Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Route Book, 1945

From: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows. Diamond Jubilee Route Book of the 1945 Season. Sarasota, FL: J. C. Johnson, 1945. Program, staff & performers. This edition did not include the day-by-day details of the route. The route for this year can be found on the Routes page. Not included here are the photographs. Permission to place the information from this route book on the Circus Historical Society website has been provided by Feld Entertainment, Inc.™, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey™. Circus World Museum's Parkinson Library provided the photocopy of this route book. All information should be checked with additional sources. There will be spelling and typographical errors.

The Year of Triumph

They say “See you in the ’Garden’ in the spring.” In the span of time between the early April opening of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden and the end of its tour in Florida in late November, the Big Show has passed through the most critical period in its whole history.

The fact that the tour has been immensely successful is a tribute to the personnel of The Greatest Show on Earth — its officers, staff, performers, workingmen in all departments.

Those who proved they were troupers in 1945 did so not for the Circus alone but also for our men at Hartford. The tragedy of their incarceration there has served as a challenge and a symbol throughout the tour. Ed Kelly, Mrs. Haley and all others who were called upon to replace these absent members of the Circus family deserve special credit for faithful performance in as precarious a season as ever confronted the Big One. Ed Kelly and his assistant, Lloyd Morgan, and the department bosses took the physical show that George Smith, Leonard Aylesworth and others had put together and they made it click. Robert Ringling and his production staff fashioned a matchless performance.

Circus people don’t believe in jinxes. But they know that in outdoor show business there always will be good and bad luck, profitable seasons and those not so lush.

By its very nature the Circus is a fighting institution. It never had an easy road. It has fought time and space and wind and fire and water and mud since the days when spectators sat around dirt ring-banks and watched night performances by smoking flares.

Yet no matter how hard the going is, the troupers of the big tops have a secret ace-in-the-hole. They have the American People in their corner. The people love this colossal thing that roars out of nowhere, builds a city of tents, offers a fleeting vision of breath-taking enchantment and then folds its tents and vanishes mysteriously into the night.

This is a still-present frontier in a world of narrowing boundaries — geographical and temporal. This is a rough, tough, primitive, hardhitting ambassador from the days when the country was pushing west and adventure lay just over the hill.

No, the people of America are not going to let go of the circus any more than they are going to relinquish their pride in the Pilgrim Fathers and the Jamestown Colony; General George Washington and Valley Forge; John Paul Jones and Old Hickory; the Alamo, Gettysburg; Abe Lincoln and Marse Robert; San Juan Hill and Teddy Roosevelt; the battle with yellow fever and the first flight at Kittyhawk; the hallowed recollections of World Wars One and Two. These things happened and live in books and in memory. But the circus IS STILL HERE.

Mr. and Mrs. America and their kids stand on the sidelines to watch the Circus unload and set up and battle time and weather for a few hours, and whatever of the adventurer remains in them nods approval. In war time, the people become tough again — like the circus is all the time. In between times, in the tranquil years, people are content to let their pet enterprise, the red-and-gold world of red wagons, billowing tents, laughing clowns and blaring bands, represent them in the business of being pioneers again.

The Circus was in New York City on V-E Day. We were in the Hoosier capital on V-J Day. When the show has spun out its season and the band plays Auld Lang Syne on November 22, THAT will be V-C Day, the Circus’ hour of triumph in a difficult and highly successful tour.

Circus people never say goodbye. They say, “See you in the ’Garden’ in the spring.” — Bev. Kellev.

Diamond Jubilee

James Ebenezer Cooper sent red wheels rolling out of Philadelphia in the Spring of 1863 as the earliest antecedent of Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey came into being. But the days of the organization as “The Big Show” date from 1871 when William Cameron Coup and Dan Castello induced Phineas Taylor Barnum, then 60, to enter circus business for the first time. The Messrs. Coup and Castello forthwith launched P. T. Barnum’s Museum, Menagerie and Circus. Overnight Coup built it into such a colossal show that circus business was in process of being revolutionized, almost without its knowledge and certainly without its consent.

Since Barnum’s big show was launched in 1871, the 1945 tour was the 75th for the Barnum part of the Ringling-Barnum title. Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus takes pleasure in celebrating this anniversary by presenting in the Diamond Jubilee route book for 1945 the official tours of the Barnum show from 1871 through 1918.

Barnum continued with Coup and Castello as partners through the season of 1875. Coup put the show on rails in 1872, blazing a trail which all other major shows soon were compelled to follow. Barnum bought out his partners after the 1875 season and allied himself with a group of circus veterans headed by George F. Bailey — not to be confused with James A. Bailey. In 1876 the show was known for the first time as P. T. Barnum’s New and Greatest Show on Earth.

Meanwhile, James A. Bailey had become a partner of the Cooper who had first hit the wagon trail in 1863. Bailey quickly started the Cooper & Bailey enterprise toward the big show bracket which he definitely achieved in December, 1878, by the purchase of Howes’ Great London Circus, a major Barnum competitor from 1871 through 1878. Adam Forepaugh of Philadelphia also had built a show capable of competing with the Big One on equal terms.

An elephant belonging to Cooper & Bailey bore a baby in the early Spring of 1880. The baby was a great attraction to all hands — jealous Barnum included. The result was a partnership, beginning in 1881, of Barnum, Bailey and James L. Hutchinson. Bailey had purchased Cooper’s share of Cooper & Bailey, and Barnum had enabled Hutchinson to buy in because of Hutchinson’s aid in facilitating the merger.

Beginning in 1881 the show was known as P. T. Barnum’s Greatest Show on Earth and Howes’ Great London Circus. For all practical purposes, and even on the official stationery, it was known as Barnum & London. Bailey sold out after five years. Cooper and William Washington Cole joined Hutchinson as partners of Barnum for 1886 and 1887. The name remained Barnum & London. Bailey came back into the organization after the close of the 1887 season, and the show became known, for the first time, as Barnum & Bailey’s Greatest Show on Earth. Barnum and Bailey also were equal owners for the first time. The Barnum & London show for some seasons fought Adam Forepaugh, but Bailey, always a conciliator, arranged a truce — and an amicable division of territory. On Adam Forepaugh’s death in January, 1890, Barnum & Bailey purchased the Forepaugh show in secret, with Cooper serving as the front and owning a small share. Barnum died in April of 1891, and Cooper passed away on New Year’s Day of 1892.

Bailey and the Barnum Estate purchased Cooper’s slight interest in the Forepaugh show immediately, and Bailey bought out all the circus holdings of the Barnum heirs just after the close of the season of 1894. Bailey had become czar of the circus world, but he faced a growing threat from the Middle West.

Five of the seven Ringling brothers had taken a little wagon show out of Baraboo, Wisconsin, in 1884. Through their insistence on absolute honesty on the part of all their employes in dealing with the public and through their willingness to pour back into the organization all of the profits they earned, they developed rapidly.

By 1890 they had prospered sufficiently to put their show on rails, by 1894 they had grown to stature sufficient to defeat the long-established Sells Bros, show in a battle for Texas patronage and by 1895 they were ready for Barnum & Bailey or anybody else.

To meet the Ringling opposition, Bailey combined with the Sells brothers to form Adam Forepaugh and Sells Bros, and entered into a partnership with Buffalo Bill whereby Bailey enlarged the Wild West show and made it mobile. Theretofore, Buffalo Bill had owned no railway cars and had, for the most part, played extended engagements in large cities.

Bailey left Adam Forepaugh and Sells Bros, and the Buffalo Bill show at home to combat the Ringlings and took Barnum & Bailey to Europe in the Fall of 1897 for a five-year tour of Great Britain and the Continent. When he brought the show back to America for the 1903 season, he found that the Ringlings had won a place equal to his own in the circus field.

Still the conciliator, Bailey struck a bargain with the Ringlings late in the 1904 season. The two surviving Sells brothers were ill and old, and their half of Adam Forepaugh and Sells Bros, was for sale. Bailey would help the Ringlings in negotiations to purchase the Sells half of the show, and then Bailey and the Ringling interests would be equal. Each would own one big show, and both would share equally in the ownership of a third. They would divide territory three ways and have no more billing wars. The Buffalo Bill Wild West was, at the time, touring Europe and did not figure in the pact.

This agreement was entered into in 1904 covering the seasons of 1905, 1906 and 1907. It might have become a lasting pact, but Bailey died suddenly on April 11, 1906. His estate operated his shows through 1906 and 1907 and respected the territorial agreement, but in October of 1907 the Bailey interests sold all Bailey holdings to the Ringlings — excepting only the Bailey share of the Buffalo Bill show which the Ringlings did not want.

By this stroke, the Ringling brothers gained an even more commanding position in the circus world than Bailey had achieved thirteen years earlier through the purchase of Barnum and Forepaugh holdings. The new owners maintained that position throughout their own lives and even beyond.

The Ringlings decided that three big shows were too many, so they left the Forepaugh-Sells outfit in the barn at Baraboo and divided the country between Barnum & Bailey and the show bearing their own name. The Forepaugh-Sells show was put back on the road in 1910 and 1911 but then was retired for all time, except that the title was added to the Hagenbeck-Wallace show in 1935 merely to prevent the title from falling into the public domain.

By 1919, the Ringling circle had dwindled from seven to three — Charles, Alf T. and John. Capable circus executives were difficult to find, and the surviving Ringlings, accustomed all their lives to seeing key positions filled only by members of the family, would have been loath to hire outsiders anyhow. The net result was that the three surviving brothers decided to combine the two titles and present Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey to the circus world, beginning in 1919. Alf T. Ringling passed on before the first combined season closed. and Charles died in December, 1926, leaving John the sole survivor among the brothers. In 1929 John purchased the holdings of the American Circus Corporation, which owned John Robinson, Sells-Floto, Al G. Barnes, Hagenbeck-Wallace, Charles Sparks, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, Howes’ Great London, Gollmar Bros., Van Amberg’s. All were strong shows, but the largest was not half the size of the Big One. The Ringling corporation still owns all these shows, but none is at present on the road.

