The Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Circus was one of several new railroad flat car type shows to have its beginning in the immediate post war years following World War I. An amusement hungry populace still flushed with money resulting from the full employment and high wages brought on by the war time turning of the wheels of industry and the resulting post war boom, were crowding into the circus big tops throughout the country. Circus business was the best it had been in years and everyone who thought he knew a little something about show business was getting into it. This included those who had once owned circuses but had curtailed their operations during the immediate pre war years when as a general rule circus business was bad or later during the war when government restrictions, labor shortages, and other headaches made it wise to quit for a while. Also there were those who had worked in years past making money for the "other fellow" who were now anxious to get into the business to make a little for themselves. The year 1919 had been an extremely good year for the fewest number of circuses out in years, but by 1920 the bug had bitten the neophytes and they were ready to take to the road with the veterans. Such was the temper and times of the country when the Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Circus was born and enjoyed a relatively prosperous three years of life.

Two well known personalities in circus business, Fred Bailey Hutchinson and William P. Campbell organized and framed a new 10 car, flat car type, circus during the winter of 1919-20 at Okeene, Okla. and had it ready to take to the road in the spring of 1920.

Fred Bailey Hutchinson, a native of Parkersburg, W. Va., was the son of Calvin A. and Anna Isabelle Hutchinson. His mother was a sister of Mrs. James A. Bailey, wife of the famous showman. Uncle James A. put young Fred and his brother, Charles, who for many years was treasurer of Barnum & Bailey, to work in circus business while they were still quite young. The Adam Forepaugh Show's route book for 1894 lists Fred B. as superintendent, accountant, and a number of other positions. In the early 1900's he was a director of Barnum and Bailey Ltd. During the years 1903-06 he managed the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show while it was in Europe. (For the reader interested in this very fascinating period when the Barnum & Bailey Circus and later the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show was in Europe and the financial manipulations and management politics that went on I would most earnestly recommend, "The Affairs of James A. Bailey," written by fellow CHS member Richard E. Conover, Xenia, Ohio). Due to friction between the Hutchinson brothers and Mrs. Bailey's brother, Joe McCaddon, much anxiety was suffered by Mrs. Bailey. Consequently she cut the Hutchinsons out of her will entirely, leaving the bulk of the Bailey estate to the McCaddons. A long legal fight resulted in the attempt of the Hutchinsons to break the will but they were unsuccessful.

In the year 1913 and on through the 1916 season F. B. Hutchinson was manager of the Bonfils and Tammen owned Sells-Floto Circus. He was succeeded in that capacity in 1917 by Henry B. Gentry. Hutchinson was a good man and a good showman, and Bill Woodcock describes him as being quite a bit like Charles Sparks in his conduct of business.

William P. "High Grass" Campbell was a native of Drummond, Okla., and was a cousin of the Campbells who operated the Campbell Bros. Great Consolidated Shows out of Fairbury, Nebraska for some time. He saw service on the Campbell Bros. Circus before it folded in 1912. In 1913 he managed the sideshow on the Sells-Floto Circus and tradition has it that he furnished the show with around forty head of baggage stock. It was during this time when he was on the Sells-Floto Circus that he became first associated with Fred Bailey Hutchinson. In 1915 and 1916 "High Grass" Campbell operated a sizeable wagon circus, said to have had a good performance and band, but without wild animals and elephants. This outfit was converted to a two car gilly type show for 1917 and 1918 seasons. All four seasons it was titled, "The Campbell Circus." Following the 1918 season Campbell sold his circus to Floyd and Howard King, who operated it in 1919 as the "Great Sanger Shows." After this sale Campbell immediately assembled equipment and put out a two car colored minstrel show under canvas, titled, "The Nashville Students," an old jig show title.

The two partners who started the new Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Circus presented a marked contrast. Hutchinson was a big showman, and Campbell was a small showman. The ten car show that they framed can be summarized as being typical of most shows of that size - too small for the big towns, and too big for the sticks.

The Jan. 10, 1920 Billboard made the first announcement to the show world concerning the new circus under heading, "New Show In the Field Next Season, Hutchinson and Campbell arrange for Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Combined Circus and Wild West," "Fred B. Hutchinson has just completed arrangements with W. P. Campbell, whereby a new circus will enter the field next season. It will be a one train outfit and will bear the title of Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Combined Circus and Wild West. As the title implies the show will be a combination of circus and Wild West features. It will be organized and assembled at Okeene, Okla., and will take the road in the spring. Both Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Campbell are experienced showmen, the former a circus manager, and the latter as an owner and manager. For a number of years Mr. Hutchinson handled the managerial duties of the Sells-Floto Circus leaving the Denver aggregation a few years ago. He is at present in Parkersburg, W. Va. but will probably go to Okeene within the next week or two."

The Feb. 7, 1920 Billboard reported, "F. B. Hutchinson and W. P. Campbell of the Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Circus are making rapid headway in assembling their show at Okeene, Okla. They have just returned from a trip East where they purchased two carloads of draft horses and five carloads of wagons."

The new show was incorporated under the laws of the State of West Virginia, Jan. 2, 1920 with a capital stock of $50,000. Incorporators were William P. Campbell and Anna N. Campbell of Drummond, Okla., and Fred BaiIey Hutchinson, Julia W. Hutchinson, and Alberta Hutchinson of Parkersburg, W. Va. Title to be used by the new show was listed as Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Combined Circus and Wild West.

Acquisition of circus property began immediately and due to the rash of new shows being formed, enlarged etc., good usuable property went at a premium.

