Reply: 24 October, 2006 - I think that you're seeking Selden, the Stratosphere Man. He was an early practitioner of the so-called "break-away" sway pole. It was a vertical pole with a hinge about halfway up the height; via a release mechanism, the performer could release the latch and then rotate about the pivot, thereby swinging down to ground level. The thrill for the audience, besides observing the gymnastic feats while he was at the top [without any safety appliance], was in not knowing that the performer intentionally released the latch while engaged in a hand stand. There are some items pertaining to him in the CWM library vertical file, under "thrill acts-sway pole." You might try accessing the name via www.newspaperarchive.com. If you do a Google search for the gravestone for Arzeno Eugene Selden in Eaton County, Michigan will come up under the "find a grave" website, as well as a few other hits. The gravestone does not show the break-away version of the sway pole, but does show the pole and a "slide for life" representation. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 24 October, 2006 - Thank you Fred Dahlinger!!! My mother dated Arzeno Seldon way before I was born. She carried a scar from a pet monkey of his, (I believe was) named Tio. Victoria Carpenter

Reply: 13 February, 2007 - I am curious about this guy too. He is buried in Deepdale Cemetery in Lansing Michigan on Waverly Rd. He has a very prominant headstone with a drawing of his swaypole. His year of death is the same as his last year of performing. (I don't remember the year) Did he die performing? Mark Boyer

Reply: 08 Jun 2008 - Yes, he died while performing, according to one account. The pole snapped. Can't remember the details but saw it on a dvd produced by the Buckeye Lake (Ohio) Historical Society (a google search would turn it up). Buckeye Lake had an amusement park where Selden performed many times (not where he died). The dvd shows photos of it and a brief interview of someone who watched him perform. Alex Westerfelt, alexwest@columbus.rr.com

Front: Painted raised picture one Merry go round pony.; White horse, yellow saddle; Plate has brown outline; Horse has pole behind it

On the back it says: Lily of the fields; Products and gifts inc; "This plate is part of the limited edition collectors plate series called "Carousel". The edition is limited to a firing period to be permanently closed on a date certain and in no event later than December 31, 1986. Margaret Michelman, Signature of Artist.

This plate once belonged to some people who used to own a circus. Possible an item they sold or maybe something they were given? Need help please. Regards, Lee, Queensland Australia. Respond to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.

Reply: 24 October, 2006 - Bob Goldsack wrote a book about the history of the Johnny J. Jones Exposition and may have further references of interest to you. Search past queries for his contact information. You may also be able to obtain access to the book via interlibrary loan. There's a lot of documentation about older wrestlers. Try Googling the topic and networking to find the historian or researcher that has what you're seeking. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 28 October, 2006 - What a coincidence, I just spoke with Emile Jr at the post office this morning. You have it spelled exactly correct. Bill Strong

Reply: 28 October, 2006 - C.W.Parker was not a circus. They were involved in the carnival industry and well known for the manufacture of their carousels. The Bob Goldsack book, Those Wonderful, Colorful, and Exciting Carnival Trains, on page 27 shows one photo of the C.W.Parker factory building or re-building a wooden flat car. Page 76 also has three other photos and a brief history. The book Art of the Carousel, devotes Chapter 8 to the C.W. Parker operation with some fine photos.
      You might try contacting the Circus World Museum Research Library in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Erin Foley is in charge of the Library and can certainly tell you if they have anything or not. Next consider the Abilene, Kansas or Leavenworth, Kansas Historical Societys as the C.W. Parker family and company called these home over the years. There is also a Carnival Museum located in Gibsonton, Florida but I do not know who to contact or an address. Bob Cline

Reply: 31 October, 2006 - C. W. Parker is principally known as a ride manufacturer and assembler of railroad carnivals, but he did stage circus and related activity as back end shows on his midways. A trained wild animal circus was frequently the "main show" on larger railroad midways, including some Parker operations. Parker also had a dog, pony, monkey and bird circus on one unit. These small operations satisfy the classical definition of a circus, having a ring and a prepared performance including human beings and trained animals. The Dickinson County Historical Society in Abilene has a large collection of Parker documentation. The Leavenworth Public Library has a collection of mostly secondary and tertiary items. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 07 Dec 2007 - I have two C.W. Parker prints, 4 color, framed consecutively numbered and measuring approximately 20"x28". One is titled "Parker's Perfect Pleasure Producer, The Jumping Horse, Carry Us All" and the other has "C.W. Parker" printed on the top of a carousel and "Leavenworth, Kansas" printed under his name. I bought them from a private collector in NYC about 35-40 years ago and would consider selling them. Don Alter

