Current Messages
2989. Herbert Clarke, lion tamer, 04 Jul 2009 - Dear all, I thought you might be interested to know that for the first time ever on the internet, the story can now be told of one of the great animal trainers from the grand old days of the circus and the animal shows.
Thanks to his spirit of adventure, daring and sheer hard work,
"Captain" Herbert Clarke of Reading, Leamore and Brownhills via Cape
Town, New York and the capitals of Europe, was able to climb the
professional ladder from waggon-boy to top lion-tamer, travelling the
world, with a host of adventures along the way. Towards the end of his career, he spent several happy but dangerous and exciting years working with Pat Collins 'The Bloxwich Showman' whose Amusement Empire covered Great Britain in the early 20th century.
Tonight, Saturday 4 July 2009 at 8pm BST, Captain Herbert Clarke and
his lions will appear, fully illustrated, for the first time on the
internet, via the pages of The Bloxidge Tallygraph, the community and
local history magazine website for the town of Bloxwich, England.
See: www.thebloxidgetallygraph.com
It's a tale so amazing I could hardly believe it myself as I was writing it up! Hope you can drop by and enjoy the show :O) Stuart Williams, Edditer, The Bloxidge Tallygraph. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2988. John Sullivan, 03 Jul 2009 - Hi, I would like to make contact with John Sullivan who is obviously very knowledgeable about circus in New Zealand (My home country although I have lived in the U.S. for 30 years) I know messages must be posted to the notice board but if you read this John, please contact me at thaumaturge2@yahoo.com. Thanks, Bernard Reid. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2987. Biographies, 03 Jul 2009 - My mother is 87 years old and she would really like a picture if one exists of her working with the Young Nelsons acrobatic act in 1941 in the Cole Brothers Circus. My dad was fighting in the Philippines and she went to work with the Nelsons, She was named Patty Nelson. She is not in very good health and I would like to help her bring back her memories. Thank you, Mike Lucas, lucas@cox.net. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 04 Jul 2009 - I cannot provide the specific photograph that you seek, but an article about the Nelson family act, mentioning the non-family members added in 1941, is on-line at: www.circushistory.org/Bandwagon/bw-1969Mar.htm. Simply scroll down to it. The 1941 Cole show tour was covered by Joe Bradbury in an article in "Bandwagon," Nov-Dec 1976, pages 19-35. It is no longer available as a back issue, but someone can supply a photocopy if you request it. Hopefully a collector will respond to your photo request. Fred Dahlinger
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2986. Silver King, 02 Jul 2009 - For a children's book about the horse named Silver King, trained by John O'Brien, we'd like to know of any pictures or anecdotes related to the horse. We've found very little at the Museum Library at Baraboo. Please reply to sheilawelch@juno.com. Thanks very much. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2985. Animals, train wreck, 02 Jul 2009 - I am 50 years old and am trying to research a possible train wreck containing deformed or special zoo animals. The wreck may have happened between 1944-1950 somewhere between Virginia through West Virginia and going north. I have no information on this and the question is derived from a story that my Mom has stuck by since she was eight years old. My Mom lived at Flat Top, West Virginia way back in the woods and within two hundred yards of a railroad used to haul coal, lumber and just about anything and going through several states. She was born August 7, 1939 and her story goes like this:
“I was about eight years old walking along the railroad track near home, when all of a sudden I heard a loud disturbance in the woods just to the left of me, I was scared so I hid in the bushes just by the railroad track. To my surprise and disbelief out came a white animal resembling a lama or horse with two heads, one on each end of its body and having only one leg in which it was spinning on in order to move through the woods and onto the railroad track. I made a slight sound and the animal went back into the woods crashing into trees and bushes as it went. I ran for home so scared, my mother also had found a snake that she had never seen before in her life, the snake was extremely large in diameter and very long.
My Mother said that there had been an accident involving Zoo animals near their home. Is there any information on a train wreck involving deformed or special animals that was part of a carnival or circus somewhere in the mid 1940’s in West Virginia? Thomas Cooper, Beckley, WV Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 04 Jul 2009 - In the 1940's while some shows were already traveling by trucks only, many of the Carnivals and Circuses were still on rails. Freaks of nature as you have described were basically a Carnival attraction and not on circuses. That helps narrow the possibilities. I would first start with the railroad tracks themselves. They are owned by a Railroad company. such as CSX or B&O etc. They could help determine who owned the tracks at the time in question. Once you established the tracks owner at that time, you'll have another piece of the puzzle. That's one direction to try. You can go to the local library and read the old newspapers of that time. They are usually preserved on microfilm. You might get lucky and find an article. If the train actually wrecked, it took some time to get it cleaned up and the tracks repaired again. There are some websites that cover train wrecks and rail records. I've heard about them but never used them so I can't really lead you directly to them. You might check with the local Historical Society. They might have a story or two about this event. There are also Railroad clubs where people are great fans of railroads and get together to discuss trains in general. You might find someone who is knowledgeable there. I hope this helps. Bob Cline
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2984. Walter Peterson, 01 Jul 2009 - We are trying to get information regarding our Grandfather Walter Peterson from Waupaca. He owned a circus and worked for Circus World around 1934 training horses. (Ringling Brothers). Thank You! Robert Peterson. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 04 Jul 2009 - Do you know the name of the circus he owned? This would be a great help. The Circus World Museum Research Library in Baraboo, Wisconsin has the largest archives of Circus records in the world. Erin Foley is the Archivist and can do a quick check in the yellow cards which are a compilation of notes found in the Museum's records. (Incidentally, the Library is closed from July 7-14th for the Great Circus parade in Milwaukee) If you know the name of the Circus he owned and can provide it, I can look it up in the Robert Parkinson book " Directory of American Circuses 1793 - 2000" to see if there is any listing there. Bob Cline
Reply: 05 Jul 2009 - The person that posted the query needs to clarify their request a bit. "Circus World," presumably meaning the circus museum, didn't open until 1959; is 1934 a misprint? Or do you actually mean he was with RBBB in 1934? The specific questions would be addressed in different ways. Peterson's name did not come up in the research accomplished for the book "Badger State Showmen," so further background would be of interest if his circus was Wisconsin-based. Bob, FYI, several historians and others have planned to visit the library on July 13-14, and have made contact with the archivist. Fred Dahlinger
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2983. Illinois 1945-46, 30 June 2009 - I am looking for the name of a circus that might have been touring north central Illinois in 1945 or 1946. Ed. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 01 Jul 2009 - In 1945 there were a number of circuses going through north central Illinois. Random dates are Monroe Brothers, Atlanta - June 9; M. L. Clark, Ottawa - June 4; Bailey Brothers, Lincoln - June 13; Cole Brothers, Elgin - June 17; and Arthur Brothers, Dixon - Aug. 3. Ted Bowman Circus Route Collection
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2982. Model circus, 30 June 2009 - I am looking for some one to possibly help me with an apprasial of a scale size copy of the RBBB 1943 circus. I have multiple digital pictures that I can send along. This has been an on going project for over 3 years for two people. Every tent has been hand cut and sewn to an approximate scale of 1/3. The big top tent is closer to 1/6th scale coming in at 115 feet long. The center poles of the big top are approximately 15' tall for a ceiling height of 14'. The 1943 circus is incomplete in the respect that "clown alley" and the "menegerie tent" have not been completed. The entire circus requires approximately 1 acre of land to set up. It takes 6 people 18 hours to set it all up. All of the wagon's have been hand made and painted to scale as well. The entire circus can be taken down, and transported on all the wagon's that have been made (to scale) and connected to the two Mac semi trucks "also made to scale". I am hopeful that there is an expert in this field, to help me achieve a fairly accurate apprasial on this 3 year labor of love! With many Thanks! Sincerely, Diane. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 01 Jul 2009 - A partial response to your query will be found in the answers posted to queries 318 and 2831. The extraordinarily large scale of the model in question raises serious and difficult issues beyond those routinely addressed with "conventional" models constructed in smaller scales. It is not amenable to "typical" indoor storage or presentation criteria, requiring extraordinary amounts of both. Those are exceptional problems in today's economic climate. The model is in the realm of an outdoor history museum presentation, such as the annual activity undertaken by the Old Threshers group in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. If you can compile the estimated number of man-hours of labor and an approximate cost of materials involved, that would be helpful to any appraiser. You might also do a preliminary search for any other existing "large scale" models that might serve as comparables for an appraiser. Having documentation at hand, photographic and other, that demonstrates the adherence of the model to the actual chosen prototype will also serve well. An inventory of all of the constituent elements of the model is also a necessary appraisal tool. The more gathered information that you can present, the easier the appraiser's task. Fred Dahlinger
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2981. Cal & Torchy Townsen, 29 June 2009 - I am a newphew of Torchy. I would love to see any information you may be able to direct me to regarding her and Cal. Thank you! Roy. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 29 June 2009 - See message number 850, www.circushistory.org/Query/Query05k.htm. You might want to contact Showfolks of Sarasota, www.showfolks.org. J. Griffin
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2980. Charles Bernard, 28 June 2009 - My name is Harold Rogers Irving of Fair Oaks CA. I am Great Grand Nephew of Charles Bernard who spent nearly 50 years of his life in circus activity. For the most part and "Advance Manager" securing locations, permits, feed, water etc. I have several pictures of him on location with a circus.One photo shows him standing with another gent at a ticket window bearing a logo having a large "B" with a smaller "D" in front, and a smaller "C" intertwined with the "B". Can anyone identify this circus? In later years Charlie Bernard was a circus historian and collector/seller of photographs based at Savanah GA. I still have some of his stationary and photo's. I was very young when Charlie died (ca 1935) and as an adult I recognized that he also collected wood block cravings for posters but that those were disposed of somehow when Great Aunt Pearl moved from Savanah to Cincinnati, OH to live with her Sisters. Is there any interest in his stationary or pictures? The History of the Circus Historical Society states that organizing such a historical society was purposed by Charlie Bernard around 1932 in correspondance with Mr Smith. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 29 June 2009 - One of the great sources of circus images of the past was the abundance of photographs that were copied and circulated by Charles Bernard. Cartes de visite, stereoviews, engravings and more all were placed before a camera lens and copied, and then circulated by the dozens, if not hundreds in some cases. In many instances, Bernard's copies are the only known record of many vintage circus photographs. Only recently have the originals of some of them been found; others are entirely lost or yet awaiting re-discovery. Bernard's negatives were ultimately acquired and continued to be circulated by Robert Good of Allentown, PA. He compiled and circulated a list of Bernard's photographs, identifying them separately as a stand alone offering, separate from his own substantial body of photography. Their consolidated holdings are now part of the collections in the Circus World Museum library. Don Howland acquired one of Bernard's scrapbooks, which contained a number of rare images, and it is in the CWM library, too. That might be the best place for your stationary and photos, to give a personal touch to those holdings.
It would also be appropriate to state that some identifications supplied with Bernard's historical images can be misleading to the novice. It's not that he intentionally misled anyone, it's that some of his applied captions are "creative" in some ways.
Identifying the photographs in your possession ought to be a straight forward matter, once they're seen by a knowing historian. Knowledge of Bernard's career would confirm the identity, likely including the specific year(s).
A collection of Bernard's writings was published in 1930, "Bernard's Half Century Circus Reviews and Red Wagon Stories." He was a prolific writer, contributing many circus history columns to "The Billboard" in the 1930s. He typically based his jottings on a courier or herald, or another document, and then augmented it with other news and his own experiences. As a generally reliable body of work, they justify consultation.