The show purchased four 50 ft. wooden system stock cars end two 40 ft. system steel framed box cars. Three of the 50 ft. stock cars and both of the 40 ft. box cars were cut down and built into flat cars giving the show a total of five flats with 230 ft. of loading space for wagons. The remaining 50 ft. stock car was used as a stock by the show to carry horses and ponies.

From Jerry Mugivan and Bert Bowers, circus men of Peru, Ind., they purchased two old Hagenbeck-Wallace advance cars. Both had only three windows on the side originally and were quite old, going back to the days of the Great Wallace Shows. One car was rebuilt into a stock car. A door was cut into the center of the car for loading of elephants and horses, and one end of the car was provided with sleeping compartments for the sideshow band. This car become the show's second stock car. The other Hagenbeck-Wallace car was remodeled into a sleeper.

The two additional cars of the train had been the property of W. P. Campbell and had been used on his 1919 minstrel show under canvas titled The Nashville Students." One of these cars was really a nice one and was said to have been onetime heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Johnson's private car, the "Reno." It was used as the second sleeper on the show.

The other Campbell minstrel car was 58 ft. long and was real old. It had seen service on the Madam Neff Stock Co. and probably other old shows. It was put into use as the show's advance car.

When fully assembled the train consisted of ten cars with one advance, 2 stocks, 5 flats, and 2 sleepers. It was painted red with yellow lettering on the sleepers.

The new owners went to the William P. Hall farm in Lancaster, Mo. and purchased most of the wagons used by the show. They picked out 13 in all, but had to take what was left, the best wagons available having already been purchased by Rhoda Royal and D. C. Hawn for their Rhoda Royal Circus which was being enlarged from a two car gilly type show to a 15 car flat car type circus for the 1920 season. The 13 wagons obtained from Hall were as follows.

1. Cookhouse wagon, formerly used on Orton Bros. Railroad Circus of 1916 and was probably of Campbell Bros. origin.
2. Pole wagon formerly used by LaMont Bros. Circus.
3. Cage wagon formerly used by Campbell Bros. This was put into use to carry the show's Bolte & Weyer gas lighting equipment,
4. Cage wagon formerly on Campbell Bros. which was put to use carrying trunks.
5. Cage wagon formerly on Campbell Bros., to be used to carry padroom. This one was also used as the clown bandwagon in parade.
6. Cage wagon formerly used on Orton Bros. 1916 rail show. Was put to use to carry candy stands and concession equipment. This one was also used as the sideshow bandwagon in parade.
7. Steam Calliope formerly used on the Young Buffalo Wild West and other shows.
8. Ticket wagon formerly used on the Young Buffalo Wild West Show.
9. Tableau wagon with huge dragon carving on the side. This was an old Campbell Bros. tableau. It was put into use to carry the sideshow and was the lead bandwagon in parade.
10. Cage wagon formerly from Campbell Bros. and was put into use as a cage.
11. Cage wagon formerly from Campbell Bros. and was put into use as a Cage.
12. Cage wagon formerly from Campbell Bros. and was put into use as a cage.
13. Water wagon.

From local sources around Okeene, Okla. quarters an old ice wagon was purchased for use as the menagerie wagon. Three huge wagons that had been used in the oil fields were also purchased to be used to carry seats, canvas, rigging, and stakes. A total of 17 wagons were carried on the train in 1920.

Two elephants, Ding Dong and Boo, were leased from W. P. Hall. Approximately 22 head of baggage stock were purchased as well as a dozen ponies. Ring stock, menage horses, and resinbacks, belonging to Albert "Stick" Davenport were on the new show the first two years.

A staff of experienced showmen were hired and in addition to the owners the rest of the staff for 1920 included A. G. Campbell, general agent; Dixie Eagle, local contractor; Lawrence LeDaux, advance car manager; Joe Lopez, band leader; Doc Filley, equestrian director; Al Langdon, supt. of elephants; Joe Edwards, sideshow manager; and Fred Hatfield, pit show manager.

The show had a nice modest spread of canvas in 1920. The big top was a 70 ft. round with three 30 ft. middle pieces; the menagerie top was about a 50 ft. round with three 20 ft. middles; the sideshow was also about a 50 ft. round with two 20 ft. middles. Other canvas included a small three pole pit show top, a padroom, which housed the Stick Davenport stock, a cookhouse, and several small concession tops.

The menagerie contained the two elephants, Ding Dong and Boo, some ponies, and the three cages, which housed (1) 1 lioness (2) 1 bear, and (3) monkeys. All three cages were of Campbell Bros. Great Consolidated Shows origin, and were of the short cross cage variety. They had sunburst wheels and a couple had carvings on the skyboards. All were neatly painted and some had animal scenes painted on the cover boards.

As usual we call on Call W. H. Woodcock, well known elephant trainer and circus historian, for the history of the show's elephants. Woodcock served on the show in 1920, was in quarters following the season, and went out on the show in 1921 where he remained for part of the season. He served on the advance car for a while and also was back on the show part of the time helping Al Langdon with the elephants and doing other duties. As much valuable information concerning other shows and elephants are included his discourse on the elephants is printed in its entirety.