Reply: 23 October, 2006 - Your query goes to the point of determining when any occupation or profession found cause to identify itself with the deceased as part of the death and grieving process and how that participation eventually became ritual. Perhaps it's especially pertinent when the lifestyle [circus performance] provided daily doses of "death-defying" feats under the big top. It sounds like that may be the overall focus of your current work. You might try checking the coverage in Slout's "Olympians," which can be found on this website under the history button on the home page. There might be some remarks therein. Otherwise, you're already into the best secondary source, the New York Clipper. You've already seen the obituary coverage therein. Other theatrical journals, few of which are readily available in long runs today, might have some remarks. Showmen's memoirs, like Glenroy, also on this website, might be worth examining.
      Local newspaper coverage of the burials for principals in the circus business [leading owners, staff and performers] might actually have received better coverage in local newspapers than in the Clipper. The reporters would have been more sensitized to any "circus rituals" than people in the business. Local observers would have noted any action that was out of the ordinary as compared to the typical local rituals. Identify some primary circus owners, staffers or performers and then seek coverage of their death in local resources. Identifying performers that died while engaged in the performance might be the best examples to check for ritualized behavior, if such existed. Other good examples to check would be the death of showmen who died during the time of winter quarters, especially in cities, like New York or Cincinnati, where there was a resident circus population that could attend the services.
      For a showman that died along the "route," burial either meant shipping the body "home" immediately or entrusting it to locals for shipment and burial, as the show typically moved on a daily basis. In either case, it would have been unusual for showmen to have been present for the wake or the service and internment during the summer touring season. A time separation, especially in the case where a showman had been retired from the business, would also have provided separation from his peers, leaving the conduct of the event to local family and friends. There might also be a difference between funerals conducted from a church [religious service] as compared to those conducted from a private home, or a funeral parlor [secular event], if such things then existed. When showmen knew that there was a local showman's grave, they would often conduct a visitation on the day of their presence. I don't recall how early such tributes were conducted, but someone may have some notes or knowledge if they think about it. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 21 October, 2006 - No one has yet written a book about Belmont Park that could be readily consulted for an answer. You might try checking the Montreal newspapers at the time the park opened in the spring. There might also be coverage in the weekly news columns of "Billboard" magazine, which had an amusement parks section. The Belmont Park ads in the annual NAAPP&B issues are single image items that provide no description of features, at least in the 1951-1953 issues. You might try contacting the National Amusement Park Historical Association. Charles J. Jacques, Jr., who wrote the book about Idora Park, where Billings was also involved, might be able to help. He's in Jefferson, Ohio. Are you related to Rex D. Billings? Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 18 November, 2006 - There seems to be a void in information in the city of Montreal archives on Belmont Parc. Perhaps if you have a source to any of the Montreal papers - try the Gazette (the English daily) and you could possibly pick up the name from one of the ads that I am sure were run in their entertainment section. Patty and Frank Conklin had a lot of rides there over the years and no doubt if you contact Jim Conklin through their Ontario office (Conklin Shows or World's Finest Shows); Jim may be able to help you. If you care to e-mail me I can also pass on a phone number of a chap that worked there from the 1950's to the close of the park. Les Saisons Du Parc Belmont by Pierre Dionne. ISBN number is: 2 -7648 -0187-4. $24.95 Canadian; came out last fall. It has a lot of pictures, some ads and the history of the parc seems well covered. it is published by Les Editions Libre Expression, 7, chemin Bates, Outemont, Quebec. H2V 4V7. You could try a letter to the author via the publisher. Chapters Books in Canada and Amazon carry the book. (paperback). Al Stencell, stencell@sympatico.ca.

Reply: 22 December, 2006 - Dear Mr. Dahlinger, Many thanks for taking the time to respond to my inquiry, Yes, I am Rex Billings daughter. Kindest regards, Meghan (Susie) Billings Brown

Reply: 29 Mar 2008 - I don't know if I can be of any help. I am Rex Billings grand daughter. I live in Youngstown Ohio, home of Idora Park. We visited my grandfather Rex in Montreal and really enjoyed Belmont Park. I remember the Ames Brothers were the main attraction when we were there. Sincerely, Precious Rowney

Reply: 21 October, 2006 - Have you considered donating it to a circus museum? ErnyK@aol.com

Reply: 21 October, 2006 - A friend of mine, who also shares my interest in preserving miniature models depicting the classic days of the big top and railroad circus - forwarded me a note indicating that you were interested in finding a home for your family's collection. I would love to learn more about your model circus. Do you have some pictures, or know what scale it is modeled? Thanks - John

Reply: 24 October, 2006 - Yes, I would like this. Do you have any pictures? or more information. I'm a circus model builder in Leesburg, GA. Thanks Arron, email Smcircuslot@aol.com

Reply: 20 October, 2006 - Forepaugh circus grounds is a misnomer. If you mean the location of lots where Forepaugh performed, they were at different places, all downtown, beginning at 10th and Callowhill in 1865. Forepaugh Park was the block bounded by 13th, Broad Street, Dauphin and York, which he acquired in 1888. As to winter quarters, there were three in Philadelphia, Ridge Avenue and 22d St.; Stenton Avenue and Wister Street; and Lehigh Avenue at Salmon Street. Stuart Thayer.

