Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Route Book, 1948

From: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows, Route, Personnel and Statistics for the Season of 1948. Sarasota, FL: Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey, 1948. Program, staff & performers, statistics. See Routes for this season's route. 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.

Bulls Eye for Big Bertha

Spectacular has been the Big Show's season of 1948 — spectacular in its triumphal coast-to-coast tour, in its mighty operation, in its phenomenal grosses and in its never-to-be-forgotten performance. Spectacular is the word for it. And don't overlook the nut, pardner. It's a bit of a show-off, too.

The Madison Square Garden engagement was fabulous — hot out of the cosmic dream books. Enough people were turned away during that epochal run to fill the Yale Bowl thrice over, two laps high. Showmen pinched themselves in Broadway producers' offices, in Lindy's, in '21, in Sardi's and in vain to make sure they were awake. "It's the show business millenium to end all milleniums," chorused three Harvard refugees from the Theatre Guild. In Moscow, Joe Stalin, awaiting the flash on his hoped for U. S. debacle, observed the world rushing through the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey gates and gnashed his Odessa store teeth. "We're double-crossed," he howled. "Fire the whole Red American Fifth Column! But liquidate John Ringling North first."

Boston attendance was a hot runner-up to Gotham's, and under canvas in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and elsewhere along the Atlantic seaboard, turnaways reigned. Bridgeport set the pace for all New England, with Plainfield, near New Britain and Hartford, returning Connecticut to the Ringling-Barnum fold. And so it went. The Middle West wavered only with a few light matinees, but night turnaways enlivened the glides to Milwaukee, to Minneapolis, to Kansas City, the take-off for the first of the big railroad zooms — Kansas City to Denver. Then the jet-soar to Salt Lake and more stampede business. On up to Butte, Spokane, Seattle and Portland rolled The Greatest Show on Earth, and spectacular were the turnaways.

"Like a river of platinum, the four long, railroad trains, silver-enameled and streamlined in Ringling Red," swept majestically down from the high North into San Francisco, where for the first time in its glorious annals, the Big Show shifted on the road from its world's largest big top into a building — The Cow Palace. This immense, ideally-arranged structure turned out to be a gold mine. Fantastic was the overwhelming business and all-time record intake in seven performances there, with thousands turned away each night.

Los Angeles for 8 days was a heavy night stand, with mostly light matinees (polio and heat), but it will long be remembered for its premiere, its night of stars, when everybody in pictures who is anybody (over 200 strong) trouped under the big top for the benefit of St. John's Hospital, Hollywood's own. To Kay Kyser and his staff, Spyrus Skouras and his, great credit must go. Stars, directors and Pat Valdo, general director of the Big Show, achieved a miracle of mass direction and synchronization. But it was Kay Kyser's "baby," as all hands sincerely insisted. LIFE and LOOK magazines covered it with all-out zeal, and the newspapers whooped it up from Coast to Coast. It was something to tell your grandchildren in 1999.

The swing from the West Coast into the Southwest and the Old South was a Song of Big Business, ending on the high note of season's end in Miami, with Sarasota, Home, Sweet Home, calling the troupers, human and animal, to its keys, its bay shore and its comparatively restful days under the winter sun. 'Twas a long, hard season, a glorious season, but if you don't think it was a tough one, you weren't with it.

But, brother, it will stand out long after all of us are gone as the One for the Master Ledger, the BIG PLUSH BOOK.

Here are the top reasons why:

John Ringling North produced for 1948 the greatest and the finest circus performance ever seen on land or sea. It was and is truly "The Talk of the Nation." His policies were Big Show, Big Business, geared for Glory and for Gold. Arthur M. Concello, with his magic, portable, unfolding, truck-unit, time saving grandstands, his steel mesh wild animal arenas, his expert management and his swift, sure decisions, had Big Bertha so mobile, so streamlined and so alert she operated like a well oiled marionette.

When John Ringling North was in Europe in July, August and September, engaging hit attractions for 1949, his brother, Henry Ringling North, vice-president, was a tower of strength, representing him, and representing him well, in circus and national deals.

And always on the job, watching and steering in good going and rough, was Frank McClosky, manager, quiet and unassuming, but ever poised to meet crises and go to town like a bat out of hell.

But here's the deadline. There are so many good men, both prominent and obscure, who should be mentioned here. Big executives and big agents, too, that should be listed and praised, guys who moved Big Bertha, put her up and down, advertised her, railroaded her and cherished her welfare above their own.

Captain Curtis

In 1890 P. T. Barnum was still alive, James A. Bailey was running the "Greatest Show on Earth," The Sells Brothers and Adam Forepaugh were quite active, Ringling Brothers were trouping their first year on rails, and young Bill Curtis from Hazelhurst, Mississippi, was a "First of May" with the Charles Andress Circus.

None of that illustrious company knew of Bill during that memorable season, but by the turn of the century all of the Circus Greats, save Barnum, who died in '91, had heard of the rising young canvasman. There are several men still living who trouped in 1890, but as far as I know, they have all long since retired, that is, all save Captain Curtis.

And not only is the captain still actively employed in his profession, but he is administering his duties as boss canvasman with the same untiring thoroughness and efficiency that marked his work over a half a century ago. His step is as springy and firm, his glance as sharp and all-encompassing, his commands as clear and concise, and his judgment in all matters concerning the big top as impeccable as when he worked for Jim Bailey* and toyed with the thought of accepting Mr. Otto'sf offer to handle the canvas on the Ringling Show. (Bailey died in 1906, Otto Ringling died 1911.)