Bill Slout once contemplated compiling them into a volume, as he did with the writings of Charles Day and Dave Watt. It may be another worthy project, to make them more readily available for consultation. His career and contributions would be worthy of documenting on the CHS website, an excellent example of an early circus employee turned historian, just like John Dingess, Louis E. Cooke and others. He was also one of the few that looked forward to the day when people outside the business would take a serious interest in the lives and lore of the traveling tops. Fred Dahlinger
Reply: 05 Jul 2009 - Bernard also penned a column for the magazine "Hobbies" in the 1930s. A compilation by John Polacsek includes his "Circusiana" in 1935, 1936 and 1937 issues.Fred Dahlinger
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2979. Circus horse plaque, 28 June 2009 - I recently purchased (at auction) a curious piece of art related to the circus. It is a large, wooden framed (behind glass) gilt/ormolu brass or bronze? plaque of a circus horse engraved 'Black Eagle'. It is really quite old, stunning and unusual (which is why I bought it). My question is were these plaques popular in the 19th century? I have since learnt all about Black Eagle the circus horse (although from the dates I have read he must have lived 50 years! or there were several 'Black Eagles' (which is probably the case). But why were these plaques made? Has anybody seen them before. I think this one came from America, as I bought it in a lot which had other USA related items in it. Any suggestions would be helpful. Kind regards Paula Harber. P.S. My direct email is: daubdolly@aol.com. Paula Harber, Suffolk, England. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2978. Joan Cowen, iron jaw, 28 June 2009 - I am looking for information, pictures, or posters in reference to an "Iron Jaw" performer, by the name of Joan Cowen. It's my understanding she was a part of a Barnum & Bailey show in or around the late 1940s. She was from Oklahoma and left the circus to join the Military. Anyone have any ideas of how to find this information? Any information can be sent to sarahsherrill@hotmail.com. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 03 Jul 2009 - Sarah: I would venture that Joan Cowen may have been one of John Ringling North’s “Starlets” or “Ballet Girls” commonly called “Bally Broads”, which referred to the Showgirls that North hired to fill out the ranks of the performers that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus carried during this period (and the show still does even to this day.) These showgirls performed all kinds of acts with the show, especially the “Aerial Ballets”, which could have included Iron Jaw girls in some production years. There is a GREAT book written by one of them named Connie Clausen, which is entitled, “I Love You Honey, but the Season’s Over”, which chronicles the “Bally Broads” adventures during the 1941 season, although pseudonyms are used for the specific showgirls throughout the book. Many of the women from that era have passed on, but one of the main characters in the book is named Mary Louise and in fact, that real person is a woman named Mary Jane Miller, who is still alive and living in Sarasota, Florida, once the location of the Ringling Show’s Winterquarters. You should try and get in touch with Mary Jane, as she is one of the best sources of information regarding the Showgirls of the early 1940s. Another source might be Jackie LeClaire, who was a young clown on the Ringling Show from that same era. He also now lives in Sarasota in retirement and he is a great source for personnel of that era. You might try contacting them through the Showfolks of Sarasota club located in Sarasota or through the Circus Fans of America’s Showfolks of Sarasota tent, which is the local branch of this organization in Sarasota. You might also try contacting the Circus Museum Curators at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, as well. You also should contact the Parkinson Library at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin, as they maintain employment records of all personnel from that period as well. These are just a few leads to follow up on, but with a little digging, you should be able to find out more information about this “iron Jaw” performing woman. Neil C. Cockerline
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2977. Sidney Rink, 28 June 2009 - Sidney Rink was my dad's uncle. I am compiling an updated family history for the family and would like to get as much data on Uncle Sidney as possible. Do you have additional suggestions? Thank you. Elise Thompson. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 30 June 2009 - There is a compiled collection of materials relating to African Americans in the American circus in the Circus World Museum library. Sidney Rink will be therein. Entries of his name in other documents will also be found in the yellow tickets. Once you've established a chronology of his life, you can add data to the outline by consulting materials about the various shows with which he traveled. Also see the response to query 2975, insofar as commencing work with reliable data. It's always best to start with basic biographical information, which also directs you towards building a contextual understanding of his life's activities. Fred Dahlinger
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2976. Mario Verdone, 27 June 2009 - Chers amis, Mario Verdone, agée de 91 ans, viens de disparaitre cet aprés-midi à Rome. Passionné du cirque, ami de Grock et Chaplin, Mario fut un des fondateurs et le dèrnier survivant de l'Union des Historiens du Cirque. Mario fut la source majeur de Federico Fellini pour "I Clowns", en lui presentant Tristan Rémy et le monde des clowns parisiens. Il avait introduit les études de cinema dans le monde universitaire italien, et était le plus grand historien du futurisme. Passionné aussi de l'illusionnisme et du music-hall, c'est grace a lui que les films de Fregoli on eté retrouvé et restaurèes.
Aprés la disparition dans les derniers jours de Giancarlo Pretini et Stuart Thayer, ce son des jours tristes pour le cirque. Raffaele
Attempted translation: Dear friends, Mario Verdone, aged 91 years, just remove this afternoon in Rome. Passionné circus friend Grock and Chaplin, Mario was a founder and the last survivor of the Union of Historians of Cirque. Mario was the major source of Federico Fellini for "I Clowns", by Tristan Rémy and presenting the world of clowns Paris. He introduced the study of world cinema in the Italian university and was the greatest historian of the future. Passionné also illusionism and the music hall, this is where Fregoli films have been found and restored.
After the demise in the final days of Giancarlo Pretini and Stuart Thayer, it's sad day for the circus. Raffaele. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2975. George Wombwell, 26 June 2009 - Dear all, I am starting to research the life of George Wombwell, the famous British menagerie owner, and his life between 1777-1850. I am also, but less, interested in the Bostock and Wombwell menagerie that succeeded his exclusive menagerie. I have a few books, including by E Bostock, George Sanger, Jack Frost and Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, but I would be very grateful for any pointers for other sources at all on George Wombwell; public or private archives, books, articles, correspondence, visuals etc. Thank you very much to anyone who might be able to help me! All best, Clare. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 27 June 2009 - In lieu of starting with tertiary volumes, of sometimes dubious reliability that immediately insert an intellectual "virus" or "worm" into any accurate chronology, seek basic information from formal records [birth, death, marriage, children's birth, city licenses, censuses, ship's logs, etc.], diaries and journals, and vintage newspapers and journals and thereby compile a record of his existence and travels based on contemporary documentation. That was the methodology implemented by our late friend Stuart Thayer, who discovered that most coverage of the pre-Civil War circus in America was unreliable, if not outright wrong. His landmark "Annals of the American Circus 1793-1860," as well as "Traveling Showmen" and "The Performers" were the results of that approach. With such an important figure as George Wombwell, nothing less would seem adequate to the task.
If you're not familiar with where and how to locate vital statistics and other primary resource materials, ask your local librarian, consult some on-line help guides, etc. You'll find these folks want to help make your work productive and successful, and they can often accelerate your work efficiency with a few quick suggestions. You might also find a local genealogical group that can offer constructive advice and encouragement.
After you've established a document and period-based chronicle, you can then consult the latter day volumes; by then you'll be equipped to evaluate their accuracy and accept parts that are accurate or reject them in all or part as spurious, red herrings or outright fiction. Always document your resources so that you can re-trace your path and enable others to do so in the future. Judging competing accounts of the same events is part of the historian's responsibility.
Based on the same type of research, Thayer chronicled the traveling menageries in the United States, in a two-part article published in "Bandwagon." They're in the Nov-Dec 1991 and Jan-Feb 1992 issues. There's probably not a strong parallel to Wombwell's actions, but they will provide a contrast for comparison since both commenced circa 1810 or so, with much the same origins [beasts brought from abroad by enterprising seamen]. Another article in the Sept-Oct 1974 issue about early menageries may also be advisable to check.
British circus rider Andrew Ducrow was a contemporary to Wombwell. Though it's now just a bit vintage, the great Ducrow biography by Arthur H. Saxon might give you some insights into how to produce a first-rate biography that will stand the test of time. His mastery of resources, insightful analysis and erudition set high standards are worthy of emulation.
The National Fairground Archive at Sheffield University may have some significant Wombwell holdings. You might consult with the director, Dr. Vanessa Toulmin, for some guidance on conducting an effective search that will provide a valuable summary and interpretation of Wombwell's life and contributions. A considerable number of broadsides survive from the Wombwell operations, along with programs and other ephemera. To locate them will require contacting many institutions in Europe and the US, yet they will re-pay you with specific documentation of the presentations that were made by Wombwell.
You are perhaps fortunate in that the British publication "The Era," which commenced operation in 1838, has been digitized and is now available on-line in the UK with key word searching. I haven't learned how early it covered traveling menageries, but it's worth a look. The "Illustrated London News" started in 1842. Toole-Stott's five volume bibliography "Circus and Allied Arts" may provide some leads. Good luck with the work! Fred Dahlinger
Reply: 28 June 2009 - Dear Fred Dahlinger, Thank you very much indeed for so many good leads. I will follow them all up and do my best to pull together some good research and eventually a book worthy of my subject! With thanks again, and do stay in touch should anything further occur to you. Very kind regards, Clare Mulley
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2974. Circus wagon carvings, 26 June 2009 - Researching carvings off of late 19th, early 20th century circus wagons or exhibits. Any help would be appreciated.
Warmest regards from Toronto, Canada. Approximately a year ago I purchased a number of carvings I believe are from wagons, or rides. The story I was told was that a contractor in Peru, Indiana was tearing down a barn and inside were two rotting, destroyed circus wagons. The circus carts were in such bad shape, the contractor cut off all the decorative pieces of the carts, which consist of mermaids, peacocks and in one case, devils, devil heads and devil-related carvings which would have been painted beautiful colors. I was always wondering if one was from some type of “Diablo/Devil” exhibit. Some of the devil heads appear to be seats. I appreciate any help that anyone can offer on trying to help identify these carvings. They are done very well. I appreciate any help that anyone could offer.
Photos can be viewed at: www.jamiesontribalart.com/carnival/. Sincerely, William Jamieson, Research and Development, Niagara Falls Museum Collections. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2973. Fred Jones Reid, 26 June 2009 - I am looking for any information, pictures, etc. on Fred Jones Reid who traveled with the Sells-Floto Circus in 1929 as a human cannonball in the Cliff Aeros act. Any information would be wonderful. Thanks, Emily. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 27 June 2009 - Joe Bradbury researched and wrote a history of the 1929 Sells-Floto tour that was published in "White Tops," journal of the Circus Fans Association. It's in the Nov-Dec 1975 and Jan-Feb 1976 issues. It may be available from the CFA as a back issue. Check their website. Fred Pfening, Jr. wrote an article about human cannonball acts. The segment including Cliff Aeros is in "Bandwagon," Nov-Dec 1976. On page 9 it specifically mentions Reid, who was injured on April 26, 1929 after being shot from the cannon at the Chicago Coliseum. The paper trail would include the claim from the Illinois State Industrial Commission as well as perhaps Chicago newspaper coverage. His salary and compensation are noted therein.
It's possible that payroll and other ledgers from the 1929 Sells-Floto circus might be in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey business records in the Circus World Museum library. Contact Erin Foley, the archivist, for information about content and access. If Mr. Reid was employed directly by the cannon act provider, his name may not appear in Sells-Floto documentation.