Reply: 22 October, 2006 - The Feb 7, 1874 issue of the New York Clipper says that "Forepaugh has purchased from HJ Newhouse the square of ground bounded by Masters Sharswood, 23d and 24th streets" and will be used as the winter quarters of Mr. Forepaugh's Menagerie. Hope this helps! Carrie, Annandale, VA

Reply: 24 October, 2006 - Adam Forepaugh erected his first permanet building for his Philadelphia circus. It opened November.27.1865 on the Southwest corner of Tenth and Callowhill Streets in Philadelphia. In the during the 1860's Adam Forepaugh's had his winter quarters just outside of Philadelphia in a village called Hatboro Pa., located on"Miller's Farm". That is where the notorious bull elephant,"Romeo" killed his keeper Canada Bill Williams in 1867. BTW There is a good photograph of the circus building(as it was) on Tenth and Callowhill Sts. in the book, A History of the Circus in America by George L. Chindahl (plate VIII). Rufus Ledbetter, apemonsterman@yahoo.com

Reply: 24 January, 2007 - You might want to check out www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/evans/files/phs012.html, http://libwww.library.phila.gov/HIP/HIPSearchItem.cfm?ItemID=pdcl00108 and www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/ho_display.cfm/119619 for some pictures and additional info on the 10th & Callowhill Street site. It seems to have turned into Forepaugh's Circus in 1865, but was apparently known as The American Circus as far back as 1860 (perhaps even before then). Phillyfello@aol.com

Reply: 21 October, 2006 - There's a Robinson collection at the Cincinnati Historical Society in the former train station in Cincinnati. A researcher, Dr. Linda Fisher, has been doing work on Agnes Lake for some time. I'll make sure that she sees your query. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 31 October, 2006 - Subsequent to the posting of the message above, it was learned that Linda Fisher had passed away earlier in 2006. The works that she had in preparation, including her book on Agnes Lake, will be completed and published next year. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 24 October, 2006 - David Gaylin, who was a resident of Baltimore, MD a few years back, was gathering information for a book about motorcycle dromes and silos. If you can locate him, he might have the answer. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 19 October, 2006 - There is a brief history of the show by Joe Bradbury in Bandwagon, Jan-Feb 1966, pages 28-29. If you search past CHS queries I think that you will find another pertaining to Lewis Bros. or its proprietor, answered by a relative or descendant. His real name was not Lewis. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 19 October, 2006 - The Adam Forepaugh/Sells Bros. Circus was not on the road in 1916. Three major railroad circuses were in California, the Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Al G. Barnes Circus were there but did not play the date. The Sells Floto Circus played San Luis Obispo on October 11, l9l6, but the route does not show any delay in the performance. It may be that it was an accident in the train yard. You might try checking the county death notices. Ted Bowman Route Collection

Reply: 20 October, 2006 - The Forepaugh-Sells circus toured for the last time in 1911. The title was appended to the Hagenbeck-Wallace title in 1935, the last time it was ever used. Forepaugh-Sells was owned and operated by the Ringling Bros. in partnership with James A. Bailey in 1905, then they bought his half from the Bailey estate in mid-1906 and operated it through 1911. It was off the road 1908-1909. The Ringlings also owned the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth. That circus played California in September 1916. There was no San Luis Obispo date in 1916, but they did play around the community [San Jose, 19th; Bakersfield, 23rd; Los Angeles 25-27]. Perhaps the show train was routed along a railroad [Southern Pacific?] that went through the area of San Luis Obispo? You might scan the San Luis Obispo newspapers for September 1916 and perhaps coverage of the wreck will be found. Ask your local librarian to obtain them on interlibrary loan for you. You might also request the Billboard and New York Clipper, which should have coverage of the event and an obituary for John Harmon. The routes for various circuses were published in these weekly journals and you can also check them for San Luis Obispo appearances. It could also have been another circus beyond B&B. I don't recall the 1910-1911 Forepaugh-Sells show sustaining any railroad wreck. You can also check with local county records for a death certificate for Mr. Harmon. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 28 October, 2006 - The Carson and Barnes show has never had a book written about it that I'm aware of however, they have printed route books over the years with daily diaries, lists of trucks, routes, animals, performers, etc. You can find these on eBay on occassion. The Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus had one book printed in 1975 by Jill Freedman entitled Circus Days. It was a pictorial study of the show on a daily basis. There are some terrific photographs in this book. A newer one came out in the last year or two but I'm a little vague on information. I want to say it was put out by Bob Goldsack but I might be wrong about this. Maybe someone else can clear this up. Bob Cline

Reply: 09 March, 2007 - A Pictorial History of the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus by Bob Goldsack was published in 2004. Book is 112 pages. Has full color photos on front and back covers plus four color pages inside. Over 200 photos in all from the railroad show to its conversion to a truck show in 1957 and then covers the circus from that time through January, 2004 when the name Clyde Beatty was dropped from the title. Book is $35 plus $3 p&h. Send $38 check to Bob Goldsack, 70 Dublin Avenue, Nashua, NH 03063.