John passed on in December, 1936. Samuel Gumpertz was vice president of the Circus between 1932 and 1937. John North, nephew of the Ringling Brothers, was its president then until through 1942 when Robert Ringling, son of Charles, became president. To Robert and James and Aubrey Haley and Robert’s mother, Mrs. Charles Ringling, has fallen the task of managing the show through critical war years.

Those who love the circus hope that the next seventy-five years be as successful for Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey as the three-quarters of a century just ended.

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Ringling Bros. - Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows, Inc.

Robert Ringling, President
Aubrey B. Haley, First Vice-President
Mrs. Charles Ringling, Vice-President
James A. Haley, Vice-President
William P. Dunn, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer

Directors

Robert Ringling Mrs. Charles Ringling Aubrey B. Haley Mrs. Charles Ringling William P. Dunn, Jr.

James Edgar John North Major George D. Woods

Executive Staff

George W. Smith, General Manager Edward F. Kelly, Acting Mgr. Lloyd Morgan, Assistant to Mr. Kelly Fred C. DeWolfe, Treasurer with Show Herbert Duval, Legal Adjuster Terence P. O'Rourke, Assistant to Mr. DuVal

Arthur R. Hopper, General Agent & Traffic Manager F. Beverly Kelley, Publicity Director J. R. Griffin, Auditor Pat Valdo, Director of Perfomance Jane Johnson, Office Manager

Personnel Traffic and Outdoor Advertising Dept.

Arthur R. Hopper, General Agent and Traffic Manager
F. A. Boudinot, Assistant General Agent
Peter P. Kiseleff, Secretary to General Agent and Traffic Manger

Contracting Agents

William J. Conway, Al Butler, William J. Lester

Advertising Car Number One

Frank Mahery, Manager William Feigley, Boss Billposter James Kennedy, Boss Lithographer Thomas Nowell Frank Grove David Stevens O. P. Trantham

Joseph Bernstein John Coverly S. J. Clauson Thomas Connor Harold L. Barrows F. J. Crowther Erwin Ekren

Clifford Haggerness Paul Hale Ed. M. Jackson J. W. McGowen Arthur Outten E. H. Riche William Schmitt

Advertising Car No. 2

Clyde Carlton, Manager William Albers, Boss Billposter Arthur Dawson, Boss Lithographer

George Hanes Leo E. Loranger Clarence Burns

Wm. J. Schrayman Leslie E. Hudson Roland T. Davis

Advertising Car No. 3

L. S. Conarroe, Manager James A. Long, Banner Squarer

Hugh Collins, Boss Bannerman C. W. Goehmann

Jack Adams Job A. Long

Advertising Inspector: Edward J. Caupert, La Rue Deitz

Banner Puller: Joseph Brown

Press and Radio Department

F. Beverly Kelley, Director Allen Lester William Fields

Frank Morrissey Bernie Head

Frank Braden Tom Killilea

Secretarial Assistants at Delaware, Ohio Press and Radio
Distribution Office: Mary Nelson, Pauline Miller

24-Hour Men: William Carr, C. H. Shepherd, Harry (Bottles) Vernotzy

Chief of Police: John H. Brice

Medical Department: Dr. Robert P. Harris; Albert Gaudette, First Aid.

Utility Men: Arthur M. Eldridge, John T. Howard, William Reynolds

Timekeepers: Hugh M. Breithaupt, William H. Webster

Big Show Announcer: Arthur L. Springer

Chauffeurs: Harold Nicholson, Wm. B. McLaughlin

Mail Man: Alexander Neuburger

Commissary: Joseph A. Dunn, John C. White

Ticket Wagons

Red Wagon: Theo Forstall, John F. Seawell
White Wagon: L. H. Woodruff, Harry Minor
Yellow Wagon: Joseph Boyton, Wm. Rhu McKitrick

Front Door

McCormick Steele, Supt. (Until 9/19/45)
F. A. Von Rosenberg, Supt. (After 9/19/45)

Harry N. Brown Andrew O. Carlile William E. Downing Henry Reynolds

Clyde F. Sellers John M. Trimaj Richard D. Miller, (Keeper Route Book Diary, 1945)

Ticket Dept.

Ray A. Marlowe, Superintendent Earl Charles Cline Bernard F. Friel

Michael Gradis Judson L. Langill Matthew J. McGowan

William C. Lewis Thomas A. Reale Alva Johnson

Downtown Ticket Agent: Harvey M. Porter

Tax Boxes: Larry Davis, William C. Maxwell

Performers

Big Show Band

Merle Evans, Conductor

Max Ring, Flute and Piccolo Fred Dini, Clarinet Ray Jensen, Clarinet Herman Kranz, Clarinet Terzo Lugaresi, Clarinet George Oliva, Clarinet Frank Pizarelli, Clarinet Dan Rickard, Clarinet James Sehlong, Clarinet Harold Stambough, Trumpet Earl Duncan, Trumpet Russel Bader, Cornet Joe Browning, Cornet

Frank Clark, Cornet James Downs, Cornet Al Hiltensmith, Cornet H. C. Werner, Cornet Joe Colletti, French Horn Paul Davis, French Horn Karl Shinner, French Horn Wm. Spielberg, French Horn Ralph Coppoci, Tuben Howard Ham, Tuben Louis Goldman, Tuben Leslie Ruppert, Tuben

Lew Bader, Trombone Stanley Czerwinski, Trombone Andy Grainger, Trombone Wm. Loomis, Trombone Clarence Bennett, Baritone John Horak, Baritone James Knakal, Bass Martin O'Connor, Bass E. Gordon Warner, Bass Amos Thompson, Drum Albert Yoder, Drum Frank Hoffman, Tympani

Side Show

Fred Smythe, Manager
Charles A. Zerm, Assistant
Ticket Sellers: Chas. A. Zerm, Eldon Adams, George Johnson, Harley Rogers
Lecturer: Jack Elkins
Ticket Takers: C. D. Smith, John McCarthy, Joe Kowalski
Supt. of Sound Projection: Robert Lee Brazil

Attractions

Freda Pushnik, Armless and Legless Girl Mr. and Mrs. Fischer, Giant and Giantess Senorita Carmen, Snake Trainer Tasmus Neilsen, Tattooed Strong Man Mo-Lay, Comedy Juggler Hanka Kelter, Parisian Long Haired Girl Alex Linton, Champion Sword-Swallower Kutty Singlee, Fire Proof Man Percy Pape, Living Skeleton

Tiny Town, World's Smallest People Jubilee Minstrels, Premier Blackface Performers Naeole's Hawaiians, South Seas Entertainers Joe Nawrath, Musical Midget Bushe's Puppets, Animated Figures Val Rey, Master of Magic Rex Merico, Anatomical Wonder Annette Roy, Rag Pictures

Tinytown Midgets

Harry Doll, Daisy Doll, Gracie Doll, Tiny Doll

Naeole's Hawaiians

David Naeole, Director Gertrude Hamm, Ukulele Alicia Blanco, Dancer Verne Hamm, Guitar

Alma Cox, Steel Guitar Ani Kaiulani, Steel Guitar Elbert Cox, Guitar Elima Kaiulani, Dancer

Charlotte Eng, Dancer Alola Naeole, Dancer Stella Fields, Dancer Erma Pushnik, Dancer

Arthur A. Wright's Band and Minstrels

Johnny Brown, Clarinet & Sax Ed Carr, 1st Trombone Wm. E. Fields, Bass Drum Willie Ford, Clarinet & Sax Harry K. Franklin, 1st Trumpet Homer C. Griffin, 2nd Trombone Walter P. Johnson, 1st Trumpet

Dude Lankford, Trap Drums John Moody, Bass John Penny, 2nd Trumpet M. O. Russell, 1st Melophone & Sax Cecil Thompkins, 2nd Melophone & Sax Kay Wallace, Trap Drums Arthur A. Wright, Director and Trumpet

Minstrels

Leo C. Boatner, Dancer Dusty Cunningham, Comedian Claude Dickerson, Comedian

Herman Higgs, Singer & Master of Ceremonies Slim Russell, Comedian

Menagerie Department

John Sabo, Superintendent Joseph Costa, Assistant Dare G. Barlow Roy S. Bates Robert L. Beatty James A. Brown

John Nematz Theodore Nodaros John Pelkey Joseph J. Rosen Frank Setting Roland Shaw

Hurlin Smith Eugene W. Stickle Charles Tanner Clifford Thorn Roy C. Weaver Fred Wells

Performing Wild Animals: Walter E. Flint

Cook House Department

George J. Blood, Superintendent
Archie Blood, Assistant
Albert T. Welch, Assistant
Frank Bowen, Assistant
Joseph Lenz, Assistant

Matthew J. Carroll Hormisdas LeBlanc L. C. Angelo Raymond J. Austin Thomas Babich Walter Bagley Horton Banks George Belavich Howard Botts Felix Brown Lawrence E. Brown John H. Camp Frank Curtis James Curtis William Dunn

Peter Francis Everett L. Gray Harold Hammond Jerry Haney Louis Hicks Gordon Halloway Tobe Johnson James J. Keenan Robert L. Kuehn Henry Larson James E. McDaniel Herbert S. McGee James R. McLaren Francis J. McLaughlin Arthur W. Nelson

George A. Newton Robert Paul Peter Peterson Nicholas Rock Frank M. Rossner Ray Sanders Edward Say Jerome R. Smalley John E. Swope William Thurston Thomas J. Timothy John E. Wasson Fred Williams John Wilson Kenneth L. Wyman

Elephant Department

Richard T. Shipley, Superintendent
Assistants: Robert L. Clark, Vernon L. Duffy, Tony Marty, John W. O'Neal

Albert A. Benedeto William Bennett Walter H. Chauvin Benjamin W. Davis James L. Gablin Atkins Gannaway Joseph L. Grassi

Earl Hammer Clarence C. Hill Arnie W. Honkala Otto Kohlman Joseph A. Lawn John McGuire Frank J. Mandill

Frank E. Miles William P. O'Keefe Donald Pardee Roland Pardee Karl J. Rasquin Alfred Vidble