"First, let's take Ding Dong. I liked her the best of any old bull I was ever around. She started with the Barnum & Bailey show sometime in the early 90's. She was a small punk then and was later sold to Leon Washburn's Circus where she was with a big male named Charlie. When Washburn folded in 1897 these two bulls, Ding and Charlie, the big hippo, and the balance of the menagerie went to the J. H. LaPearl Circus. A year or two later was the last season for the LaPearl outfit and when it closed Ben Wallace, owner of the Great Wallace Shows got the circus. Charlie ended in 1901 but Ding must have been with Wallace until she was sold to Dode Fisk. She was on the Dode Fisk Show in 1909 and 1910. I know she was with the Great Sanger Shows, owned by Mugavin and Bowers, in 1911 and 1912, and then I can't say which of their shows she was with through 1916. Ding was with John Robinson Circus in 1917. In 1918, Ding and a bull named Mabel went out of Bloomington, Indiana with a wagon show titled, Howard Bros., where they were handled by Joe Metcalfe.

This show soon folded and the bulls were sold to J. Augustus Jones, who briefly revived his Cole Bros. Circus in Mid-season 1918. Jones died shortly thereafter and William P. Hall bought Ding, Mabel, and a male named Tex from Jones' widow. In 1919 Ding was in Lancaster at Hall's farm and Al Langdon put a routine together with Ding, Boo, and Diamond. Mabel was with the Lamont Wagon Show the first part of 1919, but was soon sold to the Al G. Barnes Circus and her name was changed to Jenny. In 1920 the Honest Bill show bought Tex, and the Atterbury wagon show got Diamond.

"Best information I have on Boo (Baby Baraboo) was that she joined Ringling Bros. as a nursing baby around 1903. Her mother's name was Veneda. Ringling press department announced birth of a baby bull, but many years ago, old elephant men now long since dead, told me that the mother and baby were imported together. Boo continued with Ringling for some years and developed into a bad agitator and runaway. Later on, but I can't give the exact date she was sold to W. P. Hall. Hall put her as a member of a five bull act - Alice, Annie, Lizzie, Diamond, and Baby Boo. I believe this herd was with Barton & Bailey Circus in 1915. In 1916 this herd was sold to Wheeler Bros., and then sold to the R. T. Richards show for 1917 and 1918. Alf T. Ringling, who's son had operated the Richards show, presented Annie to the Milwaukee Zoo, and then W. P. Hall re-bought the other four. In 1920 Hall leased Ding and Boo to the new Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Show and they remained through the life of the show."

The show paraded all three years of its existence and although there were no outstanding parade wagons in the line of march the parade was adequate for the size of the show and the towns played on the route. The parade consisted of the big show band riding the old Campbell Bros. dragon tableau; the sideshow bandwagon; the clown bandwagon; the three cages pulled by pony hitches; the two elephants; the Wild West troupe of cowboys and Indians and other mounted people; and the steam calliope. No doubt all of the little former Campbell Bros. cage wagons that had been converted into use to carry properties were also in the line of march with costumed performers riding them. The parade consisted of about nine vehicles, the elephants and stock. As evidenced by the photo showing the hitch on the steam calliope the show had some nice looking draft stock and good attractive harness to dress up the parade. The Stick Davenport ring stock looked good and made a good parade feature as did the Hank Linten cowboy troupe and the Indians in full regalia.

Actually the show had only one good tableau wagon and that was the one used as the lead bandwagon. This one had a huge dragon carving on the side and appears to have been painted red with the carvings in gold leaf. The wagon had originated on the old Campbell Bros. Great Consolidated Shows in the early 1900's, probably having been constructed at Campbell quarters in Fairbury, Nebraska. Ater the Campbell show closed during the 1912 season all the property was shipped to the W. P. Hall farm in Lancaster, Mo. and from there was used to equip various shows going out from there nearly every year. The wagon was probably on the Bole Bros. Circus of 1913 which used the Campbell equipment, and possibly on others. Photos of the wagon while it was on the old Campbell show picture it with regular wheels, but it had been equipped with sunburst by the time it reached Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson. The sideshow band rode the old Orton Bros. cage wagon, which was used to carry concessions and candy stands. This one had no carvings but was painted up very nicely, having different designs painted on the sides each year while on the show. The clown band rode the padroom and trunks wagon in parade which was an old Campbell Bros. cage which had small oval carvings on the sides. Some carvings were on the skyboard and were painted in gold leaf. Bill Woodcock remembers at times when the big bandwagon was down being repaired the big show band would march on foot leading the parade in the style of the old minstrel shows.

The steam calliope was a most attractive wagon with dragon carvings etc. and had an interesting history. It is presumed to have originated on the Walter L. Main show in the 90's and was almost identical to a calliope on the Lemmen Bros, Circus. It was used on the Main show through the 1904 season and following the season the property was purchased by W. P. Hall and shipped to Lancaster, Mo. In 1905 the calliope went out on the Great William P. Hall Shows which was on the road for only one season. Then it was used on the Young Buffalo Wild West Show from 1910 through 1914 seasons. In 1916 it was on the Orton Bros. Railroad Show which went out from the Hall farm, and there is a possibility it may have been leased out to other shows in the years from 1906 through 1919. Bill Woodcock says that while he was on Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson the calliope was painted green with red corner posts and the carvings done in gold leaf.

The show's baggage wagons appear to have been painted red with the title in white or yellow. However, on the photo showing wagons parked in Samson, Ala. quarters one of the old oil wagons appears to have been painted white. The cookhouse wagon shown in the photo seems to have been lettered in both white and yellow.

The show carried a conventional sideshow and an additional pit show throughout its history. In the large lot view in 1921 we see a sideshow with ten banners, and a pit show with a banner reading "Zula, That Strange Girl Alive." Advertisements were carried in the Billboard in the Spring of 1920 wanting a good comedy juggler, musical act or any novelty act, dancers and Turkish musicians, all for the sideshow.