Reply: 18 October, 2006 - There are numerous cases of circuses day and dating one another, or a wild west. The subject 1907 view appears to be simply the John Robinson parade circling back to the show lot after looping around the downtown area. The unusual "cottage cages" provide the show identification. There's plenty of detail in the view that would enable someone to determine the actual parade route. Local newspaper coverage would further broaden the knowledge. You will also find views of some circus parades going back and forth down the same main street, especially in communities that simply had one main street. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 18 October, 2006 - You'll find some information to partially answer your questions in the series "The Development of the Railroad Circus" in Bandwagon. It covers from the 1850s to 1900, the Barnum show history being the continuum of the analysis. The series started in the Nov-Dec 1983 issue and continued on in three additional installments. Pre-1872 rail shows were reduced scale operations, not a complete overland circus on rails. They dropped all but the essentials of the big top show, and a limited lot presence and a truncated parade effort. An example of this is the L. B. Lent circus in the later 1860s. The Barnum show implemented the complete circus and show-owned train concept in 1872. Some overland outfits delayed going onto rails until the "complete" railroad circus concept had been proven beyond a doubt. Others simply lacked the requisite capital to convert from overland to rail operation. The industry leading Forepaugh show didn't go on rails until 1877. Some shows did drop rail travel and revert back to overland travel, but in most cases expansion meant the overland to rail conversion. An example of rails back to overland would be Mighty Haag after 1914. Clyde Beatty and RBBB did it after their 1956 tours. Fred Dahlinger [Note: back issues of Bandwagon can be ordered, information on the Bandwagon pages on this website - J. Griffin]

Reply: 19 October, 2006 - Thanks for the information! I have just sent a request to purchase those back issues! Thanks again, Carolyn Bowers

Reply: 15 October, 2006 - Daniel O'Brien is listed in my 'Victorian Arena; the Performers', vol.2 (Lingdales Press, Formby, 2000) in the following manner; - O'BRIEN, Danny. Old time circus vaulter. A double somersault leaper. Later became a stage clown. In 1923, was in the USA, with his wife Hilda O'Brien 'The Diving Venus' (Sources - World's Fair, 30/6/1923, p.11, col.1; ibid, 11/7/1931, p.34, col.4). I hope this helps, John Turner (Formby, England).

Reply: 24 October, 2006 - If you go to Slout's Olympians on this website [click on the history button on the home page, then click on the first entry on the page that comes up, followed by the "O" entries, you will find reference to O'Brien, including a date of death. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 12 October, 2006 - Mabel indeed has living relatives. I am acquainted with her niece and great-niece, who have authorized me to write her biography, which is now underway. I apprenticed to Mabel on tigers, at Jungleland, in Thousand Oaks, California, the last three-and-a-half years of her life. This book is proving to encounter some expected research challenges, and will require an extended period of work to complete. You may care to check the CHS Discussion Board entries 528: Mabel Stark, tiger lady; 542: Scott, Jungleland; and 543: Mabel Stark, Jungleland, for additional postings on Mabel. Roger Smith, steelarena314@hotmail.com.

Reply: 14 October, 2006 - You'll need to provide the name of the show or images of the outfit to have someone identify it. It could be a circus, carnival, rep show or something else. Fred Dahlinger

Recently I came across an advertising tin token put out by American showman Pardon A. Older. It says: COME & SEE THE WHALE AT OLDER'S SHOW, and features a lovely whale logo. Older was in the Circus and Menagerie business since the 1850s, till at least the 1890s. I'm trying to date the token and the period of his involvement with a whale show, and assume it was fairly late in his career, as in the 1850s and 1870 he seems to have been big in Circus and Menagerie proper. But I may be mistaken and am thus wondering whether anyone of you may be able to help.

I do not have Charles Watt's note on Older from Bandwagon Jan/Feb 2001, and am wondering whether it mentions the whale. Thanks & best. Klaus Barthelmess, kbarthval at gmx.de , Cologne, Germany. Respond to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.