To me, Bill Curtis exemplifies the strength and courage that make up the apparent indestructibility of the American circus. His is the wisdom, gained from long, hard-won experience, that makes the modern circus possible. Not Bill's alone, of course, but he wonderfully typifies it. Along with his sagacity, the captain has another quality, without which we are poor indeed — loyalty. He turned down many attractive offers from competitors to stay for years with Tammen and Bonfils, who had given him his first command with their Sells-Floto Circus. After their retirement from the circus business, he was superintendent of canvas for his great friend and employer, Ed Ballard, with whom he stayed until John Ringling bought the American Circus Corporation in 1929. Since that time he has been with the Ringling Shows, except for the five years, 1943 thru 1947. There have been other great boss canvasmen besides Bill Curtis. The names and exploits of Happy Jack Snellen and Jimmy Whalen will surely go ringing down the halls of circus fame for many generations to come, but the captain will ever remain unique in his field for the impressive list of circus safety devices he has invented and constructed.

When my brother, John, returned to the presidency of Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey in November, 1947, one of his first acts was to contact Bill Curtis, then in retirement at his pecan grove in Mississippi. Bill's reply was welcome and typical. He said he would like to troupe a couple of more years, at least, with John and Henry. That made us feel both proud and safe.

Circus Rings Bell in the Cow Palace

The Ringling Bros and Barnurn & Bailey Circus established a profitable precedent during its tented tour this year when it switched from canvas to concrete and gave seven capacity performances inside San Francisco's mammoth Cow Palace. Never before in all its glorious history had the Big Show exhibited in a building anywhere outside New York or Boston. Belying its unglamorous title, the Cow Palace, a superb indoor amphitheatre building, planned in genius and vision, without a pillar, post or overhanging balcony to obstruct the view from a single one of the 13,294 seats occupied during the circus' stay, proved to be the long lost lodestone of California's great Bay City. From the time the papers first spread the news that general agent Waldo T. Tupper had contracted the state-owned home of the Grand National Livestock Exposition for the circus, interest ran high. The Big Show hadn't been out to the coast since '41 and San Francisco was circus hungry.

The directors of the Cow Palace, its manager, Carl L. Garrison, and publicity director, Fred Gray, all big-timers, quickly spotted the great advantage of having the circus in the building during its cowless period, and the fact that it would give their showplace a vast new clientele. These men did everything possible to make the engagement an overwhelming success. Free parking space for 1,500 cars on the Cow Palace grounds was made available for circus-goers and there was special bus service, at ten minute intervals, to the doors at every performance from various points in the Bay area.

Meanwhile the newspapers and radio went overboard to intensify mass desire to see the world's one big circus. And the good Lord provided comfortable weather — the usual kind in San Francisco. At a time when all other parts of the nation were hellishly hot, the temperature at the Cow Palace, inside and out, averaged exactly 68 degrees. On Sunday, August 29, after a 718 mile run from Portland, Ore., the four streamlined circus trains rolled into the Bayshore yards of the Southern Pacific railroad in Visitacion Valley — a few blocks from the Cow Palace. The massive, curve-topped concrete structure stood out like a fortress, overlooking the neighborhood just across the San Mateo County line, where thousands watched the picturesque cavalcades of animals, cages, baggage wagons, floats and trucks proceed up Geneva avenue to the impressive new circus site.

Moving into the Cow Palace, circus crews, freed of the necessity of building a tented city, turned their energies to readying the great livestock arena for a four-day feast of circus entertainment and checking the animals into quarters previously occupied by Elsie and her kin. To Bob Reynolds, veteran boss property man of the circus, who hung the rigging from girders in the sky-high dome of the building, goes the bulk of the credit for converting an arena as large as a football gridiron into the most perfect indoor circus set-up ever known. As Frank Braden commented: "Bob could hang a flying act between Mt. Rainier and Mt. Shasta in time for the afternoon show."

Opening Monday night, August 30, as auspiciously as a Madison Square Garden premiere, the circus gave afternoon and night performances the next three days. With all of the 10,808 permanent seats in the building sold before the initial performance began, the crowd overflowed into the arena and quickly filled the 2,486 additional chairs surrounding the huge hippodrome oval. Standees were in every other spot they could squeeze into and thousands were turned away. That was the first night, just a sample of what was to follow. Twice daily, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, San Franciscans continued to flock to the circus and fill the Palace to its bovineless brim. More thousands were turned away nightly, unable to get into the building or constantly crowded side show tent just outside the main entrance. There was no tapering off—the last night's business was biggest of all.

From a standpoint of daily remuneration, the Cow Palace engagement was the most profitable ever played during any circus road tour in the history of the world. That was San Francisco's way of welcoming the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus back to town after seven long years' absence. It was also the colorful city's manner of demonstrating that it is the Pacific Empire's greatest circus stand, rightfully entitled to more frequent visits of The Greatest Show on Earth.

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

John Ringling North, President
Robert Edward Ringling, Chairman of the Board
Henry Ringling North, Vice-President
Edith C. Ringling, Vice-President
Leonarad G. Bisco, Secretary
George D. Woods, Treasurer
Edward F. Kelly, Assistant Vice-President

Directors

John Ringling North Robert Edward Ringling Henry Ringling North Edith C. Ringling

George D. Woods Herbert Duval William P. Dunn

Executive Staff

Arthur M. Concello, General Manager Frank McClosky, Manager Willis E. Lawson, Assistant Manager Lloyd Morgan, Lot Superintendent Theo. Forstall, Treasurer with Show Herbert Duval, Legal Adjuster Walter Rairden, Assistant to Mr. Duval

Waldo T. Tupper, General Agent J. C. Thomas, Traffic Manager Roland Butler, Publicity Director Pat Valdo, Director of Perfomance David L. Housman, Secretary to the President Grace Killian, Secretary to General Manager

Accounting Office, Sarasota, Florida

James R. Griffin, General Auditor
Fred J. McKenna, Assistant General Auditor
Violet Johns, Secretary
Herbert H. Sicks, Purchasing Agent

Ann Rogers Nena Joyner

Doris Gault Margaret Summerall

Gay Gault Marie Joyner

New York Office, 10 Rockefeller Plaza: Fred C. De Wolfe, Representative (Show Treasurer Emeritus)

Chicago Office, 155 N. Clark St.: Nat Green, Representative

Publicity Department

Roland Butler, Director
Press:

Roland Butler Frank Braden

Gardner Wilson Edward A. Johnson

William Fields Estelle M. Butler

Radio: William B. Antes, Director; Murray Burt

Contracting, Outdoor Advertising and Traffic Departments

Waldo T. Tupper, General Agent
F. A. Boudinot, Assistant General Agent
J. C. Thomas, Traffic Manager
Susan Staton, Secretary to General Agent

Contracting Agents: Al Butler, A. J. Clarke, L. W. Pickett, Emmett W. Sims

Adv. Car No. 1

John J. Brassil, Manager Edward Riley Walter Clark Wm. E. Kennedy James Kennedy Roscoe D. Stevens John F. Grove

George M. Shea Harry Marion Arthur Outten G. Paul Hale William Schmitt C. C. Chrismon

Joseph P. Nolan Edwin M. Jackson Joseph Bernstein N. J. Larrivee J. W. McCormick Charles E. Heim

Adv. Car No. 2

Clyde Carlton, Manager William F. Albers C. F. Biggs

Siva I. Boudinot Mack F. Adams

S. J. Clauson R. S. Pollock

Adv. Car No. 3

Lee S. Conarroe, Manager LaRue Deitz

Herbert C. Goerke Benford Garrison

Samuel Oken William L. Dowd

Adv. Inspector: E. J. Caupert

Banner Puller: Joseph Brown

Lot Superintendent: Lloyd Morgan. Assistants: William Dwyer, James C. Ringling

24-Hour Men: William L. Carr, Dan Dix, Orville F. Stewart, Harry (Bottles) Vernotzy

Medical Department: Dr. Robert P. Harris; Mrs. Robert P. Harris, Nurse; Gerald O'Connor, First Aid

Time Keepers: John M. Meinhart, Wm. B. Meinhart

Mail Agent: Arthur W. Cooksey

2 Way Radio Communication: Jas. W. Dunn, Technician

Utility Man: Edward Mader

Police Department: John H. Brice, William H. Reynolds

Employment Agent: Arthur M. Eldridge

Purchasing Agent: Elvin Welch

Forage Agent: Cecil R. Montgomery

Commissary: Philip A. Langford, Clifton J. Sparpana

Chauffeurs

Fred E. Bartlett George Foreman

Cecil S. Brammer Kenneth Gwinnell

Harold Nicholson

Personnel Buses: Lawrence Wilcox, Supt.; Thomas Cropper, Wm. F. Johnston

Tax Wagon: Edna R. Antes, James Copeland, Wm. R. McKitrick

Ticket Wagons

Red Wagon: Theo. Forstall, John F. Seawell, Udo F. Kurka
White Wagon: Bernard Friel, Foy Large
Yellow Wagon: Wm. P. McGough, Leonard B. Brown

Ticket Department

Thomas C. Haynes, Superintendent Joseph Bainbridge Richard Begin

Michael Gradis Mark M. Johnson John M. Maguire

Thos. J. O'Hare Ed L. Burnett

Downtown Ticket Agents: Richard R. Iannone, Lawrence J. Vogt

Front Door

Harold R. Genders, Superintendent Robert Allen Clarence Gauthier

Owen E. Lynch Mitchell Mallette Jas. J. O'Neill

Thos. J. O'Neill Lewis E. Rosen

Performers

Pat Valdo, General Director
Vander Barbette, Aerial Director
Arthur Springer, Announcer and Asst. Gen. Director
Fred Bradna, Equestrian Director Emeritus
Liselotte Rachmann, Secretary to Gen. Director

Sema Aaronson Louise Craston Adams (Lulu) Felix Adler Kalsch Albert (Alberti) Paul Alpert Alzana Troupe: Charles N. Davis Harold Davis Minnie Davis Elsie A. Mee Artonys: Henry R. Chapman William Robbins Anna Robbins Asia Boys: Kong K. Lai Fook S. Lee Shou Yong James S. Armstrong Bella S. Atardi William O. Ballantine Gerald F. Bangs Henry Chas. Bedow Florence M. Begin Charles D. Bell Joan Bersche Bogino Troupe: Aurielo Bogino Emore A. Bogino Bruno Bogino Iginio Bogino Giorgio Bogino Bogino-Recelli: Manuelito Bogino Ugo Bogino Andli T. Bogino Afer Recelli Bogino Lilliane Gambarutti Fernando Bertolaccini Emma Bertolaccini Renzo Recelli Monaldeco Recelli Bostock Troupe: Hans C. Bostock Jack R. Bostock Johnny R. Bostock Dolly Brand Betty Brasno Brontes: Robert W. Brown James Crocker William Krause Jean Sleeter Brunn Troupe: Francis Brunn Lieselotte Brunn Michael A. Brunn Ernest Burch Edward Buresh Katharine F. Burslem Arthur T. Burson Irene M. Burt Patricia Carter Phyllis Anna Caruso Emma P. Castro Clayton H. Chase Chiesa Troupe: Maria Chiesa Sergio Chiesa Vanda Chiesa Vinicio Chiesa Comets: Carl Durbin Dorothy Durbin Edward Kohl Bronciel Cole Arthur W. Cooksay Agnes J. Copeland Cristea Troupe: John A. Cristea Juliana Mikens Cristea

