Reply: 09 Aug 2008 - Meet toby tyler? Ken Uveges, kenneuv@optonline.net

Reply: 20 March, 2007 - Hello All: In today's mail I received a past Bandwagon magazine with the complete timeline for the Flying Concellos when they were with The Big One. Best, Craig Johnson

Reply: 23 March, 2007 - My "Twentieth Century Circus People, 1901-1950 (Lingdales Press, Formby, 2003) contains the following entry; - CONCELLOS, Flying. Aerialists. American. Antoinette (nee Comeau) and her husband Everett White 'Art' Vas Concello (married in 1928), disciples of Alfredo Codona. Noted for their dazzling triple somersaults from one trapeze to another. With Bertram Mills' circuses, at Olympia, in 1932-33 and 1934-35. Antoinette, tiny and glittering on the high trapeze, did a double and a half somersault, and at the half-turn was caught by Art who swung out to meet her in mid-air, hanging from the bar by his feet. They seemed to defy all the laws of gravitation. In the mid 1930s consisted of two men and a girl including Antoinette's brother Mickey King. When at Olympia, they received more editorial publicity than any previous circus act. Said to be the world's highest paid circus artistes. Mrs Jane Poro, mother of Antoinette Concello and Mickey King, died on 23rd April 1953. Art Concello, who became the legendary manager of the Ringling circus in the USA, died on 4th July 2001, at Sarasota, Florida, aged 89 years. His wife Antoinette was Ringlings' aerial director for many years. Is this of any interest? Because I am interested in the history of circuses in Britain I include the Flying Concellos because of their appearances with Bertram Mills, at Olympia, London. The 'Bandwagon' will give more details of their career with the 'Big One'. John Turner.

Reply: 24 March, 2007 - Thank You John very much. Was there ever a big top as large or nearly as large as Big Bertha in England? Best, Craig

Reply: 12 Oct 2009 - Hello: Read the article Circus Historical society and wish to suggest that the mention of Mickey King was NOT a brother of Antoinette Comeau Concello. Mickey King was her sister who also appeared in King Circus as an aerialist. Google her. They were fearless women and were my Aunts thru marriage. Joan. thanks

Reply: 16 Oct 2009 - Hi Joan, Mickey King was my mother's - Lorraine Valentine - best friend. Mickey is buried here in Bloomington, Illinois, along with her sisters Antoinette Concello, Rose Alma Ward, and their little brother, Ernest, and their father and mother. I designed Mickey's tombstone. Mickey always called the grave site as her "little haven." You can look them up on Findagrave.com. I have made memorials to them, along with their tombstone photos. Their father is listed under Toussaint Comeau, and mother under Jane Hudson Comeau. Mickey is listed as Gertrude "Mickey" King. I would love to hear from you. Please write me at cdvalen@ilstu.edu. God Bless, Cherie Valentine

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Reply: 17 March, 2007 - I was on the Kirk in 1973, 1974, and 1975. In 1973 we didn't touch New England. In 1974 I don't have Pittsfield listed but I do have 4 open dates. It's possible we worked it but it wasn't on the season route sheet. In 1975, we were scheduled to play Lenox, Mass. on August 1st but ended up in Pittsfield instead. So Aug. 1, 1975 is definite. I don't have a copy of the 1976 or 1977 routes but I will certainly ask a couple people that might. Bob Cline

Reply: 21 March, 2007 - Bob; Thank you very much for your reply to my inquiry message #1794. I now believe the August 1, 1975 date is what I've been looking for. I think I was mistaken about the year 1977. Thanks again. Dick Hamilton

Reply: 21 Feb 2008 - I was on the Kirk during the 1970 season. Bryan Crawford

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Reply: 21 March, 2007 - Dear Annette, I had the popcorn concession stand in the menagerie tent just at the front to the main entrance with the Ringling Show in 1955. I was only 11 yrs old at the time. I never wore any kind of "uniform". If no one else comes up with a uniform for you; do the following. Get your Grandson a long sleeve white shirt, a bow tie (solid color), a white bib apron, and one of those "oversea" caps the military wore in Europe when on leave. You can get them in paper. Perhaps check at a party store. No one will know if that is a "correct" Popcorn uniform or not. He'll look good in any case. Good luck. Erny Karoly

