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Sig. Sautelle’s Pavilion Show opens at Fort Edward, N.Y., May 7. Fifteen gilt-painted and lettered wagons carry the show. Size of tent, 150 ft. round top, with 30 ft. middle piece; size of sideshow tent 60 x 80 ft. oblong; size of horse tent, 35 x 50 ft. The show is officered as follows: Sole proprietor and manager, Sig. Sautelle; treasurer, Geo. C. Satterlee; advance manager, Clin J. Van Scoter; contracting agent, C. J. Mosher; amusement director, Sig. Levardo; boss billposter, Geo. W. Moody with ten assistants; boss canvasman, Dan Traver; master of properties, A. B. Johnson; master of stock, Bill Williams; wardrobe man, Johnny Nichols, with the following artists: Billy Nichols and Addie Francis, James Joyce, Geo. M. Larosa, McNally and English, M. A. Acker, Jas. Quinlan, Wm. and Bertha Lee, Geo. W. Barlow, Deforest West, Talman Bros., Nutton and Carrier, Prof. Shultz and silver coronet band; Mlle. Selna, owner of sideshow privileges; J. E. Belcher, owner of inside and outside candy privileges. New York Clipper, May 2, 1885.
Shelby's - 1888
Shelby's New Great Golden Shows . . . Messrs. Shelby & McArty [At Kellogg, July 27] Kellogg (IA) Enterprise, July 27, 1888.
Shelby's circus was wrecked by a windstorm at Odell, Ill. a few days ago, during the afternoon performance. The tent was blown down and fifteen persons were injured. Wellsboro Agitator (Wellsboro, PA), July 3, 1888.
Shelby's New Great Golden Railroad Shows. Museum, menagerie, aquarium, aviary, elebated stage and two ring circus. Traveling on its own special train of silver palace cars. Connellsville, August 30. Male and female equestrians, comical clowns, queens of the air, bareback champions, glorious gymnasts. Performing horses, ponies, donkeys, mules, dogs, goats, monkeys, leaping grayhounds and funny clown dogs. The Great Decomas, aerial bicylists and gymnasts. Two ring. Elephant "Zip." Free street parade. Admission 25 and 50 cents. The Courier (Connellsville, PA), August 24, 1888.
Shields Show
The following is the roster of the Shields Show: J. H. Shields, proprietor and manager; J. Oliver, advance; Will Evans and six assistants, billposters; King Bros., acrobats; Artie Shields, tight wire; William Batcheller, principal leaper; the Ty Bells, balancing perch and ladders; Melvin and Trover, double bars; a line of eight leapers, two doing doubles, and the following in the concert: Morris and Raymond, Mamie Elliot and the Elliott Bros. A band of six is led by Prof. Smith. Coal Oil Johnnie is boss canvasman with eleven assistants. Ben Parker attends to the lights. The show opened Jan. 1 at Jacksonville, Fla. New York Clipper, January 11, 1890.
Bert Silver Family Shows
The Bert Silver Family Shows closed their tenting season of seventeen weeks, September 3, at Alma, Mich., and are now at headquarters, Crystal, Mich. The tent will be enlarged for the next season by the addition of another middle piece. Thirty-five people, fifteen wagons and cars, and thirty head of horses will be carried. Billboard, October 22, 1910.
Smith & Fralando's - 1891
Notes from Smith & Fralando’s Great British Circus. We showed at Morristown, Minn., May 30, and after the afternoon performance we visited the grave of Daniel Scott, the old time showman, and decorated it with flowers. Ajax Jr. laid a beautiful wreath of lilies at the head of the grave. Ingraham’s Golden Band played a dirge to the departed showman, and Jerry Keeting made a few appropriate remarks, after which the boys visited the old deserted ring barn and animal quarters. All wrote or cut their names on the walls. The show travels by wagon, using a 110 ft. round top and two 50 ft. middle pieces. . . . The complete roster: Smith & Fralando, proprietors and managers; Ben De Pere, equestrian director; Emery Smith, treasurer; O. C. Olson, advance agent; Sidonia, Ajax Jr., Pollworth Bros., Le Roys, Howard and Yount, Mons. Testo, Chas. Ledegar, Sig. Rodella, Keeting and Harrigan, Kitty De Pere, Estes, Ellsworth Sisters, Mlle. Berrata, Mme. Fondo, Prof. Egg, F. B. Wilson, Geo. Rose, V. W. Ingraham, J. O. Wilson, E. S. Law, C. J. Carroll, M. D. Farnell, C. F. Ingraham, Hank Nelson, Ed. Gilbert, Chas. Lane, Lew Drake, Ed. Fatum, Lem Haliaird, C. Jackson. New York Clipper, June 13, 1891.
E. G. Smith's - 1910
E. G. Smith’s Colossal Shows and Trained Animal Exposition, after two seasons off the road, will again be on the road season 1911, opening the latter part of April. Mr. Smith has just returned to his home at Atwater, O., with two car loads of stock and circus equipment, which he purchased from a prominent Eastern circus. New tents will be purchased and a number of new parade wagons and cages will be built at winter quarters at Atwater. "Circus Gossip," Billboard, November 19, 1910, p. 21.
