used while the show played Chicago. All in all I've enjoyed putting together this article with all the help I received for which I thank again the aforementioned fans, and I hope this article fills in a small gap in circus history.

YOUNG BUFFALO W. W. - 1910 RT.

YOUNG BUFFALO W. W. - 1913 RT.

YOUNG BUFFALO PARADE - 1913

Vernon C. Server, Sr. and Jr.
Young Buffalo
Col. Cummings
A. Stanhome - Block and White Team
Dee Robinson
C. C. Woodward
Beth Paulos
Cowboy Bandwagon - 8 horses
Prairie Schooner - 20 ox team
Clowns on Burros
George and Ben La Pearl
Prairie Schooner - 4 horses
Baggage wagon - Harem women on wagon
Dahomian musicians
20 cowgirls
20 cowboys
Mexican Vanqueros
6 Indians
Cossacks - (6)
Stage Coach - mules
Calliope - 6 horses

YOUNG BUFFALO PROGRAM - 1913

1. Introductory Pageant
2. Introductions
3. Races, Cowgirls, Indians, Cowboys, Tandem, Chase for a Bride.
4. Hold-up of the stage coach.
5. High School horses, fancy riding, Maud Collins on "King Edward," the bear dance, Julia Colly.
6. Indian Dances
7. Drill, Hardin's Spanish Cadets
8. Sports and pastimes of the cowboys.
9. Quadrille on horseback
10. Fancytrick equestrians, The Cossacks
11. Annie Oakley, shooting
12. Roping and riding horses with Prairie Rose
13. The World's Rough Riders
14. Equestrian, grouping of the colors
15. The Far East, Hammed's Troupe of Arabs, Etta Meyer, elephants; midget elephant, Tiny Muggins; Pony Yorkey and Patsy, Comic.
16. Hippodrome number
17. 20 ox team, driver, Col. Henry A. Stevens
18. The Attack on Fort Grant
19. Grand Finale.

Top

The Fossetts of England and Their Circuses

For a hundred years or more the Fossett family have travelled the roads of England with their circuses, and today in addition to the "parent" show bearing the name of Sir Robert Fossett, there is a Fossett Brothers Circus both in this country and in Ireland, whilst the Robert Brothers Circus proudly proclaim that their mother was a Miss Mary Fossett, celebrated circus ballerina. In practically every major circus in England may be found a red-haired Fossett working in front of or behind the scenes. The famous Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia, London had aerial Fossetts performing wonders in its roof in the 1959-60 season, whilst the same circus had Sir Robert Fossett's elephant quintette somewhere near the top of the bill in the previous year. And even in America may be found at least one Fossett for Tony a lively member of the Riding Dorchesters is a worth bearer of that name, and in a fairly recent number of the Billboard I noticed a "Whimsical Fossett," who may of course be the same man.

To attempt a history of the Fossett families would be almost as complex as writing a history of England during the last 150 years which span nine reigns. The fact that the eldest son in the family is always called Robert does not help matters; of the present moment I know at least four "Bob" Fossett's personally. So I will endeavor to sketch in on outline of the Fossett family facts as I know them.

The first Robert Fossett, as a boy, sold almond rock (candy) along the pavements of Petticoat Lane, London in the early part of the last century. Thrifty habits enabled him to possess in turn a bird show, performing birds, a fortune-telling pony and finally a small circus. We read that in 1866 the Robert Fossett Circus billed Master R. Fossett as the British Fox Hunter, Miss R. Fossett as the smallest child rider in the world, Mr. H. Fossett a rider, Mr. J. Fossett a juggler on horseback and Funny Harry Fossett. Thus it will be seen that the Fossett Circus was very much a "horsey" one, and also very much a family concern, just as it is today.

Despite the tough days of the Victorian era, the circus prospered and the second Robert Fossett became recognized as the greatest bareback rider in the world. He was one of the first to leap off the ground, without any aid on to the bare back of a galloping horse. When this Robert was not tenting, he ran a circus in the winter right underneath the River Thames in a disused tunnell, which drew all that part of London to see the show. Working in the Fossett Circus at that time were the Yeldings, their cousins, and most American circus fans will be familiar with at least one member of this famous English circus family in the person of Victor Julian, who has been delighting the States with his dog act for several years now.

Robert Fossett's son (another Robert of course) rapidly become as great a trick-rider as his father. For some years he left his father's circus and travelled with Frank C. Bostock's Circus and Menagerie, and was even "shanghaied" by them into accompanying that show to Ireland. When he returned, the Robert Fossett Circus was in a bad way. Times were bad and the show was forced to close up and eventually to be sold auction. The great showman of that time, Lord George Sanger bought the entire show with a gesture typical of the man, handed it back to Grandmother Fossett, for whom he had always professed a great fondness. Perhaps the Fossett's remembered this two years ago, when during a very wet summer in England, Sanger's Circus was bogged down in the town where they had played as rivals on the same day and date as Fossett's. It was Fossetts powerful tractors which hauled Sangers out of that swampy lot on that occasion.

The Robert Fossett Circus was back on the road again, but this time they collaborated with the brothers Bostock and ran the show in conjunction with the famous menagerie. This arrangement continued successfully for several years and the two shows operated very profitably for many Christmas seasons at the Royal Agricultural Hall, London, which was then the biggest annual show of its kind. Sir Robert Fossett (for now he had conferred a title upon himself after the manner of Lord George Sanger) . . . made a most impressive ringmaster. His initial entry was preceded by a very elegant groom carrying a silken cushion upon which reposed Sir Robert's silver mounted whip. In addition to his other duties this Sir Robert (the Third) always gave his celebrated riding act. It was here that he met the lady who was to become his wife, Miss Isabelle Bailey, daughter of the co-lessee of the Agricultural Hall. This charming lady, "Aunt Belle" to the circus world graced the present circus right up to 1956, when she died at the ripe age of 82. Right up to the time of her death she was travelling with the show and taking a most active part in the finances of the circus.