Gorilla Cage

Jose Tomas, Superintendent
Joseph A. Mederios, Joseph A. Smith

Watchmen: Louis Clayton, Elmer B. Ford, Walter M. Moriarty, Edward L. Nye

Personnel Buses: Charles Crandall, Robert Simpson

Mechanical Department

William Yeske, Master Mechanic Charles Checkley

Ralph M. Hart Steve Koll

Emil R. Rhodes Mary Nell Veske

Light Department

Edward R. Versteeg, Superintendent
Ward Nath, Acting Superintendent
Jersey Foster, Assistant
William H. Walters. Assistant
William Winslow, Assistant
Lawrence Crandall, Sound

Ithamas J. Boston William Bush William T. Edwards Clare L. Fowler John A. Garrity Maynard B. Gifford Raleigh Goins

Russell L. Gore John W. Hall Amos Hallgarth Oral Hamilton Don Hill Tommie C. Hood George F. Miller

Ernest M. Ooghe James E. Reynolds James M. Tyler Vernie R. Weatherford Jack W. Weinsheimer James Welch Robert H. Wilson

Porters

Edward Gallagher, Superintendent

William E. Bailey Edythe L. Bowen George J. Browne John J. Burke George W. Grossman Henry L. Dumas DeWitt Evans Joseph A. Farnan John H. Grant Robert Gray

Clint W. Hall John B. Hall Stephen Harchar Clarence Hatch Charles Hoskins William H. Howard Perry Jackson Karl C. Krapf Benjamin F. Lowe Peter J. MacAllister

Lillian C. Merrithew George S. Olson Thomas Payne Frank Redmond John E. Sawyer Herbert E. Schulze Eugene Thompson William Turner Theodore Williams

Private Car Porters: Clara S. Franklin, Frank Franklin, Ada Hicks

Big Top Maid: Ethel Gadsden

Ring Stock Department

Harrison E. Johnson, Superintendent
Assistants: Lowell Brideson, George McGovern, Frank Selock, Harry Smith

Andrew L. Baker Harry L. Baker Harvey Britton Roy Brumfield Ralph Buckley William H. Clark Edward F. Clarke Robert Conley Roland T. Cote Clarence Dahlgren

George C. Davis Walter J. Donnelly Robert A. Dover George Englin Charles Faulkner Orville J. Harnack William Kachelries Willie C. Karr George Kelz Richard Kissel

Homer Knick Henry W. Lund Bradford McCarthy Louis Maroni John Miller George E. Morris Arthur M. Peterson Frank Purcell Edward E. Ray

Gilly Wagon: Irving Young

Harness Maker: George Warner

Property Department

Walter Kaner, Superintendent
Assistants: Peter Reeh, Leo J. Ulinski, James C. Bradley, Arthur G. Williams

Raymond W. Adams Frank J. Angelo Floyd E. Beagle Ronald B. Campbell Willie H. Cason John Conway Clayton Courcy Augustus D. Cressman Gustave A. Cron Harold Deiters Arthur Demers Hubert T. Flattery Carl L. French James H. Holley Alvin Howard John W. Kerrigan

Edward N. King Helmer E. Lindh Robert Lukas Reuben Marsland Gilbert Martinez Michael Mayti Alfred Newquist George J. O'Keefe Charles L. O'Lay Sam T. Pappalardo Joseph J. Pilla Lloyd Prather William J. Riley Brice Rutherford Joseph Scharick James Schumacher

Richard G. Skiles George G. Simmons Robert L. Snyder Clarence W. Smith Mont Swagger William J. Spence Alexander M. Thomas Donald A. Vess Frederick W. Whitbeck William Warnecke Herbert C. Willson Sanger Young Mile Zobowa Arthur Zutell

Side Show Canvas Department

Joseph M. Lynch, Superintendent
Thomas E. Langley, Assistant

Leon T. Aultman Harry Blacklock John A. Cook Helmuth L. Dickau William P. Gabbart Whit R. Garrison Albert J, Cramer James Isabella

Donald F. Jones Joseph J. Kowalski Herschel LeBlue Thomas Leighton Carmelo Letizia Joseph V. McNeil Karl W. Maas

Leo C. Michaud Emil J. Nagel Alfred A. Omen Russell H. Riddle LeRoy Spellman Lee R. Trammell Ronald L. Van Winkle

Train Department

Ray Milton, Superintendent
Assistants: Ross Roberts, Joseph D. Yuhasz

James Allen George W. Atkins Fred Baker William Bloch Oscar P. Cote Howard W. Craig Elmo Dallas Frederick M. Fanning Ferdinand F. Foster Harry C. Fowler

Kenneth Genious Robert E. Hammond William J. Kleint William L. Koch Pete Luken Adam N. McBain George Mays Richard F. Miller Leonard H. Phillips Lester W. Shanks

William H. Shepard Newton F. Stogner Broughton J. Tucker Eugene P. Valdanbrini William W. Wilkinson Charlie Willett William Williams Henry Witherwax, Jr. Dale York

Train Electricians: Joseph Nash, George Hill

Truck Department

David W. Blanchfield, Superintendent
Assistants: Stanley Wacht, Edward E. Curry, Donald Baine, Daniel F. Gill

Stewart Beatty, Jr. Eugene Benefield Joseph H. Burgle Garnett L. Caudell James Compton George Davis Orrie L. Davis John M. Floyd Walter B. Gamble Howard Gilson Lloyd A. Gross

Loring E. Hartford Henry J. Helfrich Lloyd M. Keeler Ben Kirby Harry Kline George J. Knight Horace E. Long Arthur H. McCormick Jeff M. Morgan Earl Mosher George W. Norris

Daniel J. Parker Samuel G. Phillips Stephen Rhinesmith Kenneth Robbins Paul G. Smith Clarence R. Springer Charles E. Spurlock Harry Stone, Jr. Eddie Tulppo Joseph Wallace John S. Wallman

Usher Department

John M. Carson, Superintendent
Assistants: Robert T. Adams, William Hines, Michael D'Addario, Louis E. Runyan

John W. Ahearn Wilbur L. Bromwell Umberto Castaldo James E. Elmore William R. Fewell Roy Gee Charles D. Gettemy

Herbert Harrell Charles E. Land Walter D. Lomax Edward T. McAleer Arthur C. McCullough Donald Meyers Walter E. Mock

George J. Nesbit Thomas J. O'Hare John H. Owens Sherrill Price Cecil M. Roberts Harry J. Seifert Robert P. Thompson

Wardrobe Department

Joseph J. McCarthy, Superintendent
Ray W. Rowen, Assistant
Jean P. Carson, Wardrobe Mistress
Assistants: Margaret E. Bickley, Genevieve P. McCarthy, Olive P. Hayes, Adamae M. Sabo, Margaret Jahn
William J, Whikehart, Tailor

Fabel O. Allen John Barnes Wilfred C. Bunnell Hugh Burgoon Richard Caligaris John T. Duncan Thomas J. Ferguson Joseph Gaisrig

Alfred Galdoni Edward Grodivant Gordon D. Heasley Alby Hess James E. Hicks George H. Kramer Joseph W. Land George E. Long

Grafton C. Mead James J. Moriarty Walter Patufka Jerome V. Sheldon John L. Sullivan Clyde S. Sumner James D. Traylor Walter Whaley

Canvas Department

Leonard S. Aylesworth. Superintendent
James Healy, Acting Superintendent
Assistants: William Dwyer, Joseph Allen, John Meek, Walter E. Bingham, Chandler P. Miller

Edgar Allen Marion J. Andrews Smith T. Armstrong Otto Baker Robert J. Bates Emmett A. Beauchamp Edwin R. Boatwright L. C. Bolden Otis D. Brazier James Briggs, Jr. Tom Brown Edward S. Bushey Charles F. Caldwell William G. Caley Charlie H. Carter William F. Case Samuel W. Clark Joseph T. Conners Roy Coston George A. Dodd, Jr. Bennie Evans Thomas A. Fitzpatrick Walter Fletcher Julious Guyton Carl Haggard Nathaniel Hall Henry R. Hitchcock

Frederick E. Holmes Carl W. Hoover Serfene Hudspeth Smith Jennings Donald T. Jones Henry Jones Henry Jones, Jr. George Kelley Rollion Keys Hillard King Willie Lane Joseph L. Lloyd Byron J. Logan Edward Lucas Milton Luck James W. McClelland LeRoy McCloud Charlie E. Mitchell Clarence E. Morningstar Martin F. Morningstar Charles W. Morris Luis Mota Arthur Moyen Robert Nordon Henry A. O'Bannon Tommie Odell John H. Parker

Robert J. Perrigo William H. Peterson William A. Reynolds John T. Robinson William H. Rose Glenn A. Ross William H. Shores Willie Simmons Charles S. Simpkins Joseph B. Stearns Louis Sullivan Al W. Summers Marvin Summers Ernest Sutton Lue W. Swift Henry Teyo Ralph Thompson Henry D. Thweatt Neal Todd LeeRoy Van Noy Luis Vela William Washington Robert L. Williams Andrew Wilson George J. Young

Accounting Office, Sarasota, Florida

James R. Griffin, General Auditor
Fred J. McKenna, Assistant Auditor (On leave with U.S. Navy)
Violet Johns, Secretary

Betty Colliver Vickie Muralli Lorraine Thomas

Carole Coolidge Ann Rogers

Margaret Morgan Herbert H. Sicks

New York Office: Lillian Davis, Representative

Chicago Office: Dan DeBaugh, Representative

Hartford Office: Madeline Youell, Secretary

Program Department, The Circus Magazine

Harry Dube, President
William Lish, Road Sales Manager
Victor Le Boe, Tom Pence

Sanitary Department

Robert J. Stift, Superintendent
Bill Dunn, Harold Schmidt, Joseph Schmidt

Miller Brothers Concessions

Frank C. Miller, Paul Miller
Jack Harris, Assistant
Pat Connelly, Personnel

Novelty Department

E. Gutman, Manager H. Carter, Assistant Manager

M. Gustow, No. 1 Stand C. H. Allen, No. 2 Stand

F. Perez, No. 3 Stand L. Blumeiithal, Menagerie Stand

Seat Men

William Miller, I. Reichenthaler, D. Klein, M. Zentner, E. Rottman

Midway Eating Stands

P. Fisher, Manager

Diner: F. Hill, Manager. P. Orth, R. O'Callahan S. Palfrey

Porters: F. Taylor, J. Dancy, M. Saulsberry

Wagon Man: O. Smith

No. 1 Stand: H. Dutton, Manager. H. Englehart, A. Vath

No. 2 Stand: J. Brown, Manager. E. Barowell, G. Manago

Popcorn: J. Littler, Manager. M. Reilly, T. Winner, R. Dover, F. Greer

Candy Floss: Vic Pratt, Manager. J. Palumbo, R. Quigley, Luis Mota

Custard: H. Hoffman, Manager E. Hopkins, K. Burton

Back Yard Lunch Stand: W. Coyle, Manager. F. Kaner

Candy Top: Mel Hamlin, Manager; M. Miller, Assistant; W. White, Stockman

Menagerie Stands: J. Besser, No. 1; F. Morris, No. 2; A. Stryker, No. 3

Chamelon Dept.: Michael Healy, Joseph Trosey, Lee Eagon, Edw. Rautman

Butchers:

E. Drucker V. Long P. Billings R. Blackburn L. Travers P. Knox M. Benson R. Tipton J. Hoy V. Staseluinas

J. Sanders B. Marcelis C. Thompson S. Gregory W. Postak P. Prauskinas C. Stein E. Jakubowski J. Franko

F. Attard E. Guth, Jr. F. Guth F. Viola Wm. Logan V. Gursky B. Rosen H. Wolanke C. Leopold

Bottlemen: J. Grumley, S. Washington

Tent Manufacturing Department, Sarasota, Florida

Ralph Harding, Superintendent 1945 Canvas
Osmond Osmondson, Acting Superintendent
Leif Osmundsen, Superintendent 1946 Canvas (Joined Sea Bees in 1945)

Sail Makers: Mike Cunningham Frank B. Writht

Machine Operators

Mrs. Eva Harris Mrs. Sophia H. Meek

Mrs. Corene M. McElreath Mrs. Rosa T. Osmondson

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The 1945 Performance of the Greatest Show on Earth

Pat Valdo, General Director
Paul Oscard, Choreographer and Assistant Production Director
Billy Livingston, Art Director and Costume Designer
Florence Baker, Assisting Mr. Valdo
Fred Bradna, Equestrian Director
Merle Evans, Musical Director
Frank Torrence, Assistant Equestrian Director
Robert Barnhart, Technical Director
Clayton Behee, Aerial Director
Carlton Winckler, Lighting
Arthur Springer, Master of Ceremonies
Deems Taylor, Special Compositions for 1945

Patrons are afforded more than an hour's time before the performance begins to leisurely visit the Mammoth Menagerie of rare animals, including world famous giant gorillas, Mr. and Mrs. Gargantua the Great.

Display No. 1 - Amazonia, a rousing series of combative and competitive events by a conglamoration of girls in the ancient olympic tradition.

Display No. 2 - Sextette of fearless girls presented in a steel-barred arena with a performing group of the most dangerous and treacherous jungle-breed black and Spotted Leopards, Jaguars and Pumas. An offering never before attempted except in flight of fancy. A wild animal act made six times as dangerous by the appearance in the big cage of The Leopard Women.

Florence Bailey, Joyce Fay, Madeline Kries, Patricia Walsh, Verena Lawrence, Lucretia Darnay, Virginia Alexander (Alternate).

Displayed by Damoo Dhotre. Trained by William Story. Produced by Alfred Court.

Display No. 3 - The Wallendas. Hazardous and hair-raising exploits at dizzy heights by the most consistently thrilling daredevils in circus history.

Display No. 4 - Ringling Bjros and Barnum & Bailey Circus proudly presents a peerless pantomimic parade through the piquant periphery of childhood's happy memories, Alice in Circus Wonderland. Beloved characters from Lewis Carroll's immortal classic brought to life. The Walrus, the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, the March Hare, the Mock Turtle, the Gryphon, the Chessmen and many others. A glittering pageant embellished by the reappearance of priceless circus wagons restored to former grandeur. (Note especially the bandwagon on the sides of which are carved the Five Graces. This is the famous bandwagon that toured Europe with the Barnum & Bailey Circus at the turn of the century.)

Display No. 5 - Captain Roland Tiebor's Sea Lions. Paragons of perfect equilibrium. The most talked-about, most written-about animal act in America.

Display No. 6 - Gloom Takes a Holiday. Howing hurrican of histrionic hilarity in clowndom.

Display No. 7 - Unequalled and hitherto unattainable desperately dangerous aerialism by the world's foremost gymnasts.

Rose Sisters, The Leevalles Moncie, Cora Davis, The Mardons Rietta, Cartier Sisters.

Display No. 8 - William Heyer and "Starless Nite." Kings and queens of the saddle in the most notable presentation of high school equine novelties ever conceived for the eye of mortal man to feast upon.

Display No. 9 - The Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Clowns, with the Prince of the Toppling Tables, Harry Rittely. Captains of caprice cavorting through a cataclysmic cavalcade calculated to compel convulsive cachinnation incomparable.

Display No. 10 - Lalage, the lovely high priestess of rhythm aloft.

Display No. 11 - Ballerina, with Ernestine Clark and featuring the incomparable Loyal-Repensky Family of acrobatic bareback riders. Modern bareback riding wizardry in the nostalgic setting of another generation. Dreamlined for beauty and excitement. The circus of tomorrow in the long-remembered frame of yesteryear.

Display No. 12 - Stars over the bars. Circus high jumpers in high jinks on the hippodrome track.

Bobby Mader, Jeannie Davis, Bobby Steele.

Display No. 13 - Stars of the bounding trampoline and the aerial bars in sensational new somersaulting flanked by canine capers and acrobatic artistry.

Yu's Dogs, The Bombshells, Adriana & Charley, Lopez Trio, Nita & Pepi.

Display No. 14 - Three groups of magnificant educated horseflesh in liberty drills, headling by the remarkable boxing stallions trained and presented by Tagadore Hilding. The emolument of patience and understanding.

Roland Simpson, Tagadore Hilding, Thomas Cropper, Gordon Orton (alternate).

Display No. 15 - Bargain Day in Clownland. Madcap Merry Andrews in fun-packed fandangos.

Display No. 16 - Prodigious pyramidal plethora of equilibristic marvels from the old world and new.

The Karrels, Lin Tang Troupe, The Galassos.

Display No. 17 - Promenade of the Clowns. Red-nosed, chalk-faced, slap-happy funmakers from the earth's four corners.

Display No. 18 - Intrepid exponents of grace and daring in spectacular innovations on the flying trapeze and aerial bars and perches.

Clarkonian Claytons, The Erwingos, The Royals.

Display No. 19 - The Big Show Clowns. The circus "Share-A-Ride" Club presents its solutions to the present-day problem.

Display No. 20 - Grand Finale. The all-time high in precision parading by military maidens and behemoths of the jungle in a stirring closing feature. The Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey big-toppers and elephants.

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1945 Diary

Week Beginning March 25, 1945

The loading of the show trains began Monday at 1:00. First wagon to hit the runs was No. 58 and it was followed in rapid succession by other wagons and vehicles comprising what is needed to open in Madison Square Garden. Train number one had twenty flats with 63 units, and all flats are yellow with red title. The second section had 16 sleeping cars, the number one advance car and 8 stock cars which carried elephants and other menagerie lead animals. Advance car was used as a “dukie” car on the second train while the No. 81 car served in the same capacity on the first section. Charlie Landt had charge of one train crew with ten men and Assistant General Manager Ed Kelly had charge of the other train. Bob Kinsey of the Birmingham News and Age-Herald was his guest for the trip. Robert Ringling already was in New York City and Vice President James Haley and Mrs. Haley; General Manager George Smith and Mrs. Smith made the trip up by fast passenger to get everything ready in the Garden before the show trains hit town. Annual event at loading time is the blessing of the show trains and the personnel by Rev. Father Eslander of Sarasota’s Saint Martha’s Church. He was attended by Fr. W. J. Carroll and Paul Woodyard and 12 altar boys. One of the last-minute jobs for circus people is to leave their own autos with the Cooke Motor Co. for storage during the long circus tour. Then, with last-minute goodbyes, the train whistles blow and the trains leave winter quarters. There is a short pause at the depot where hundreds of townspeople are gathered to shout and wave their farewells. We had our last glimpse of Sarasota at 1:20 P. M., March 26. Movement from Sarasota via Atlantic Coast Line with our friends, J. C. Hughey, district passenger agent, and C. W. Colliver, Sarasota agent, in charge. First and second sections arrived at Florence, Ala., between 1:00 and 1:40, being close together on this run. Willie Carr, 24-hour man, had arranged the feeding and watering and met the trains here. Arrival at Rocky Mount, N. C., at 7:30 P. M. and left an hour later when an all-night game of Hearts started in No. 85 car. Al. Butler, another advance agent, met the trains at Washington at 8:30 arrival time. Newspaper photographers and reporters were in the Potomac Yards. Our first sight of the nation’s capital was the Washington Monument and later we saw the Lincoln Memorial. Then it was grand to see the Capitol against the sky and to reflect that we were grateful to be the Greatest Show on Earth in the greatest COUNTRY on earth. At 12:15 P. M. we stopped for five minutes in Baltimore, arriving at Philadelphia at 2:45 P. M. The weather was still warm and our luck was good with not so much as a hotbox to impede our progress northward. We arrived at Newark, N. J., at 5:45 P. M. and in the Newark yards the flats were cut loose. At 6:45 P. M. we were spotted at the station. After grabbing our bags, we made a dash for the ferry where we watched the N. Y. skyline and the “Old Girl Down the Bay.” After docking, those among us lucky enough to grab a taxi reached the Garden at 7:00 P. M. (The show trains ferry across later.) The run from Sarasota was the fastest the show had made in many years. The trains were unloaded Friday and the first wagon came down from the Mott Haven yards to the Garden at 5:45 P. M. As there was a boxing match in the Garden that evening, the animals and other equipment were parked in the basement or left in the street until the main arena as well should become available. On Saturday night, Robert Ringling presented “Gray Ghost,” a Tennessee Walking horse, aged 7, to Helen Traubel at the Metropolitan Opera House to be used especially for that night’s performance of Goetterdaemmerung. The “Ghost” did beautifully, having been trained to stand quietly at attention while Merle Evans’ band had blared Wagnerian music into its ears at winter quarters. The stunt got a lot of publicity. By Saturday afternoon the show was all in the Garden and the 6-inch dirt arena floor was down and ready; rigging hung aloft and ringbanks and stages set. A horse was lost today, with shipping fever. Temperature has dropped to the 50’s after warm, sunny unseasonal weather in N. Y. The advance sale indicates a big run.