Frank Mutton had the concessions for 1920. It seems the show had two different bandleaders during the first year. In early Spring advertisements for musicians, Prof. Dorr Roberts is listed as the bandmaster. Later on Joe Lopez seems to have been the bandleader.

The April 17, 1920 Billboard under dateline Parkersburg, W. Va. April 10 reported the progress of building the new show as follows: "The Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Circus and Wild West organization is now completed and will open the season at Okeene, Okla. April 24th making the Oklahoma and Texas oil districts in the spring. It proposes to move eastward in the fall through the southern states. If suitable trackage for the railroad cars and the necessary housing for the animals and other materials, workshops etc. can be arranged for it is the intention to locate and winter in Parkersburg as this is a good point for a spring opening and a start in any direction. Parkersburg is the home of F. B. Hutchinson, which is the reason for incorporating under the West Virginia laws and the desire to make Parkersburg the headquarters. The capital stock is fixed at Fifty Thousand Dollars, all of which has been subscribed."

The new circus opened Saturday, April 24 at Okeene, Okla. The Billboard reported the show had a historical opening pageant, "The Passing of the West." The feature act of the performance which was given in three rings was the riding act of the Stick Davenport Troupe which included Stick and Effie Davenport, Teresa Kline, and Della Crandall. Also in the performance were the Roshetta brothers act, a Japanese troupe of acrobats, and trained horses, elephants, and ponies. Hank and Ella Linton and their Wild West Troupe and the Tajoe Indian Family worked the performance and headed the concert. Not many details are available on the performance in 1920 but observers say it was adequate for the size show and towns played.

After the opening 21 additional stands in the Oklahoma oil fields and throughout the state were played. The new show tried to pick a careful route so as to get into the places where the money was and to beat other competitors to it. Competition was terrific that season. In addition to Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson railroad flat car type circuses on the road in 1920 included Ringling-Barnum, Sells-Floto, Al G. Barnes, Hagenbeck-Wallace, John Robinson, Yankee Robinson, Walter L. Main, Rhoda Royal, Sparks, Howes Great London, and Gentry Bros., a total of 12 shows. Also on the road were a number of railroad baggage car type gilly shows owned by Elmer Jones, G. W. Christy, John Backman and Al Tinsch, Floyd and Howard King, and William Campbell, and of course the usual number of overland circuses, most of them moving with a combination of trucks and wagons, were present. Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson was the smallest of the flat car shows and although did compete against some of the larger railers at times, most of the competition due to the smaller towns played, came from the two and three car gilly shows and the mud circuses.

From Oklahoma the show entered Kansas at Baxter on May 21 and quickly crossed that state and went into Nebraska at Edgar May 26. Iowa was next and then into Wisconsin and Minnesota with a few stands played in Michigan. The show had a long tour in Minnesota area. So far the season had been rather uneventful and pretty good business had been experienced.

The Aug. 14, 1920 Billboard in a story dated Aug. 4, Waupun, Wis. stated, "A number of performers and musicians with Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Shows narrowly escaped serious injury or death here early yesterday morning when fire which is said to have originated from a stove, spread through one of the sleepers. Some of the occupants, of which there were about thirty received burns and bruises. The car, trunks, and personal belongings of the occupants were destroyed." It is believed that the car was repaired and put back into use and was not a total loss as indicated.

Iowa was re-entered Aug. 16 at Lansing, after which the show moved through the state, then into Missouri, and into Arkansas Sept. 11 at Piggott. Mississippi was next and then the show crossed quickly through Tennessee and into Kentucky on Sept. 29 at Fulton. After stands there the show came back down into Alabama Oct. 16 at Sheffield seeking the cotton crop money and then into Georgia after more of the some.

In both 1920 and 1921 the show carried no grift, but as troupers on the show those years can attest, trouping those days through the Kentucky coal fields and in some sections of the South could be very rough indeed. The lot of the trouper was far from a bed of roses in the days before workmen's compensation when an injury would often cause one to be left behind in a strange locality making it necessary to call on his friends for any aid they could give him or become a candidate for public charity. Such is a case in a story that appeared in the Aug. 28, 1920 Billboard, "Old Jim Kincade, sixty years in the circus business writes that he was injured while with the Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Circus. He was a clown on the show. Mr. Kincade says we had a long pull from the cars to the lot and the six horse driver could not handle the team. He asked me if I would not get on the wagon and help him out on going down a steep hill. It was the big seat plank wagon. I put the chain on the wheel and got on the wagon to take the lead line. When we started down the hill the chain broke and the horses ran away and upset the wagon in a ditch. I could not get off the lead quick enough and both my legs were buried under the planks and I was badly hurt. The doctor said when I got home he thought that blood poison might set in and I must have one of my legs cut open and attended to. It will cost me about one hundred dollars which I haven't got. There are a lot of old friends who would be glad to help me out if they knew about my trouble. My address is . . . "

Throughout the season the show advertised in Billboard for performers and help. For example in the August 14 Billboard the show wanted a cookhouse man, boss hostler and drivers, wild west people, clowns and acts of all kinds for the big show. For the sideshow they wanted a small band, Oriental dancers, musical acts, freaks and interesting attractions of all kinds for inside and bally-hoo. In another advertisement in the same issue the show wanted billposters, lithographer and pastemaker, and wanted for the big show band 2 clarinets, 2 cornets, 2 altos, trombone, and trap drummer with outfit.

A lengthy season of 180 stands come to a close Nov. 20 at Blakely, Georgia. From there the show moved into winter quarters in Samson, Alabama. Charles Barrett was placed in charge of the quarters and supervised the repair work done during the winter. The first season had been financially successful and the show went into quarters a winner.