Reply: 22 March, 2007 - Might use a carpenters apron or the like one with the pockets in the front that the vendors used to make change that could be a bib style or one that just fit around the waist and instead of the white shirt could use a white butchers or pharmiest coat or jacket and the over seas cap would be very appropriate with a large red price tag on it. Ned

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Reply: 15 March, 2007 - The only Henson Bros I know of was the same as the Kelly-Morris Circus and was owned by families named Kelly and Morris, who were related by marriage. They used the Henson Bros title at least in 1956 and possibly other years. Ole Whitey

Reply: 16 March, 2007 - Kelly Morris used the title Benson Bros, not Henson! Bobby Fairchild

Reply: 18 March, 2007 - Bobby, you're right - that's why they call me OLE Whitey. Sorry.

Reply: 03 April, 2007 - There was a Henson Bros. Circus in December 1956 at P. O. Box 244, Springfield, Tennessee. The Henson Bros. Indoor Circus played November and December 1956 dates in Tennessee, and in November 1957 did a few indoor dates in Kentucky. A letter in 1968 from W. E. (Shotgun) Poge? noted that he was still trying to put a little circus together but needed a 50 foot round top with a 30 foot middle. Ted Bowman Route Collection.

Reply: 14 March, 2007 - My wife Jannette nee Green, originally of St. Mawes, who went to school in Falmouth, agrees with you! From my book "Twentieth Century Circus Shows, 1901-1950, I can add a few circuses visiting the town pre 1950; - Falmouth Capt. T. Pinder's Royal Circus, 5/5/1931; G.B. Chapman's No.1 Circus, 7/5/1934; Bertram Mills' tenting circus, 15/6/1936; Bertram Mills' Tenting Circus (Trescoleas Road), 29/6/1939. Good luck in your campaign. Why not promote your idea on the 'Tag Board' on the 'Latest' page of www.circusbiography.co.uk. Good luck, John Turner.

Reply: 16 March, 2007 - The "jeep driving" elephant must have been with Bertram Mills Circus. Have a look at the archive pictures posted 15th February 2007 on www.buckleswblogspot.com/ "Charivari - the only Motoring Elephant in the World." It looks like an adapted Land Rover rather than a Jeep. (An act of its time, but with todays UK climate of "political correctness" it might not be seen as the right image to with which to promote your important campaign?!!) All the best, Paul Griffiths.

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Reply: 14 March, 2007 - You can find the date of publication, etc., for most every article in "Bandwagon" since 1940[!] right on this website. Go to the left column of red and gold buttons, place your arrow on the Bandwagon button and then do a left click on your mouse. Select which section of the index you desire to search, place your arrow on it and left click it. Give the index time to load. Then, using your edit function on your tool bar, use the "Find (on this page)" option. Type in the search word you're seeking, such as "Mack." Then keep clicking "Find Next" as new findings appear. You can search up and down, by subject word, author's name, date, etc. It's very readily searched. If you don't find what you're seeking, try another section of the index. You will likely find three or four articles about Mack trucks have been printed. The authors are Pfening and Rhodes. Thanks particularly to Judy Griffin and others for making this wonderful search tool available at your fingertips! Don't just stop at Mack trucks, check some of the other interesting materials that have been digitized and made available on the CHS website. You'll not find most of it anywhere else on the web. Fred Dahlinger

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Reply: 02 Sep 2008 - I have a painting of Emmett Kelly, not sure if Sr. or Jr. It is signed & dated P. J. Boruta 1963. The signature is printed. Do you have any further information about this artist or where I can to research some more about this man. Tony Sorrenti, tsorrenti@comcast.net