Damoo Dhotre Michael J. Doyle Art Eldridge Cilly Feindt Marie H. Forgeur Marcel J. Forgeur Ferdinand Forgeur Mars A. Foreit Sue Fox Adolph Frohn Valentino D. Frohn Louis Gautier Charlotte E. Gautier Marjorie Jane Geiger Joe Geiger Grace E. Genders Jack E. Gerlich Homer C. Goddard Goetchi Troupe: Emil Goetchi Hans Goetchi Karl Goetchi Rose Gould Troupe: Rose Gould Pahin Andre Pahin Bernard Zenner Edwin F. Green Armand Louis Guerre Armand Guerre Ruth Charlott Hager Fred Hanlon Rose Hanlon William A. Hanlon Josephine M. Helbin Martha W. Henderson Lawrence J. Hogan Ernie W. Honkala Paul Horompo Ludwig Jacobs Paul Jerome Johnny Joannides Nickolas Joannides Elizabeth Z. Johnson Lambert Jorio Elsie L. Jung Paul O. Jung Robert John Kellogg Emmet L. Kelly Bonnie H. Kernan Laurencia Klaja Martha Konzelman Michael Konzelman Kathryn Kramer Jeannie D. Krause Evelyn Rusti Kurka Joan L. Lawrence John B. LeClercq Roberta Louise Light Los Onas: Federico R. Furmann Dolores Martin Garcia Antonio Garcia Ona Loyal Troupe: Gustino Loyal Aldo Christiani Lucretia Darnau Rusti E. Parent Ermide C. Loyal Frank Luley Fanny R. McClosky Bobby Peck McGough Laura May McKenzie Mabel R. McGrath Mandos Troupe: Johanna Walchshofer Henry Roland Marguerite von Gysel Vanderbemden Agnes V. Matausch George Matausch Rudolf Matthies Mary Miller Ira Millette Ming Sing Troupe: Sio Chu San Sio Lien San Sio Yu San Sio Zea San Vera San Yoa Chin San

Josef Moeser Christiane A. Gorju (Crysis de la Grange) Daniel A. Mee Polydore Mortier Czeslan Mroczkowski Eugenia Mroczkowski Dolores Ann Murphy Louis Nagy Natal Favetier Natal Erna Favetier Henry Nelson John Nelson Robert H. Nelson Myron A. Orton Perezoffs: Carlos Perez Elena Perez Barbara Petry Albert J. Powell Jean Percival Liselotte Rachmann John J. Reilly Delber C. Rhamy Robenis: Mohamed Habiba Brik Robeni Ider B. Robeni Ben M. Marschany Fatima Marschany Jean Rockwell Sandor Roka Romanos: Romano Meluzzi Armando Meluzzi Natalino Meluzzi Roberto Meluzzi Lorraine V. Russo Frank Saluto Hugo Schmitt Joyce Fay Seawell Joan Sharkey Ann K. Simpson Carl Stephan John Triplett Trisco Troupe: Friedrich H. Hermsen Anna Van Gurp Irene M. Uebel Unus: Franz Furtner Valentina Asgard Nina Asgard Claude Valis: Madeline Claude Palanque Serge Palanque Macie L. Walker Jenny Wallenda Joe E. Ward Paul F. Wenzel Marie White Elizabeth Wight George Wong Rosa Wong Zavatto Troupe: Norma Galante Rosa Mietitori Rodolfo Zavatto Antonia Zavatto Emilio Zavatto Zoppe Troupe: Genzana A. Rizzi Pasqualino Rizzi Leopoldo Travaglia Emma Z. Zoppe Giovanni Z. Zoppe Tosca Zoppe Yvette Zenner

Wardrobe Department

Joseph J. McCarthy, Superintendent Ray W. Rowan, Assistant Jean Carson, Wardrobe Mistress Genevieve McCarthy, Asst. Roxie Cropper, Asst.

Thelma Floyd, Asst. Wm. K. Whitehart, Tailor Richard G. Francis, Carpenter James Traylor, Sail Maker

Adolph P. Bekawich Donald F. Bellinger Harold D. Bisbee Harvey Britton Edgar Brown Ernest E. Bugg Hugh Burgoon Howard E. Chubbuck J. E. Cunningham Wayne F. Freeman

Alfred Galdoni Joseph D. Higgins Earnest A. Hudspeath John P. Karl Joseph W. Land Duane Lynch James Moriarity William G. Munsey Anthony J. Palmero

Donald Sanderson Richard A. Simmons James D. Traylor Benjamin Wilson Bert H. Wilson Geo. Crossman L. R. McCrory W. J. Maier Art Zutell

Side Show

Fred Smythe, Manager
Geo. W. "Red" White, Assistant Manager

Ticket Sellers: Geo. W. "Red" White, Bobby Hasson, Charles Zerm, Harley Rogers

Ticket Takers: Anderson Epps, Janis Lucis

Inside Lecturers: Lloyd Priddy, George Johnson

Sound Technician: Robert Lee Brazil

Attractions

Johann Petursson, The Icelandic Giant
Hanka Kelter, Parisian Long Haired Girl
Sid Krofft, World's Young Puppeteer
Mo-Lay, Comedy Juggler
Kutty Singlee, Fire Proof Man
Col. Joe Nawrath, Midget Musician
Rasmus Nielsen, Tattooed Strong Man
Korianna, Trainer of Enormous Snakes
Mr. and Mrs. Fischer, Tallest Married Couple
Baby Irene Parry, Fat Girl
Frieda Pushnick, Armless and Legless Girl
Miss Patricia, Sword Swallower
Jean O. Boutz & Co., Bohemian Glass Blowers
Lloyd Priddy, Magician
Harry Doll, Daisy Doll, Tiny Doll, Gracie Doll, World's Most Famous Midget Entertainers

Arthur A. Wright's Band

William Matthews, 1st Clarinet & Sax Johnny Brown, 2nd Clarinet & Sax Harry K. Franklin, Solo Trumpet Josiah A. Browne, Solo Trumpet Isaac Demby, 1st Trumpet M. O. Russell, 1st Melophone William E. Fields, 2nd Melophone

Harvey Lankford, 1st Trombone Druie Bess, 2nd Trombone Wm. Billy Thomas, Euphonium Harrison R. Hall, Tuba Alrook Duncan, Snare Drum & Traps Lockwood Lewis, Bass Drum Arthur A. Wright, Trumpet & Director

Menagerie Department

Vincent Dorr, Superintendent
Assistants: Joseph Costa, Dare Barlow

Roy Bates Harold C. Johnson Paul Marks Charles Mulinex

John Nematz John B. Pelkey Roland Shaw Charles J. Tanner

Roy Weaver Fred Wells Max Knudsen

Animal Acts

George Didrichsoti, Jesse Holcomb, David Frazier

Gorillas

Jose Thomas, Superintendent
Harry O. Albert, Assistant
John R. Corricelli, Raymond B. Simpson, Joseph A. Medieros

Elephant Department

Hugo Schmidt, Superintendent
Assistants: Peter J. Clate, John O'Neal, Vernon Duffy

William Bennett Howard V. Brinker Thomas M. Calhoun Wm. A. Chappell Herbert L. Crook Marshall Darland

Daniel E. Dewey Nils H. Engstrom Joseph H. Flynn Joseph F. Hanley Raymond Hasting Raymond J. Killeen

Oliver M. Mapes John D. Noble William T. Pender Robt. A. Salisbury Wyatt C. Taylor Basil A. Withrow

Ring Stock Department

Harrison E. Johnson, Superintendent
Lowell Brideson, Assistant
Harry Smith, Horse Shoer
George Warner, Harness Maker
John Harrington, Asst.