In fact the show had been carried on by Mrs. Fossett, for Sir Robert had died in 1948. Of course there were the three talented children of the marriage to assist, and to be in fact with their cousins the main part of the programme. Bobby (Sir Robert the Fourth) looked after the horses, showing them skillfully and still doing some riding, mostly haute-ecole now that a leg injury cramped his bare-back activities; Bailey was training and presenting marvellous groups of lions, tigers, bears and even elephants, whilst Mary's red curls flashed over her pretty groups of dogs now that she had given up her equestrienne ballerina work.

Sir Robert Fossett's Circus was, despite recent claims from other circuses the only show which never pulled in (excepting for the winter, of course) and which operated continuously under the some name throughout the war years. Despite the call-up and the lack of labour, the complete circus, somehow, managed to carry on and even shared the terrors of enemy bombing. Sons, daughters, cousins, women and children of the circus all worked like Trojans building up, pulling down, driving, grooming and at all the hundred and one jobs associated with the travelling show. Two years ago when I was travelling in Cornwall with the show, Miss Mary told me that Callington, where we were showing that day reminded her of a war-time incident, when coloured U.S. troops stationed in this small Cornish town watched the weary men and women building up the circus. Finally, rather shyly they asked if they could help in the erection of the big top. Their offer was most gladly accepted by the tired circus staff, and the big top went up in record time that day.

The circus prospered and grew in the post war years and in 1954 was showing in a smart four-pole Continental type tent, with good modern seating and a fine organ to provide appropriate music. Later this tent was found to be somewhat unweildy for smaller grounds and short stands, so a smart blue canvas two-pole tent was substituted in which the Fossett programme looked "real good." Bailey's groups of animals were becoming famous throughout Europe and many of them were featured in big European circuses in Spain, France, Germany, Austria and Scandinavia. The film-studios were also bidding for Fossett trained animals too, and the elephants, lions and leopards appeared in such movies as the old Sabu classic "Elephant Boy" to more modern jungle and comedy films, which may never have been shown in America, but were never-the-less excellent films of their kind.

In the late 1950's Fossetts had a fine programme with Bobby (Sir Robert the Fourth) showing Arab Stallions and Shetland ponies; Bailey with a group of leopards, panthers, jaguars and pumas; Mary with her beloved dogs.; Cousin Frankie Fossett, clowning and comedy riding; Cousin "Big" Bob Fossett with his wife and sister in law dancing and juggling on the high stilts; Paulins (who was later to become Bobby's wife) wire-walking; the Fossett elephant quintette and a camel-llama-donkey act shown by Ivor Rosaire; a single big old elephant shown by "old faithful" elephant man Jacob; the German Rudos Family (they are with the Hamid Morton Circus this season) in three acts, leaping, trampoline-trapeze and tumbling; the Anderson Brothers., and little Barry Gnome in clown specialties. There was a fine big menagerie with several rare animals including a white camel and Siberian snow-leopards.

But there were sad days in 1959. The year started badly with the death of "Baby" the much loved gentle old elephant. She had been a wonderful performer and a symbol of the Robert Fossett Circus for many years.

Towards the end of the 1958 season Mr. Bob had announced his marriage to Pauline Biddall, a wire walking artiste long associated with this circus, and one who had always been a great friend of Bob's, but whose circumstances had prevented from marrying earlier. When in the early tenting days of 1959, it was told that a "happy event" was expected, this news was received with great joy by many of us who are so fond of the Fossett's and who had feared that with the three children remaining un-married, that there would be no one to inherit this well-loved show. So you may imagine our pleasure when we heard in the late Spring that a new little "Sir Robert" had arrived upon the scene. But joy was short-lived however, for only two weeks after the arrival of the baby, Mr. Bobby was stricken with coronary thrombosis, from which he never recovered. He passed away during the hot summer months of 1959 whilst the show was still wending its sad way through-out the Southern counties of England. I joined the show during that summer, as I always spend some weeks tenting with the Fossetts each season, but it was indeed a subdued circus. Impossible to imagine that the familiar figure of Bob Fossett was no more; never again to see that hard-working character in oily overalls, or the smart pink-coated equestrian director at the ring-doors, and the limbs which had once taken their owner leaping, blind-folded with his feet enclosed in baskets, on to the back of a galloping horse were stilled for ever.

But this was not the end of the Sir Robert Fossett Circus. In addition this second week of April I have already sat beneath the Fossett canvas at Evesham where the show was making its first stand of the season. The tent is a brand new one, back to the imposing four-pole style again, the rolling stock has all been painted up as good as new and once again the towns-folk have been rolling up to see the Robert Fossett Circus as they have been doing now for over a hundred years. The programme is much as the some as last years, but with the Rudos family in America their place has been taken by a talented Dutch family supplying a Perch act and an equilibristic act. A new clown to the show this year is Hampe who favours the Hobo style, so beloved by Americans.

Thomas Frost, the famous circus historian wrote this in 1852, about Robert Fossett's Circus. "It is a small concern, with two or three horses. Miss Fossett, the proprietor's daughter is a tight-rope performer, in which capacity she appeared a few years ago in Talliot's circus . . . a small circus, with which he (Fossett) travels during the summer months within a circle of a dozen miles from London."