The weekly trade journal "Billboard" and the bi-monthly issues of "White Tops" for 1929 may also provide additional information. Checking daily newspapers along the Sells-Floto route for mention of Mr. Reid is another possibility, but it would seem that his career as a cannonball ended in Chicago. He may not have appeared in the act under his own name. One of the Aeros cannons is preserved at Circus World Museum. Fred Dahlinger
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2972. Cole Bros. 1960-70s, 26 June 2009 - In the late 1960s and 1970s my family traveled with the Cole Brothers circus. I was looking to purchase any posters or any other items from this era. My father is John Munroe, and he was the fire eater and knife thrower. My mother is Marilyn Munroe (her real name) and she performed the blade box and stood at the knife board. If anyone has any information where I can find any items from this circus, could you please email me at gldncoin@att.net. Thank You, Samantha Munroe-Lyle. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 28 June 2009 - You will need to locate iems bearing the circus title of Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus. This would be the show title in the 1960's and 1970's. eBay is the most readily accessible location to find these almost weekly. There are a couple on right now. Go to Buy at the very top of the eBay home page and simply type in Circus Posters. Bob Cline
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2971. John Fox, 26 June 2009 - I am very unsure if you, or anyone for that matter, can help me in my quest. My partner is mixed race but has a huge blank in his life, as does his mother and siblings. There is very little information as his Grandmother passed away several years ago and never spoke of her affair! All we know is that she allegedlly had an affair with a man named John/Jon? Fox in the 50's, he was thought to be working with a Jamaican Circus at Wormwood Scrubs. Sadly my partner's mother was banished to live with her Uncle so never got to ask her mum who her dad was! Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance, Faye Meadows. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2970. Carnival name, 25 June 2009 - Hello could you please tell me the name nickname of a travelling carnival starting with the initial F. Thanks, Canteen. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 28 June 2009 - Your request is very vague. Perhaps if you could provide more information such as where was it, East Coast, West Coast, Canada, when was it, turn of the century, last year, etc. was it on trucks, wagons, a rail show? The show Foley and Burk comes to mind but I'm not a Carnival Historian. There is a Carnival Museum in Gibsonton, Florida that maybe of some help to you. I am not sure who to get a hold of there. Bob Cline
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2969. Tent Color, 25 June 2009 - I am working on a project that among others things concerns circus big tops in the 1920s and 1930s. I have a secondary source that indicates that some of the canvas big tops of the period were colored blue. I’ve gone through a number of photos from that time, but haven’t seen anything other than white and khaki tops. I have seen striped side walls in tent company catalogues, but from an earlier era and even here I haven’t seen one in actual use. I have a number of contracts between tent fabricators and shows, and none of them specific color, which I take to mean that the subject tents were always white or khaki. My father, who is good on stuff like this, thinks the Cole Bros. Circus in the 1940s was one of the first to have a blue big top, and that Ringling didn’t go with a blue top until the late 1940s or early 1950s. Being aware that lack of evidence is not necessarily evidence of lack (although it often is), I would be most appreciative of any information anyone out there is the ether might have regarding non-white and non-khaki tents before 1940. Thanks in advance to all you pavilion savants. Fred Pfening III Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 26 June 2009 - Tents and their colors are usually white, but a few other ones show up. The 1911 United States Tent & Awning Co. catalogue notes a number of small tents that are striped on the top and sides. These are usually 12 x 14 and trim color is red and blue. The hip roofed tents were 20 x 30 blue and white stripe and a red and white stripe. The big tents included a 60 foot round top and one 30 ft. middle with 10 foot walls of 6 1/2 ounce drill. This tent was used one day and was made of unfadable Red Duck. The black tents for motion pictures were made up to 30 x 70 feet. The Baker & Lockwood Catalogue for 1915 notes on page 4 a 125 x 300 foot tent that has a 125 ft round top, and three fifty and one thirty foot middles. The photograph shows a colored cap, some 20 feet wide and runs between the center poles. They also note that rope makers have been using too much oil in the manufacture of their rope thereby staining the cloth on each side of the roping. On page 5 the same colored cap was made for the Lemen Bros. Circus big top that was 150 by 300. On page 9 two elephants are walking by the white sidewall and there is a darker top in the photo but not sure if it is Norris & Rowe or not. JFP
Reply: 30 June 2009 - I’m not sure whether it was the first, but according to "Big Top Boss - John Ringling North and the Circus" the big-top canvas on the Ringling-Barnum circus of 1941 was blue, and evidently was designed by Norman Bel Geddes to accommodate the visual changes that John Ringling North brought to the show that season. The darkened tent allowed for special lighting effects and literally spotlighted the bright colors of costumes, props, etc. The menagerie tent of 1941 is described as being made of red canvas. An article about the 1936 Tom Mix Circus in the Nov-Dec edition of “Bandwagon” quotes a “Billboard” review from March 21, 1936 and includes a photograph of the lot at Pasadena, California, showing a big top with (what is described as red and white) striped sidewalls, and a menagerie tent with striped sidewalls and a “dark” top. The Tom Mix Circus of 1936 also had a side show tent with striped side-walls. Incidentally – though it wasn’t a “Big Top” – as early as 1889 Barnum & Bailey used a “Black Tent” as a venue for various illusions utilizing “black art” which allowed various magical effects to be presented. “Black Tents” were used throughout the 1890s by both Barnum & Bailey and the Ringling Bros. shows – and evidently early motion pictures were also shown under the darkened canvas. Chris Berry circusposters@gmail.com
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2968. Rolla Rossiter, slack wire, 22 June 2009 - Hi, Does any body have any information whatsoever on a slack wire performer by the name of Rolla Rossiter. I believe he was born in New York in 1807. He toured with circuses in the U.S. and arrived in Australia in Dec. 1854. Left for New Zealand in April 1855 and worked around New Zealand until Mar 1856 when I believe he returned to California. He was also a magician and combined both talents in his show and worked mainly theaters but occasionally joined circuses. Any information whatsoever would be helpful.
Bernard Reid, thaumaturge2@yahoo.com. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 29 June 2009 - Hello, I can confirm that Rolla Rossiter appeared in New Zealand during 1855 and 1856. Prior to joining up with W.H. Foley's Victoria Circus in Nelson during September 1855 he appeared as "Herr" Rossiter. This was the second circus to visit New Zealand and apart from the legerdemain and the wire "volante" Rolla Rossiter was also the Ringmaster. He became "Herr" Rosier after leaving the Victoria Circus in January 1856 but disappears after February. Regards, John Sullivan. New Zealand.
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2967. Silvia Ilona Traber, 20 June 2009 - Hello, my name is Elvis Traber. My mother is Silvia Ilona Traber but born as daughter from Willy Holzmüller he is although nowen from Circus Holzmüller and circus europa. I would like to know if you have some information from my grandfather or if you have some artikels you wrothe about him. Please give me answer on my e-mail stefan_schmidt97@hotmail.com. Im looking fore her family pictures so she can have tham back. Thanks already and sorry if my English isent so well. Elvis Traber. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2966. John J. Murray, 17 June 2009 - Hello anyone and everyone. I am in search of information about my great grandparents. My Aunt is my only living relative left who can tell me what little information she knows about these wonderful entertainers of the past. My great grandfather was John J. Murray and my great grandmother was Florence J. Murray. I have a little information about their circus life and I know they actually met in the circus and my grandmother Margaret Murray even performed as a child. I have this info: MURRAY, JOHN J. Acrobat, Crane & Co., 1850; Adam Forepaugh’s, 1874; clown, Beckett’s Railroad Circus, 1887; Hunting’s, 1889 (with wife Florence), 1893-95. And this:
John J. in route books for the 1890, 1893-1895 Hunting's Circus, and his name in an 1896 program for the show (he is listed as a clown, and as the manager of the concert and after show). Florence is also listed in those route books and program, usually as a concert performer. There is an advertising herald for 1896 where she is listed as a chariot driver. A separate index has John J. Murray on Priest's Pavilion show in 1886 as a singing and talking clown; has John and Florence on Stowe & Long's show for 1889 (as of April), then lists them with Hunting's Circus in July of that year, and again in 1890.
I have no actual official artifacts like authentic programs or anything. If anyone out their has any information for me on how to acquire some type of pamphlets I would truly appreciate any information. What I am really looking for is a copy of Billboard magazine from 1906 that my Great grandfather was on the cover. Please email me if you have anyinformation at goligal@yahoo.com Thank you for your time. Kelly. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2965. Lou Jacobs car, 16 June 2009 - I want to know if Lou Jacobs little car is still around. I'm looking to build something like it. If anyone knows where please contact me. Anthony, anthony2425@yahoo.com. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 17 June 2009 - His daughter, LouAnn, told me the family has all his props. Bob Cline
Reply: 27 June 2009 - There was more than one car that Lou used through the years. Currently the one he used in the movie production of “The Greatest Show on Earth” thus in the 1940s-50s is on view in the old building of the Ringling Circus Museum in Sarasota, FL, on loan from the Jacob Family. It should be on view for at least 6 months and is on a small pedestal inside the front door of the building, which you can actually look at it very closely. It’s amazing to see the real deal, as it is quite small and hard to imagine that Lou would even fit into it. As the kid in the movie said, “How’d he get in there?!!!” Neil C. Cockerline
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2964. G G Grady's, 1871, 15 June 2009 - Greetings, I am a collector of old paper money and in a recent acquisition was included 2 pieces of what I would describe as advertising scrip in the amount of 10 cents for G G Grady's Unprecented American Circus for 1871, and stamped on the front for I'm guessing a specific show in Cadiz Ohio Wednesday August 9, 1871. Just curious if you might have other relevant information about Grady, or this particular show. I googled the name and found out he was from Kenton Ohio I believe, but otherwise just thought it was interesting and unusual paper which I do run across from time to time. Thanks very much. Pete Simpson. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 17 June 2009 - A cameo biography of Grady is on this website, in Slout's "Olympians of the Sawdust Circle." An academic, Dr. Ronald V. Ladwig, formerly with Ohio Northern University and later Weber State College, wrote a paper "'Goodness Gracious' Grady's Unprecendented Old Fashioned American Circus" back in the 1970s. It would add to your knowledge. Perhaps the university library or a local historical society or library in the Kenton or Upper Sandusky area would have a copy of it. There's an article about Grady in Billboard, April 14, 1934, page 110. His obituary is in New York Clipper, July 20, 1895, page 310; he died at his home in Indianapolis. There are references to various Grady circus operations on a 5 x 7 note card in the George Chindahl collection in the Circus World Museum library. Newspaper ads are among the few items that survive from his show days. Fred Dahlinger
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2963. Sideshow Truck Panel, 15 June 2009 - I came across a panel cut from the side of a circus truck that depicts a risqué' sideshow act performed by a topless snake dancer. My best guess is that it dates from the 1920's to the 1940's. It is poster board on wood, partially hand painted and partially airbrushed. The name is difficult to read, but it is either "Tonia", "Lonia" or "Sonia", "in her Sensational Dance of the Serpent". I have attached a link to a picture of the panel below. If you have any info about this act, the performer, or approximate date of sign, I would love to know. Thanks. Matt in San Diego.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/ryder92111/serpentdancer.jpg. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2962. Routes, Europe 1920-40, 13 June 2009 - I have a query about the routes for any circus that travelled in Europe in the 1920-1940 period. Considering how cold European winters are/were with the ice and snow, did they still travel in the winter time or did they stop travelling and perform undercover somewhere? Did European circuses tour to many countries, for instance did they start in France and then move on to Germany and Belgium etc? I notice this site is predominantly American history, does anyone know of a similar website for European circuses? I would appreciate any help. Thanks, Caroline. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 14 June 2009 - Hello Caroline, Most cotton-canvas tents didn't have good snow loading so the majority of bigger circuses in the 1920-1940s would have taken to buildings during the winter. Some were custom-built circus buildings and some would have been exhibition space that was adapted. The smaller fairground circuses and menagerie shows would have pulled in to winter-quarters or put acts into theatres and even big stores. This was the case in England and mainland Europe during the time you specify. Circuses did leave their home turf from time to time but this was more common in continental Europe. Whilst many English artistes worked abroad, I don't think any UK circus companies did so. For specific information on English circus you could visit us at www.fun-fairs.co.uk/forum or either www.circusfriends.co.uk or www.circusbiography.co.uk. Depending on what you want to know, there are many excellent websites in French and German on the 'net. You could start at www.aucirque.com/index2.php or visit www.burguscircus.com. You are welcome to email me if there is something specific you are looking for and I'll try to point you in the right direction? use ndlovu8@gmail.com to make contact, very best, Jim Stockley, South Africa
Reply: 14 June 2009 - You could try The Circus Arts Forum website on the Internet that lists all the major shows and organisations. ‘Europe’ is not one state although we have this ‘European Union’ but it is still, basically, a trading block with free movement of people. In theory circus can and could cross borders but single shows would find this a difficult language and cultural problem. (Different countries have different ideas about circus). For example; our experiences in Ireland would say the country people would not bother to attend a circus until after closing time but in England the clock matters. The periods you refer to 1920s to 1040s were most unstable and WW2 was during 1939. No circuses have been imported, successfully, into Britain (no Spanish, German or France shows) although the country relies heavily upon foreign acts and artistes and home proprietors may use fancy titles that impress. Tom Sandow, fossett@supanet.com