Week Beginning April 1

Easter Sunday and April Fool Day all in one. “Jewel,” one of the elephants, had her picture taken while wearing a huge Easter bonnet that Jean Carson had made from yards of lace and fixings. It was a fine day outside. In the Garden, the rings, stages and all rigging were set. On Monday, Haley, Smith, Aylesworth, Versteeg and Blanchfield left for Hartford relative the shows’ attorney’s effort to withdraw the appeal of nolo contendere. In this they were unsuccessful, but Judge Shea suspended Blanchfield’s sentence and altered the technical length of sentences on the others so that it might be possible for them to serve as little as eight months and twenty days. And he stayed the sentences of Manager Smith and Boss Canvasman Aylesworth for sixty days so they can go back to winter quarters and finish getting the show on the road. Depression on the part of the whole troupe greeted news that the circus executives, sorely needed in this wartime season to help operate the show successfully in the interests of the Hartford fire claimants as well as in its own interests, must go to prison on technical manslaughter charges. Editorial comment over the country sustains the circus point of view. Show gave a full dress rehearsal Tuesday night, beginning at 8:15 and running until 12:30 when the troupe went home for some sleep. One of the girls was thrown from a horse during the “Amazonia” finale number but was not badly injured. At the opening performance Wednesday, April 4, William E. Cotter, chairman of the New York County War Finance Committee, presented a citation to Robert Ringling, circus president, in recognition of the support given by the show to the Payroll Savings Plan of the Seventh War Loan. For this one performance, 5,000 N. Y. industrial firms accounted for $83,655,000 in war bonds to make it the biggest bond sale opening night in the history of the amusement business. Show ran smoothly and reviews of newspaper and radio critics were lavish in their praise. Deems Taylor, who composed special music for the spec, conducted at this point; Merle Evans throughout the rest of the performance. Saturday matinee was a sellout and the laughter of children made music in the ears of the troupe. Sale is ’way ahead of former years in the Garden and it looks like a banner engagement.

Week Beginning April 8

The principal event of this week was the street parade to help send off the Seventh War Loan. This is the first time the Big One has paraded here in a quarter of a century. Last one was for the Milk Fund in 1921. Route: 8th Ave. to 34th St.; east to Broadway; north through Times Square to 7th Ave. to 57th St.; west to 8th Ave.; south to 49th and into the Garden. Parade started at 10:00 with a police escort followed by mounted heralds, the Five Graces Bandwagon pulled by a six-hitch and topped by half of the big-show band; section of riders; cages; Lion’s Bride Tableau Wagon; cage wagon with clown band on top; section of riders; chariots; cages; Lion and Gladiator Tableau Wagon with rest of big-show band; mounted section; elephants and calliope. Clowns in vehicles and afoot were mingled with the procession, the little 1884 Anniversary wagon pulled by a pony hitch was a highspot of the parade with Emmett Kelly looking the epitome of melancholia on top of it. Newsreels and newspaper photographers covered the parade thoroughly. At the Monday matinee Bobby Steele broke three bones in her ankle in a fall from a horse. The performance gained time all week and attendance was good up to Saturday when the matinee was cancelled in recognition of the funeral services for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. At the Thursday and Friday night performances, Mr. Ringling requested a moment of silent prayer following the playing of the National Anthem. All theaters were closed Saturday afternoon. Radio stations cancelled their regular programs in favor of newscasts and sacred music. The President had passed away at 4:35 P. M. at Warm Springs, Ga. Change of radio broadcasting cancelled out the Fitch Bandwagon’s annual hook-up with the circus. J. R. Griffin, show-auditor, was here from the Florida offices. Jane Johnson, office secretary, was on the sick list and many of the troupe have the “Garden variety” of springtime sniffles and coughs. The building is drafty, especially in the corridors. Ned Irish, acting manager of Madison Square Garden, and some of his staff, often watch the performances from the Garden loges.

Week Beginning April 15

Sunday’s matinee will go down in history as the largest money audience in the years the Circus has played the Garden. Valerie Antalek and Johnny Tripp on the sick list. On Monday, Fredric March, stage and screen star, visited and spent most of his time backstage among friends with the show. Gene Autry, cowboy screen and radio star, saw the night show and spent time in press room with his friend Bev. Kelley. Royal Highness Amir Faisal, viceroy of Hegiz and Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Saudi Arabian Government, and a party of 14 Arabian princes and government officials here enroute the San Francisco Peace Conference, saw the Monday night performance. General Manager George Smith returned Tuesday from Sarasota and reported everything going well toward the Washington opening under canvas later on. Colds are running rampant through the troupe . . . the “Garden variety” from drafty corridors. Charlie Bell was in the hospital Wednesday and Willie Carr is winning a bout with bronchial pneumonia at Poly-clinic. Deems Taylor, composer of spec music, eloped to Virginia Thursday morning and married Miss Lou Little of the Brooks Costume Co. Two girls thrown from horses and injured at the Thursday night show during the “Amazonia” number. On Friday night, the boy and the girl who won the scrap paper drive in Greater New York area, sponsored by the AWVS and the New York Journal-American, were presented with war bonds as prizes and permitted to participate in the circus performance. The boy went into the clown routines and the girl appeared on a spec float. Business was good all week and on Saturday matinee a complete sellout to break previous Sunday’s record. Plans are in the making to hold an election to determine who is the most popular clown in the show. Winner will receive diamond stickpin left in the will of the late Snapper Garrison, former Sells-Floto clown and trick cycle rider. It should be a hot contest, for the Big Show has the best clowns it has had in years.

Week Beginning April 22

Sunday was a big night, for the circus band rode the airwaves via the Fitch Bandwagon for the sixth successive year. The broadcast took place between 7:30 and 8:00 on the bandstand in the Garden with Merle Evans, the band, Bev. Kelley, Jack Costello and Felix Adler doing the conversation. An amusing sidelight: members of the circus publicity department assembled near the “mike” shouting “peanuts, popcorn, circus souvenirs . . .” to impersonate candy butchers. Night house was about 12,000 and most of them were in their seats in time to watch part of the broadcast which was beamed overseas as well as to America at large. On Monday afternoon, Felix Adler was absent in order to appear at a studio broadcast and so Allen Lester of the press department went in spec as the King of Hearts. Allen, grand trouper that he is, did very well except for getting his pants on backward, his headpiece lopsided and for leaving his trainbearers. On Tuesday Martha Wallenda went to the hospital for a major operation and will be out for three or four weeks. This was “hospital week” with Flo Bailey in for several weeks and a great misfortune to one of the high ladder acts on Friday when five girls were injured in a fall. Hurt were Angela Antalek, Munsie Antalek, Geraldine Hill, Yvonne Trembley, Violet Repinsky. All were taken to Polyclinic near by. Pat O’Brien, cinema star, visited Thursday night and had his picture taken with Lou Jacobs. Thursday matinee was a surprise sellout — in the rain. By Saturday, the ladder act girls had left the hospital except Yvonne Trembley with a fractured pelvis and Angela Antalek with a fractured pelvis and a broken ankle. Business uniformly good all week.

Week Beginning April 29

There are five girls now riding menage who were hurt doing Roman standing races and it is a sight to see them limping out to their mounts. Nineteen marines who were flown here from Iwo Jima came to the show and had their pictures taken. By Thursday, Frankie Saluto, dwarf clown, was voted “most popular.” Heavy Saluto support from departments other than performer personnel helped carry the day for Frankie. Felix Adler, Lou Jacobs and Emmett Kelly ran behind Saluto in that order. Estherina Repinsky of the bareback-riding family fell and broke her arm and will be out of the show for several weeks. Falling head-on, she had presence of mind to break the fall with her hands and saved herself more serious injuries. On Friday, Col. Tim McCoy, former movie star and once a concert feature of this show, visited. Just back from overseas with the 10th Army, the Colonel looked forty despite his 57 years and cut a dashing figure in the Garden lobby. Helen Traubel, Metropolitan opera songbird, was Robert and Irene Ringling’s guest Friday night. Business good all week and three shows were presented on Saturday. The morning performance was attended by those who had contributed seven pounds or more of clothing in the United Nations Clothing Drive. In addition to regular contributors, more than a thousand wounded service men saw the show. More than 127,000 pounds of clothing were accounted for through this one effort. At 10:00 A. M. Bev. Kelley introduced Grover Whalen, head of the drive, and Robert Ringling; and with a minimum of speech-making the show was under way. Performance over at noon. Matinee was a sellout and night house about 13,000. Allen Lester and Bill Fields returned from initial press work in Boston and reported that Boston looks good for the 1945 engagement. Disposition of N.Y.C. dailies among press agents as follows for 1945 N.Y. engagement: World-Telegram and Herald Tribune, Allen Lester; Times, Beverly Kelley; News and Journal-American, Frank Braden; Mirror and N. Y. Sun, William Fields; Post, P. M., Enquirer, Bronx Home News and Brooklyn papers, Bernie Head. Kelley and Frank Morrissey handle all the radio stations. Wire services and magazines are distributed among the whole publicity department. Showing for both press and radio has been by far the heaviest in the history of the show, peacetime or wartime.