Now read what "Picture Post" said of this circus in 1940, when it featured an article extolling the virtues of the war time show. "Roll up, Roll up. Sir Robert Fossett presenting the only family in the world which is a circus, and the only circus in the world in which the performers are all members of the same family. Every relative, every artiste a Fossett. See Sir Robert Fossett's dainty daughter Mary Isabelle, the equestrienne - see his beautiful nieces Margaret and Louise defying death on the flying trapeze. See his 15-year old nephew Jack hanging by his legs and supporting the weight of his two cousins by his teeth. See Sir Robert's versatile sons, Bob riding a bicycle act on the high wire and the younger brother Captain Bailey the intrepid, with his team of forest bred lions and tigers. See several Fossett's riding together on one horse. See the family and you'll see the Greatest Show on Earth."

Somehow, one feels that, like England, there'll always be a Fossett Circus.

Top

Ben Dunham and the Barnum & Bailey Route Book of 1891

With so much being written about the triple somersaults of trapeze artists circus historians are apt to overlook the fact that a triple somersault was the regular part of the act of a bar performer. According to Mike Mulligan who does cartoons for "THE NEW YORKER" magazine, Ben Dunham, his great uncle, was the only man who regularly did a triple somersault from a standing position on the horizontal bar to a net.

Mike says that he hears this story often from his mother who is still living; but unfortunately the only two bits of evidence he has of the artist are a circus route book and a newspaper clipping of April 14, 1895, being an advertisement of the American Theater at 42nd Street and Broadway, New York City. The Attraction is, "The SANDOW Trocadero Company, direction of F. Ziegfeld, Jr." Students of the theater will recognize this latter name as that of the man who made his "Follies" famous. Some will remember that before he was "glorifying" the American girl Flo Ziegfeld was manager of the famous strong man, Sandow, Ben Dunham, premier bar performer, is listed as one of the stars of this variety attraction.

The late Col. C. G. Sturtevant says this about him, "Vic Vidello, Frank Marlo, and Ben Dunham who introduced quadruple aerial bars on Barnum and Bailey's Circus in 1891 were probably the best all star trio ever gotten together unless it was the trio who succeeded the next year of Dunham, Marla, and Claude Newell . . . I hesitate to try to say anything about Ben Dunham. He was such a finished artist that words fail to describe what one swing in his starting trick would tell plainly. His was the perfect gymnast physique with great power in the arms, shoulders, and torso without any appearance of bunchiness in his slender frame.

He was very graceful in every movement and his forward lift was something to remember ever after, as were his apparently effortless somersaults and twisters over the middle bar. Equally at home on the ground or in the air, he was with all the big shows in America and Europe, and was a big feature with his act on the best vaudeville programs for about twenty-five years."

And, more important, the other bit of evidence is the 1891 Route Book of the Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth. It must have been the custom of those days for the performers to take space among the advertisements. Prominently displayed among the stars is the ad of "Marlo and Dunham, the Fearless Heroes of the Horizontal Bars. TRICK: Introducing an entirely new apparatus and sensational acts, wherein the center-bar is displaced and double somersaults thrown from first to third bar, the performers passing and repassing in the rapid flights. Giant Swings and Contesting leaps. Will Be with the Greatest Show on Earth in '92. Address, care New York Clipper or New York Dramatic News."

It is not known how many copies of this route book are still in the hands of collectors. The writer has checked through many issues of "Bandwagon" and "Whitetops" and has failed to find any mention of a copy being for sale. So working on the basis that other fans would like to share in the excitement he had when he was first privileged to read it, a brief description of it is herewith given. The book is important if for no other reason than that it chronicles the passing of P. T. Barnum.

It has a hard back cover and by coincidence has the exact measurements of the 1940 book of RB&BB. The color is a dark red and this copy is well preserved and shows excellent care. For all the information it contains it is a fan's paradise and it is doubted that any book since has been as full of facts unless it is the CHS's publication of the 1958 Cristiani Route Book.

On the title page is,

The Barnum & Bailey official Route - Book Season of 1891
Authorized by P. T. Barnum and J. A. Bailey
Published by Harvey L. Watkins

From the Preface I quote, "it is not known in what precise year, nor with what show, the first circus route book was published, but whenever it was issued, and under whatever circumstance, no doubt can possibly exist but that such a publication was felt to be an absolute necessity at the time. Since that time they have with almost unbroken regularity, annually made their appearance.

"Now there have been route books, so called, but it is gravely to be doubted if any of them attained their objective. They had however, the merit of perpetuating many pleasant events, and, in a measure, served as partial stories of many a successful and unsuccessful venture in the tented field. As such, those little books proved souvenirs to all the parties immediately connected with those enterprises, but as faithful records of either the principal events happening to the various facts of value to the circus world, they may be said to be utterly useless . . . "

(How modest Mr. Watkins is and how amazed he would be to learn how his compilation of facts is treasured today by the circus fan along with other books of equal merit as an accurate and excellent source of circus history.)

Managerial Staff: P. T. Barnum and J. A. Bailey, equal owners.
Manager - James A. Bailey
Superintendent - Frank Hyatt
Treasurer-Merritt F. Young
Managers of Privileges - W. D. Hagar and Wm. Henshaw
Secretary-Benjamin Fish
Treasurer of Privileges - L. M. Hedges

Heads of Departments - Byron V. Rose, Transportation; WiIIiam A. White, Supt. of Properties; Charles McLean, Supt. of Canvas; W. H. Bond, Supt. of Scenery; David McKay, Supt. of Baggage Stock; William Ducrow, Equestrian Director; Thomas Lynch, Assistant Supt. of Baggage Stock; Peter Halstead, Master Mechanic; George Conklin, Supt. Menagerie; Thomas Kelly, Henry C. Hedges, Forage Agents; William Newman, Supt. of Elephants.