Jules Acosta Andrew L. Baker Harry L. Baker Don J. Baugh Martin Britton Clarence Brooks Charles L. Brown Frank Cherokee Michael Clemens James W. Collins Gilbert De Blasio Frank W. De Franse Hubert V. De Moss Ross T. Deon Alfred E. Douglas Jean Estechandy

Bradford McCarthy Belva B. Miller Peter Peterson Frank Purcell Jim D. Stephens Wallace Till William Warnecke Harold E. Wilcox Richard Faughman Louis A. Francis Bert Fugate William I. Goin Orville J. Harnak George Heinrich Samuel G. Hobart Lyle D. Holbrook

Gosta A. Johansson James R. Jones William Kachelries Willie C. Karr George Kelz Richard Kissell Carlton D. Loud, Jr. Thomas K. Lynn Owen McQuade Francis P. Moran Arthur M. Peterson Harold Rehrig Oliver Thiemer Alfred Vidble James E. Warren Robert W. Willner

Property Department

Robert F. Reynolds, Superintendent
Assistants: Walter Kernan, George Matausch, Jas. C. Bradley, John M. Trimaj, Fred M. Bennett, Mike M. Petrillo

Patrick M. Adams Raymond W. Adams Paul Balint James P. Barnes Francis C. Brown Edward S. Bushey William J. Butts Tommy J. Clarke Robert Coleman Gus Cron Joseph J. Day Lawrence Morris John J. O'Meara

Francis V. Phelan Joseph Seitz Richard G. Skiles George M. Sokira Henry Wernhoff Joseph P. Douglas Jas. E. Elmore Archie L. Francis Lawrence Garman Joseph Guitterez Jan W. Harmsen Stephen S. Hartman William L. Heintz

Edward T. Larner Roland Le Claire Walter Moore Henry C. Navarro Sam T. Pappalardo William J. Schevey Walter M. Sherbert John L. Slusser Bob D. Trail Charles White Henry Zechner Mike Zobowa

Veterinarian: Dr. J. Y. Henderson; Richard Kissell, Assistant

Stables Department

James W. Gordon, Superintendent
Central Jenkins, Assistant

Neil Gordon Earnest Hicks Erskine Hull John J. Jackson Ernest Jenkins

Wm. C. Jenkins Charles Johnson Samuel Leslie Wm. A. Reynolds Frank Sullivan

John Tillman Billie Troupe, Jr. Fred Webb Thomas Woodard

Big Show Band

Merle Evans, Director

Antonio J. Ramirez, Clarinet Carl A. Erikson, Clarinet Nicholas Altroth, Clarinet George Oliva, Clarinet Fred Dini, Clarinet Ford Reed, Clarinet J. C. Colliver, Clarinet James A. Ille, Cornet Albert J. Hiltensmith, Cornet Frank E. Sering, Cornet

Joseph Browning, Cornet Edward J. Broz, Cornet George F. Paugh, Cornet Lewis D. Bader, Trombone Alton Glenn Evans, Trombone Rudolph Anderson, Trombone Andrew Grainger, Trombone Max C. Ring, Flute and Piccolo Reuben C. Evans, Bass

Harvey G. Phillips, Bass William E. Sten, Organ Paul S. Davis, Horn Frank J. Simaner, Horn Joseph Watson, Horn Clarence L. Bennett, Baritone John Horak, Baritone William Ray Floyd, Snare Drum Rollin E. Sherbondy, Bass Drum

Cookhouse Department

George J. Blood, Superintendent
Assistants: Frank Bowen, Orville S. Sweasy, Albert Welch
Joseph H. Lenz, Butcher

Kelmer V. Arndt Horton Banks George A. Bernier Joe W. Blodgett John C. Blount Roy Burke Dennis Callahan George Camara Oliver R. Cannon Matthew Carroll Frank Curtis Chester R. Damon James S. Davis Walter L. Deal Anthony De Chiara Steven Deus Wm. H. Dickerson Francis M. Dillon Joseph Dougherty George Driscoll

James Egan Joe Everett Joseph A. Fecteau Angelo Federici Eugene Fields Sydney Florin Russell L. Graham Melvin E. Haskins Luther E. Hearn Louis Horvath Graham S. Jobe Mickey Kane Thomas Lieban Clarence E. Lusby Joseph L. McCarthy Woodrow McClendon Herbert S. McGee Steven E. McBitt Walter Madara Earl Marvin

John T. Merritt Noah E. Miller John Pilot Fred T. Potter John J. Robetsky James M. Roberts George W. Sayers M. H. Schultz Edw. R. Schuster Raymond W. Seal Jerome E. Sellman Herbert J. Spencer Richard Talbot Thomas J. Timothy Richard Walker John R. Waller James W. Ward Murray Whited Ernest Williams John Wilson

Mechanical Department

William Yeske, Superintendent Charles D. Noecker, Assistant Mrs. Mary N. Yeske, Welder Gilbert C. Englehart

Giles Lamb George W. Tomlinson Baylis F. Watkins

Light Department

Edward R. Versteeg, Superintendent
Assistants: John E. Johnson, Paul Danowski

Sautus J. Auth Floyd H. Bailey Raymond Black Jack Blackburn John A. Borges Richard W. Brooks Earl T. Brown Henry C. Carberry Charles Carpenter Paul Danowski James Edwards