Reply: 06 October, 2006 - P.A. Older did display a whale in 1872. In the Doniphan, Kansas Doniphan County Republican, May 11, 1872, p. 3: "Older's Museum Circus and Menagerie. . . . visit our town May 16th . . . The leviathan of the deep, a monster whale, has been captured, and is now on exhibition in Older's Triple Show; . . ." There is an 1872 advertisement for Older's Museum, Circus and Menagerie, that has a small illustration of a whale and this text: ". . . Monster Whale! in Older's Great consolidation -- only one on exhibition in the world. . . ." This material was found in the Circus World Museum Parkinson Library, Orin King files for 1872, Older folder. BTW, the Watt's information on Older in Bandwagon, Jan/Feb 2001 did not mention the whale. J. Griffin

Reply: 08 October, 2006 - Tom Parkinson wrote "Big Boom in Blubber" about the Pacific Whaling Company for "True," September 1960, pages 56-59, 100-103. The same company is covered in Edward L. Conroy, "Highballing the Rails" in Railroad Magazine, December 1940, pages 71-75. Sam Abbott composed "Whales Smelled Out The $$" in Billboard, June 28, 1952, pages 48, 63 and 96. Fred Pfening's "Moby Dick on Rails" is in Bandwagon, XXXI, 2, pages 14-17. Some years ago Bill Rhodes penned "Heat Doomed Whale Shows" in White Tops. There's a very large collection of materials on commercially exhibited whales either at the New Bedford Whaling Museum or the Old Mystic Seaport's G. W. Blunt White Library. The Mystic journal in the Summer 1988 issue had a long article about George H. Newton by Douglas L. Stein, "A Whale of a Tale." [pages 39-48]. There are brief references to whale exhibitions at Coney Island [the Coup & Reiche aquarium, Clipper, October 20, 1877, page 235] in Jackson, Michigan [Fred J. Englehart and George H. Newton, Jackson (MI) Daily Citizen, July 8, 1881, also Ohio State Journal, February 28, 1881]. One of the circuses, Burr Robbins, had a large faux whale made of paper mache. A poster for the beast can be seen in a photograph of the show's parade taken at Algona, Iowa in the 1880s. Not too long ago an excellent and early photograph of a whale exhibition on board a boat hull or barge sold at public sale, perhaps a daguerreotype. A banner on the side stated "The Monster of the Deep." You might also search for the Francis B. Lathrop collection, which has other trade cards and images relating to exhibited whales [one was at the Fulton Slip, East River, NY, captured at Provincetown, MA, said by Barnum to be the biggest exhibited, reportedly c.1880]. The Bella C. Landauer collection at the New York Historical Society and the Miskela collection at the Smithsonian Archives might also be worth a check. A CHS member also bought a trade card for the Newton whale a few years back; it mentioned the large [60-foot] railroad car on which the beast would be conveyed. A perusal of bills for Barnum's museum and the Boston Museum operated by Moses Kimball might also prove fruitful, as well as Charles Coleman Sellers book, "Mr. Peale's Museum" and bills for the 1871-1873 Barnum circus. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 09 October, 2006 - In 1881 Captain Newton and Fred J. Engelhardt of the Pioneer Whaling Association had the Prince of Whales, a 60 foot Right Whale on exhibit traveling on two flat cars. In Cleveland, Ohio on May 1 he had the whale embalmed after having three butchers remove some eight barrels of material from the stomach of the whale. A box was built around the whale and the embalmers commenced their work. As far as it is known, the whale traveled until August 1882 when it was deposited at the foot of Madison Street in Chicago. Then when the citizens could stand the odor no longer 'an infuriated Chicago mob hacked him to pieces and threw the remains in Lake Michigan' in April 1883. There was a 65 foot whale floating on the Great Lakes in Sept. 1892 that had been captured June 15, 1888 off Cape Cod, Mass by Captain Nicholson. It landed in Detroit, Michigan on board the canal boat Costor of Brooklyn, which was under the command of Captain Anderson. It was on it's way to the Chicago World's Fair where it was to be exhibited alongside the whaleship "Progress". A few years later another whale was on exhibit in Detroit, Michigan at the Belle Isle Bridge next to the Electric Park Amusement Park. The 35 foot long, 18 feet in circumference whale was captured at Montreal Harbor, Nov. 6, 1901. John Polacsek