Advance Brigade - W. H. Gardner, General Agent; Frank L. Perly, Press with Show; Louis E. Cooke, Railroad Manager; R. G. Ball, Contracting Agent; R. F. Hamilton, Gen. Press Agent; W. H. Creighton, Asst. Excursion Agent; Fred Lawrence, Press Agent; H. H. Gunning, Programme Agent; Tom Dailey, Mgr. Car No. 1; E. H. Davis, Mgr. Car No. 2; Al Riel, Mgr. Car No. 3; J. R. Kennedy, Mgr. Car No. 4.

Enos F. Josephs, Princ. door-tender; Charles Bernard, Head Usher; J. Chase Lippincott, Manager Outside Tickets.

Ten sleeping-car porters are listed, including those for the privilege car and Mr. Bailey's private car, which may or may not give a clue as to the number of coaches carried. These cars are numbered 50 (Bailey) to 59, inclusive.

Another interesting bit of history, pony drivers are listed for -

Old Woman in Shoe, six ponies
Mother Goose, six ponies
Cinderella, six ponies
Santa Claus, six ponies
Sinbad, four ponies
Blue Beard, four ponies.

There were four 8-horse drivers (including bandwagons No. 1 and No. 2), ten 6-horse drivers, and thirty-two 4-horse drivers along with two additional pull-up drivers.

Twenty men under William White are listed in the Property Department, and another eight men under William Bond are in the scenery department.

Charles Bernard has another position as Superintendent of the Calcium Light Department. This is a term that hasn't been seen in years. This writer is thankful that he is old enough to remember the real specs that were presented by the Ringling and the Barnum shows in the teens. The band might leave the center ring after its final concert number and the equestrian director might make his appearance through the back door and look over the house: but the real signal for the commencement of the performance was the lighting-off of the big calcium lights that flooded the spec stage on the backside.

Next comes the listing of the wardrobe department with a separate staff for the spec wardrobe. Then the canvas and seat men. Big top canvas had eighty-five men. Also is mentioned “Oblong” men, seventeen of them. This is a new term and inasmuch as no menagerie gang is listed we have decided that this must be the menagerie tent.

It takes two pages to mention the cookhouse gang, headed by "Hotel De Campbell," W. T. Campbell, Proprietor and Manager. The listing of stewards, chief cooks, assistants, pastry cooks, butchers, and pantrymen reads like the staff of the St. Regis Hotel.

PERFORMERS

Gentlemen Performers
Wm. Ducrow, Equestrian Director
Charles Fish, Champion Principal Bareback
Willie O. Dale, Principal Bareback
Peter Barlow, Principal Bareback
L. Jordan, Flying trapeze
Judge Bros.-Todd, Wallie, and John, Acrobatic Brother Act
Japanese Troup (7), Twelve Acts
Cleos - John and George, Aerial Trapeze
Videllas - Vic, Dunham and Marie, Aerial Horizontal Bars
Nicholas Ceballos, High Wire, Chair Pyramids, Flying Rings
Carons - Al and George, Skirt Dancers
Barlow and Devere, Triple Bars
John O'Brien, Menage rider, Five-Horse Tandem, Performing Stallions
Chas. White, Performing ponies
R. Pinta, Performing Geese
Achille Mazzoli, Comic Running Globe Act
J. H. Lewis, Running Dogs
W. Conrad, Performing Donkey, Monkey, Dogs
J. Isabel, Rings and Trapeze
Wm. Newman, Large Elephants
George Bates, Small Elephants
H. Meers, Ring Master
Thomas King, Calliope Player
Shintaro's Japanese Troupe

Lady Performers
Meers Sisters, Lillie, Rose, Marie, Principal Female Bareback Act
Cleos - Laura, Adelaide, Flying trapeze
Mamie Jordan, Flying trapeze, Rings
Carons - Lizzie, Viola, Skirt Dancers
Viola Rivers, Principal Bareback Act
Nellie Rose, Menage Rider
Lizzie White, Performing Dog and Goat
Emma White, Performing Sheep
Mlle. Beatrice, Contortionist
Lily King, Emily Beaumont, Minnie Brewer, Jockeys
Mile. Zarah, Balancing Trapeze, Club Swinging, Performing Pigeons

There were twenty-one leapers and tumblers; eleven clowns, two four-horse chariot drivers, two two-horse chariot drivers, and three Romas standing riders.

The Nero Company (Spec) had separate stage and chorus managers. It is known that these old time specs were an "all hands evolution" with prop men, grooms, and laborers having special parts and wardrobe. Time was not taken to cross-index all the names.; but it is seen that several of the principals were also performers. However, it is also apparent that many men and women were carried just for the spec. Back in the cookhouse section it was noted that there were special tables for the "ballet" and special tables for the "Italian Ballet." To be more specific, ninety-six women are listed in the ballet with an additional forty-eight male dancers.

James S. Robinson had twenty-nine men under him in the "military" band with the usual instrumentation for a band of this size. G. D. Rossia had nine sidemen with him in the sideshow band and from the names it is apparent that they were all Italians.