Clifton C. Ellis Maynard Gifford Frank D. Greer Frank Weber Frederick W. Weir Dan W. Hammond Fred W. Harrison Robert W. Hatch John Kalekawa Frank Karcouski Arthur Larson

Clifford Needham Aubrey E. Odom Donald Pires Joseph A. Powers Stuart H. Roberts Charles Sherwood George Takacs Robert E. Timmons Eddie T. Wang Kiser Whitaker

Canvas Department

William H. Curtis, Superintendent
Assistants: Walter H. Bingham, Joseph H. Farham, John Carson, John Meek, Charles W. Smith, Assistant

George S. Adrian Albert Anderson Willie J. Anderson Emil Baumberger Albert Benedetto Erwin Bindt Frank Bitinas Billy M. Bradford Tom Brown Smart Bryant William G. Caley Samuel Clark Clifford Corbett Fred Craig Edward Davis William A. Dunn David Fitzgerald Clarence Gardner George H. Gillis Bennie Goodman Ralph M. Hart James Hayes

George Henderson James Holman Charles Hoskins Charles D. Jenkins James J. Jeralds Frank A. Johnson Henry Jones Francis A. Junius George Kelley George H. Kramer Lex E. Lister Harold D. Lowry Monroe Mayes Richard Mayne Charles Mitchell Lonnie V. Mode Daniel Moore George W. Myers Lloyd B. Nelson Alfred J. Olexa Zack Pearson Claude Peckron

Wallace Penn Albert Peterson Ainet Richardson Frank Richardson Andrew Robinson John T. Robinson Charles Rodgers Harvey Schmidt Allen Scriven James Smith James P. Smith Paul F. Smith Milton Sorenson Robert Steele Edward F. Stoltz John M. Sutton Michael Timco Neal Todd William C. Toliver Perry Willoughby Andrew Wilson James Wood

Layout Department

William Dwyer, Superintendent

Wm. J. Harrington Thornton Allen Alfonso Anderson Wilbert Arrington Herman L. Bain Joe H. Blackstock L. C. Bolden Raymond Brown

Macon Currie, Jr. Michael Dulczak Bobby L. Jones Jack S. Sinclair John C. Ragan Donald T. Jones Henry G. Kelley Charles V. Logan

James R. Logan Lawrence McDaniels Arthur J. Miller Claude Mitchell John J. Moore William Nowak John E. Sawyer Robert E. Teague

Seat Department

Lester Thomas, Superintendent
Assistants: Allen King, John K. O'Bryant

Fabel O. Allen E. O. Beasley Alfred S. Espey Edward F. Friedman Homer E. Long

James McGrath Gary A. Mitchell Clinton B. Moore William F. Nell Frank Pauley

Luther E. Payne Thomas Quinn Charles Schumann George J. Young

Truck Department

David Blanchfield, Superintendent
Daniel F. Gill, Assistant

Paul A. Bell Steven Bitto Julian Carpentier Francis Cunningham Edward E. Curry George Davis Raymond M. Davis Paul Dazier Fred Devine James R. Dixon Albert Drolet James T. Duvall John P. Gannon Donald J. Gleeson Joseph F. Guilford John A. Hannaford Henry Helfrich

Joseph Hornsby Arthur Janke Harry Kline Arthur McCormick John S. McDonald Carl J. McGee Donald P. Matticks George Norris Clarence Parker Melvin Paro Samuel J. Phillips Virgil F. Rardin George Rehahn Stephen Rhinesmith Malcolm Rickert Kenneth M. Robbins

Wm. P. Robinson William Sahloff Charles L. Sanders James T. Sapp Stanley Sojka Clarence Springer Charles Spurlock Alex Stear Harry Stone, Jr. Roy M. Summers Joe P. Taylor Alexander Thomas Charles Van Horn Thomas Viola Chester Whipple Dow C. Wilkins

Train Department

Philip A. McGrath, Superintendent
Assistants: Bennie Mathis, Joseph D. Yuhasz, Arlington Whittaker

Andrew J. Robinson James Allen Roy W. Baum Lasker O. Blackerby Thomas W. Boblitz Edward J. Bonsall Ronald F. Brightman Charles R. Checkley Charles Milligan John T. Mohr Lawrence Parsons Allen E. Pertell Kenneth Prentice Earnest C. Clark Fred M. Clark Leland Corbett

Oscar P. Cotez Helmuth L. Dickau William H. Ehlert James T. Fordham George Forsythe James E. Fox Levi General Mason R. Harris Wm. A. Hayes Gordon P. Searle Frank C. Setting Harvey M. Shannon Robert G. Shimmin Manuel Silvia Robert E. Jackson Edward R. Jordan

Mayo J. Jordan Lavern Keim Donald M. Klein William J. Kleint Victor G. Larson Coy C. Lee Glenn D. Long Milton Luck Phillip E. Lynch Raymond McCarraher John Manley John H. Smith Herbert A. Taylor John R. Walter Wm. K. Wilkinson Joseph G. Yates

Train Electricians

Joseph Nash, Superintendent
George T. Hill, William H. Walters, James A. Moore, William E. Winslow

Usher Department

Peter Grace, Superintendent
Assistants: Michael A. D'Addario, Louis E. Runyan

John W. Ahearn Joseph Amico Frank Attardi Emil J. Bilodeau Lewis E. Brown Umberto Castaldo Earl Cline Charles Devine Fred Harris

Ellis V. Haynes John Heimann John J. Hilferty Frank Kaner Richard E. Marriot Edward T. McAleer Daniel W. McCarthy Kenneth McConnell John Meciunas

Sammy Musco Angelo Nicholas Joseph P. Nolan Matthew Reillt Cecil M. Roberts Ernest M. Terry Robert P. Thompson Richard H. Victor

Program Department

The Circus Magazine, Harry S. Dube, President
Will Karshan, Advertising Sales Representative
C. A. "Red" Sonnenberg, Sales Manager
Salesmen: Charles Allen, Tom Pence, John "Doc" Hall, Carl "China" Durbin