Reply: 18 Sep 2008 - I have a painting of Archibald Cox as a clown signed “Boruta”. My father acquired this painting sometime in the seventies around Watergate time. I have been trying to get information about it as my father passed away about 8 years ago and I have just been holding on to it . It really caught my eye when the Saints and Sinners were mentioned in this forum as I recall my father mentioning that and also functions in DC pertaining to the AFLCIO. We lived in DC until the late 70’s. If anyone has any information about the artist or this particular portrait it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Diane M. Blythe, dblythe@triad.rr.com, dblythe@sigcom.net

Reply: 27 Sep 2008 - We have an oil painting of the Grover's Mill, signed "Boruta 1965." Since Grover's Mill is near Hamilton, NJ, where P.J. Boruta lived, he is probably the artist. Apparently this is one of his non-Clown works - does anyone have any more or know the occasion for this one? Dennis Hawver, dhawver@aol.com

Reply: 13 Mar 2009 - Has anyone heard any new information on Peter Boruta’s paintings? I still have a clown portrait of Archibald Cox and am very interested in selling. He also did a clown portrait of my father but that is one I will always hold onto. Thank you, Diane

Reply: 10 March, 2007 - Hopefully someone will have more information, but according to Parkinson's Directory of American Circuses 1793-2000, p. 357: Great Sanger Circus was in operation from 1921-1922. Sanger Circus (without the Great in this list) from 1911-1913 (Mugivan & Bowers owners), 1919-1920 (Floyd & Howard King owners). J. Griffin

Reply: 11 March, 2007 - Gordon Carver wrote an illustrated history of the 1913 tour of the Sanger show. It's in "Bandwagon," the July-August 1981 issue. It is available for purchase as a back issue. Click on the "Bandwagon" button on the left column and then go to back issues. The poster is likely 1913. Fred Dahlinger

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Reply: 01 Sep 2008 - Hi Norman, I too am looking into the Sangers circus. My grandfather was with the Sangers circus. I know they were in Royston Hertfordshire in 1911, hence my mother being born that year. She was the result of a fling my grandmother had the trapeze artist in the circus. I am trying to find out the trapeze artist's name. I know they were Italian. ellen foley, ellen.foley3@ntlworld.com

Reply: 11 March, 2007 - One of the Mills brothers is living in the Sarasota area. Perhaps you can find them in the directory or establish contact via the Showfolks of Sarasota club? Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 12 March, 2007 - Is your husband Karl Heinz Schmitz? If so I spent time on the show with him in 1962. His father was equestrian director and he did many things including working the comedy car act when needed. Jerry Jacobson, Jerome-Jacobson@sbcglobal.net

Reply: 23 Oct 2009 - My dad was Jake Mills. He's gone now as are all the others. Uncle Harry died a little over a year and a half ago. I'd love to get in touch with you and with Mousie again. It's been years. Jeri Mills

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Reply: 09 March, 2007 - Dear Mr. Perret: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West arrived in two ships. The SS MICHIGAN arrived at Dunkerque about March 24, 1905 with the equipment that had been stored at Barnum & Bailey’s estate in England, and about 200 horses and 300 men. The second ship SS NEW YORK landed at Cherbourg, on March 26, 1905, with 200 performers including the American Indians, cowboys and others performers coming from the United States. In 1907 the orator was Thomas Rankine, but do not know if he was with the show in 1905. I do have a copy of the “Four years in Europe,” and I can arrange to make a copy and forward to you. I have spent twelve years conducting research into the “Russian Cossacks” riders who rode with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and other American Tent Shows. I have additional information on the 1905 season, which I can share with you. Please contact me at my email address rgeorgian@earthlink.net, and we can discuss additional information. Regards, Richard Georgian