Reply: 15 June 2009 - Hi Jim and Tom, thanks for your replies, I’ll check out those web sites.Caroline
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2961a. Biron family, Wild West, 12 June 2009 - Hello, I am researching some history on Biron family that was in Wild West Shows. Dan H. Biron and wife Pearl are listed in the name index of the "Bandwagon" Vol 29 number 4 (July-August-1985). Just wondered if anyone might have a copy and could tell me if it mentions where they were from. Thanks. Vi Biron Dussault. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 12 June 2009 - The article in Bandwagon only lists Dan and Pearl as performers. No additional information. Judy Griffin
Reply: 01 Jul 2009 - Thank you for your reply, I actually found photo's of Pearl Biron and Cherokee Hammons on the Doubleday photo sight. With those two names, I was able to find the lineage I needed. For your records. D. H. Biron was actually Dominique Henry Biron, from Manchester, New Hampshire and Pearl Biron was actually Beulah Pearl HIcks, from Hickesville, New Brunswick. She divorced Biron and married "Cherokee" John Elbert Hammons, sometime after 1939. Vi Biron Dusssault
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2961. Mr. McPhee, 11 June 2009 - I have a Great Aunt by the name of Christina (Hewer) McPhee 1897-1940's from Onterio, Canada. It's said, that she married a gentalman by the name of Mr McPhee. From what I have heard, he was either the owner or manager of a circus somewhere in the New York State area. We are interested to know anything related to Mr McPhee and his relationship to the Circus History. Thanks you in advance for your time. Perry Richards, Hood River, OR. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 11 June 2009 - According to Slout's Olympians (on this website) circus owner Andrew Downie (real name McPhee) married Christina Hewer. If you search McPhee or Downie on this website, you will find several articles on Downie's circuses. Judy Griffin
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2960. Europe, WW II, 11 June 2009 - I am a Houston, Texas free lance writer currently working on a novel titled, “Conspiracy of Clowns.” The setting is Nazi occupied Pragu, Czechoslovakia during World WAR II and a traveling circus. I am desperately seeking a book or any information available about traveling cicuses in Europe during WW II for historical research. Although the book is fiction I would like the details to be as historically accurate as possible. Although I am a humorous by passion and preference, this is basically a serious novel depicting the courage of three circus clowns and their efforts to seek justice after the execution of a fellow clown by the Gestapo. Any leads or info would be greatly appreciated. Ray Fitzgerald, fitrl@comcast.net, or my web site, www.shamrockandblarney.com. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2959. Mable Stark, 10 June 2009 - For anyone interested in Mable Stark the cat lady she was born in Cobb Ky in Caldwell county and the house she was born in may still be there. The mental institution western state hosp that she escaped from is still in existance. Gott Roxx. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2958. Cancowsci, juggler, 10 June 2009 - I`d like to ask you about circus poster of juggler Cancowsci`(enclosed). This poster was made by Adolph Freidlander in 1900. Cancowscis (real name Jakub Kankowski) was a polish juggler. He was born (1870) and died (1963) in small town Brok at the Bug River (East Poland). This poster (probably) was printed in catalogue of Circus Poster Exhibition in Berlin in 1978. Our Brok Centre Fundation would like to remind this intresting person and make a small exhibition about him in August 2009 in Brok. I would be grateful if you could send me a piece informatoin about poster of Cancowsci and catalogue of circus poster exhibition in Berlin in 1978. With kind regards, Tomasz Porowski, Brok Centre Foundation, www.brokcentre.art.pl. [this message board does not include the display of graphic images - J. Griffin, webmaster] Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2957. Con T Kennedy circus, 09 June 2009 - I am the Sexton at Riverdale Cemetery. We have a Circus Monument erected in memory of the Con T Kennedy employees killed during the Columbus train wreck. I am looking for information on the Con T Kennedy Circus. Can you give me any information? Thanks, Deborah Abraham. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 10 June 2009 - I'm almost positive that the Con T Kennedy Show was a carnival and not a circus. The carnival more than likely stayed in the same town for most of the week. It had a few rides, games of chance, concession stands and shows to entertain the young and old alike. A circus on the other hand more than likely moved everyday, exhibited a wide array of animals perhaps, probably carried a side show and offered a performance generally twice a day. I'm not as well versed on carnival owners as I am with the circus industry. Perhaps someone else can expand on this. Bob Cline
Reply: 11 June 2009 - The Con T. Kennedy Shows was a railroad carnival. Kennedy's best years were somewhat courtesy of C. W. Parker, who was his father-in-law. If you Google "Con T. Kennedy," several articles about the disastrous 1915 mishap will pop up. He carried on until the show was foreclosed and sold for back taxes in 1924. There's further information about Kennedy and his show operation in Joe McKennon's book "Pictorial History of the American Carnival," volumes 1 and 2, and Bob Goldsack's books about C. W. Parker and Carnival Trains. Ask your librarian to secure these volumes for you. The Goldsack books include photos of the show and also of the wreck. The horror experienced in 1915 was exceeded by the disastrous Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck in 1918.
Fred Kempf and his wife were two of the 1915 Kennedy wreck victims. His brother heard their horrifying screams during the fire that followed the wreck, but rescue was impossible. The Kempfs were in their straight-bed motor truck, which housed their miniature city attraction. It was on a flat car immediately behind the locomotive, an undesirable spot because of all the coal smoke and cinders discharged from the stack. They'd refused to pay a "fee" to the show trainmaster to gain a better placement on the flats. As a result, during the pile-up that ensued they were right in the middle of the debris pile. In a quirk of fate, the Kempfs' baby daughter, Hazel Helen Kempf [Mack was her married name], was miraculously tossed from the Kempf vehicle, clear of the carnage, and survived without injury. I visited and spoke with her in the 1980s, about the same time that another baby had miraculously survived a plane crash in which her family was also lost. Her uncle had shared with her the story of her parents passing. She has since passed on. Fred Dahlinger [train wreck date corrected June 20]
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2956. Gold rush era circus, 09 June 2009 - Do you have any information, or know where I could look to find out about gold rush era traveling circus that came to N. Bloomfield Ca., or Humbug as it was also called. It is now Malakoff Diggins State Park, Ca. foxtales3. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 10 June 2009 - According to Stuart Thayer's Annals of the American Circus, 1793-1860, Vol. III: Lee & Bennett's Great North American Circus, played Humbug, CA on July 26, 1857. The New National Circus and Hippodrome was there on May 27, 1858. You should be able to borrow this book on inter-library loan, ask your local librarian. The "Annals" has more information on these two circuses. Information on circus routes this early are probably scarce. Another option for you to try would be the local/nearby city/town newspapers of that era. - Judy Griffin
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2955. Turtles, alligators, 09 June 2009 - Did vendors sell baby turtles and alligators at the circus 1956? Suzan. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 24 June 2009 - Suzan, I do not remember Turtles or Alligators, but I do remember lizards! They were worn as a 'living pin'. The leg was tied to a piece of elastic and a safety pin was on the other end. Didn't appear to bother the lizards at aIl! They clung to your clothing. I think in the 50's at RBB&B they were about 25 cents. I remember bright green little lizards as a kid! They might have had a few chameleons, but they were probably a bit more expensive. My Mother put her foot solidly down and never let me get one, but once my Uncle took me and I got one. I do not think it made it home, it escaped somewhere near Petaluma! 50's dates at Cow Palace in San Francisco. What a memory you made me have! R.T. Carr III, Circus Historical Society Member
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2954. West Bros., 08 June 2009 - When I was 14/15 years old, I worked for Romig & Rooney, while they worked dates at country clubs in the Detroit,Mi area. They were retired performers and had a tightwire act, performing dogs and a trained horse. Has anyone heard of them? Also while I was married to Dick Lunsford, he and I worked for a Zallee Bros Circus. Paul Zallee owner. Paul used to play music on bottles filled with water. He was a very different person who was always painting something on the equiptment and humming all the time. We also played indoor dates for him in the winter. I think he based in Iowa. I am surprised at all the memories the Circus History page has brought back. Also I met a wonderful lady named Beverly Harnett at the State Fair in Detroit where I assisted her with her acts( Comedy Mule, Dog Act, Rope Spinning and Whip Act.) While I was there Tex Ritter was Showing in the Rodeo Arena and the trainer of the white horse he rode into the arena allowed me to lead the horse to the arena gate and hold him for Tex Ritter to get on and make his grand entry. Ritter would dismount and the horse came back to me at the gate so I could return him to the barn. What a thrill that was for me as I had just turned 16 years old. My parents allowed me to join Beverly Harnett in Missouri and travel and learn from her. We ended up in the spring on the first real Circus I was on. The West Bros. Circus and as I remember we had a blowdown the first day. The year was 1948/49 I think and thats where I met the Lunsford family. Would like to know more about the West Bros.? Does anyone recall Beverly and Bill Harnett? I lost touch years ago when I stopped getting Christmas cards. Her daughter lived in California. Betty Lunsford/Olive;Osteen,Fl. (olive.betty@gmail.com). Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 16 June 2009 - Yes, I remember Romig and Rooney. Carl Romig was a former wild west cowboy who after retirement became a clown. Elizabeth Rooney had worked either horses or trapeze – or both. They lived just north of Detroit (I think in Royal Oak or Clawson.) They had two children Irvin and Faye. Irv became well known on Detroit TV as Rickey the Clown. Faye married Bill Snyder, and the last I heard she trained animals in California. When we played Detroit for the Shrine several years ago, Irv visited and gave me a copy of his autobiography. I think he still lives in the Detroit area (either Birmingham or Southfield). His wife is Rose and they had one son. I later gave the autobiography to CWM library. There is a very brief shot of their riding act in The Greatest Show on Earth. They were a wonderful family, and I spent many enjoyable times with them. John
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2953. Performer's pay, 07 June 2009 - Curious, how much does a performer make with the Cole Brothers Circus? I just took my son today to see the show, this is our second year seeing the Cole Circus. We loved it and I'm just curious, I love the circus. John Doherty, John2008nj@gmail.com. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2952. Andy Camilleri, 06 June 2009 - I am trying to get more information on Andy Camilleri. According to an IOU I have, he used to have a monk and baboon act. I also think he had a small show that went to Alaska. In the IOU, he used a snake and a lion named Odessa for security on this loan from J. Sam Houston. Thank you, Lynne Bell. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2951. Lydia Gordon, 02 June 2009 - Lydia May (Engle) Gordon rode the elephants in the circus during the depression. It was sometime after 1926 when he husband, Milton (Mike) Gordon was killed. She left her 4 children with her father, Dan Engle, near Spooner, WI and joined the RBBB, I think. I have been unable to locate any written information about her, and know the little info I have it true. I have seen the picture of a woman riding an elephant that hangs on the wall at Circus World Museum in Baraboo; it's the spitting image of my mother. I have a pewter framed picture of the roustabouts and the beaded purse my grandmother carried when she rode the elephant. I would appreciate any information about her or adresses of sites that may have the info. Thank you. Linda Durkee aka momdurkee@yahoo.com. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2950. Blumenfeld family, 02 June 2009 - Hello! I have been researching my family history for a number of years, and am hoping someone here might be able to help. I am searching for more information on any of the following, most especially their connection to the Circus Blumenfeld or other German Blumenfelds: Simon Blumenfeld (abt 1829 Wassenberg [sp?] Germany - 1911 London) married Wilhelmina Blenon or Blennon (abt 1841 Trier Germany - 1915 London). Simon was a circus performer and horse breaker. They had at least four children: Charles Blumenfeld (1867 Warsaw - ?), Baptist (1868 Braunschweig - 1943 New York), Paul (abt 1875 Eulendorf Germany - ? US), William (abt 1876 Rentlingen Germany - 1943 US). Simon & Wilhelmina, along with sons Baptist, Paul, and William moved to England before 1901, where the three brothers performed in circus and vaudeville. In 1914, the sons moved to the US where they performed (along with their wives) in a vaudeville show called The Victoria Troupe. I have a website with more details available at: www.demodecouture.com/genealogy/ Any information would be most appreciated! Thanks, Kendra Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2949. White horses, 01 June 2009 - Why did they always use WHITE horses in circuses? Does anyone know how this began? Had this question posed to me and could not answer. nedcircus. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 03 June 2009 - Is there a time line associated with the "WHITE" horses you are asking about? I'm certainly not a horse expert, so I'm just giving you a few quick thoughts. Most of the 20th century baggage stock was a wide variety of colors, though generally matched in color and size as teams. Available photos of draft stock show Dapple greys, Blacks, White, and Sorrels. Chappie Fox's Circus Books, which generally use black and white photos, show a combination of colors in the Baggage stock. Performing Ring stock has been Black, White and Sorrel. Hope this helps. Bob Cline
Reply: 06 June 2009 - Like humans, a horse's hair color is passed on in the genes; most white horses are actually a very light gray, and some grays turn white in a short time where that specific gene is dominant. Humans are drawn to colors for whatever reasons, but I'll offer two more theories:
1) Spectacle and showmanship – matched teams are always elegant, and stand out from everyday horses. In their day, they were popular for coaches and fire apparatus — in modern use, check out the military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery with matched teams.