Week Beginning May 6

Sunday night, during the third-from-closing number, Torrence and Victoria were doing their finish routine and were descending from the dome of the Garden when a rope fouled, causing Victoria to slip from the foot-hold of her husband. She fell to the arena floor and died on the way to Polyclinic Hospital. This is a sad loss, for Victoria was held in high esteem by the whole circus and the act was the finest of its kind. This marks the first death to a performer from an accident in more than a decade. Monday was V-E Day and the town went wild in the Times Square, the Wall Street and the garment dealers’ areas. And the night house was the lightest of the run. The Mayor of N. Y. had been on the radio, telling people to go on home and to celebrate the European war’s end officially on Tuesday. Broadway lit up solidly on Tuesday night and again the night house was light. Most of the people were celebrating outside. The funeral services for Victoria took place Wednesday in the Actors’ Chapel at St. Malachy’s Church, Father Sullivan in charge. The body was shipped to Sarasota for burial. Thursday matinee brought some excitement as numerous fire engines rolled up to the 49th Street side of the Garden after a short had occurred in the men’s lavatory, causing smoke to curl out into the balcony. Firemen and ushers extinguished the fire and the show went on without interruption. The Bellevue Hospital show took place Friday morning in ideal weather and brought cheer to patients and to participants alike. Pat Walsh had a narrow escape from serious injury when she fell between the horses while riding Roman in the finale. Jack Dempsey, just back from a tour of the fighting fronts, attended with his daughters Saturday afternoon.

Week Beginning May 14

Bobbie Warriner Mader figured in some excitement when one of her horses fell during the chariot races and was dragged 100 feet before regaining his feet and finishing the race. Three shows Monday gave the troupe a workout. Included the annual morning show for orphans and everyone worked extra hard for the kids. Night show Monday was our ninety-third in the Garden this season and business up to now is equal to last year’s despite the loss of a performance commemorating the death of President Roosevelt. Juanita Deisler hurt her head in a fall to the net during the flying act Tuesday and is in Polyclinic. Report from Sarasota has canvas and new grandstand coming through on schedule. Temperature early this week in the seventies and warm enough to be under canvas. Mrs. Haley returned from a Montana trip to see her daughters. George Smith came back from Sarasota to help get the show out of the Garden. Blackstone, the magician, attended. Ed Kelly returned from Boston where he and Bill Conway have been arranging for the show to enter Boston Garden. Baseball star, Joe Di Maggio, attended and was photographed with a group of clowns.

Week Beginning May 20

The show started leaving Madison Square Garden early in the evening and most of the menagerie was loaded and enroute by 9:35 P. M., leaving the basement looking bare. The last of the show left the building at 1:30 A. M. and the trains were ready to roll at 4 A. M. First stop was at Pawling, N. Y. for 45 minutes. Flowers in bloom through the countryside and we had been in the city so long that this seemed surprising. After stops at Philmont, N. Y. at 2:40 and Pittsfield, Mass., at 5:00 and Springfield (for inspection of trains in a pouring rain) at 7:55 and at Worcester at 10:05, we arrived in Boston at 1:40 A. M. Tuesday and the train crews got busy with the unloading at once. We had a fast late afternoon rehearsal and opened promptly at night with a War Bond benefit performance. Another benefit performance took place on the 28th when a check for $4,200 was turned over to the Hearst Newspapers which sponsors the Boston Hospitalized Service Men’s Fund. On the same day, Fred Bradna celebrated his seventy-third birthday and received a $500 War Bond as a present from admirers on the show. Bobbie Steele went to White Plains to pick up her mount, Night Call, which had been left there ill while the show was in N.Y.C. She’ll rejoin in Washington. Helen Wolthing was injured in a fall from a horse and will be out of the show for two weeks. Business started slow and built gradually, but the total receipts will not match the 1944 engagement. Two horses died here and one was the show pet, Eva, who was 17 years old. Rose Behee was hurt in a fall to the net. The show did its annual stint at the Children’s Hospital for the seventeenth time.

Washington, D. C., June 5-9

The show arrived at 7:05 A. M. Monday and found the new canvas in the air and the whole physical show, brought to Washington from Sarasota and set up during the last days of the Boston Garden engagement, looking beautiful. District firemen and inspectors from the Bureau of Standards and from the Board of Underwriters tested the new flameproof canvas with match, candle, cigarette lighter and blowtorch and pronounced it flame resistant and satisfactory. We rehearsed Tuesday afternoon and opened that night with a War Bond benefit performance. General Marshall was guest of honor on this occasion, had a grandchild with him and both enjoyed the show. The new metal grandstand has steel chairs and wider aisles and has considerably less capacity than the big tops have carried in the past. It is heavier too. The bleacher seat planks are wider and impregnated against taking fire. Bibles, similarly treated, are the only part of the grandstands not metal. Electrically lighted EXIT signs are hung at specified points from quarter poles, and NO SMOKING signs appear at numerous places in menagerie and big top. Weather rather cool and business very big. Bobbie Warriner Mader hurt in a spill from a horse while going over the jumps and out of show for a week. Pat Patterson, faithful backyard watchman and once an executive on Hagenback-Wallace, was struck by a train and killed during the loading on getaway night. “Bobby of Brookfield,” newly-purchased baby rhinoceros from Ed Bean’s Brookfield Zoo in Illinois and the second baby rhino ever born in the western hemisphere, was shipped here and unloaded from shipping crate by John Sabo and menagerie crew. “Bobby” was frightened in his new quarters and charged people continually until he rubbed a raw place near the horn. He is a nice animal, 19 months old and recently weaned. We packed up in the rain and the last wagon didn’t leave the lot until 6:15 Sunday morning. We have less workingmen than ever before in the Big One’s history, and many are new and inexperienced. Since the run to Baltimore is only 40 miles the work was not rushed. Ruth and Bev Kelley have a new daughter, Kathleen, born Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.

Baltimore, MD, June 11-16

Last section arrived in Baltimore 9:20 Sunday morning. Some 500 kids aided our crews in erecting big top and menagerie. Seats were put in on Monday morning. Show opened Monday night with War Bond benefit performance. This one a sellout of course and business the rest of the week tremendous. Turnaway every night. The baby rhino is quieter now and seems to be settling down to being one of the circus “family.” The lion cubs, born in Sarasota early this spring, were put into a separate cage here. Despite shortage of help and general inexperience, the show came down and got off the lot in good time Saturday night.

Wilmington, Del., June 18-20

During unloading, Edward Brown, poler, was hurt. Lot two miles from run. Menagerie corralled here and tent sent on to Philadelphia to be erected there in advance of our arrival. Two bulls caused some excitement when a wagon got away from the brakeboy and started downhill. It was stopped and the elephants quieted before damage was done. Freak windstorm hit during Monday matinee, causing no damage. A fire started in a bale of straw near the elephant picket line some distance from the big top and caused no damage except an exaggerated story from the local correspondent for the Philadelphia Bulletin who staged his own excitement and was reprimanded for it by his paper. There was a good deal of rain all during the engagement and business was only fair.

Philadelphia, PA, June 21-30

Lot far out at Erie and G Streets. First evening performance was a War Bond benefit and a sellout. For the first time in history of the Big Show, women — including Mrs. Robert Ringling and Mrs. Fred Bradna, assisted in getting the physical show ready. They and some other women worked with the grandstand chairs. Cloudburst Thursday night resulted in water bellies that had to have holes punched in them to let the water out. No damage was done, but the big top arena was like a lake until the water drained off. No show Sunday, which found a good many of the company in the churches, movies and at Atlantic City on the beach. At the annual Orphan Show sponsored by Ellis Gimbel, a silver loving cup was presented to the Circus. Fred Bradna received it in behalf of the management. Frank Palumbo gave his own orphan party Tuesday for several thousand kids, and late Friday night he gave a party at his club for front doormen, ticket sellers and some staff members. Cigar Charlie, ringstock man, was kicked and injured during menage act. Business was disappointing. Morning charity shows given at both General and Jewish hospitals. Allen Lester’s wife and daughter and Bev Kelley’s children, Stephen and Patricia, visiting here.

Harrisburg, PA. July 2-3

Three-mile haul to the Cameron Street lot and most of the show was up on Sunday. On the following day, we gave three performances (at 2:00, 7:00 and 9:30) to compensate for the fact that we left town after the Tuesday matinee so we might be certain to make the July Fourth matinee on time in Reading, the next stand. Business pretty good at all three Monday shows; Tuesday matinee fair. The last wagon left the lot at 7:15 P. M. after a fast teardown. The run is 55 miles.

Reading, PA. July 4-5

Afternoon show only forty minutes late to a fair house only. Weather hot; lot grassy; three and a half-mile haul. Cookhouse served prime rib of beef dinner with all the trimmings in honor of Independence Day. Night house fair. Second matinee in the rain. House light and night similar. Teardown in the rain, but still fastest thus far this season. Canvas on the ground by midnight and last wagon off the lot at 1:35.

Allentown, PA. July 6-7

There is hardly any canvas crew at all, so all of us were called early to help get the big top into the air. Late matinee the first day and light house. Second matinee also light but night attendance good both dates. One of the Negro workingmen badly injured by a falling quarter pole. Fairground lot; two and a half-mile haul. Just before show entrained, some of the men went to the hospital to donate blood to the injured canvasman.

Albany, N. Y. July 9-10

A 284-mile run into here and a four-mile haul. Trains arrived by 12:25 A. M. Monday and at 5 A. M. Manager Kelly and his assistant, Lloyd Morgan, “invited” everyone to help put it up. Doors open by 1:40 to a good house. Have missed no performances despite acute help shortage. Monday night turnaway; Tuesday matinee big and turnaway again at night. A baby rhesus monkey was born here and named “Al.” for ALbany.

Schenectady, N. Y. July 11-12

Lot grassy, but soft and spongy and tons of cinders needed to fill holes made by tractors and heavy wagons. No matinee scheduled first day. Night performances instead at 7 and 9 :30 to good turnout. Business very good second day. Circus radio dept. in cooperation with Westinghouse Electric, which owns WGY here, tested vocal volume of animals and humans. A canary’s voice is bigger than Gargantua’s or a lion’s and so is a sideshow spieler according to these interesting tests.

Utica, N. Y. July 13-14

Arrived late, but no matinee show was scheduled and we made the 7 o’clock show on time. Jack wagon No. 139 lost rear wheel enroute the lot and was picked up by a boom truck and hauled backward, saving plenty of time. Otherwise it would have had to be unloaded in the street. Business light both first night performances but good both Saturday shows. Richard Turner, 17, sideshow workingman, run over and killed when he lost his grip in trying to catch one of the trucks on the way to the runs. William Bridges, 37, trainman, hit by automobile at the runs and suffered broken hip. Show loaded in rain.