Miller Brothers Concessions

Frank C. Miller, Paul Miller
Jack Harris, Assistant
Pat Connolly, Mid-way Manager

Novelty Department

Morris Gustow, Manager Harry Carter, Assistant M. Gustow, No. 1 Stand F. Perez, No. 2 Stand

L. Gustow, No. 3 Stand A. Zimmerman, No. 4 Stand L. Blumenthal, Menagerie Novelty Stand

Seat Men

E. Rottman J. Barber L. Gohosky N. Klein

W. Miller F. O'Connell I. Chrzan

S. Martins C. Egan Stock Man, W. Powell

Midway Eating Stands

Diner: P. Anderson, Manager. D. Crane, A. Anderson, W. Maguire, M. Moran, F. Johnson

No. 1 Stand: P. Fisher, Manager. W. Roys, W. Power

No. 2 Stand: J. Brown, Manager. T. Smith, O. Williams

Stock Wagon: O. Smith, Manager. E. Hall, L. Gildon

Custard: M. Miller, Manager. H. Kaufman, R. Kubilus, F. Mills

Soft Drink Department: Sam Washington, Manager. J. Grumley, R. Shelton

Candy Floss: Vic Pratt, Manager. F. Norcross, J. Palumbo, H. Walstrom, F. Lauber

Midway Stand: D. Gillette, Manager; C. Young

Back Yard Lunch Stand: M. Miller, Manager. W. Coyle, S. Gripp, A. Gilbert

Candy Top: Mel Hamlin, Manager; J. Legrys, Assistant; W. White, Stockman

Popcorn: J. Littler, Manager. G. Gresham, E. Say, C. Williams, R. White

Menagerie Stands: J. Besser, No. 1 Manager; W. Haynes, No. 1; Frank Morris, No. 2; P. Reichen, No. 3

Seat Butchers

E. Drucker F. Viola B. Berke P. Pranskunas P. Williams D. Walsh B. Begun H. Wolanke R. Bullen P. Billings

A. Katz M. Shanks B. Besser R. Dover B. Rosen C. Reilly S. Price S. Kaner E. Jakubowski

F. Logan B. Macelis R. Wallace M. Kora C. Groff L. Forstall W. Postak Al Rosen V. Kist

Chameleon Department: R. Newman, Manager. J. Attardi, R. Brown, E. Kohl, W. Robbin

Tent Mfg. Dept., Sarasota, Florida

Leif Osmundsen, Superintendent
Osmond Osmondson, Foreman

Sail Makers: John D. Auldridge, William Blanchard, James B. Burrell

Machine Operators: Corene M. McElreath, Anna M. Miller, Viola I. Healey

Winter Quarters Maintenance, Sarasota, Florida

Tim Milburn, Foreman

Frank Burgett Earl B. Davis Harry C. Fowler Russell Jones John Miller Chas. G. Snowhill John F. Aasved

Robert L. Douglas George A. Hapner Ira D. Harrell David C. Johnson Joseph L. Lloyd Geo. W. McDermott Arthur E. Nobles

Henry C. Ward Benj. T. Williford Archie S. York Gideon B. Zipprer Geo. S. Porter Lymoine Reiff

Side Show Canvas Department

George Escalara, Superintendent
Joseph M. Lynch, Assistant

Eudor Constantine Raymond Fecher John J. Feeney Alvis E. Goff Raymond E. Jacobs

Jack J. Kane Murphy S. Lewis George Ogle James M. Quigley

Henry Ram Claud W. Ruth Millard F. Smoot Claude Stevens

Porters

Charles J. Burslem, Superintendent
Assistants: Earl A. Arseneau, Arthur C. Lunt

William E. Bailey John J. Burke Elmore R. Conley Paul E. Davis Richard M. Donker John H. Grant Edward Grodivant Clint W. Hall Robert H. Hall Stephen Harchar John Hemstreet

C. Hill Charles Hill Alonzo G. Hurton Charles Landt Walter Lee Benjamin F. Lowe Margaret S. Maguire Frank McCloud Russell H. McCloud Horace McDonald

Charles S. Morris Robert R. Nordon Charles E. Pack Robert G. Paul Thomas E. Payne Mack Plyler Eugene Thompson Will Walker Robert Washington Riley Wiggins

Private Car "Caledonia": Clara S. Franklin, Frank J. Franklin
Private Car No. 66: O. T. Howard
Private Car "Jomar": Charles Mangold, Butler; Rene Fuss, Chef; Virdell Lewis, Maid
Big Top Maid: Hester Wilson

Department of Sanitation

James Horsburgh, Superintendent
Clarence Guffey, Assistant
Wm. K. Craig, Elvin M. Render, Virgil E. Patterson

Ice Department: "Scotty" Horsburg, Superintendent; William Donnelly, Assistant

Watchmen: Paul Haas, Red Ticket Wagon; Harry Gordon, Back Yard; George De Witt, Special

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Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey 1948 Program

Produced by John Ringling North. Staged by John Murray Anderson. Designed by Miles White.
Pat Valdo, General Director
Esther Junger, Choreography
Thomas Farrar, Art Director
Vander Barbette, Aerial Director
Merle Evans, Musical Director
Henry Sullivan, Special Music
Sammy Grossman, Musical Arrangements
Robert Barnhart, Technical Director
Frank Thompson, Assistant to Mr. White

Display No. 1 - Implacable Man Killers From Jungle and Artic Wilds, Trained but Untames, Presented in Three New Type Steel Arenas, Packed with Savage Maniacal Fury.

Rudolph Mathies' Giant Royal Bengal Tigers.

Damoo Dhotre's Black and Spotted Leopards, Pumas and Black Jaguars.

Konselman's Amazing Polar Bears.

Display No. 2 - Natal, Man or Monkey? Last Year's Triumphal Importation Held Over by the Acclaim of a United Nation.