2) The slang term "rosin back" — where a human and horse performed together, powdered rosin, which is white, was sprinkled on the horse's back to improve the rider's grip. White powder won't show on a white horse. ;) Lance Burton
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2948. Julius Goldberg, lion tamer, 31 May 2009 - am the great Grandson of Julius Goldberg, by one line of the family. My understanding is that he had two seperate wives. (don't know if I have the spelling correct) At any rate... My Great Aunt Rubie Stewart who died a couple of years ago was his daughter. We have an old record album in the family that is a recording of a radio interview with the Lion Tamer Julius Goldberg. In it he tells a story of being in one of his favorite hotels and how he always took his tigers with him when he traveled. He kept the tigers in the basement of the hotel and was throwing a dinner party in the ballroom. Apparently he didn't get the cage door latched properly and the tiger wandered up to see what was going on causing a panic. Says he was never allowed back in the hotel as he refused to travel without his tigers. It's an old inteview, back in the days when radio shows incorporated all the in studio sound effects in the broadcast. You here the scream of party attendees and the lion roar. Later you hear the rain as Mr. Goldberg and the interviewer appear to be walking down the streets during the interview. Originally we had it on an old 78 album that was later transfered to a 33 album.
I have spent many years off and on trying to find mention of him and have never been successful. Someone once told us his name showed up in an old McMillan reader but we have never found it. I would appreciate any historical info on him that I might be pointed to. By all reports he was a Russian Jew immigrant and worked for Barnum Bailey. Thanks, Jeff Richardson, jeffery@mind.net. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2947. Michaelovich/Marinkovich family, 30 May 2009 - With reference to your message board, I am still looking for my long lost family, I am related to the Ringling and Bailey Circus. Does any one know the Michaelovich Family or the Marinkovich Family from France? My name is Catherine Marinkovich, my married name is now Georgeovich. I am the youngest of the Marinkovich Family, I know the circus people were looking for us. I have moved homes since I used to live in Lenchwick Evesham England. Since I have moved there was no forwarding address. If there is anyone out there that knows my family, or the name please do not hesitate to contact me. This is really important for me. The names of Ringling and Bailey was slightly different in those days It was Bailia and Ranlia these are the names given to me. I am searching for my family, can you help, the circus is related from my Mohters side so if you know any information pleasse let me know. Catherine Georgeovich. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2946. Carlos Rosario, 29 May 2009 - I am looking for Carlos Rosario who was with Chipperfields circus from Hampshire England back in the the late fifties/early sixties. Does anyone know what happened to him. Tom. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 06 June 2009 - I believe this may be a man who had a farm south of Erie, PA around 1970. He appeared with indoor shows, had a drunk horse act and a comedy car act. Don Brewer; don.brewer@bex.net
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2945. Romanian circus history, 27 May 2009 - Wanted. Romanian circus history dating to the mid to late 1800s. My great grandfather was a strong man in the circus around that time. The last name is Cepanariu. His son, my grandfather, was Pavel born sometime around 1880. He came from Bistrita and immigrated to the US around 1915. My father Emil was born in 1917. Suzanne C. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2944. Anna Cannaday, 27 May 2009 - I am looking for information related to my great-grandmother. Her name was Anna Cannaday and stories have been told that she was in a traveling circus. She was born @1859 and left the circus by @1895 because she bought land in Wayne County, WV at this time. I have an album with several pictures of possible circus people (one very tall man and one with three ladies with very long hair) and her picture is of her and a child with a very large head. Mantha7230. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2943. Chipperfield circus clown, 27 May 2009 - I am researching my family history, and was told that my Grandfather in law was a White Clown with Chipperfield Circus, this would be in the 20s and 30s we think. His name was Michael Cavanagh, although I have no way of knowing if this is the name he used during his career. I have no idea how to begin to find out whether this is fact or fiction, although we did have a clowns suit, which has is now lost, and doesn't really mean that a family member was a clown. I would appreciate any help you could give me. Yours Sincerely, S White. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 31 May 2009 - Yes, ‘Mickey’ Cavanagh was a very well known circus clown in Britain during the 1940s and toured many times with my parents circus (see my diary and mention of him). I do not know what happened to him afterwards. He toured with his wife and two children, Howell and Helen. I would have great pleasure in meeting them again, for we went to school together. Tom Sandow [click on History on the navigation bar to read Tom's life diary.]
Reply: 03 June 2009 - To follow up on what Tom Sandow has said, the late John Turner sent me this information in November 2004
"According to my records 'Poole's Caucasian Circus' ran during the war years only:
Poole's Caucasian Circus, Sandow Chipperfield 11/06/1945 Clowns Micky Cavanagh, Butch Reynolds, Bimbo and Tomato; Chipperfield's Bengal tigers, presented by Frank Carlos; Sandow's troupe of Shetland's, with monkey and dog; Chipperfield's bears; Miss Violet and partner, on the wire; Amazing Gridneffs, from Russia; Marjorie Chipperfield, liberty horses; Sandow Sisters, on trapeze; Jix, Jax and Max, comedy bar act; Miss Margaret, with wonder horse 'Emperor'; Miss Christine, ballerina on HB. Tenting. [NB: Marjorie Chipperfield was my Mother] also, the late John Turner sent these entries from his book 'Twentieth Century Circus Shows, 1901-1950' (Lingdales Press, Formby, 2007) ........ courtesy of Erik Jaeger
Chipperfield's Circus and Zoo, Chipperfield, at Southampton, 22/4/1946. La Petite Eva, riding clown; Jimmy Chipperfield; Mickey Cavanagh; Jax & Max; Dick Chipperfield's high school act; Marsaline, lady wire walker; Field & Chase; Dick Chipperfield's Bengal tigers; The Gridneffs. Opening of tenting season. World's Fair, 4/5/1946, p.12, col.3.
Chipperfield's Circus and Zoo, Chipperfield, at Lyme Regis, Dorset, 14/5/1946. World's Fair, 25/5/1946, p.13, col.1.
Chipperfield's Circus and Zoo, Chipperfield, at Torquay, 8/6/1946. World's Fair, 8/6/1946, p.12, col.4.