Reply: 10 March, 2007 - Boss hostler Jake Posey maintained a diary during his sojourn with Buffalo Bill's Wild West. That document exists in a private collection. Posey covers the 1903 to 1906 trip on pages 54 to 59 of his book "Last of the Forty Horse Drivers." A look at Dexter Fellows book might provide some "color" for your coverage. You might also find some coverage in the weekly issues of the "Billboard" and "New York Clipper." Contact with the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming might also prove useful, if you have not done so already. A check with the Denver Public Library's Western History Collection could also prove beneficial. Providing a description of the scope and intent of your work might suggest other possibilities for assistance. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 23 March, 2007 - On www.circusmuseum.nl/eng you will find a postcard with tents and tipi's of the Buffalo Bill show in 1906 in Paris. The location then is Champs de Mars. Type " mars" in the search area. You can also search for "Bill" and " Buffalo Bill" for posters and photographs. Herman Voogd, hvoogd@teylersmuseum.nl

Reply: 10 March, 2007 - The basis for identifying the principals in your film is examining the film itself. You might consider having it transferred to DVD and then asking an expert in aerial acts, like Steve Gossard in Bloomington, IL, examine it for you. Post your e-mail address and he can contact you directly. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 25 July 2007 - Thanks for info Fred. Roger and Dawn

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Reply: 26 March, 2007 - Go to Buckles Woodcock's blogsite, bucklesw.blogspot.com. I believe the information you are looking for was just posted last night. Bob Cline

Reply: 10 March, 2007 - If there is an answer to this question, it will be found in the minutiae of railroad business records, not circus historiography. Whether the same locomotive or crew moved the show train each day was of little consequence to the showmen, so long as it was done on time, safely, from the starting point to the correct terminus [yes, a crew once took a train to the wrong place] and without excessive jarring from slack take up, etc. You'll need to find the paper documentation for locomotive and crew assignments. Whether such paperwork was retained for any railroad, and if by chance it covered the series of days when a circus was traveling on that railroad, is a query for railroad historians or archivists. You might try contacting some of the larger railroad archives and posing the question to them. Circus route books, in some cases, do record various show movements, the railroad utilized, etc., but there's seldom, if ever, a mention of the locomotive by wheel arrangement or number, or any crewmen, unless they were particularly good or bad. Occasionally, local newspapers, especially in a "railroad town" would mention such and such an engineer as bringing the show train into town, but then you'd have to be lucky to find several such reports in series in different communities. If you can locate any sort of diary or log book of an engineer or conductor, wherein they recorded their daily work assignments, that would be another means to gain an answer for your query. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 18 April, 2007 - Circus trains were not scheduled – in railroad slang they were "extras," meaning they were not listed in the road's employee timetable (much different from a public schedule). In period photos you'll see small white flags displayed on an engine (small white lights after dark) to identify any extra train.
      The circus and the railroad would first set a contract specifying the number of cars — advance cars which usually moved on passenger trains were included in this total — and date/s, approximate time/s and points of interchange where the advance car/s and later the show would be received from and/or transferred to another railroad. If the advance or show stayed on the same line for a few days, all of those moves would be listed.
      On the appointed date/s, the railroad would "call" as many extras as needed (Ringling moving in four sections would actually be four separate extra trains); any engineer, fireman, brakeman (2 were needed; one riding the engine, the other the caboose) or conductor could bid on these jobs, which went to the most senior employee available.
      The railroad also had to make sure in advance that locomotives (typically heavy freight power like a 2-8-2 "Mikado" in the 30s) and cabooses were available for these extra trains.
      A crew would usually work 100 miles, the typical distance between two division point cities at this time, or a maximum of 16 straight hours, whichever came first. As an example, if a show went from Chicago to Milwaukee (about 90 miles), one crew/engine/caboose would move it. If the show jumped 160 miles from Chicago to Madison however, the original crew, engine and caboose ended their run at Milwaukee; a new engine, caboose and crew took over and the circus train became a new extra to complete this portion of the move.
      "If you can locate any sort of diary or log book of an engineer or conductor, wherein they recorded their daily work assignments, that would be another means to gain an answer for your query."
      This was usually called a "time book" or "trip book" – each employee kept a record of times called, how long on duty, time off duty, length of run, additional work etc. as a record of how much he should be paid. These are rather rare. In railroad parlance, extras were usually identified as "Xtra" or just "X" with the engine number and direction – so Extra 1003 West might show up as X1003W. Direction is subjective here; most railroads considered their route as East-West, regardless of actual compass directions..
      "You'll need to find the paper documentation for locomotive and crew assignments. Whether such paperwork was retained for any railroad. . ."
      Extras were created by a train order from the dispatcher on each division and only identify the assigned engine by its number at a given location, and authorize it’s crew to run as an extra between two points, but would not identify the train itself. Lance Burton