PARADE LIST

Drum Corps
Mounted people, 24 ladies
Mounted people, 40 Gents
Cage 50, Tiger den, open
Cage 51, Lion den, open
Cage 52, Leopard den, open
Cage 53, Wolves den, open
Gold Band Chariot (Band)
Mounted people, 24 ladies
Mounted people, 40 Men
Cage 54, Panther den, open
Cage 55, Bear den, open
Cage 58, Hyena den, open
Cage 45, Tableau Chariot (Band)
Cage 63, Tableau Cage
Cage 64, Tableau Cage
Cage 65, Tableau Cage
Cage 66, Tableau Cage
Cage 68, Tableau Cage
Chimes Chariot
Lady, Men Jockeys
Roman Race Riders
Three 2-horse Racing Chariots
Three 4-horse Racing Chariots
Green Band Chariot (Band)
Cage 69, Tableau cage
Cage 70, Tableau Cage
Cage 72, Tableau cage
Cage 73, Tableau cage
Melechor Organ
Two Trapped Elephants
Twelve led Elephants
Dragon Chariot, 4 camels
14 Dromedaries
Clown Cart
Cage 46, Tableau Chariot (Band)
Cinderella Chariot
Sinbad-the-Sailor Chariot
Red-Riding Hood Chariot
Shoe Chariot
Tableau Chariot (Jubilee)
Santa Claus Chariot
Mother Goose Chariot
Blue Beard Chariot
Steam Calliope

This may seem an odd order for a parade; but this is exactly as it is listed.

OFFICIAL PROGRAMME

Operatic and Popular Musical Selections - Grand Military Band.

Display No. 1 - Grand Athletic Tournament - Leaping, Vaulting, and Somersaulting on the ground and over Elephants.

Display No. 2 - Ring No. 1, Remarkable performances by two Spotted Arabian Stallions. Performed by Wm. Ducrow. Ring No. 2, The wonderful Equestrian Baboon in a very clever riding act on the trained Donkey and Pony. Ringmaster, Wm. Conrad, Ring No. 3, Four beautiful Imported Black Stallions in difficult feats. Performed by John O'Brien.

Display No. 3 - THE THREE MEERS SISTERS - Misses Rose, Lillie, and Marie. Most skillful and accomplished Equestriannes of all Europe in their Champion Bareback Trick Riding Act. Performing simultaneously in 3 Rings. Stage No. 1, Clowns, Stage No. 2, Clowns.

Display No. 4 - Ring No. 1, Ceiling Walking with the toes in fixed rings, together with daring Trapeze Acts, by Isabel. Stage No. 1, especially difficult and artistic High Wire Originalities and Transformations, by the young Spanish Genius, Nicholas Ceballos. Terrific High Wire Japanese Slide, by Chiyokikic. Ring No. 2, Graceful exhibition of daring and original feats on the Flying Rings, by Miss Jordon. Stage No. 2, Wonderful walking on a Thread of Wire - head down, feet in the air. First time of this thrilling feature, J. F. Howard. Great Japanese Pendulating Bamboo Perch Originalities, Shonski. Ring No. 3, Marvelous Spanish balancing on the High Flying Trapeze, Mile. Zarah. Exhibition on the Fixed Rings, F. LaRosa.

Display No. 5 - Ring No. 1, Graceful exhibition of the most expert Club Swinging, by the champion, Miss Katherine Gyles. Japanese Broken Ladder, Hanje and Fukada. Novel Brother Act, by Barlow and Deverre. Stage No. 1, The finest and most accomplished Bicycle Performers in a series of interesting and very clever performances, French Family. Ring No. 2, Great double acrobatic and unique Brother Acts, by the most noted experts, The Three Judges. Stage No. 2, The Celebrated Carons, in a delightful exhibition of Parisian Skirt Dancing, Viola, Lizzie, Al., and George Caron. Ring No. 3, A series of extraordinary Athletic and Acrobatic and Acrobatic Exercises, by The Three Davenes. Startling Japanese wonders, walking on the keen edges of Upturned Swords, C. Tommomotto.

Display No. 6 - Ring No. 1, The wisest herd of biggest Elephants in many new tricks and evolutions. Introduced by the Trainer, Wm. Newman. Ring No. 2, The children's per clown Elephant in a most interesting performance, denoting great brute intelligence and understanding, William Conrad. Ring No. 3, The second herd of marvelously trained Elephants in many intricate performances. Performed by F. Fisher.

Display No. 7 - Ring No. 1, Principal Equestrian Act, Archie O'Brien. Stage No. 1, A very Pandemonium by several fools. Ring No. 2, Principal Equestrian Act, Wm. Showles. Stage No. 2, A number of Merry Capers by the Fellows in Motley. Ring No. 3, Principal Equestrian Act, W. O'Dale.

Display No. 8 - Ring No. 1, Signor Mazzoli, the renowned clown, whose novel feats and curious acts are all laughable surprises. Japanese Dancing Barrel, Hotaro. Remarkable Display of Strength by the Cuban Samson, Adolfo Herrera. Stage No. 1, Dexterous and finished Juggling by the Japanese Wonder, C. Fukuda. Grotesque Sports and Ludicrous Proceedings by The Carons. Ring No. 2, Contortion Specialties and intricate Posing by H. Wentworth and Miss Allington. Japanese Contortion Act by Shonski. Champion Spanish Tumbling, by Jose Isabel. Stage No. 2, Comicalities and funny acts on Rollers, with many pretty and graceful exhibitions of perfect skating, the French Family. Ring No. 3, Dexterous Chair Pyramid Gymnastics and Elevated Equipoise, Nicholas Ceballos. Horizontal Bar Specialties, Barlow and Devers.