Chipperfield's Circus and Zoo, Chipperfield, at Torquay (Walls Hill Quarry), 8/6/1946. La Petite Eva (Eva Gridneff), voltige; Johnny Chipperfield, rider, with Micky Cavanagh whitefaced clown; Jix, Jax and Max, double bar act; Marsaline (Bertha Gridneff), on the wire, with Roxana; Dick Chiperfield's animals, bears and bulls; Marjorie Chipperfield's liberty horses. World's Fair, 15/6/1946, p.16, col.2. .... from Jim Stockley, South Africa. email: ndlovu8@gmail.com
Reply: 05 June 2009 - Jim Stockley is right of course, I have the same items from the late John Turner but Mickey must have toured with our family show during the late 1940s because I clearly remember playing with the two children and Helen would be about eight and Howell was about eleven perhaps. I would be much older than five, possibly eight or nine years. Tom Sandow
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2942. Flying Eugenes, 26 May 2009 - Hi, I am looking for information about a group of gymnasts called the "Flying Eugenes" who travelled the world with a variety of circuses. I have been lead to believe that one of my relatives were part of the troup in the 1890's and I have a number of original photos of the troup. So far I have not come across anything that names the members of the group and I would be very grateful to anyone that could give me any information regarding the group. Thank you Anne. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 02 Jul 2009 - Hello Anne, I can give some snippets regarding the Flying Eugenes. They toured New Zealand and Australia with Wirth Bros. Circus in 1904 and 1905. In 1929 a group using the name Flying Eugenes were with Bartons Circus in Australia. Another group of Eugenes toured Australia in late 1907 and 1908 with Rickards Vaudeville circuit. I have no info. regarding them apart from a description of being "gymnasts". Regards, John Sullivan, New Zealand
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2941. Lemoyne family, 25 May 2009 - I'm looking for the Lemoyne (spelling may be wrong) that were a family circus (trapeze on motorcycle) act in the 50' and or 60's. I met them in Salinas California after they were semi-retired. Daughter of the matriarch Claudia was in Germany the last I heard. That was in the early 70's. Would really like to hear from someone. Shirley O'Keefe (formally Wood). Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2940. Photos 1940s, 25 May 2009 - Hi, I have pictures from the 1940’s, most of them I cannot really identify except for my grandparents and occasional the photographer which may indicate what state they were taken. I am particularly intrigued by one photo that shows a skyline in the back ground which I think is new York and would love to verify. I also have some documents concerning employment opportunities. My grandfather was a topmounter in a high wire (tightrope?) act, so that is what most of the pictures contain, although there are others. Is anyone in this sort of thing for historical purposes? Respectfully, Cher Young. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2939. Herb Corey, 25 May 2009 - Have photo 1944 of clown signed Herb Corey. Photo of face only any ideas? ddx15. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2938. Perry family, 24 May 2009 - My father was Clifton Perry; Circus wise it was initially the Perry Bros Circus. The circus later became the Sole Bros Circus. His brother was Joey. I have 4 half sisters out there- Donna, Ava, Lana and Kimmy. My mum Jan looked after all of you girls when “Cliffy” passed away. Just to let them know that I am looking for any history (I’m, the fourth girl/sister-Shayne). Cliffys grand kids are something to be very proud of! We certainly know were the “circus” blood comes from! Any info re my half sisters would be much appreciated! Shayne. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 02 June 2009 - Hello Shayne, Lindsay Perry has a page on circuspace. I went to your dads funeral. Robert.perry3@bigpond.com
Reply: 16 June 2009 - I was wondering if my G Aunt - Teresa Kuhn Perry from Cowlitz, Wa. could be related in some way. Her brother Kasper Kuhn worked for Hackenbeck & Wallace circus around 1918. It was said he died in a train wreck while with the circus. Would someone know of this incident? Thank you. Muriell in BC Canada
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2937. Prince Lucky Ball, 23 May 2009 - I am doing research on Prince Lucky Ball (John G. Ball). I have read that he was a lion trainer who was injured by a big cat. I am interested in the particulars of that event. I know that he became a famous sword swallower and wanted to find out the circus he worked for and the routes that he followed in 1927. Any information would be appreciated. Lee. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2936. Stilt walking, 23 May 2009 - Dear friends, I am currently writing a book titled 'Stilt Walking - a History and How To'. I have covered about 30 fascinating areas in stilts. I am touching base to see if there is someone at your end who would have the time to send me an email with any names of artists and or other performances that involved stilts over circus' history. I have already covered artists such as Doug Hunt, Roy Maloy, Blondin and The landes Shepherd. I'm looking for stilts that were around in the golden age, such as in the Ringling camp and so on during the 1900-1920's period. Any thoughts, names and so on that you may have tyo offer would be of huge help to me. Many blessings, Tim. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 24 May 2009 - Hi Tim, I have been stilt walking since 1961 and Sanger when I practiced myself without tuition walking between the twin King Poles hanging on to a rope tied between them. I am still walking the stilts! My cousin, Barry Sloane, left for America during the late 1960s and became a manager for Ringling B&B (I think). He was a fine stilt walker along with his two sisters Joy and Pip. Cheers, Tom Sandow
Reply: 02 June 2009 - You may want to check out Steve LaPorte, stilt-walker extraordinaire with the Red Unit of Ringling (197?-1976) and the Blue Unit (1977-1978). He has since become a Hollywood makeup artist, with an Oscar for BEETLEJUICE, as well as a champion kite flyer. David Carlyon
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2935. Bachelor family, 23 May 2009 - My maiden name is Bachelor, and I know my great-grandfather's Charles Benjamin's father, and his family were in the circus, their trick was supposed to have been jumping elephants. I've been reading through these boards, and history pages, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. If anyone has more information on our family I would really appreciate it. I know my grandfather could train horses to do tricks, we have pictures of him having them roll over etc. Please email me at CindyLBW@gmail.com if you have any information you would like to share. Sincerely, Cindy. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 27 May 2009 - The leaper's stage name was William H. Batcheller, whose real name was Patrick Quirk. There's a biography of him in Slout's book "Olympians of the Sawdust Circle," on this website. Steve Gossard also published an article about leapers in Bandwagon. ["Frank Gardner and the Great Leapers, July-Aug 1990] Fred Dahlinger
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2934. Memory Lane, 23 May 2009 - My name is Betty Lunsford/Olive. Sometime during my younger days when I was married to Richard(Dick) Lunsford I owned a 'great' white German Shepherd named "Mr. Bunk ". I am not sure where or why but for reasons I can't remember, Dick and I gave the dog to Buckles Woodcock to keep around his elephants. Later we heard he grabbed someone by the seat of his pants as he was leaving the area where the elephants were tethered. Seeing your blog brought the memorie back to me. I am wondering if you can tell me anything about a wonderful elephant friend that I had to sell because my husband Ray Olive and I had to retire our show off the road for his health reasons.We were in partners with R.A. Miller and had a Shopping Center unit on the road with him for about 11 years. The elephant was Jesse,one of three elephants that R.A and Mayburn and maybe Bo Miller owned.The elephants were Jesse,Jenny and Mim. The elephants were very young when they got them. I sold Jesse to Dave Hoover because he was going to take his own show out the following year. He was going to take her with him on the Clyde Beatty Show that spring but could't for reasons I don't know. I do know she was a very gentle and willing animal all the time she was in my charge. We rode many children on her back and she did a great single routine. I worked and saw to her keep while we had her and she worked by mostly voice commands and not much else. Logans son tried to work with her but she disliked him and hit at him ( she had never done anything like that when I had her.) Anyway Dave sold her to The Great American Circus from what I heard. We, my daughter and I saw her in Daytona,Fl. where the show was set up.My daughter was 6 weeks old when she and I met Jesse. I have not heard about her and would like to know if you have any knowledge of her.Hoping to hear from you. Betty. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 24 May 2009 - Greetings, Your elephant, Jessie, is still alive and very well cared for. She spent ten years on Hoxie's Great American which then was just known as the Great American Circus. In 1987 she was sold to the Carden International Circus where she remains today. Bob Cline
Reply: 24 May 2009 - There was an earlier inquiry about Jesse. The archives for 2007 or #1725 have some more current information. Carol
Reply: 25 May 2009 - Bob Cline,Thank you for your reply with the good news about Jesse. Can you help me find out where she will be this summer? I would love to see her. Thanks to Carol for the reference to Message #1725. Betty Olive/olive.betty@gmail.com
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2933. RBBB glass item, 20 May 2009 - I have recently received a gift to commemorate my time at RBB&B Clown College back in the 1980’s but I have no idea what it is. It was purchased from an antique store and there was no tag or back story to identify what it actually is. It is a small roundish piece of clear glass, about the size of a quarter (1” x .75”) and bent. Imagine if you took a quarter and pressed it against a half-inch diameter dowel rod so that it started to curve around it. That is what this looks like, a clear piece of glass, roughly the size of a quarter that is curved in such a way as to lie flush against a cylinder. In the center in raised letters it reads “GF”. The G is above the F. On the left in sideways lettering from top to bottom it reads “RBB&B” and on the right in sideways lettering from bottom to top is reads “CIRCUS”. It is about a 1/16th of an inch thick and there seems to be the residue of some gold paint on the top. I am guessing it is older because something like this would be made out of plastic these days. Any idea what it could have been used for or was taken from? Any help would be appreciated, Best regards, D Chris Ferguson. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 01 Jul 2009 - Chris, The item you describe is very much like a souvenir ring sold by circus giant Gottlieb Fischer. See this page I created, listing the various rings sold by circus giants. Mr. (and Mrs.) Fischer's rings are shown at the bottom of the page. www.quasi-modo.net/Giant_Rings1.html - Tom H.
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2932. Mowatts tour, Joey Jaures, 19 May 2009 - Thanks for any information that anyone can provide about a tour of Europe that the Mowatts juggling act made in Europe in 1911-12. I am particularly interested in information about a female performer who was 18 and whose stage name may have been Joey Jaures. She apparently was a cyclist. During her career and life she used a variety of names including Josefa Jarocki, Josephine Jarocki, Nadja Jarocki, and Josia Jarocki among others. Her family emigrated from Poland in 1904 and landed in Baltimore, Maryland. They settled in Chicago.
Other participants in this European tour may have been Dyke Frank Engleman, the father of Bird Millman, and Dolly Summers, his companion and eventually his second wife.
Joey Jaures returned from Europe with Engleman and Summers in May 1912. She sent a holiday greetings to her father from Mannheim, Germany, apparently in 1911.
The Mowatts who participated in the tour were Benjamin, Thomas, Arthur, George, and Alec. They returned from Europe in August 1912. Jim Leonhirth Murfreesboro, TN. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 20 May 2009 - One small correction: Joey Jaures was a tight-rope walker, not a cyclist. Jim Leonhirth
Reply: 19 June 2009 - Nadia Jarocki may have performed with the Millman Trio as Joey Millman. She received a postcard in Milan, Italy, addressed to Joey Millman, c/o Millman Trio. The front of the postcard is a photo of Nadia (Joey). Also a member of the Millman Trio at this time apparently was Fern Andra, who later became a movie actress.
Jim Leonhirth, Murfreesboro, TN
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2931. Charles Lee Siegrist, 18 May 2009 - Hi, I'd like to get more info on Charles Lee Siegrist, as I am a descendent to him. My mother is Carol Siegrist. Thank you, Christine Voight. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2930. J. H. LaPearl, 17 May 2009 - My gr grandfather is J. H. LaPearl. My gr uncle is Harry LaPearl and from what I understand he was very versatile with many acts he could perform, but his forte' was being a clown. His second wife Loretta was also a clown. I am doing geneaology on my family and as the older ones who could help me are deceased, I really need help. My grand father was Roy LaPearl and my grandmother was Estelle Swoyer who had an act with her sister which started as the Miaco Sisters and changed to the Delno Sisters. They were contortionists and trapeze artists. Any help I can get on this would be greatly appreciated. You can answer to this website or e-mail me at bowlingnanny1@verizon.net. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2929. Ada Briggs, fat lady, 17 May 2009 - Circus, dime museum fat lady, Ada Briggs. We have recently acquired an original 1850s daguerreotype portrait of the sideshow attraction, Ada Briggs. We are seeking biographical information - her life dates, time associated with Barnum, etc. Can anyone provide information? Thank you. Cliff Krainik, Warrenton, Va. krainik@aol.com. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2928. Jack Dempsey, Sells-Floto, 14 May 2009 - Would anyone have any information concerning the tour that Heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey aka
The Manassa Mauler did with the Sells-Floto circus around 1919 or 1920?
What did his show consist of and how many appearences and where? apemonsterman. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 18 May 2009 - Dear Friend: According to an article on the 1919 Sells-Floto penned by Gordon Carver, Jack Dempsey joined the Show on 4 August in Port Huron, MI and left the Show on 16 August in Gary IN. There are no details how he performed. Generally, fighters were presented in the Concert section of the performance, sparing with a shill. On rarer ocasions, fighters were incorporated into the performace, once again sparing. A check of the local newspapers of Port Huron, Bad Axe, Bay City, Alma, Greenville, Grand Rapids,Muskegon, Traverse City, Cadillac, Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor or Gary probably will provide the answer you seek. Robert F Sabia
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2927. Chameleons, 14 May 2009 - Hi I am doing some research on a trend of the 1950's. I have been looking everywhere for this trend that came about in the 1950's. This lady told me that they would purchase alive chameleons with little collars and chain leashes that end with a pin to
attach to clothing. The chameleons would crawl all over the lady all day
and they would later put them on the drapes at home. I have researched all
over the internet for pictures of this, and I assume that someone would
have taken a picture of this or written about it somewhere. I'm hoping that someone has come across any information about this or has actually witnessed this in their lifetime. If not maybe you could recommend a place to research further. Nicole. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 15 May 2009 - Tom Parkinson profiled the "bug" business in an article written for "Billboard" magazine, likely in the early 1950s. There may be a clipped copy filed in the Circus World Museum library, with his papers, or perhaps in the vertical file. Fred Dahlinger
Reply: 17 May 2009 - "Chameleons" here are not the exotic large ones from Africa and southern Asia, but from the Deep South. What follows is a note from Dr. James Murphy, a herpetologist affiliated with Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC. "what you are referring to are American anoles (Anolis carolinensis) which were sold during this period at circuses, state fairs and other public venues. I saw many at the Texas State Fair during the late-1960s. The lizards were attached to two large wooden boards, carried by the seller over the shoulders. In fact, I bought some at the Ringing Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus when I was in grade school and kept them in a planted terrarium in my bedroom...they thrived!." - Ken Kawata
Reply: 03 June 2009 - You can use Google Books to access The Billboard Magazine online. They have them back to the early 40's. Margaret
Reply: 06 June 2009 - I remember in the early 1960's when there was still a bug man on Ringling. One of the old clowns, Kinko, would sit back in the alley and braid red, yellow and green strings together and fasten a small gold-toned safety pin to one end to serve as a leash for the bugs and to earn a few extra dollars from the bug man. The amazing thing was that by that time, Kinko was nearly blind and no one knew how he was able to see enough to accomplish the task. I seem to remember the chameleons came in a small cardboard box with a clear front and a tropical design printed on the box. Robert Momyer
Reply: 08 June 2009 - Nicole, fromer Executive Director of Circus World Museum, Greg Parkinson, began his career as a young man at the museum as a "bug man". John Goodall
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2926. Trapeze accidents, 14 May 2009 - I am looking for information about trapeze accidents/disasters as research for a novel. Please reply to aafmom@hotmail.com. Any pictures from the early 1900s are also appreciated. Vicki Fountain. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2925. Kelty photo, 13 May 2009 - I recently saw a large mural size photo hung at Albany International Airport in Albany NY. It was titled: Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Combined Circus-1934. Photo by EJ Kelty. Century, 74 W47 NYC B.. I would like to get a copy of this photo ( not a mural size of course) and was hoping you could help me out. Thank you, Sue Schwarting. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 18 May 2009 - Ed Kelty was a gifted photographer of his day. We, as Circus Historians, recognize his importance in the group photos he took over the years with all the members of one department or complete personnel shots from Various Circuses. You can learn a lot about this gentleman's creative genius by seeing the DVD "Flash of Light" produced by the Kelty family. A Book was printed a few Christmases ago entitled "Step Right this Way." My copy came from Barnes and Nobles Book stores.