Syracuse, N. Y. July 16-17

Ushers staged a sit-down strike Monday when show was in trouble up to its neck through some liability insurance misunderstanding. Show finally got under way at 4:10 to good crowd. Night house big and both shows brought big business the second day although a steady downpour complicated the teardown and loading.

Rochester, N. Y. July 18-19

Missed our first scheduled performance in this town, as it rained all day. We called off the 7 o’clock show when water bellies in the big top and resulting water on the track made it impossible to present a creditable performance. The second performance, scheduled for 9:30, got under way by ten and to a good house. Local fire officials would not permit use of straw or sawdust on the track and in some places water was over our shoes. A supply of cinders helped some. Business was good both performances second day and we came down dry.

Niagara Falls, N. Y. July 20-21

Well, the Circus saw the Falls, but the Falls didn’t see the Circus — not in great numbers. Big top was patched here to repair where holes were punched in the water bellies at Rochester. The flame-proofing process apparently has toughened the cloth and somehow prevents holes from becoming larger as always was the case in the canvas used heretofore. It is heavier and seems to be saturated with the flameproofing to the point where it doesn’t absorb water to any great extent. It is more waterproof than unflameproofed canvas. This is strictly a one-day stand and we did one day’s business in two days. We haven’t enough help to make one-day stands and occasionally must play a town which we fear in advance won’t support us for a longer engagement. Newlyweds got a break here — a trip to the honeymoon city at the expense of RBB&B.

Buffalo, N. Y. July 23-24

For first time this season the cars were nearer to the lot than was the cookhouse. Muddy lot but big business all performances. Liberty Horse named “Old Fashioned” broke his leg when his foot got hung up in a railroad switch. A policeman was called to shoot him. Teardown here fastest yet. Canvas rolled by 12:10 and last wagon off the lot at 1:55.

Cleveland, O. July 25-29

Made one of the fastest runs ever made by the Big One. Frank Shepherd, who fell from a trapeze in Akron two years ago, visited here. Still in a wheel chair but cheerful and confident of returning someday. Business not up to expectations here, but we have not stayed so long in previous engagements. Some showers but weather principally fair. Baby leopard born this spring and raised on a bottle died here. Show picked up 50 new workingmen here including six former circus employees recently discharged from the Service. Teardown a record for the season. Canvas rolled by midnight; last wagon off at 1:20 sharp.

Pittsburgh, PA. July 29 - August 4

A new lot at 51st and Butler Street and the twenty-four-hour man spent a lot of time getting it ready. First performance Monday night and a War Bond sellout. A downpour at ten o’clock had the backyard a quagmire a few minutes later. Dressing tents flooded and water bellies burst over the blue seats. Occasional rains and otherwise hot and sultry weather did business no good. On the whole it was disappointing considering that show has not been here in several years. Meat wagon was broken into and considerable meat and butter stolen. The flameproofed canvas has a surface that holds dust readily. This engagement in the smoky city won’t make it any cleaner. Russell Miller, recently reemployed after an absence of some years and who once was George Smith’s assistant on the front door, was killed at the runs when struck by a train.

Columbus, O. August 6-7 Big business here despite the fact that we are the fourth circus this season. Fred DeWolfe rejoined the show after an absence of several weeks due to illness. Ohio is full of showfolk and many visited here. Some of the troupe visited grave of Chick Bell and of others in cemetery that borders the Mound Street lot here.

Dayton, O. August 8-9

Our seven o’clock performance here showed to about 4,100 and the 9:30 performance to only about 2,800. The matinee Thursday was good and the night house capacity. Fairground lot with the show on the infield. Labor shortage is acute again and nearly everyone doubling in b. and o. (brass and overalls).

Cincinnati, O. August 10-12

Broke in a new lot here: the Carthage Fairground. It is ten miles from downtown Cincinnati, but in every way superior to the old Cumminsville lot on which we have exhibited for many years. Business satisfactory for a new lot and unexpectedly big Saturday night. When gasoline rationing is lifted, this lot should be a dandy. Numerous members of The Billboard staff visited here as did Clara Cadona and John Robinson IV. Local Circus Fans held a party honoring the Loyal-Repensky family. Robert Ringling left for a couple weeks in Evanston, Ill., his home. Some acts and the circus band entertained at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The Borza kids, Peppi and Neta, stole the show.

Indianapolis, Ind. August 13-15

Nobody with it will ever forget Indianapolis, 1945, for here we got the flash (Tuesday at 6:10 P. M.) that Japan had capitulated. The city was a noisy turmoil, but order was maintained on the show grounds and attendance very good at all performances. Lots of rain here and Robert Ryan, 44, an electrician, was electrocuted when he picked up a hot wire that had become disconnected from one of the cage wagons.

West Allis (Milwaukee), Wisc. August 17-19 Lot on the State Fair grounds; dry and grassy. We arrived late Thursday afternoon and worked until dark. Business started light and built into turnaways. Ringstock boy was kicked and had leg broken. Numerous show people and Circus Fans visited during this engagement. A year ago, an infantile paralysis epidemic here officially isolated at their homes all children under 13 years of age, and we did almost no business.

Minneapolis, Minn. August 21-23 Warm days and cool nights and unusually fine business. We have not been up this way in several years. A baseball game was played between some of the clowns and some of the ballet girls. Fred DeWolfe and Lloyd Morgan went fishing at Lake Minnetonka and made no comment on the day’s catch. Although the run to St. Paul is only ten miles, it is a railroad move for all the equipment except the cookhouse units which went overland.

St. Paul, Minn. August 24-25

All hands got a 5 A. M. call to put it up and we managed to be ready by 7:15 P. M. for our first scheduled performance. Business was poor here at all performances, a surprise to all after the big turnout in Minneapolis. Some visitors from the Cole Bros. Circus appeared here.

Kansas City, Mo. August 27-29 Enroute here, we fed and watered at Des Moines and our trains lay alongside the Cole Circus train which was unloading for their engagement there tomorrow. Visits were exchanged with the Cole personnel and everyone had a big time until our trains moved on toward K. C. Our troupe has gone softball wacky with no less than six teams on the show. Robert Ringling returned to the show here. Pat Valdo and Mrs. Charles Ringling attended a Cole performance. Business very big here.

Wichita, Kansas. August 31 - September 1

First time here in five seasons and business great. Ticket wagons all closed early. “Johnnie,” one of the chimps died here. Mrs. Haley, who has been visiting her ranch at White Sulphur Springs, Montana, rejoined here.

Enid, Okla. September 3

Biggest single day of the tour here. $40,000 for a Labor Day bonanza. Wind blew all day. On Sunday, several visited the Russell show at Norman near by. Canvas down at 12:20 and show off the lot at 1:45. Jump to Oklahoma City 88 miles.

Oklahoma City, Okla. September 4-6

Shortage of help was acute here as schools have started and kid labor is scarce. Fairground lot, nice and grassy. Temperature in the high eighties. Father Sullivan, chaplain of the Circus Fans Assoc., joined here for a vacation with the show. Visitors from the nearby Russell Brothers show were on hand. Ball game between performances was a win for the Ramdoodlers over the Clowns 11-9. Business very big here. Run to Ft. Worth is 236 miles. Last wagon off the lot here at 1:35 A. M.

Forth Worth, Texas. September 7-9

Arrived Friday afternoon and put the show up for the Saturday matinee which was big. Night a sellout. Same for Sunday. Father Sullivan held a mass in the big top Sunday morning. Fastest tear-down of the season was here. We played the same lot (on the T-P reservation) that the Barnum and Bailey show played forty-three years ago, Fred and Ella Bradna’s first year with the circus. George Mays of train crew sustained broken leg.

Dallas, Texas, September 10-12 Fairground lot and tight. Initial matinee light; night good. Very hot weather. At spec time Wednesday afternoon a rain and high wind hit the big top in frightening gusts. Quarter poles jumped and some side poles broke and spectators (2,700 of them) streamed out of the stands in near-panic. Fred Bradna was hit by a quarter pole and trampled by the mob and had his hip broken. Ed Kelly broke his foot when hit by a swinging quarter pole. Horse tops were blown down and the sidewalled, coralled menagerie canvas too. The big top sat in a low area or it might have gone too. Ushers and other attendants were unable to stop the spectators in their mad rush. All were soaked, but many returned when the performance was resumed. Back yard a water hole; water ran through the dressing tops in regular rivers. Night house a sell-out. Last wagon off the lot at 12:50 A. M. Jump to Houston 264 miles.

Houston, Texas, September 13-16

The show was put up on Thursday after long run and arrivals at intervals ending with the last section’s at 3:40. We left Fred Bradna in Baylor Hospital, Dallas. Ed Kelly’s foot in a cast, but he is working. First matinee light, but big night house. Lot at Buffalo Stadium. F. H. YonRosenbery, for years head usher at Madison Square Garden, joined as ticket auditor. Saturday matinee big and the night house too. Sunday shows big. Jake Newman, general agent of the Cole show visited. Prop Boys beat the Performers 16-6 in a ball game, Father Sullivan umpiring the game. Florida residents worrying about the hurricane that hit the home state today. Christie circus family were visitors here.

Beaumont, Texas, September 17-18

Three-mile haul to fairground lot slowed us to a four o’clock matinee. Attendance light, but night a sell-out. Second matinee fair and night big. Very hot weather. Richard Shipley, elephant boss, fell off one of the bulls and broke his arm at the runs. Set a new teardown record here with canvas down and rolled by midnight and the last wagon off the lot at 1:40.

Lafayette, La. September 19

Fifty-eight hundred people saw our first show here, a four o’clock matinee. Night business tremendous despite the fact that lot is outside of town and no regular transportation available. Dismantling the show was slow because we had no town help. Run to New Orleans is 145 miles.