Reply: 04 October, 2006 - One approach is to obtain the "New York Clipper" on interlibrary loan and to then scan it for coverage of the carnival activity in eastern Ohio, Canton, Alliance, etc. That weekly serial has the best coverage of early carnival activity. Coverage of outdoor shows in Billboard was just starting at the time [1899]. Some of the news accounts include rosters of the featured performers, concessionaires, etc. Once you have the rosters and route, which enables the checking of more newspapers, you can thereby establish from city directories and census documentation the people that might relate to Chillicothe, MO. You might also try checking with the Stark County library [the library for Canton, OH] to determine if they have any vertical files that contain information about local performers. One staff member there was quite helpful with a recent query on another topic. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 04 October, 2006 - Perhaps your research should refer to a fantastic piece of research compiled by famed Circus Historian Stuart Thayer which chronicles the circus troupes and menageries from 1793 to 1860 in his book entitled Annals of the American Circus. He clearly states that John Bill Ricketts first performances and traveling season occurred in 1793 in Philadelphia with the entire troupe going to New York, Charleston, South Carolina, and Norfolk, Virginia. I bought my copy from Mr. Thayer last summer so maybe he still has one for sale. You won't be disappointed. Many travelling circuses were on the road by the 1870's including the Adam Forepaugh Show, P.T. Barnum, Howe's Great London, John Robinson, W.W. Cole, Van Amburgh Show, Yankee Robinson, Dan Rice, Sells Bros. and others, I would have to look up. Bob Cline

Reply: 21 October, 2006 - You should also check out Janet M. Davis's The Circus Age: Culture and Society Under the American Big Top (2002) while it does not focus on Ohio, it provides a wonderful context to turn of the century American society. - Carrie Bowers

Reply: 04 October, 2006 - Generally you cannot file such a request via interlibrary loan because they need a page number. Ask you local librarian to borrow the relevant reel of Billboard on microfilm and then you can locate the necessary page and make a print of it directly. It might also be worthwhile to check the season opener in Billboard, New York Clipper and Variety. Sometimes the reviews are extensive, enumerating the acts and describing what they accomplished. B&B opened on March 24, 1910 in Madison Square Garden. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 01 October, 2006 - "There Is a Doctor in the Tent!", Dr. Robert J. Loeffler. Bandwagon, Vol. 14, No. 4 (Jul-Aug), 1970, pp. 14-25. Dr. Kyril B. Conger and Dr. Walter Work were selected to be the medical men with Tim McCoy's Real Wild West in 1937. You can read the article at www.circushistory.org/Bandwagon/bw-1970Jul.htm. J. Griffin, webmaster

Reply: 03 October, 2006 - The clown you refer to was Barney-real name Ron DeHoff. He was a graduate of Clown College where he perfected that routine. I was Assistant Dean in those days and when I worked with Hunts, I brought Barney with me. He worked with my illusion show for several years after leaving Famous Hunt's Circus. We remain close friends. He was one of the best tramp clowns in the business. Robert Momyer

Reply: 06 October, 2006 - Ed, thanks for remembering my clown character, Barney. And thanks also to Bob Momyer for the kind words. My bicycle act was always a favorite of mine. It really played well, especially when there was a large audience of children. Ron DeHoff

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Reply: 04 October, 2006 - Tried to see what you had found, but the link was not working to the website. For a short history of similar shows, in 1875 I have an newspaper advertisement for an olio show on the road called Stuart's Last Sensation. The show played both in theatres and also under a tent under the management of Harry Colwell. The show advertised as a combined circus and minstrel performance, and previous to every performance a free exhibition on the tight rope was given by a child artist only ten years old. When the troupe playing in Columbus, Ohio the ad for the show noted that it was a highly successful entertainment comprising, minstrelsy, acrobatic, novelty, songs and dances, banjo solos, guitar solo, clogs and jigs, burlesque, and sketches. I do not know if the show was purchased, or another one was developed but I also have a newspaper ad for the 1876 E. S. Washburn's Last Sensation that played in Columbus, Ohio. There were 25 star speciality artists who presented three hours of fun at the Opera House. The program was made up of fine orchestral music, burlesque operettas,artistic jigs, a harvest dance by six Chippewa Indians, vocal medleys, athletic feats, banjo solos, and other acts. I would suspect that if you checked the date with the local newspapers you might find a little more about the show playing in New York. In both cases the shows advertised circus acts but without animals being presented. John Polacsek

Reply: 08 October, 2006 - There is a brief biography of E. S. Washburn in Slout's "Olympians," which is on this website, accessible via the "history" icon. Stuart Thayer also provides some coverage in his "Annals of the American Circus, 1793-1860," Vol. III, pages 77-78 and 106. It will also be in his later consolidated volume. Ask your local librarian to obtain copies of the relevant pages via interlibrary loan. You might check other texts dealing with the presentation of American Indians for Washburn coverage. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 29 September, 2006 - The Lew Henderson Players was a mixture of circus and vaude acts and a rep show and played both under canvas and in halls. After the Lew Henderson Players was no more, the family had a famous juggling act in which Lew worked with at least two of his daughters: Peggy and Billie and possibly Alice. Peggy married elephant legend Mack MacDonald and is a member of the Circus Historical Society. Her sisters came with her to at least one of our gatherings and were very enjoyable to be around. Dr. Bill Slout advises that full information on the Lew Henderson Players can be obtained from: Grace Davis, Theatre Museum, Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers, 1187 Thresher Road, Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641. Ms Davis is a granddaughter of Lew Henderson. Regards, Whitey