While I am not certain of the photo you saw, you will find some of his prints for sale on eBay every now and then. Then can be very pricey to the low end $50 to 75.00 range. His photos of the Side Show performers have traditionally brought the higher purchase prices. From time to time, Circus collectors pass away and their estates are broken up and sold off whether by local auctions or eBay offerings. Unfortunately, most of these are never know by most people. Most of the auctions are offered by people trying to make money fast and have no idea what they are offering.
In all fairness there was also a set of 30 prints that were re-produced and offered for sale maybe 20 years ago. The quality is very good although they are not done on a photo paper as I recall which is a real good indication of his print vs. re-production. His works were almost always sold in a tube for safe keeping as many of his clients were the show people themselves and they had very little space to keep anything other than clothes and costumes. As a result, most of his work tends to curl from being rolled and the age will have taken its toll so you might see some crazing of the surface or discoloration of the papers. I hope this helps. Bob Cline
Reply: 18 May 2009 - E.J. Kelty took hundreds of circus photos. A good starting place for a history of the famous photographer is the book "Step Right This Way" which can be found on e-bay or other on-line book stores. If you want to check out the web site www.centuryflashlight.com you will find more photos and other information. It also, has the information to purchase on this site a CD about the history of Kelty. As far as photos, they don't turn up too often. A poor photo was on e-bay the other day and was very light and was in the 50.00 dollar range. Last year, from the William Brinley collection they where bringing from 550.00 to 7000.00 dollars each, plus the buyer's fee of 15% to 18% depending on the type of sale and type of payment.
Because of the size of most of them being 12" x 20" they are very hard to make copies of. P.J.Holmes
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2924. Circus pennants, 12 May 2009 - We are looking for old or new circus pennants to use for our 50th anniversary of the youth circus in Peru, In., Circus City Festival Inc., a non profit organization. I have searched the internet and have only come across pennants for sale from the Ringling circus. Any suggestions? Don. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 15 May 2009 - From time to time I see various pennants on eBay under Collectibles > Historical Memorabilia > Fairs > Circus and Carnival. Bob Cline
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2923. John Bill Ricketts, 11 May 2009 - Does anyone have information on the details of John Bill Ricketts' demise? He apparently died when his ship sank on his return voyage to Britain from the West Indies sometime in the early 1800s. I am wondering about the name of his ship, where it sank, etc. Romel and Claire. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2922. Milwaukee, 10 May 2009 - Hello CHS MEmbers. See you in Milwaukee. Bob Unterreiner. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2921. Merrill Sisters, 07 May 2009 - I am looking for information on an act that appeared in a Charity Circus in Huntington, W.Va. Jan. 13-18, 1930. The name was The Merrill Sisters, with their double loop. Bill Strong, yesterday1@verizon.net. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2920. Tippo, Fillis Circus, 06 May 2009 - I’m searching for information on my grandfather who may have been with Fillis Circus in 1892. Their travels were from far north Queensland in Australia to Sydney in November 1892 and Melbourne in March 1893. He was a young aboriginal boy and given the name “Tippo.” Any information, please email me. Many thanks, Jeanette Brown. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2919. Midget, 06 May 2009 - I have a cabinet card of a very small "man" "boy" in a large chair. The midget is sitting on one arm. Dressed in a
three piece suit and top hat. Wendt Boonton, NJ is stamped on card. This was in a box of unidentified family photos. Does anyone know if this was a performer? Please let me know. pcranch2000@aol.com, Thanks. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2918. Circus stranded, Middletown, 06 May 2009 - I am trying to find the date that a circus was stranded in Middletown due to lack of funds in 1956 or 57 or 58 for a friend. He thinks that it was Cole Bros, but I found an article on this site that talks about King Circus having the last date in Middletown in June 1956, so perhaps that is the only one. My friend says that he read about it in a Life or Look magazine while he was stationed in Germany and would like to get a copy of the magazine. Does anyone remember this, or know about this coverage? Any help that you could give me would be appreciated. Thank you, Catherine Ferguson, Madison, CT. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 07 May 2009 - I believe you're referring to one of the two units of King Bros which went out in 1956 and both of which closed early because of a combination of factors. One of these units closed in Middletown, CT. The King shows were using Cole Bros as well as King Bros posters and some of the newspaper advertising called the show King Bros Circus and Cole Bros Combined Shows, hence the confusion as to the title. Ole Whitey
Reply: 07 May 2009 - The Western Unit of the King Bros. Circus was closed on June 5, 1956 at Sunbury, Pa. and was moved to join the Eastern Unit of the King Bros. Circus at Straudsburg, Pa. that same date. The Western Unit with all equipment, animals, and circus personnel joined the Eastern Unit after having closed to bad business and court action from a bankruptcy suit filed against the two shows. The show went into New Jersey then played Danbury, Conn. - June 11, Naugatuck, Conn. - June 12 and Middletown, Conn.- June 13. The show closed in Middletown with all salaries unpaid and animals not fed. Equipment was left standing on the lot until the bankruptcy court receivers had it returned to Macon, Ga. where it was sold in lots. Ted Bowman Circus Route Collection
Reply: 13 May 2009 - Dear Friend: In 1956, I went from my home town (New London) to catch the Ringling Show in Plainville. It was a Sunday. En route, I passed through Middletown heading toward Berlin. On the Coleman Bros. lot, I passed the defunct King Bros. There were a number of animals grazing and the trucks appeared to be loaded and ready to proceed (which of course they never did.) I took movies of the stranded show and then quickly headed to Plainville some 15 miles away. I also took a fair amount of the unloading and set up of the Ringling show before returning to New London around noon. If you have a particular interest in the King show, I can send you a DVD of my day's activities. Best, Robert F Sabia
Reply: 17 May 2009 - Dear Mr. Sabia, I grew up in Plainville and remember well that Sunday that Ringling visited in 1956. If your DVD has shots of the Plainville date, I would be most interested in acquiring a copy. Thanks, Rick Whelan (rickwhelan@sympatico.ca)
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2917. Atlanta, GA 1850-60, 05 May 2009 - I'm trying to model a circus in HO in Atlanta Georgia 1850-1860. Does anyone have info as to who performed there (route sheet ), especially a small Railroad Circus. Thanks for the help. Bob Judge, bigjudge@comcast.net. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 10 May 2009 - Probably one of the most fantastic pieces of American Circus research is the Stuart Thayer ensemble called the "Annals of American Circus 1793 - 1860." Mr. Thayer documented the routes, performers, management, and elephants by name if any were on the show. Certainly Robert Parkinson's "Directory of American Circuses 1793 - 2000" is a credible resource as well. This book will contain the titles of the show, along with the years of existence and the owners name(s), but no routes or performers. The other resource to examine would be the Atlanta area newspapers of the time. Most have been preserved in a microfilm format as the papers turned brittle over the years. I will say, 1850 to 1860 is a good journey in time, so you may have poor results in locating the local newspapers that far back. If any circus, menagerie exhibition, or stage type show was in town, they most certainly advertised in the local media. Hope this helps you in your journey! Bob Cline
Reply: 11 May 2009 - In addition to Thayer's 'Traveling Showmen" and his "Annals," you will find early circus train coverage in the Nov-Dec 1983 issue of "Bandwagon," in the article "The Development of the Railroad Circus." It is continued in three additional issues, up to 1900. The same images are in larger size in the Parkinson and Fox book "The Circus Moved by Rail."
Bear in mind that with the exception of the unusual and unique Spalding & Rogers train, any other circus traveling by railroad in the 1850-1860 time slot was doing so on a string of cars hired from the host railroad. There were no show-owned conventional cars until 1872. The circus used a different string of cars on each line on which they traveled.
I've never seen an illustration of a train carrying a circus between 1850 and 1860. The earliest available pieces are a cut of the Dan Rice show [circa 1863] and another of L. B. Lent's [1866]. These are in the above mentioned article. The Rice cars apparently bore his name, either in paint or on a banner. The Lent cars had no show titles. Flamboyant decorative schemes were still in the future. The next view is the well known Barnum show photograph taken at Kalamazoo, MI in 1872, showing show-owned flats.
The "railroad circus" from the 1850s to 1871 was typically a reduced scope show, mostly the big top operation and little else other than a free act [balloon ascension]. They were gilley outfits, mostly using box cars and day coaches. A bandwagon might have served in parade, hauled on a single flat. A team or two of horses and the performing animals were the only beasts. Any wagons would have been of the overland style, with larger diameter, narrow tread wheels.
A few overland troupes did make jumps from one territory to another, because of weather, attendance or competition, but they, too, were loaded onto leased system cars. These were all shorter vehicles, twenty to maybe thirty feet long, whatever the railroad had accumulated over time. None of these trains would have been as eye appealing as later show-owned trains. They were likely loaded from the side, at freight platforms.
I'm sure that if you can find early illustrations of Georgia railroads that you can satisfactorily model the locomotives, cars, architecture, track work and associated apparatus of the era. Concerning Georgia circus history, Greg Renoff's book "The Big Tent," is also recommended. The late Bob Brisendine scanned most surviving Georgia newspapers. His material is now housed at Emory University. If any description of a 1850 to 1860 train carrying a circus was printed within the state, you'll likely find it there. Fred Dahlinger
Reply: 11 May 2009 - There were a limited number of shows in Atlanta during this period, and among them was the following: In 1856 the Spalding & Rogers North American Circus, Floating Palace Circus & Railroad Circus - Nov. 19 & 20 Atlanta; 1857 the Mabie's Newly Organized Troupe of Menagerie & Circus Oct. 26 & 27; In 1859 the Yankee Robinson Circus Jan. 8, 10, 11; In 1859 the H. Buckley & Co. Circus March 21 & 22; In 1859 the Spalding & Rogers Circus Sept 1; and in 1859 the Van Amberg Menagerie April 22. You should check Stuart Thayer's book for particulars. Ted Bowman Circus Route Collection.