New Orleans, La. September 20-23

Lot knee-deep in mud and water and cost us our opening performance despite 100 loads of shell poured onto the quagmire. Remaining performances all big and two were turnaways. Mac and Bobbie Steele left here. Arthur Hopper, traffic manager, and many other advance agents on hand for this engagement. Troupe did usual sightseeing and visited the famous restaurants hereabouts. Show officials here set the closing date as Sarasota on November 22. Tear-down at 10:25; canvas down and rolled at 12:05 and last wagon off at 1:40.

Baton Rouge, La. September 24-25

Weather here hottest of the season. Show slow getting up because of this and shortage of help in most working departments. First matinee light, but sell-out at night; second matinee big, but night attendance hurt by rain which lasted all evening.

Alexandria, La. September 26-27

This is Hunter Jarreau’s home town and his newspaper is notoriously friendly to show people. Business unusually good for a two-day stand in this small city and the first night was turnaway. Hot, damp weather on a wet, grassy lot. Some 65 soldiers from the army air base helped us tear down.

Shreveport, La. September 28-29

Put-up was slow until schools let out and about 100 kids helped us. In threatening weather, the general admission wagons nevertheless closed early and a sell-out ensued. Started raining at 9 P. M. Lot still very wet on Saturday, but no more rain. Business big both performances. The troupe saddened by the sudden death of Toby Tyler, 61, big show clown for many years, and by death of James Welch, midway electrician’s helper, found dead in 116 wagon, of a heart attack.

Texarkana, Tex.=Ark. September 30 - October 1

Cool weather Sunday and dry, barren lot. Some painting done during Sunday layoff here. Rain Sunday night brought a water problem on the lot Monday. Big matinee attendance both days and turnaway at night.

Little Rock, Ark. October 2-3

On arrival here found the Royal American Shows on a side track enroute Jackson. Our lot very muddy and moving on made it worse. Backyard and hippodrome track a veritable sea of mud and the management called off the initial performance. No matinee had been billed. On the second day there was no improvement in lot conditions despite herculean effort by twenty-four-hour man and all hands. So it was decided that rather than give a bad performance we would cancel entirely. This is the first time this season that a town has been cancelled after we were set up. Previously, we had lost one scheduled performance. Julius Juyton was stricken with a heart ailment while helping the show off the lot and died at University Hospital. Last wagon off the lot at 6:10 and the run to Memphis is 132 miles.

Memphis, Tenn. October 4-6

Fairground lot and in fine shape. Three-mile haul and temperature in the high fifties. First matinee disappointing and weather threatening. Night attendance also disappointing and rain began at 10:15. Second matinee in the rain was about 3,800, hut night house a sell-out with ticket wagons closing early. Saturday matinee was a surprise. With a poor downtown advance sale, it was a turnaway. Last night was big. Joe Simon, former RBB&B musician and now a movie house manager here, gave a midnight show for circus personnel Friday.

Nashville, Tenn. October 8-9

Arrived Sunday night after a 253-mile run. Trains unloaded but no work done on lot until Monday morning. Had a 5:00 call Monday morning and show was ready by 12:30. Rain began at 10:00 A. M. and continued in a fine mist all day. Despite this and cold weather we had 6,200 at the Monday matinee and the night was turnaway. Sun shone second afternoon, which was well attended, but by night it had turned cold and topcoats appeared all over the lot. Turnaway at night. Some half a hundred war veterans from a government hospital nearby attended the performance. The lot in Centennial Park here is so beautiful that once, years ago, when Dexter Fellows and Jack “Cow” O’Connell were arguing about immortality, and Dex had asked “Cow” what was his idea of the Hereafter, O’Connell answered, “The lot in Nashville, Tennessee!”

Birmingham, Ala. October 10-11

Long run into here and a three-mile haul and night doors (first show billed) opened at 7:40 to turnaway crowd. Sixty crippled children from Mercy Hospital were guests of Bob Kincey, our friend from the News and Age-Herald. Big business continued the second day and there was some sideshow excitement when smoke and the odor of burning rubber filled the kidshow top. Looking in vain for the India Rubber man, the customers finally learned it was, instead, a short circuit, and paid little if any attention to it. But if we had not had flameproof canvas, we might have lost the top. The performers worked right on as if nothing had gone wrong. Canvas down here and rolled by 11:45 for a new season’s record.

Gasden, Ala. October 12

Afternoon show delayed until 4 o’clock and was attended by about 3,200, while the night house was nearly six thousand persons. There was a four-mile haul and the weather was cold.

Chattanooga, Tenn. October 13

Late arrival and the last train not in before noon. Haul was only half a mile. But it was after five when the matinee got under way, but it was a sell-out. Night house a turnaway. Numerous members of the troupe are victims of bad colds and bronchial troubles brought on during recent cold, wet weather.

Knoxville, Tenn. October 15-16

Most of the work done Sunday following early arrival. No movies here on Sunday, so the churches, the hotels, the cars and window-shopping occupied the troupe. In the lobby of the Andrew Johnson Hotel, our Allen Lester met his reverse namesake, Lester Allen, comedian here with a road show called School for Brides. Both matinees big and night houses were turnaway. Weather quite cool. Streets very busy here, especially for early in the week. The Atom Bomb plant is not far from here and employs a large community full of prospective show patrons.

Bristol, Va.-Tenn. October 17

After a run of 134 miles, we had it all in town by 11:10 and put up on one of the oddest lots of this or any other season. The big top lies in a valley and midway and menagerie on the side of a steep hill. Matinee started at 6 P. M. and was a sell-out. Night show started at 8:30 and had about 6,000 in attendance. It was cold by the time we were loading. Once, in 1937, at Johnson City, near here, we had snow.

Roanoke, Va. October 18-19

Show grounds at Mehar Field one of the prettiest extant. Sunny weather and big business all performances. Someone dropped a cigarette behind the dressing top and started a sizable grass fire that required the city fire department to put it out. At night, somebody lit a pile of straw ten feet from the big top and one of our water trucks succeeded in putting it out.

Lynchburg, Va. October 20

Short haul helped us make a 3:30 matinee here after the last train had arrived at 8:40. We have corralled the menagerie in all instances, using sidewall only, since Pittsburgh. On sunny days, this presents a nice open-air zoo appearance and the photographers particularly like it. Good matinee attendance here, but not good at night. We were saddened by news of the death of Gordon Orton, at Little Rock where he had stayed behind ill when we left there. He was a great trouper, quiet, self-effacing and belonging to an older generation whose living members are now all too few.

Richmond, Va. October 22-24

Arrived Sunday morning with the temperature in the high seventies. Mile-and-a-half haul to one of the tightest lots of the season. Menagerie, corralled, was almost a block-and-a-half long, reaching from a point about the center of the big top all the way around the front end. And it was not over twenty feet wide at any point. Front wheels and trucks of wagon No. 118 came loose and wagon overturned as it was being pulled onto the lot, but band instruments and uniforms inside not damaged. Good matinee and a sell-out at night. Mrs. Ed Kelly visiting her husband here. War Vets (25 of them) from Maguire Hospital saw the performance. Rain began early Tuesday and continued until the backyard was a sea of mud. Big top leaks a lot now. Weather turned cold, but despite all this the matinee was 4,800 and the night a turnaway. Wednesday, a lot of straw helped recondition the lot and business continued big altho cold weather and all-day mist bucked us. Sideshow, too, did big business here.

Norfolk, Va. October 25-27

Started with a night show here in cold, gloomy weather, and it was a sell-out. Someone remembered that 35 years ago today the Barnum & Bailey show closed in Richmond and went to Bridgeport quarters. Had rain Thursday night, but bright sunshine Friday and big business. Col. Charles Consolvo, after whom a Circus Saints and Sinners unit here is named, brought the St. Paul Episcopal Boys Choir, which he sponsors, to the show. Saturday was Navy Day and this port naturally had its share in the national observation of the U. S. Navy’s 170th year of existence. Weather turned cold, but good business continued. Lots of Shore Patrolmen in evidence to handle large numbers of navy boys, some “overboard,” attending the show and hanging around the backyard. The marriage of our contracting press agent, Bernie Head, rumored when we were in Memphis, was confirmed. Head married a Texas girl and this reduces the bachelors in the publicity department to Braden and Killilea.

Rocky Mount, N. C. October 29

Sunday arrival and sunny weather on our lot, the Fairground. We put circus units into the town’s Victory War Loan parade here Monday: bandwagon and tableaus; five open cages; mounted heralds, calliope and twelve bulls. Matinee a sell-out and night big.

Goldsboro, N. C. October 30

First time here in twenty years and Goldsboro never was known as a very good show town, but we did it here today with almost 8,000 at the matinee and almost that much at night. This week has five stands, a transportation and manpower problem these days, but everyone pitches in and “gets with it,” and we are really rolling.

Greensboro, N. C. October 31

Two-and-a-half-mile haul to the Fairground lot in ideal weather. Matinee started at 5:00 with good attendance and the night house was big. Joe Upchurch of Washington, D. C., brought North Carolina’s Governor Cherry and party to dine in our cookhouse and to see the show. Tom Killilea has his right hand in a cast. Broke it falling UP a stairway in Lynchburg. No damage here due to Halloween celebrators, but we expected it.

Winston-Salem, N. C. November 1

Temperature in the eighties here and the Fairgrounds lot in good shape. Matinee got under way at 4:20 to a good crowd and the night was turnaway. The odor of tobacco permeates the whole downtown area in this city. There is a story that the reason the label on the Camel cigarette package is a dromedary (one hump) instead of really a camel is because years ago when the American Tobacco Company decided it wanted a picture of a real camel for its package, the Ringling show was playing the town and the groom led out a dromedary instead of a camel for the photographer to shoot.

Charlotte, N. C. November 2-3

Bright, warm sunshine greeted us here, our first visit in several seasons. The first matinee was not bad, but the night a complete sell-out. On Saturday, threatening weather hovered until mid-afternoon when rain started and continued until nine at night. Good matinee, but night attendance hurt by the weather. Jump tonight is 260 miles to Atlanta, and our 1945 day-by-day diary must come to a close here so the printer may have time to print the route book and have them on the show before closing. We still have Atlanta, Jacksonville, Miami, West Palm Beach, Saint Petersburg, Tampa and Sarasota to play before we close on November 22nd. See you in the Garden in the spring.

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Statistics of the 1945 Tour

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