Several other circuses wintered in the general vicinity of Samson. Rhoda Royal was in Montgomery, Richards Bros., a mud show, was at the Dothan, Ala. fairgrounds, and the Mighty Haag Circus, also a mud show was at Marianna, Fla. Bill Woodcock says that on a small lot right on the main street in Samson that winter and early spring he saw the Rose Killian Circus, a mud show, the Rabbit Foot Minstrels, and that J. C. O'Brien's Famous Georgia Minstrels had the town billed when he left with the advance car. Woodcock also remembers that the Mighty Haag Shows had up very beautiful paper advertising their opening stand in Marianna and that many from Samson went down to catch it. Woodcock concluded with the words, "Boy, we really had show business in those days."

The Feb. 5, 1921 Billboard commented on the show's winter quarters activities as follows, "After a season of thirty weeks in 1920 the Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Shows established winter quarters in Samson, Alabama where the work of augmenting, repairing, and painting for the season of 1921 is going on under the direction of W. P. Campbell. Among those already engaged are Stick Davenport who is hard at work getting new riding numbers and pony acts, a company of girls presenting iron-jaw, contortion, and ballet numbers, Roshetta Brothers, Bert de Aro, Bill Bennett, Jack LaPearl, Texas Joe and wife and Mazetta Troupe of acrobats. Prof. Al Langdon will again present his troupe of performing elephants in a new military number. Prof. S. W. Floyd will have a band of sixteen pieces. Lawrence LaDoux will be general agent with an advance of twenty men, Stick Davenport will direct the big show performance and wild west department. Since W. P. Campbell returned from the West he has been a busy man getting things whipped into shape. When Fred B. Hutchinson returns from the East they will announce the opening date for this season. A. S. Conlon will have the sideshow and annex. He is now at his home in Louisville, Ky."

The Feb. 26, 1921 Billboard also had further information on the show in quarters, "There are twenty men working in winter quarters of the Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Circus, repairing and painting and by the time this appears in print the show will be ready for the road so far as appearance and equipment are concerned. Without a doubt it stands today one of the nicest one-train circus and wild west organizations from every standpoint of equipment and stock that ever took the road. The weather is fine in Alabama and the management has taken advantage of same in getting the equipment ready for the spring opening. All the stock including baggage is in pink of condition under the supervision of Boss Hostler Harry Phillips and his assistants.

"Some of the clowns that have been signed are Jack LaPearl, Fred Cosgrove, C. A. Bennett, Bert DeAro, Crawford Droegge, George Jennier, and T. Andrews. Texas Joe and wife have been engaged by the Wild West Department to do their whip cracking act. The Katsu Susuke Japanese Troupe will be a feature of the big show performance.

"Stick Davenport has five resinback horses running everyday in winter quarters. A troupe of Shetland ponies, hurdle mule, and six high school horses are put through their customary routine of work every day. Al Langdon with his pet bulls Boo and Ding gives the natives a free exhibition every afternoon and people come miles to see them work."

The show's equipment was thoroughly repaired and repainted. Some tents may have been replaced but it seems no new equipment nor animals were added.

The 1921 season opened Saturday, March 26, at Samson, Alabama and the show headed to what was hoped would be another good year. Competition was again keen with twelve flat car circuses taking to the road. The only changes from the 1920 list was that the Yankee Robinson Circus had been sold and taken off the road but a new one Palmer Bros., a 10 car show, took its place in the field.

The April 9, 1921 Billboard reported the show's opening as follows, "The Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Combined Circus and Wild West inaugurated its tour last Saturday playing to good business. The program opened with a beautiful patriotic ensemble. Prominent among the acts are the Crillion Troupe in feats in the air and on the ground, the Davenport Family of riders, Ankio Japs, performing elephants, Roschetta, the man who walks on his head. The wild west exhibition is entitled, "The Passing of the West."

A few weeks later the Billboard gave a more complete review of the show's 1921 appearance and performance, "Everything is running smoothly and a neater outfit of its size is hard to find. The parade glitters with gold leaf and tinsel and cages and floats are the last word of art. Both baggage and ring stock are in excellent shape. The following program is under the personal direction of Stick Davenport, equestrian director -

1. Tournament, entire company
2. Star and Garland entry
3. Clown song, Jack LaPearl
4. Statuary - Miss Griffin, LaPearl, Clark, and Meyers
5. Clown entry. All clowns on track.
6. Contortion, Ring 1 Billy Woody, Ring 3 Reta LaPearl & trained dogs Center ring, Babe Greene.
7. Swinging ladders, Ring 1 Miss Kline, Ring 3 Miss Griffin, Center ring, Miss Walker.
8. Roschetta Brothers (center ring) featuring Eddie Roschetta walking on his head.
9. Lady principal riding act, Effie Davenport, center ring.
10. Clowns on track.
11. Troupe of ponies in center ring, worked by Mr. Davenport.
12. Ankio Troupe of Japs and Aerial Woodys.
13. Iron jaw acts, Ring 1, Miss Griffin, Center, Crillion Troupe, Ring 3, Miss Clark.
14. Clowns on track.
15. Celeste on swinging wire in center ring, Ring 3, Atlas, tight wire.
16. Roschetta Brothers comedy acrobats center ring, Ring 3, Peewee acrobatic clown.
17. Jockey Act by the Davenport Family
18. Al Langdon and his herd of elephants.
19 Revolving ladders, Ring 1 Crillion Troupe, Misses and Griffin, Ring 3, and Center ring, Babe Greene.
20. Clowns on track.
21. Menage in all rings, Misses Green, Clark, LaPearl, Meyers, Scott, and Davenport.
22. Peewee and his trained goose.
23. Carrying Act, the Davenports.
24. Races.