Reply: 11 May 2009 - With only a couple of exceptions, during the first half of the 19th Century, circuses that traveled the United States did so by wagon – and as a result were generally routed in a relatively small geographic area. Although I cannot say for certain, I would suspect that many of the newspaper records associated with these local “Mud Shows” in Georgia – especially Atlanta – were destroyed during General William Tecumseh Sherman’s “March to the Sea” in November and December of 1864. Specifically regarding railroad circuses – the first regularly scheduled railroad circuses using the now-familiar system of flatcars and runs did not appear until 1872 when William Cameron Coup and Dan Costello developed the system for “PT Barnum’s Great Traveling Exposition and World’s Fair”. At the start of the 1872 season the Pennsylvania Railroad leased equipment to the circus, but mid-season private cars arrived and following the performances on June 28, 1872 the first “circus-owned” train departed Columbus, Ohio. That train consisted of 60 cars, 45 of them flatcars carrying about 100 wagons. Chris Berry, circusposters@gmail.com
Reply: 14 May 2009 - Gentlemen. Thank you for all the valuable information. Bob Judge
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2916. Walton Brothers Circus, 04 May 2009 - My grandfather was Fred Walton, he and his 4 brothers owned and toured Kansas, Ok and Nebraska in the early 1900's as the Walton Brothers Circus. The Walton's were from Traer, Kansas and Oberlinm Kansas. A long lost cousin and I are doing research on their circus. Any information or links are most gratefully appreciated. Thank you, Melba Walton, Seattle, WA, mew52541@yahoo.com; Marie Britt, Mesa, AZ, lafoerne@q.com. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 07 May 2009 - If you go to the first page of the CHS web site and search for Walton you will find that a family of 4 brothers from Toledo, Ohio were on the Ringling Brothers Circus in 1893. The brothers were High, Dave, Reno and John. Further checking of this website will find individual bios in other areas, and references to them being on other shows. If Fred was a fifth brother then it may be the same family that migrated west. The only reference to a 'family' circus was in 1908 and the show was titled the Walton & Barlow Brothers Combined Shows. The route from the Billboard has the show June 17 at Levant, Kansas; June 18 Colby, Kansas;.July 16 Riverton, Neb; July 17 Red Cloud, Neb; July 28 Oak, Neb; August 14 Hallam, Neb; and Aug 15 Kramer, Neb. Ed Barlow was active with a circus from 1900 out of Ohio to 1906. In 1907 the Barlow Bros. Circus opened in Benkelman, Neb and stayed out until Oct. 26 when it closed at Benkelman, Neb. In 1908 the Barlow Bros. Circus opened in Trenton, Neb on May 12. He may have combined with the Walton Bros. and thus the title for that year. To confuse the matter the Ed P. Barlow Shows in 1908 opened April 25 at South Milford, Ind; in July was in Iowa then in Sept. and Oct. was in Illinois. Ted Bowman Circus Route Collection.
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2915. Hamid Morton Circus, 02 May 2009 - Hi, my name is Carole and my aunt joined the Hamid Morton Circus back in the 1950's she rode the Unicycle and played the trumpet I would love any information of her as possible. Her name was Elizabeth Rocks and she travelled from England to New York U.S.A on the SS Washington around 1951-54 in the care of George Hamid. 10 The Plaza New York City. Her address in England was 10 The Crescent Thornaby on Tees and her father was Francis Rocks. Would appreciate any help, regards, Carole. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2914. Franconi's Circus, Paris, 30 Apr 2009 - I'm looking to communicate with anyone out there who has a reasonable knowledge of Franconi's Circus in Paris. I'm particularly interested in finding out about certain artistes who may have appeared there during the 1830s. Thanks, Dave Page. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2913. Wilson’s Circus, 29 Apr 2009 - I am trying to discover the locations where Wilson’s Circus performed. I am not sure if this was a UK- or US-based circus. I know they were in India in 1912, specifically at that time in Bombay (Mumbai). My great aunt was a pianist with this circus at this time and I would like to know where else they performed. Any information would be great. Many thanks, Angie. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2912. Kay Brothers Circus, 28 Apr 2009 - I'm looking for pictures of the Kay Brothers Circus. My father worked for them at the same time that Burt Lancaster did. He supposedly had a sideshow fire eating act. His name was Jim Huggins. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,
Lisa Huggins. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 05 May 2009 - The March-April 1966 issue of Bandwagon contains a short piece about the Kay Bros. Circus. It includes a few illustrations. The text of the article is on-line at: www.circushistory.org/Bandwagon/bw-1966Mar.htm. Additional information will be found in issues of the weekly trade journal "Billboard," and the bi-monthly back issues of the Circus Fans Association journal "White Tops." Queries to the various public circus collections might yield additional photographs. Fred Dahlinger
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2911. Great Elmourne, 24 Apr 2009 - Just reponding to some requests for information on the Great Elmourne. Emma Tompkins, from Margaree Forks (Emerald to be exact) married William Elmourne on July 10th 1904 in Margaree. It states that he was born about 1876 in London England. His occupation was listed as a tightrope walker, and we always got a kick out of that. They lived in New York in 1904. Miles Tompkins. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2910. Removed, 23 Apr 2009 - Message removed at request of sender. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2909. Robert Stickney, 1926, 23 Apr 2009 - Hello, I am working on a music video and I am trying to clear a film clip of Robert Stickney performing the Charleston on stilts in 1926. I am thinking he is the son of Robert Stickney, the trick rider in the New York circus, but I am not sure. Do you have any idea where I could look to find any more information out about him and if he had any children or grandchildren who are still alive? Attached is a photo of the film clip we want to use. Any assistance you can give me would be very much appreciated. I can be reached at this email or by phone at (323) 270-9298. Thank you! Colleen. [photo was not attached to Colleen's email] Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2908. Conrad Cadona, 23 Apr 2009 - My name is Greig Allan son of Glenda Salvona, father Brian Allan. As far as I know my mum was brought up by the Cadonas, of which I'm supposed to have an older brother called Conrad Cadona. Thanks. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 22 June 2009 - Hello, I am very interested in the Salvona surname. I have a Glenda Salvona in my family tree. I can be contacted at my home email suenron@southwest.com.au. Thanks, Ron
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2907. Ray DeCota Phillips, 23 Apr 2009 - I am looking for information on Ray DeCota Phillips. He traveled with Zeidman and Pollie in Bay City Michigan in the early 1900's. Any information is helpful. Lori. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 23 Apr 2009 - Zeidman & Pollie was a railroad carnival, which may have had a circus among its several "back end" shows. It toured circa 1910-1927, and was thereafter sold to Rubin & Cherry. About the only place where you might find information about the person in question is to scan the carnival coverage in the weekly trade magazine "Billboard." It sometimes published rosters of shows in the spring and summer issues. There was also coverage in the weekly "New York Clipper," but it varies drastically from year to year. Also see the answers posted to message 416 and 2460, which provides the location of a possible source of business records. Fred Dahlinger
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2906. Need research help, 21 Apr 2009 - I have a piece of sheet music that is autographed "Hello Lovell Chattanooga 10/17 "I am here in the interest of the Barnums and Baileys show to- day only." O. L. Burnett.
The date is 1896. It is also signed by the same person at least 2 more times. It appears that it may have been the Calliope player that signed it for someone who followed the show. Do you have any history of the signer? I can't find anything. The sheet music is "WHY DON"T YOU TRY or The Rolling Chair Song. Any info would be apprieciated! Thanks, Mark Feather. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 22 Apr 2009 - I'm not sure why you feel the date is 1896. Barnum & Bailey was in Huntington, WV on October 17, 1896. It would appear that the correct date is actually October 17, 1906, when the circus was indeed in Chattanooga, TN. That also follows the issuance of the sheet music.
The Harry Williams and Egbert Van Alstyne tune "Why Don't You Try" was copyrighted in 1905 by Jerome H. Remick. The "rolling chair song" subtitle ties in with the cover illustration on the sheet music, which shows the Atlantic City boardwalk and the rolling chairs that gained fame there, starting circa 1884. To the right side is a representation of the Blenheim Hotel, which opened in 1906. Follow this link for the sheet music: https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/20560
The steam calliope with Barnum & Bailey was reported as wrecked in 1905. The circus didn't parade that season, or in 1906 or 1907. The air calliope wasn't employed with the big show band until a few seasons later. So, there was no need for a calliope player on the show. Thus, it seems certain that Mr. Burnett wasn't a calliope player. I have no other record of him in that position.
The use of first and middle name initials was then a common practice with showmen, but you might also be open to the possibility that the signer may have been a woman. A quick check of the 1900 and 1910 censuses failed to disclose an "O. L. Burnett," but they may have been missed or entered using their full first name.
A check of any roster in the 1906 Barnum & Bailey route book might provide the insight that you desire, as to his occupation with the circus.
If he was a musician with the circus, it might explain his possession of the sheet music, purchased or received as a gift and then sent to a friend back home. Sverre O. Braathen compiled a listing of circus bands and bandsmen and copies of his work are filed at the major circus museums. Be aware that musicians came and went from show bands, with many playing for only brief periods. Fred Dahlinger
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2905. Margaret Clarke, 21 Apr 2009 - Hi, Does anyone know of a lady by the name of Margaret Clarke whose mother's name was Janet and lived in Liverpool approx. 60 years gone. Margaret, I believe, worked in a circus as a trapeze artist. Cheers, Ashdown. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2904. Plunkett family, 20 Apr 2009 - You have the information below on the Plunkett family: 15 Jan 2009 - If I am not mistaken, the Plunkett’s were best known for their trampoline act, rather than for trapeze. The Plunkett Trampoline Act worked through the 1970s and into the 1980s. The Plunkett Family that I am referring to were from Texas and they had several sons. One of them, James Plunkett was a tightwire star who took over the Great Hubert Castle’s Act taught directly to him by Mr. Castle. The Plunketts appeared regularly with the Hubert Castle Circus, as well as many other shows. James Plunkett currently owns the James Christy Cole Circus based out of Texas, which regularly produces the Omaha Shrine Circus. Neil C. Cockerline
Does anyone know the name of the father of the original act? I'm thinking Corey, but I could be all wrong. He was the understander for the three-highs on the trampoline. Thanks, John Towsen. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2903. Ringling, accident, 20 Apr 2009 - Hi, I attended Ringling Brothers when I was in either Kindergarten or first grade, the year would have been 1971 - 1974. A woman performing on the high swings (trapeze swings? acrobatic swings?) fell off of the swing into the "ring." An ambulance was called and of course, the show did go on. I'm interested in knowing what happened to the young woman who fell; my son is now ten and just went to his first Ringling Brothers Circus yesterday. I told him about the woman and the accident, and now that we are thinking about her, we would like to know how she ended up. Can this information be found? Please let us know. Thank you! If you email me, you can email at this address, or to mhavens@voanews.com. Thanks so much! Melissa H. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
Reply: 04 Jul 2009 - Melissa, Where was this performance? You might check the replies, including mine, to message 1499 in the Archives. Ken Keller
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2902. Sam B. Dill Circus, 20 Apr 2009 - I’m looking for posters or pictures of the Sam B. Dill Circus. My Great-Aunt was Nettie (McCabe) Dill, Sam’s wife. My Grandfather was Nettie’s Brother. Thanking you, Gerald McCabe, gmccabejr@comcast.net. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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2901. Vicki Sherry, Belle Vue Circus, 20 Apr 2009 - Hi, my name is Debbie Della Gana and I live in Southampton, England. I have recently come across a wonderful photo album which I believe belong(s) to a Miss Vicki Sherry. She was in the Belle Vue Circus during the 1940’s. Her partner was called Speedy (surname possibly Barham). They seemed to have done everything together including knife throwing, balloon shooting, the Globe of Death and the motorcycle/acrobatics act. They seem mainly specialised in the motorcycle acts. Does anyone remember or know of any information regarding these people? Does anyone know anything about the New Zealand Air Aces, The New Zealand Hell Riders or the Globe Infernal? Please, I would be very interested to learn more. Many thanks. Can’t wait to hear from you! peach21@hotmail.co.uk. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.
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