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Reply: 20 Jun 2008 - I am replying to your inquiry only because I grew up near there. Only about a mile or so. It is rather run down now and in a delappited state. I do not know much about it. I do know the owner and the owner's son. Joseph Penrod, Butler, PA

Reply: 08 March, 2007 - Dear John, As you may well be aware, bringing horses from one country into another, often times involves a lengthy health certificate requirement and quarantine period. That type of Russian riding act also requires a special style of ring with an interior incline made of heavy rubber matting. Please contact me at circus4youth@earthlink.net. I know of some possible contacts. Jim Cole

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Reply: 01 April, 2007 - I have some info about Willie but cannot guarantee its accuracy. He was at the "California World's Fair"; he once toured Australia in sideshows; he made the news in 1941, treated for a sore leg at St. Joseph's hospital in Lancaster, PA. He died while working a sideshow in Martinez, CA in April of 1943. I hope this gives you some leads. Tom (zenheard@yahoo.com)

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Reply: 06 March, 2007 - Circus historian Col. C. G. Sturtevant enumerated about 65 traveling circuses in 1907, based upon his research in the weekly trade journals "New York Clipper" and "Billboard," as well as other resources. That number excludes the traveling Wild West troupes and foreign outfits that he also enumerated. It's likely that he was also unaware of some smaller overland troupes that did not routinely communicate news of their existence to the trade publications. As with all lists, they are a combination of "snapshots" of history and can be edited up and down based on implemented criteria, definitions of what is and is not a circus, etc. Some of the troupes did not enjoy a full season, others were sold from one proprietor to another, etc. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 06 March, 2007 - A gentleman named Sverre O. Braathen compiled rosters of circus bands. Copies of his compilations are filed with his collection at Illinois State University in Bloomington, IL, and also at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, FL and Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI. They would also be the repositories where photographs of the Ringling bands would be found. The rosters are by show and also by the individual's name. There's a collection at Baraboo, established by past staff member Paul Luckey, which includes his contacts with circus bandsmen of the past, especially those from Wisconsin. It might be worth a check to see if he'd been in contact with your grandfather. Charlie Conrad in Carmel, IN has been doing a lot of good work on circus bands and bandsmen and he might be a good person to contact for other assistance. Few bandsmen spent their entire career on the road. It was very tough work for a musician and only the most ardent advocates of the road stuck with it. Many returned home to teaching and other musical jobs, or alternative employment. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 12 March, 2007 - Some hotels catered to traveling showmen, giving them honest value in terms of good lodging and food for the money paid. Too often, showmen were ill-treated and essentially short-changed in their contracted overnight and feeding arrangements. It appears that the Lambertson House may have earned a reputation as a good place to stay, and such a recommendation would have been passed around the industry. Route books often comment on whether hotels were good or "rotten." You'd have to find one that included Rochester on the route to see if the respect for the inn keeper and his service was universal. The provenance of the hotel register might be the way to trace how it came into your family's hands. Starting with the last date entry, determine the owner of the hotel and then trace that family, or the subsequent hotel owners. Sometimes such registers were simply kept as a matter of curiosity, or picked up by accident at a flea market.
      Boyd & Peters Great Transatlantic Allied Shows was an overland show organized in Royal Oak, Michigan in 1878. The principals were Orlando Boyd and S. C. Peters (cameo biographies are available on the CHS website in Slout's "Olympians.") They apparently returned to Royal Oak for the winters of 1878-1879 and 1879-1880, building a modest winter quarters there. The show was having financial difficulties in June 1880. An alleged case of assault the next month brought the operation to a close, despite everyone being acquitted. Several cages of animals were acquired by Miles Orton. Stuart Thayer perused existing Detroit, Michigan newspapers for the circus and found nothing other than a pre-season write-up one year. Perhaps subsequent searching by John Polacsek has revealed something? There are a few scattered references in the 1878, 1879 and 1880 issues of the "New York Clipper." Thayer covers the show peripherally in his booklet "Mudshows & Railers," which is an account of the circus season of 1879.