Display No. 9 - Ring No. 1, High School Menage Act, Miss Caron. Ring No. 2, High Class Horsemanship, Double Menage Act, John O'Brien. Ring No. 3, High School Menage Act, Miss Rose (Manege is the spelling in the book).

Display No. 10 - Ring No. 1, A sexette of Dumb Performers in clever tricks for the little folks. Sheep, Goats, and Dogs, introduced by Misses Lizzie and Emma White. Stage No. 1, A most novel performance by the only troupe of Educated Geese in the world. Trained by Mons. Pinta. Ring No. 2, Clever company of highly trained ponies for the children. Performed by Charles White. Stage No. 2, Fearless exhibition of Snake Charming actually enveloped in the coils of huge living Pythons, Lulu La Tosca. Ring No. 3, More of the little folks' Circus. Troupe of marvelously trained dogs whose clever tricks are a wonder to all, William Conrad.

Display No. 11 - Misses Rose and Lillie Meers, The most graceful and finished piece of Bareback Equestrianism ever exhibited. Double Bareback Jockey Act by two of the three English Equestriennes whose highly accomplished original and daring feats are unequaled in circus annals. The first appearance in America after winning high praise in all the capitals of Europe.

Display No. 12 - Ring No. 1, An astonishing display of Aerial Feats at perilous heights on four Horizontal Bars, The Videllas. Ring No. 2, The Flying Cleos, Aerial Gymnasts of the highest order whose startling performances are amazing to all, The Cleos. Ring No. 3, Unequaled Double Flying Trapeze and Mid-Air Somersaults, Dives, Giant Leaps, Flights, and Catches, by The Jourdans.

THE GREAT HIPPODROME RACES

First Event - Brilliant and dashing Five-Horse Tandem Hurdle Race, J. O'Brien.
Second Event - American Jockey Race. Three times around the course.
Third Event - Wild, Unique, and Picturesque Sahara Desert Came[ Race.
Fourth Event -Handicap Race of Man against a Running Horse. Once around for the man and one and a quarter for the horse.
Fifth Event - The Children's pretty Pony Steeplechase Race, with chattering Monkey Jockeys on their backs.
Sixth Event - Ladies Hurdle Race. Three times around the course.
Seventh Event - Spirited and dashing Hurdle Race.
Eighth Event - Handicap Coursing Contest between the fleetest English Whippet Racing Dogs.

Every performance of BARNUM AND BAILEY'S GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Concludes with NERO, or the DESTRUCTION OF ROME, Imre Kiralfy, Author and Producer. Presenting twelve hundred characters, including Senators, Patricians Censors, Augurs, Courtiers, Guards, Gladiators, Aediles, Equites, Priests, Vestals, Charioteers, Wrestlers, Jugglers, Dancers, Singers, Acrobats, Musicians, Artisans, Peasants, Citizens, Prisoners, Criminals, Freedmen, Christians, Ambassadors, Athletes, Slaves, Women, Girls, Children, Wild Beasts, Horses.

Nero's Triumphal Procession

1. Gladiatorial Contests. 2. Athletic Games of the Circus Maximus. 3. Thrilling Two-Horse Standing Race. 4. Exciting Elephant Races. 5. Two-Horse Chariot races. 6. Four-Horse Chariot Races. 7. Contest between the winners of the two previous races.

Superb Festal Dances Grand Finale of Flambeaux

It is to be noted that the Spec during these years come at the conclusion of the performance, whereas during the teens before the combination of the Ringling and Barnum shows the Spec always opened the performance.

Next appears a day by day account of the 1891 Season and the routes for the season of 1888, 1889, and 1890. Inasmuch as these routes are known there is no need to repeat them. However, the accounts of a few days will be quoted because of their historical value -

New York City, Monday, April 6th - "The following telegram was published in the daily papers of this date: Bridgeport, Conn,, April 6. It is stated that P. T. Barnum, the veteran showman, who has been ill for several days, has suffered a relapse and it is feared that he can live but a little longer."

Tuesday, April 7th - "Just before time for the commencement of the evening performance a telegram was received announcing the death of the Hon. P. T. Barnum."

Friday, April 10th - "No exhibition given today on account of the funeral of Mr. Barnum. Flags are displayed at half-mast on the Garden and many public buildings. Business entirely suspended at Bridgeport and the entire city draped in mourning out of respect to their late and honored showman. The funeral services were held at the South Church, the Rev. Dr. Robert Colyer delivering the sermon. The church was packed almost to suffocation and thousands gathered outside unable to gain admission. Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Bailey, J. L. Hutchinson, W. W. Cole, G. F. Bailey, the head of every department of the Greatest Show on Earth, as well as many other prominent showmen and public men."

STATISTICS

Performances given - 362
Number of railroad cars - 60
Number of advertising cars - 4
Number of baggage horses - 205
Number of ring horses - 75
Number of ponies - 33
Number of Elephants - 13
Camels and dromedaries - 18
Baggage wagons - 55
Cages - 22
Ticket wagon - 1
Organ - 1
Band wagons - 2 Tube wagon - 1
Racing Chariots - 4
Calliope - 1
Pony chariots - 8
Buggies - 2

Concluding are the aforementioned advertisements of the performers and a "Good-By" by the author.

Top

Souvenir of B & B in Austria, 1901

On the occasion of the publishing of my book, "Fuenf Jahrzehnte Linzer Circusgheschichte, 1900-1950" (Five Decades of Linz Circus History) I received a letter from Dr. Egon Oberhuber, Director of the Municipal Office of Linz, recalling that the appearance of the Barnum & Bailey Show in Linz was one of the most vivid remembrances of his childhood. He also inclosed for me the program which his mother, an enthusiastic circus fan, had left him after her death. The date was June 5 and 6, 1901.