"The staff includes, William P. Campbell and Fred B. Hutchinson, owners and managers; Art Green, front door and banners; H. G. Miller, reserved seat tickets and announcer: Mrs. Wm. Campbell, reserved seats; Oliver Kreitzer, boss canvasman; Slim Mitchell, asst. boss canvasman; S. W. Floyd, bandmaster; John Turrior, props; H. Phillips, boss hostler; F. Riggs, ring stock; Frank Mutton, concessions; Shorty Taylor, trainmaster; O. Speer, lights."

The article went on to list the band of 12 pieces, and clown alley headed by Jack LaPearl and seven other joeys. The sideshow was under management of A. S. Condon with Tommy Swift, magic; the Great Raymond, baton swinger; Eddie Gillen, comedy juggler; Thomas Cross band and ten performers, Dixie Minstrels; Glorella troupe of Hawaiians, and a snake act.

After nine additional Alabama stands the show went into Tennessee for ten stands then into Kentucky April 19 at Williamsburg. The show then proceeded to work the coal regions of Eastern Kentucky and western Virginia and then played the state of West Virginia for several weeks. When the mines were working full time as they were then this was very good early spring territory. To this day several shows work a similiar route each spring.

The May 14, 1921 Billboard sums up the good business the show was enjoying in the following article, "Charles Celeste, who is on the Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Circus has written the Billboard from Catlettsburg, Kentucky and says he is having the time of his life. 'The show is now in the coal and oil well districts of Kentucky and Virginia,' he says. 'We are playing to capacity business and the organization is the most compact all round family show I ever trouped with and it is giving splendid satisfaction.' Celeste mentions Dr. Conlon, sideshow manager and announcer who says wins the crowds and that Billy Campbell and Fred Hutchinson tame the patrons when they get them into the menagerie. He says the courtesy shown by these gentlemen is a big asset and is helping the entire tour. Stick Davenport is moving his department with the smoothness of an airplane flight."

Other shows were in keen competition with the show for the good coal district business and considerable billing wars existed. Often bitter feeling occured over the covering of one show's paper by another. The August 6, 1921 Billboard relates such an instance when it mentions a billing war between Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson and the Great Keystone Shows, a mud circus owned by Sam Dock, "H. Ray Brison of the Great Keystone Shows writes, 'The advance car No. 1 of Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson covered our paper at Orlando, W. Va. two days before we made the town. They covered one stand and tried to cover more but were stopped. Mr. Sam Dock will bring a law suit if they cover any more.'" The May-June 1958 issue of Bandwagon carried an article about the oldtime billing wars and printed two photos taken by Bill Woodcock when he was on the Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson advance car. One photo showed a Wheeler Bros. Circus paper stand on a barn, and the other photo showed the same stand after it had been covered with Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson paper.

Some performance changes took place during the season. The June 4 Billboard reported that Ed Conliss the clown who was with Warners Society Circus was now on the show and was working the come-in in female attire. The LaVernes, tight wire act, also joined the show.

On July 14 the show entered Pennsylvania at Point Marion and after five additional stands in that state the show went back through West Virginia and entered Ohio July 30 at Freeport. Michigan was next and then the circus moved into Wisconsin and Minnesota and territory played in 1920. The show went into South Dakota Sept. 1 at Milbank and remained for eleven stands. After moving rapidly across Iowa in two stands the season closed Sept. 20 at Lancaster, Missouri. From there the show went into winterquarters at the William P. Hall farm nearby. It seems that business must have fallen off considerably in the late season although the earlier part was fairly successful. Several key acts including Jack LaPearl, producing clown, and the Davenports left prior to the close. Pony Red was listed as equestrian director at the close. Jack LaPearl once said that the personnel referred to the C. B. & H. show as Cold, Broke, and Hungry.

Before the opening of the 1922 season considerable changes in both the show's ownership and equipment took place. William "Low Grass" Campbell of Evansville, Wisconsin bought an interest in the show and become actively engaged in the management and policies. "Low Grass" Campbell was quite well known in the circus world. He was a son-in-law of Popcorn George Hall, having married his daughter, Mabel, some years earlier. Popcorn George Hall of course was an old time small circus owner who operated over a number of years. Low Grass Bill had been on a number of shows including Jones Bros. in 1915. In 1919 he operated the George W. Hall Circus on two cars. So far as is known he was complete owner of the show using his father-in-law's name. In 1920 his two car show used the name of Campbell Bros., although the Hall name may have been used for part of the season. In 1921 the show's title was Campbell Bros. for the entire season.

For the 1922 season another elephant, Tommy, was leased from W. P. Hall giving the show a total of three. Bill Woodcock says this concerning the new elephant, "Now, this Tommy was a female, and as a punk she was with the Gollmar Bros. show. She also put in some time with the James Patterson shows, and also some time with Fred Buchannan's Yankee Robinson Circus, but I can't say whether Hall bought her from Buchannan or from James Patterson. Anyhow, Hall had accumulated her by the winter of 1921-22 and sent her to the Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson show for 1922."