      It's likely that as the show set forth in one of these seasons (1880 seems to be correct, since there's no evidence of an existence in 1881), they may have stayed overnight at Rochester. Not all overland shows bunked in wagons on the show grounds, many still booked hotel space even after "camp outfits" came into general use. An overnight stay by Boyd & Peters may well mark an early, or a very late in the season date as the departed or returned to nearby Royal Oak. You didn't mention the date, but if the signatures are before April, it could be that some people who had been hired on to join Boyd & Peters may have arrived in town slightly before the opening day. In that event, the Lambertson House may have been the favored nearby hotel.
      Burr Robbins had an overland circus out of Paw Paw, Michigan in the early 1870s and then relocated his quarters to Janesville, WI in late 1873. He prospered and went from overland to rail operation. For one season, 1881, the year that he went on rails, Robbins was in partnership with Erasmus D. Colvin. Despite it being a railroad show, with perhaps one sleeping car for the owners, department heads and performers, and another for the working men, some shows booked overnight accommodations in local hotels. Robbins may have known of the Lambertson from his overland show days and subsequent travels in Michigan. You can read about Robbins and Colvin in Slout's "Olympians" and also in the chapter on Burr Robbins in "Badger State Showmen."
      Frank McFarland's job as advance and contracting agent would have been to travel by horseback or horse and carriage several weeks in advance of the circus. He rode the route of the circus, negotiating and signing local contracts for: the show lot; hotel space and meals; stable space and animal feed; the local license to perform; advertisements in the local newspaper; and perhaps the printing and distribution of handbills, etc. Essentially, he prepared the way for the arrival of the circus by making arrangements for all of the goods and services that would be required on circus day.
      I have a few questions about the document and would appreciate it if you would contact me at afdj@g2a.net. Thanks. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 25 Feb 2009 - I just reviewed the information on McFarland, I wrote this in 2006 and did write back about the answer. I just want to tell you the information I received was very interesting to me since I still own the book, with the Lambertson House. I still don't know how my mother ended up with the log book, my mother and father and their family was from the Rochester area. A signed log book had Burr Robbins and wife, E. D. Colvin, Madame Martha, Miss Ellen Cooke, Miss Georgie, Mrs Mathews, Charles W. Fish Den Stone, and a few others. Two different circus groups had stayed at the Lambertson House in Rochester Michigan at that time. One group was Boyd & Peters Great Circus and Menagerie and Robbins and Colvin Great Allied Circus and Menagerie, the log book was signed in 1880-1881 time line. Does anyone have any information on any of these performers, or the Lambertson House. I do know this house burnt down in the ealy 1900's. I went to Rochester city group to find out about the Lambertson House which they knew only a little. Thanks, Patricia Benjamin

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Reply: 05 March, 2007 - Bob Goldsack ran a lengthy article on the history of Foley & Burk in the Jan-Feb-Mar 1997 issue of his journal "Midway Journal Illustrated." His contact information is on this website, under publications. He also published an article about their collapsible bandwagon, which still exists in the LA area, in the July-Aug-Sept issue. You will find information in the weekly issues of the "New York Clipper" (through 1923) and "Billboard," which you may be able to obtain via interlibrary loan. Joe McKennon's "Pictorial History of the American Carnival" has some basic information in it. You can also locate information in older newspapers through searching services. The F&B British-built carousel is now at the Billy Jones Wildcat RR in CA. A flat car and several wagons are at Circus World Museum. Fred Dahlinger, Jr.