Reply: 29 September, 2006 - If this was the repertoire theater troupe, try contacting the Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana at the Old Threshers in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Go to www.oldthreshers.org and then click on the Theater Museum line. They have a large, well-organized archive on the tent theaters. The three Henderson daughters are still alive, last I heard. They might be able to put you in touch with them. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 26 Jun 2008 - Just to set the record straight, the act was called The Lew Henderson Trio and Lew worked with two of his daughters, Ruth and Peggy. When Ruth got married and left the act she was replaced by Billie. When both Peggy and Billie married and left the act Lew got a chimp (Marko) and taught him to juggle! Peggy is, at the age of 84, fighting cancer. Any circus fan would remember the great elephant act she and her husband, Mac MacDonald had. If any of her fans would like wish her well, e-mail her at swank-davis@hotmail.com. Thanks, theatremuseum@iowatelecom.net

Reply: 08 Jul 2008 - A little more clarification. The "Lew Henderson Players" was the dramatic show from the 1920's to the end of 1940 that Lew and Alice owned. Vaudeville acts were also added. The performances were under canvas in the summer and in opera houses in the winter. The territory played was Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, usually starting out from Hutchinson, MN in April. The Henderson Trio was developed when tent shows were no longer profitable. The trio consisted of Lew, and daughters, Peggy and Ruth and Billie also at a later time. The trio worked fairs, clubs, military bases, circuses and public events. Lew had developed his own style of juggling, and head balancing which included the whole trio, and this paragraph can never really reveal the whole of his abilities. Alice, proten@verizon.net

Reply: 26 September, 2006 - If no one has a route including Marinette, the quickest means to establish the identity of the show would be to access the local Marinette newspapers for the year in question [perhaps at the Marinette library, a local historical society, or the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison] and to scan them for circus, carnival, fair and midway activity. If the newspapers have been microfilmed, your librarian should be able to obtain them via interlibrary loan for you. A second possibility would be to scan the routes that were printed in the weekly trade journals "Billboard" and "New York Clipper." These periodicals have also been microfilmed and can be obtained on loan. They also include weekly news columns, and in some cases a roster of performers after the show opened. Learning about the show will provide further context for understanding. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 02 October, 2006 - I'm not sure what you call "old-fashioned". If you mean under canvas and moving almost every day, they are referred to as a mudshow. Carson and Barnes Circus and the Kelly-Miller Circus are at the top of the list. Walker Bros. Circus does some under canvas and some indoor dates. Cole Bros. Circus is under canvas but is not the traditional tent formation anymore and plays mostly shopping centers now. Cirque de Soliel is under canvas but is a far cry from a traditional "old-fashioned" Circus. Universoul plays some under canvas dates but is very theatrical oriented in their presentation. It's an excellent show but not "old-fashioned". Circus Vargas just re-opened this year on the west coast. I haven't seen their show to know what type of tent they are using or their performance and route. They were mainly doing Shopping centers or malls at one time. The Ringling Shows ( Red, Blue, and Gold units ) are definitely not "old-fashioned" although two out three still move by train. There are other shows as well and I don't mean to slight them in anyway, but for your question as you asked, Carson and Barnes and Kelly-Miller would be at the top of the list. Carson and Barnes has a website that includes their route about ten days ahead of time. Kelly-Miller also has a website but does not show any route.

There is no show traveling today that carries a side show anymore. I was part of the Circus Kirk Side Show in the 1970's when we had a 10 in 1 meaning 10 acts in the one show. There are a couple side shows still on the Fair circuit and side show master Ward Hall is still presenting one to this day. There might have been a couple other shows with a side show since the 1970's but there are none today. Bob Cline

Reply: 25 September, 2006 - Slout's "Olympians of the Sawdust Circle" does not list a William H. Dyer, but there is a W. H. Dwyer, Manager of G. G. Grady's in 1873 and the Great Australian [Darlin Lincoln, R. E. Emmons and John Hurd] in 1877. Perhaps it's your man after he moved from performing into management? You can check the Slout entries for Grady and Great Australian owners on this website, click on the history button and go from there. There may be relevant entries in the New York Clipper or perhaps George C. D. Odell's "Annals of the New York Stage." Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 25 September, 2006 - You may want to examine the source materials a bit further; if you're using an obituary they're not always 100% accurate and reliable. "Robinson's" could be John Robinson, or James or Alexander Robinson, or perhaps another. Barnum didn't operate a circus until 1871. The Sells brothers inaugurated their operation in 1872. John Robinson, the Barnum show and the Sells Bros. titles all continued into the 1890s and beyond. A "two-man circus" suggests activity and bookings outside of the conventional tented or stage circus in a ring, perhaps on the variety stage, at county fairs, dime museums and such. Try for entries in George C. D. Odell's "Annals of the New York Stage," and perhaps wwwnewspaperarchive.com. He's not listed in Slout's "Olympians [on this website, under "history"], which perhaps suggests limited circus connection or appearance under another name, as you've suggested. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 25 September, 2006 - My 'Dictionary of British Circus Biography' contains the following entries:

GERETTI Family. Gymnasts. Sailed from Genoa, Italy, to Buenos Aires, in November 1880, with Mons Guillaum's Monster Company (Sources - The Era, 31/10/1880, via Ann Featherstone, e-mail of 16/2/2005).