It is a 30 page program, and the cover was done in blue, red, and gold with the well known portraits of P. T. Barnum and J. A. Bailey. It was printed by J. Weiner, Vienna and sold for 20 Hellers (about 4 cents). Nearly every other page is filled with commercial advertisements of Austrian firms.

Printed in the front of the program is a detailed description of the side-show curiosities, which included the skeleton-man, the chain-breaker, the magnetic lady, the albino, the dislocating man, the sword swallowing girl, the pigmy woman, the moss-haired girl, the fat man, the bearded woman, the armless wonder, the tattooed married people, the long haired lady, the human ostrich, the lightening calculator, the human pin-cushion, the stone-skull man Jo-Jo, the rubber man, etc.

William Ducrow was the equestrian director. Carl Clair led the great Military Band.

The show had 17 clowns who were: Spador Johnson, Harry Wentworth, Little Sandy, Alex Seabert, James Savoy, Young Frisky, Peter Bell, William Albion, Orange Pipp, Funny Frisky, Piccolo, Tom Franklin, George Brown, George Franklin, Billy Leonard, Toto, and Bruno Ketchup.

The show opened with three herds of elephants presented by George Conklin, George Denmann and George Bates. The second display was a great jumping tournament followed by three principal riding acts featuring Florence Godfrey, Rose Wentworth, and Flory Humel. The three rings and two stages were next filled with acrobats: the brothers and sisters Ceballos in a balancing act, the juggler Young Frisky, the self-defenders James and Millie Savoy, the excentric Sabkichi, the bambus and ladder number Scitoro and Tokichi, the double hoop-jumper Lulu Sutcliffe, the top spinner Yoshi, the horizontal bar gymnasts Leonards, the balancing wonder Sampel, the acrobats Bell and Albion, the Japanese juggler Yamamoto, and the barrel dancer Miss Otana.

The fifth display presented several comic mules by Harry Wentworth, Charles White, Henry Humel, Jules Carr, and Spader Johnson. The sixth display featured wire and trap numbers in which appeared Scitoro, Mlle. Zarah, the Silbon Troup, Leon La Roche, Hilarion and Rosalie Ceballos, the Sutcliffs, the Seigrists, Toto Seigrist, Sanklohl and Jennie Silbon. In the seventh display William Demott, William Wallet, and Fred Derrick appeared as bareback riders. Display number eight presented a variety of gymnasts, including: Heras, Nanakusa and Toku, Mons. La Roche, the four Sutcliffes, Miss Otana, Sampel and Massa, Mlle. Zarah, the two Dinus, the Ceballos, and Jashi and Tokichi.

William Ducrows seventy liberty horses held center ring for display nine (exactly one month before the act was wiped out in the Beuthen, Germany wreck). Display ten presented aerial performances by Alphonso Troupe, Hilarion and Rosalie Ceballos, Lizzie Seabert, Sampel, Nanakusa Toku and Kinzo, the three Silbons, and Walter Lowe, transversal wire bicyclist. The riders Rose Wentworth, Fred Derrick, Lillian and Flory Humel, William Wallet, and Marie Meers returned for display eleven. Number twelve center ringed the great acrobatic act of the Heras and Dinus Troupes. Display thirteen was menage with Florence Gorfrey, Leon La Roche, and Minnie Johnson riding high school horses and Nellie Reed pacing the famous highschool horse Evergreen pulling a carriage, The flying return acts of the five Silbons and the six electric Siegrists-Silbons comprised the fifteenth display. The show was closed with fourteen assorted races.

It was unfortunate that this program was not available to me when I was writing my book, because in it I could only refer to the date with some superficial newspaper notices that gave no information on the program. I hope that the American readers of my book will consider this an interesting supplement to my "Fuenf Jahrzehnte Linzer Circusgeschichte."

Top

The Wallace & Clark Circus

Believing there is room in the West for a circus that will cater to the small-town population Pat Graham of San Dimas, California last winter built such.

He took off the shelf the popular title of Wallace & Clark, obtaining this from Norman Anderson together with some equipment and paper.

The show will move on eight company-owned trucks and two trailers. Without a doubt it is the best and most flashy painted outfit to go out of Southern California in a long time. It is done in red with plenty of gold scrolls. The painting was done by Yellow Burnett, long associated with Al G. Barnes as a painter.

The big top is a 90 with 3 40-foot middles. This was used in the filming of the Toby Tyler picture. The side show is a 70 foot round top with one 30-foot middle. It was used in making the picture Circus Boy. The title used in that film, Burke & Walch, is still visible on the marquee.

The electrical equipment was built by former Barnes employees.

As a labor saving device the show has a tractor equipped with a fork lift for lifting and unloading lumber in the way of poles, seat stringers and planks.

As caught at Lancaster, California on the evening of May 3 before an audience that filled all the seats the show was well received.

It is given in three rings and like the old Al G. Barnes show it is almost entirely animal acts.