The show's flat cars which were all 40 and 50 ft. cars were replaced by 61 ft. cars, which gave added loading space. From information listing the number of cars at the show's sale in early 1923 it seems the show traveled on only 9 cars - 1 advance, 2 stocks, 2 sleepers, and 4 flats, however this is not to be taken as a fact that such was the case. It is possible that another flat car was disposed of in some manner and wasn't listed among the cars at the sale. In any event the shows 4 new 61 ft. flat cars would give more loading space than the old five would have. It is believed the menagerie took up the additional flat car space as the Billboard reported a strengthened menagerie for 1922, and a 16 ft. cage figured in the sale of the show which was not there the first two years.

Just what new equipment was purchased from whom is not definitely known but as the show was wintering at the Hall farm there is a good chance some of it come from there. A note in the May 27, 1922 Billboard stated that some of the equipment came from Horne's in Kansas City. The Billboard reported that the Horne's Zoological Garden Co. of Kansas City had purchased the train and wagons of Costello's Mighty Midway Shows (carnival) and had sold flat cars to the Isler Greater Shows (carnival) and also stated that the Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Circus had secured its new equipment from Horne. No details were given but I suspect the new flat cars come from Horne and possibly some of the new animals.

The 1922 season opened April 29 at Canton, Missouri. Not too many details are available on the opening performance but the May 20, 1922 Billboard carried the following article concerning the show, "The Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson circus, much improved and larger than the past season is doing good business. Several new dens of animals have been added to the menagerie, and another "bull" to the herd of performing elephants. With the show are Harry Phillips, boss hostler, Pony Red, trainmaster; J. Miller, tickets; Al Langdon, elephants; Al McLoud, wife and son and Hank Linton and wife in the Wild West; Arthur Green, front door; Babe Green, big show; Robert Wood, clown; Ladora Family, Conley Troupe, George Clark end wife; Rube Perkins, Whitier Troupe, Blacky Banks, and Billy Woody in the big show. Daddy Gaston is in clown alley, S. W. Floyd has the band, and Al Condon the sideshow."

Several of the acts were holdovers, however, the Davenport Family which had been the mainstay of the performance the first two seasons were no longer with the show. The absence of the Davenport stock made it necessary that the show obtain additional horses and ponies.

The 1922 season saw fourteen flat car type railroad circuses on the road. The list included Ringling-Barnum, Sells-Floto, Hagenbeck-Wallace, John Robinson, Al G. Barnes, Gollmar Bros., Walter L. Main, Rhoda Royal, Sparks, Howes Great London, Gentry Bros., Patterson's Trained Wild Animal, Christy Bros., and Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson. With the exception of Ringling-Barnum all of them paraded. Also out were several two and three car gilly type railroad circuses and a number of overland shows. It goes without saying that it took smart routing to get it in those days.

Unfortunately a change in business methods had occurred in the operation of the show, which would before the season was over, cause dissention between the owners, wreck the show's morale, and finish the circus. Although no grift was carried in either 1920 or 1921 it was added in 1922 and the "luckey boys" running their sideshow games created "heat" coming and going. Such heat created in the coal regions of Kentucky and West Virginia, which in those days were bad enough even without grift, made it rough and tough indeed on legitimate troupers.

After the opening the show moved into Illinois for six stands and then entered Kentucky May 8 at Fulton and remained in that state for 24 stands. Again the show was seeking its harvest in the coal fields. West Virginia saw the show for eleven stands beginning June 5 at Kenowa, and then after one stand in Virginia the show come back for fourteen more dates. A Maryland stand followed with a few more in West Virginia and then the show headed east across Maryland and went into Pennsylvania July 24 at Spring Grove. After ten stands in the Keystone state the circus went into New Jersey August 4 at Mt. Holly and remained in that state until August 28. After additional Pennsylvania stands the show went down the Maryland-Delaware border region headed south. The show entered North Carolina Sept. 26 at Akoskie on the last leg of the tour.

The Billboard was rather liberal with news of the show during the final season. The August 19 Billboard carried a short review notice by Al F. Wheeler, well known showman himself, who could always put in a good word for any show when he wanted to. "Campbell- Bailey-Hutchinson Shows played Oxford, Pa. the home of Alf F. Wheeler and winter quarters of the Wheeler Shows August 1 to two capacity houses. The performance gave great satisfaction and the management left many friends in the little circus city through the courtesy and business like manner in which all their dealings were conducted. The show reports excellent business at nearly every stand it has made in the east although a new title for the territory, writes Al F. Wheeler."

The August 26 Billboard reported that George Rich who dates way back in circus history had closed as general agent of the show and had been appointed general agent of the James B. Wells Trained Animal Circus, which he helped organize in 1919 and which had never closed since it started on the road. In the same issue Orville Speer advised that the show gave three shows at Cape May, New Jersey, August 14 with turnaways at two of them. Tickets for the first performance was sold out at 10 a.m. The location was on the boardwalk and he reported the show was also on the boardwalk at Long Branch, New Jersey.

Most of the season the show advertised for acts and personnel indicating quite a bit of turnover during the season. In September Ed L. Brannon closed as railroad contractor and W. H. Middleton was added to do local contracting. Brannon wrote to the Billboard when he closed that business for the show had been big in some spots and bad in others. William P. Campbell personally took over the advance when Brannon left. Also in September the Billboard reported that George and May Clarke had left the show's performance to join the Siegrist and Silbon Shows (carnival). The Sept. 23 Billboard said that top notch performers on the show, the Brothers Damm are making them all take notice with their comedy acrobatic act and ring act, finishing with a toe to toe catch. This was one of the better acts of its type and a crowd pleaser. Earlier Elmer C. Myers reported that he was doing good business with his Zula Pit Show. He reported that he had received a beautiful new red and white striped tent made by the U. S. Tent and Awning Co. Myers further advised that the show was doing good business.