Col. Spicers' Circus - 1886
The roster of Col. Spicers'Circus is as follows: Col. Spicers, proprietor; J. M. Barry, manager; H. D. Armstrong, business-manager and general-agent, with six assistants and three wagons; Lon Cole, manager of annex; Louis Barry, treasurer; Frank Pecard, boss of canvas; W. A. Humbly, superintendent of privileges; Prof. Louis S. Deisback, leader of baud and orchestra. Performers — C. E. Murphy, De Castro Bros., Harry Laveer and wife, Edward Nelson and family, Rea and Roe, Louis and Edward Stone, James Harris, Frankie Barry, Maimie Deisback and Sadie Deisback. New York Clipper, May 8, 1886.
Z. W. Sprague's - 1880
Z. W. Sprague’s circus organization is rapidly approaching completion. A building has been erected in Dundee, Ill., where horses and men are training. Mr. Mayo will be the superintendent, and E. C. Thurber business manager. New York Clipper, March 6, 1880.
D. W. Stone's - 1878
Collapsed. In Chicago, Ill., says our correspondent, “owing to the continued stormy weather and other unfortunate circumstances, D. W. Stone’s Circus collapsed after the performances May 29. Mr. Bronson, a Kansas stockman, the principal money-backer, went West 28, and has not been heard from since. The sorrowful group of circus people (and excellent performers, too) are out five week’s salary, and are drying their skins about the hospitable fires of the Commercial House.” New York Clipper, June 8, 1878.
Sun Brothers’ - 1900
Sun Brothers’ World’s Progressive Show - Season 1900 will open in Raleigh, N. C., early in April, with the finest lay out the firm has ever owned. It is really a new show, and everything the finest and best money could buy. M. J. Carey, of Toledo, O., is doing the decorating and superintending the painting of the parade wagons. he turned out duing the Winter. Chas. Elliott, in charge of the stock, has them in the pink of condition. Otto Gleiser is overhauling all the miscellaneous property, and getting it ready for the paint brush, and making necessary changes for his big new canvas. Harry McBride is on hand, who is in charge of the small animals. A. C. Baucher[?] will manage the side show. Albert Moore will be in charge of the big bill wagon in advance. Peter Sun will be general manager in advance, and has arranged to use all special paper, and will introduce some novel advertising. Three Brothers Snyder, acrobats and barrel jumpers, have signed; also the Three Ferrises, dancing barrel, breakaway ladder and baby clown act; Noorwood and Cole, triple horizontal bars; Laciede [Laclede?] Sisters, aerialists; Leo Collins, tower dives; Oscar Brewer, principal clown; Joe Kearney, A. J. Wayne, Dexter and may, Edward Kinsland, J. W. Robinson, H. C. Metsler, T. J. Martin, L. E. Pepper and many others. Otto Muller and Howard Leaber [Leaher?] are to report at an early date. The ring barn is busily engaged daily by Prof. Kain with his horses, ponies and rope walking mule. Prof. Gleiser is preparing a great dog act, and will be a feature for our show. New York Clipper, March 17, 1900.
Sutton's - 1891
Sutton’s Circus opened its season at Ottumwa, Ia. April 27, 28 to a crowded canvas. George Edgerton manages the ring and the Edgerton Sisters (trapeze performers) are the features. The others are: Stowe Brothers, Retlaw and Alton, Kennedy (human bridge) and Epwell’s educated horses. Frank Hubin presides over the annex. He also makes the announcements in the circus. Roster of the annex: Prof. Tostell, illusionist; Capt. McIntosh (tattooed man) and his tattooed dog, Hi Ki (Zulu Warrior) and Mme. Zelha (mind reader). New York Clipper, May 9, 1891.
Following is the roster of F. J. Taylor’s Great American Circus, Museum and Menagerie: F. J. Taylor, proprietor and manager; Dick Hunter, general business manager in advance; Wm. Hyatt and six assistants, billposters; Walt McCafferty, Chas. A. Taylor, Dan McKenzia, Chas. Howett equestrian director, with the following people in the dressing room: F. Rollins and son, J. W. Moore and wife, John Nelson and wife, Bishop Bros., Frank Elliot, Fred Wilson, Mrs. Kate Howett, Frank Nichols, Ed. Dupray, George Francis . . . Sideshow - W. H. Wren, Geo. Wren, Miss Wren, Spotted Ed. and wife, Ed. Lapell, . . . F. J. Royce, boss canvasman, with eleven assistants; J. Kiley, boss hostler, with twelve assistants; Mr. Horton, with four assistants, properties; Mrs. Setchell, wardrobe lady, and Chas. Miller and five assistants, in the cook tent. The show travels by wagon, has one hundred horses and everything new, an 80 ft. top with two 30 ft. middle pieces, menagerie top, and a 76 x 40 ft. sideshow canvas. It starts April 30 and travels through Missouri, Kansas and Kentucky. New York Clipper, April 27, 1889.