Display No. 3 - The Ugo Troupe, Europe's Champion Somersaulting Leapers in Thrilling Trajectories From Ski-Jump Springboards Over Massed Elephants.

Display No. 4 - Astounding Three Continent Congress of World-Acclaimed Artists on Tight Wires, Unicycles, Bicycles and Bounding Ropes.

The Goetchis; Ming Sing Stars; The Spanish Zavattas.

Display No. 5 - International Aerial Conclave of Breath-Taking Sensationalists in Startling Flights.

The Great Trisco; Al Powell; Mandos Sisters; The Merions; Ira Millette.

Display No. 6 - A Triple-Spearheaded Equestrian Tourney by the Foremost Bareback Riding Stars of the World, Introducing the Famous Zoeppes From Italy and Cucciola, the Midget Zooming Clown.

The Justino Loyals; The Riding Zoeppes with Cucciola, first time in America; The Riding Bostocks with Marion Seifert.

Display No. 7 - "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." This is it- The Huge Humorous Radiant Holiday Spectacle. The never-to-be forgotten pageant in which Santa Claus brings toyland and the symbols of Christmas to life, love and laughter. This is it - the Big Show's biggest and best. Produced by John Ringling North. Staged by John Murray Anderson. Costumes designed by Miles White. Choreography by Esther Junger. Special music by Henry Sullivan, composer of "Dear Santa," theme song.

Display No. 8 - Rose Gould, the Lovely, Sultry, Soaring Swallow of the Big Top. Sensational Star of Stars - Europe's Queen of the Air.

Display No. 9 - The Famous Ringling Hundred Clowns, - Count 'em! Battalions of Boisterous Buffons Bustling and Blundering in Mad Rushes Hither and Thither in Bafflement and Frustration for Better or for Worse.

Display No. 10 - The Feature Importation of the Century - Incomparable, Indescribable - The First Time in America.

Francis Brunn, the greatest juggler of all time, greater than the Great Rastelli.

The Chiesas, juggling marvels.

The Perezoffs and Rolando, jugglers magical.

Display No. 11 - The Monte Carlo Aerial Ballet, Rouge Et Noir, sixty lovely girls aloft in flashing color revolves featuring enchanting Chrysis De La Grange, directed by Barbette. The most beautiful and difficult mid-air extravaganza yet achieved by the Greatest Show on Earth.

Display No. 12 - Three Troupes of Superb Liberty Horses Galloping in Intricate Drills and Rhythmic Measures, Presented by the Outstanding Trainers of the Globe.

Miss Gena Lipkowska, Mroczkowski, Louis Gautier.

Display No. 13 - Wizards of the Wire in Unbelievably Skilled Excursions Beyong the Abyss of Intrepidity.

The Joanidies; The Italian Zavatta, first time in America; Lola Dobritch.

Display No. 14 - Flushed with a Succession of European Triumphs, but Shy of an American Venture Only John Ringling North's Persuasion Brings to America for the First Time the Upside-Down-Gravity Defying, Equilibristic Wonder, the Debonair, Incredible.

Unus, the Man Who Walks on His Forefinger. (Last Winter Life magazine startled its readers with a picture of Unus balancing, feet to the sky, supported only by one hand on his cane atop the cornice of a high building in Europe.)

Los Onas, lofty pedestals, first time in America.

Canestrelli, unsupported ladders, first time in America.

Display No. 15 - The Battalion of Buffons. The clowns put their heads and bodies together and demonstrate how to solve the new car shortage.

Display No. 16 - A Down-To-Earth Fun Melange with Amusing Animal Artists and Droll Sea Lions in Unbelievable Accomplishments and Dumbfounding Dexterities.

Guerre's Sea Lions; The World Famous Christian Dogs' Parade, first time in America; Eldridge's Stilt Walking Chimpanzees, first time in America.

Display No. 17 - For Those Countless Hosts to Whom the Great Flying Acts, Wherein the Flights of the Graceful, Somersaulting Artists to Hand-To-Hand Catches are the Essence, the High Point of the Circus, We Offer the Finest in the World.

The Flying Comets, The Flying Brontes, The Flying Artonys

Display No. 18 - Gay, Dashing, Equestrian, Historical Novel Rendezvous of the Old South. Dixie, bewitching belles, blooded horses, gorgeous equipages, lovely equestriennes and gallant riders in Marse Miles White costumes, right out of "Gone With the Wind" and in Stephen Foster melody and mood.

Claude Valois; The Countess De La Court; Mlle Cilly Feindt and her famous horses, first time in America; Jose Moeser, first horseman of Europe; the Big Show's pretty girl side-saddle ensemble.

Display No. 19 - "Westward Whoa." Misled by the world's foremost clown stars, misdirected and red-herringed, the one hundred headline funsters of the Greatest Show on Earth earnestly and frantically present that virile sentimental, heart-warming and soul-shattering two-faced epic of the Badlands. The three-legged hoss-opry.

Display No. 20 - Alberty, Upside Down Daredevil, in Stratospheric Swaying Flights Atop a Ten Story Buggy Whip. If you have a weak heart shout your eyes on this one.

Display No. 21 - Dazzling, Power-House, Gymnastic, Acrobatic and Risley Avalanche of World Famous Artists in Seemingly Impossible Feats of Agility, Dexterity and Balance.

Robenis-Marschany, Boginos Rechellis, The Romanas

Display No. 22 - Lou Jacobs in his midget auto "Too Late in Too Little. Will wonders never cease? How does he do it? The inimitable Clown Celebrity.

Display No. 23 - The Great Alzanas, the Most Daring High Wire Artists of the Ages, Undaunted, Death Defying, Matchles.

Display No. 24 - Grand Finale. The Circus Ball, elephants trained and presented under the supervision of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey master of the pachyderms - Hugo Schmidt. Magnificent, kaleidoscopic finale, with stag line of high-hatted, dancing elephants, lovely debutantes and careening clown dowagers fabulously and fantastically attired in rainbow hues, an enthralling extravaganza of graceful grotesqueries and swirling rhythm.

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Statistics of the 1948 Tour

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