The first program was as follows:

1. Circus on Parade, with 37 people and animals in line.
2. Trampoline presented by Harriet Beatty, Clyde Graham, Bob Johnson.
3. As a guest star Mary Jane Knowles, that talented school girl, presented her tight wire number.
4. Clown number by Buffo.
5. Bill Detrick trained ponies Ring 1; E. L. McCall, Ring 2 another pony drill; 4 animals in each
ring.
6. Edwards and Petross in Ring 2 with high school horses.
7. McCall and two trained bears in Ring 3.
8. Harriet Beatty over center ring with swinging ladder.
9. Buffo in clown number,
10. Bill Detrick in Ring 1 with performing dogs, concluding with Sir Raleigh in a high dive.
11. Miss Harriet on the Spanish Web over ring 2.
12. Buffo again
13. Bill Detrick in Ring 1 with two dogs riding one pony; Captain McCall in Ring 2 with 2 ponies and 2 Huskie dogs and big monkey.
14. Center ring Captain Petross and his four liberty horses.
15. Dyna, the young trained elephant, presented by Captain L. R. Neece.

In quarters Bob Thornton trained an act of 6 goats and a single riding act to be presented by Clyde Graham. These didn't work the first night.

Pat Graham, owner and manager, has been on the Al G. Barnes, Clyde Beatty circuses and with amusement companies out of 1000 Oaks.

He has surrounded himself with an experienced force - Arthur Hockwald is agent; Bob Thornton, equestrian director; Vernon Colbert announcer; Loretta La Pearl (Mrs. Colbert) plays the air calliope in front before each performance. Music for the show is by Eddie Roth on drums and Lynne Heiss on the Hammond organ. Ronald Rebuffo, the clown will be assisted by another who didn't arrive for the opening. Harlan De Witt is adjuster and Hammerhead Dwyer boss canvasman; Bill Corey, electrician; Dave Murphy in red wagon.

Charlie Cox, long head of the Clyde Beatty side show, is in charge of the same department.

Mr. Cox has attractions on six platforms. The lion of Harriet Beatty that recently escaped in a Hollywood theater, is on display. A chimp occupies one cage. Bill Detrick will work his pick-out pony.

All acts had not arrived for the opening.

Jimmie Woods, long with Pacific Coast circuses was around helping to get it rolling. He will not be along permanently.

Sorry I can't say definitely about Cristiani trucks left behind near Riverside that were rumored to be on this show. In March when Art Miller of K-M and I called at the W & C quarters Mr. Graham had gone to look at the trucks. Everything about the show looked so spic and span I didn't think to inquire about the Cristiani trucks. However, from the photos it is visible that they did not use any Cristiani trucks.

Wallace & Clark closed, very soon after taking the road.

Top

The Four Gentry Brothers

The Only Honorary Life Members of No. 446.
Bro. J. W. Gentry, Bro. H. B. Gentry, Bro. W. W. Gentry, Bro. F. H. Gentry
From a Souvenir Program of the Fourth Annual Entertainment
of the Bloomington, Indiana, Lodge No. 446 B.P.O.E.
It is dated March 12, 1903

The following is an excerpt from the contents of the Souvenir Program:

PARADE

In charge of the Gentry Brothers

The Great Street Pageant to be given Thursday at 4:00 p.m., will be the grandest thing of its kind ever attempted. The Gentry Bros, Trained Animal Shows consolidated, two military bands, a herd of twelve elephants, a herd of twelve camels, zebras, zebus, dogs and monkeys galore. The entire Lodge No. 446 will be mounted on 100 dashing thoroughbred ponies. It has been thought to take extra care of high officers, therefore we have provided beautiful gold cages in which they will be placed out of harm's way. A two mile glittering mass of gold and silver, and it costs you nothing to see it.

The entire membership of Lodge No. 446 is listed. In addition to the four Gentry Brothers, the following personnel are listed from various shows:

GENTRY - C. L. Rawles, A. B. Evans, J. E. Richards, J. F. Doherty, 1. N. Bullington, A. J. Morrison, H. H. Andrus.

RINGLING - H. M. Evans, C. H. Davis, Harry Evans.

FLOTO - Bert E. Paddock (Band Leader)

BUFFALO BILL - Ben F. Miller

BARNUM & BAILEY - M. D. Gould

Apparently Bloomington, Indiana was 'home' to a good many circus people back in 1903.

Top

1946 Clyde Beatty Circus Acts

Circus on Parade - De Willis Trio, Acrobatics supreme; Escalante troupe, Aerial bars; Mrs. Harriett Beatty, tiger elephant combination; Clowns (12 names on program); Single trap, BeBe Siegrist, Jean Evans; Clyde Beatty, lions, tigers,, Cloud swings, Joanne Day, BeBe Siegrist; Presentation of West concert, featuring Billie Hammond and Jonnie James; The Temples, trampoline capers, The Bedfords, risley experts; Martha Joyce, ponies; Sancho Morales and his Hollywood Canines; Jack Joyce, ponies; Horsemanship on track and in rings; "War Cloud," Jack Joyce; The Great Olveras, head balancing; Clown version of the human cannonball; Slack wire, Phil Escalante, Don Francisco; Clowns, "Striptease"; Cloud ballet, produced by Joe Siegrist, 27 men and women; Elephants, Slivers Madison, Jean Evans and Josephine Madison, The Sensational De Waynes, acrobatic marvels; Liberty horses, John Cline Black and White Troupe, Jack Joyce, Palomino Troupe; Miss Estrlita heel-toe catches; Clowns; The Flying Concellos; The National Anthem, Henry Keyes' Celebrated Circus Band.

1946 Route Card 6

Home Address, Rolla, Missouri

May 19 - Salinas, Calif.
May 20 - Monterey, Calif
May 21 - Santo Cruz, Calif.
May 22 - Watsonville, Calif.
May 23 - Palo Alto, Calif.
May 24 - Redwood City, Calif.
May 25 Napa, Calif.
11th Week
May 26 - Richmond, Calif.
Henry Keyes, Mail Agent
Route Card - Blue with lions head.

Top