"Down in Front!" was the cry at ex-Mayor Taylor's circus last week. On Tuesday last Creston's own and only circus was cut loose. . . . On Wednesday the show went to Afton, . . . The Afton Reporter has this to say: F. J. Taylor's circus, menagerie and museum arrived from Creston at an early hour this morning and have their tents pitched on the old show grounds in the south part of town. The parade took place as advertised at 12:30 o'clock and was a fine display. The band is good and everything indicates that Mr. Taylor fully understands his position as manager. . . . One feature indicative of a first class institution is the fine horses accompanying this show. New Era (Humeston, IA), September 18, 1889. F. J. Taylor’s winter quarters in Creston, Ia. . . . New York Dramatic News, January 13, 1891.
F. J. Taylor’s Circus opened the season in Creston, Ia., May 4, with the following performers: Three Castello Brothers, acrobats and horizontal bar performers; Charles Myers, balloon, wire and balance trapeze; Minnie Castello, flying rings and trapeze; Bishop Brothers, tumblers, acrobats and double trapeze; Don Divo, contortionist; Jerome Abbey, equilibrist and juggler; Albert Davenport, principal rider;; Sam Bennett, hurdle and Indian rider; W. S. Wheeler, clown; William Davenport, ring master, and John Marshall’s band of nine pieces. The show travels by wagon, carries 100 people, 105 horses, one elephant, three camels, five cages, and has a 100 foot round top, with two 30 foot middle pieces. New York Dramatic News, May 23, 1891.
Tedrow & Gettle's - 1900
Tedrow & Gettle's 25-cent show. With the show: Tedrow & Gettle; Sutton, Smith & MOrris, clowns; Band: T. H. Rice, leader, E. Williams, J. E. Jones, P. H. Hawk, W. H. Jacobs, G. Tennyhill, J. R. collins, H. M. Patton; Orchestra: Prof. Williams, leader, W. H. Jacobs, J. R. Collins. Performers: The Suttons, man wife and daughter; E. Porterfield; Gladys, Mitchell, Robert Bolliger; Dock Moria; Chas. Barker; Fred Dew, high dive into a net. Side show: Mrs. Sutton's snakes; Miss Gladys Mitchell, sword walker; Jasper Johnson, strong man; E. Porterfield, magician and Punch; Miss Esther Smith, futures and fortunes; the Getties, Mexican knife throwing. Blondy Robinson has charge of canvas. Charles Barker, chandeliers; Doc John Dye, stock; R. W. Perkins, agent; W. J. Kelly, bill poster; E. E. Porter, programer; W. K. Smith, lithographer.
Dr. J. L. Thayer's Circus
Ed. Martinetti is the equestrian-director of Dr. J. L. Thayer's Circus. He and his three brothers, Nelson, Albert and Louis, have been secured for the season. The Austin Bros., James Joyce, William De Ivey, Millie Lockwood and Prof. Franklin's dog-circus are also with this show. Leon and donkeys and Dr. Thayer's wife and daughter joined at Raleigh, N. C., March 17. J. L. Thayer. Jr. makes his debut at Norfolk, Va. The concert is given by Dan Lester, Chas. Allen, Georgie Bell, John Dowling, Ed. Lockwood and Ed. Martinetti. Thayer pere and fils Nelson Martinetti, Leon and Lockwood are doing the clowns, The show is said to have done well since opening, March 8, at popular prices. New York Clipper March 20 or 27, 1886.
Sam K. Tribbey & Co.'s New Mastodon Dime Circus and Menagerie
Sam K. Tribbey & Co.'s New Mastodon Dime Circus and Menagerie opened their season May 4, at Hamilton, O., playing there the balance of that week, and opening at Richmond, Ind., 20, for one week. The following is the roster: Sam K. Tribbey & Co., proprietors; Miles Orton, general-manager; W. O. Beogel, treasurer; Al. D. Higgins, equestrian-director and press-agent; Prof. W. Vance, musical-director, Chas. Ellis, contracting-agent; Jack Fitzgerald, master of canvas, with eight men; Gus Dicks, in charge of ring stock, with three men; A. Newman, chandeliers; Will Allen, master of properties. Performers — The Orton Family, six in number, headed by Miles Orton, bareback-rider, and his two infant wonders, Norman and Gordon; Claude Orton, Master Albert Orton, Little Allie and Bernard Orton, Hicks Bros,, Apple and West, F. Seymour, E. H. Dooley, Conners and Bradley, Andy Spear, Walter Freds, Mattie Spear, McDonald Sisters — Lou and Gussie — the performing elephant Lizzie, and the riding-dog Hector. The show has eight dens of animals, giant elk and one elephant. It travels by rail, making week-stands, using a 110 ft. canvas, with two 30 ft. middle pieces, and 60 ft. menagerie. New York Clipper, May 22, 1886.
CHS webmaster J. Griffin, last modified June 2006.