GERETTI, Henry. Acrobat. Son of Joseph Gerrettie, the equestrian clown (in Byker, Newcastle, April 1861). Active in the second half of the 19th century, basing his act on the Music Halls (Sources - 1861 Census [under the recorded surname Gerettie], boarding in Byker, Newcastle with some other showmen, via Paul Lawrence, email of 18/5/2006).

GERRETTE, Adelaide_Amelia. Dancer. Daughter of Henri (born in Ireland) and Amelia (born in Lancashire) Gerrette, members of circus families known across Europe from the 1870s until the 1900s. Adelaide was known professionally as Adele Sinclair, one of the dancing specialty "Sinclair's Diamonds". Died on Tuesday 4th November 1958, aged 82, at her London home. Buried in Lambeth Cemetery, Tooting. Survived by her son (Sources - World's Fair, 5/1/1959, p.26, col.4).

GERRETTE, Amelia_Edith. Born 6th May 1874. Baptised three weeks later at St. Peter's Church, Liverpool, daughter of Henri and Amelia Gerrette. Her father was a gymnast (Sources - St. Peter's Church register).

GERRETTE, Polly. Equestrienne. Pauline, born about 1859, sister to the Gerretti Boys, including Harry who was a rope walker. Apprenticed to Henry Manley, circus proprietor, in 1868. One of the finest pad riders known. Married Bebe Guillaume, clown, of Bebe and Antoinette. Died 10th October 1948, aged 89 years. Buried at Streatham Park Cemetery (Sources - World's Fair, 4/11/1933, p.33, col.1; ibid, 30/10/1948, p.12, col.4).

Are these members of your family? Hope it helps! John Turner

Reply: 01 Sep 2007 - Dear Sir, the following Gerettis are interred at Lambeth Cemetery Tooting London. Harry Geretti, Amelia & Adelaide Geretti, Edith Amelia Gruden, Blanche Geretti, Lilian & Arthur Geretti, Polly & Guillame Geretti. Apart from the fact they are buried here we have no other information. Regards, Celia

Reply: 19 Aug 2008 - I there, I noticed you were researching the name Gerrette - I have 3 in my family tree and wondered if you could shed any light on the name - I have a Mary Gerrette Graham born Scotland, her father James Gerrette Graham and Mary’s sister I assume Edith Gerrette Graham all I assume Scotland. James the Father is listed as a Mariner, but this is the only site I have found any reference to the name. Many thanks, catherine

Reply: 18 Feb 2009 - Hi, Re Gerrettie. I’m searching for family history for this family too. Ernest Claude Gerrettie b 1888 and Rosie Millar Gerrettie b 1890. I believe their daughter was Amelia. My understanding from family is that we had high-wire / circus artists in the family and have read your post here and on the Fairground heritage site. Debbie

Reply: 11 Mar 2009 - Hi Debbie. How interesting- we must be related. What exactly is your relationship to Ernest Claude, Rosie and their daughter Amelia? Contact me via plawrence44@ntlworld.com and we can compare notes. Looking forward to hearing from you, best wishes, Paul.

Reply: 25 September, 2006 - You might look into the history of the Bertram Mills Circus, which did travel by rail in England. There's some mention in Cyril Mills book, he also wrote an article in "Bandwagon" about 1984 about the railroad operation [check Bandwagon index, on this website]. I believe that it's also been covered more extensively in other sources. Try doing a simple Google search to get started. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 26 September, 2006 - My 'Twentieth Century Circus Shows, 1901-1950' (Lingdales Press, Formby, due 2007), shows that: Lord John Sanger's Jungle Review, proprietor Leslie Sanger (son of 'Lord John Sanger, 1853-1929), was at Birmingham, 8th May 1933. Lord John Sanger's Circus, Leslie Sanger, was at Birmingham, 5th January 1935. Sanger's Circus Review, Leslie Sanger, was at Birmingham (Aston Hippodrome), 20th December 1935. The latter was obviously a stage circus and I'm not certain about the earlier shows. Even for stage circuses the company would arrive by train and parade the Sunday before opening. Check the Birmingham newspapers for the dates concerned. Put your query in the 'Forum' section of www.circusbiography.co.uk to see if anyone else can help! John Turner.