The Sept. 9 Billboard carried a rather interesting review of the circus. It was under the heading Sam Banks visits Circus, August 10, Highstown, N. J. - "Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson show is a classy 10 car outfit. The spread of canvas looks good and imposing. There are 3 huge elephants, whose act is as good as can be seen in circusdom, and the show is framed to "get the money." Moreover with Fred Hutchinson and young Bill Campbell at the helm and General Agent Ed Brannon and High Grass Campbell in advance, this show should get by all right. They told me Pennsylvania had been good to them.

"I had supper with Messrs Hutchinson and Campbell, and the cookhouse was so inviting that I enjoyed my meal as thoroughly as I should have enjoyed a feed at the Hotel Astor on Times Square. And troupers will realize that is saying a lot. I also visited the train. The cars newly painted and in good condition make a very creditable circusy appearance.

"I met a number of old timers from "Fatty Arbuckle" Green to Trouper Fitzsimmons, including all the stake and chain wagon bunch. Dutch "Otto" Hoffman was away from the show for a few days. I had not seen Bill Campbell and Mabel Hall since 1907 when we all trouped together with the Hargreaves Circus and Mabel worked the gigantic elephant, "Charlie." When I asked her what had become of that bull she informed me that he turned bad on the farm in Wisconsin. She said she could handle him long after everyone else was afraid to go near him but that finally he slapped her and had to be executed."

By September things were getting bad on the show. The grifters were creating a lot of heat for the show and provoked quarrels among the owners. Some wanted the grift others did not. Someone took a shot at Low Grass Bill Campbell one night and it was presumed to be one of the "lucky boys" just run off from the show. Finally the three partners decided to call it quits and dissolve the corporation.

The Sept. 23, 1922 Billboard carried the following advertisement: "FOR SALE CAMPBELL- BAILEY-HUTCHINSON CIRCUS AND WILD WEST COMBINED. Best and most successful ten car circus and wild west in existence. Now running in third successful season. The only reason for selling is disagreement among the owners. Can be seen in operation at Berlin, Maryland, Sept. 20, Princess Anne, Sept. 21; Talsey, Virginia, Sept. 22; Exmore, Virginia, Sept. 23. Address Campbell-Bailey- Hutchinson."

A most revealing statement concerning the advertisement for sale of the show appeared in the next issue of the Billboard as follows, "A correspondent writes annent an advertisement in our last issue, offering for sale a circus and wild west show. A disagreement among owners may be the ONLY reason for selling, but the real reason is graft-graft that has besmirched and ruined the title, graft that has kept the show disorganized, graft that has nullified the advance work and prevented the show from making money."

The show played its final stand Oct. 7 at Tarboro, N. C. and then the property was stored there until it could be sold. Financial and other difficulties between the owners was straightened out and the Feb. 3, 1923 Billboard carried an ad by the show that, "An auction sale will be held on February 7, 1923 at 10 o'clock - 1 advance car, 2 sleeping cars, 2 stock cars, baggage wagons, tents, lights, seats, and many other things too numerous to mention will be sold to the highest bidder at Tarboro, N. C."

It seems that Low Grass Bill Campbell took over the show's flat cars plus some other property and animals which no doubt represented his equity in the circus, and in the March 3, 1923 Billboard Low Grass advertised for sale, "4 flat cars, new last spring, 61 ft. long; one 16 ft, cage, like new; one January cart; 4 young stallions, and 4 lions." It wasn't long before Low Grass was back in the circus business with a small gilly show.

Practically no details concerning the auction of the circus appeared in the Billboard and other trade publications A short note did appear a few weeks later which stated that the Scott's Greater Shows, a carnival, had purchased the equipment of the Campbell-Bailey-Hutchinson Circus at Tarboro at the sale held there. Evidently the circus property was absorbed into the carnival and spent the rest of its trouping days there.

After close of the show High Grass Bill Campbell more or less retired to his Oklahoma home and was not active in circus affairs again. Fred Bailey Hutchinson later worked for the American Circus Corporation and was assistant manager of Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus in 1924. In 1929 he was supt. of tickets on Sparks Circus. In 1931 he was manager of St. Leon Bros. European Circus, a very fine show that traveled on trucks and baggage cars and played extended stands under canvas. This show had an excellent performance and featured among the acts the John Robinson elephants. Later Hutchinson retired to his Parkersburg, W. Va. home where he died some years ago.

The three leased elephants on the show in 1922 were returned to the Hall farm. In 1923 they were rented to Fred Buchanan for his World Bros. Circus, and in 1924-25-26 were on his Robbins Bros. Circus. During these years the bulls would be returned to the Hall farm during the winter. Beginning in 1927 they were in an act playing dates and were handled by Clyde "High-pockets" Baudendistil and continued until they were sold to Cole Bros. Circus in 1925. In 1927 the three bulls along with a tusker named Major were on the short lived Cook & Cole Circus, a 15 car railroad show.

Later Cole Bros. turned over Boo and Tommy to a California zoo where they both died sometime thereafter. Ding Dong remained on the Cole show through the 1937 season and in 1938 was on Robbins Bros. Circus, and in 1939 back on Cole Bros. She died in the winter quarters fire in Rochester, Ind. in February 1940.

I have no reports as to the final disposition of the show's equipment other than mentioned above, it going to the Scott's Greater Shows.

For valued help in preparing this article I would like to thank the following: William H. Woodcock, Tom Parkinson, Dick Conover, Fred Pfening, Bob Parkinson, and Leonard Farley of the Hertzberg Circus Collection, San Antonio Public Library.

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