Reply: 12 March, 2007 - You might want to go to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo. They have a classic gem of a fun house that you would likely recall from your boyhood; I recall it from mine in the 50s - the Thimble Theatre. This was, as far as I have learned, a standard Fun on the Farm funhouse which they fancied up with carton art out of the comic strip. Although I don't know that you can see it for sure unless you contact the museum in advance. F&B later winterquarted in Santa Rosa, north of Oakland, where I was raised, in the flower show building at the fairgrounds (originally built to house farm machinery exhibits). F&B also carried the Whip, an architecturally elaborate ride for its day. F&B was not a generic truck show, but an extremely colorful railroad show, whose wagons bore many different colors and lettering and whose precarious unloadings down at the ice house were events to see. Almost no stories about them to my knowledge. You might contact the Santa Rosa Press Democrat librarian; perhaps she can suggest some sources. There is also the Sonoma County Museum in Santa Rosa and the History room for either Santa Rosa or Sonoma County at the Santa Rosa library. Good luck! David Lewis Hammarstrom.

Reply: 22 June 2007 - I have ten snapshots printed from original negatives of the Foley & Burk shows and they are dated 1914. That was probably before your father's time. There is no other infomation listed on the photos. Ed Gaida

Reply: 04 March, 2007 - The entry for Jumping Jack Higgins in my book 'Victorian Arena, the Performers', vol.2 (Lingdales Press, Formby, 19950 reads as follows; - HIGGINS, Jack. Vaulter. Champion Jumper of the World. Born in the King Street area of Blackburn. One-time cotton mill worker, in Blackburn, living in Leyland Street. Came to fame in the 1890s, with giant leaps, over a horse and cab. At age 18 years, at Ohmy's circus, Blackburn, jumped over 20 horses and went on to leap in and out of seven dolly tubs, three yards apart, without touching the ground. Other feats included leaping over eleven ordinary chairs, rising five feet and travelling 14 feet, leaping over six chairs and extinguishing two candles on the last chair and clear the canal in one bound. On 22nd July 1893, at Failsworth, he beat Joe Darby in a jumping contest, for a wager of £100. Even at age 55, in 1927, he could still leap over a horse and cab, at the New Princes Theatre in Blackburn. Noted with Stephenson's World Travel Circus, Jersey and Guernsey, in 1931, "truly remarkable at his age". Eventually went to America, where he travelled over 25,000 miles, defeating every athlete he met. Like many vaulters of his time, Jack Higgins aided his leaps and bounds by the use of hand weights which he swung at arms length to add impetus before discarding them. Died in Detroit, in the 1940s (Sources - Accrington Observer and Times, 21/3/1975; Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 14/4/1997, p.14, via June Huntingdon; Dewsbury Reporter, 14/4/1894). I hope this helps your researches. Your additional information has certainly helped mine, for which many thanks. If you are interested in artistes with British origins, why not look at my website www.circusbiography.co.uk rather than an American one, for details of their British careers? Best wishes, John Turner.

Reply: 12 March, 2007 - John Higgins act in Argentina and Chile in the beginnings of the XX Century. In Chile appear with the Frank Brown Circus in 1902, performing different jumps acts, specially one in which he jumped a car. You can see an image in http://siglo20.tercera.cl/1900-09/1902/miscelan.htm. Also I have found his name in a brief revision of Argentine circus history, that does not contain more data. Surely the local periodics of the time speak of their step in my country. Cesar Ortega fliaortega@netverk.com.ar

Reply: 30 Jan 2010 - From Marco Martini (Roma, Italy). John Higgins performed in Italy at the beginning of year 1901 with Rancy Circus, in Genova, Milano and Roma. I am very interested in this jumper, as an artist and as a sport champion, and I wrote an article about him in "Circo", an italian magazine. I have also recorded everything italian newspapers of 1901 wrote about his performances, and would like to get more informations about him. Anyone who can help me is welcome, especially his nephew Frances Mullin. Best wishes, Marco, marco.martini@fidal.it

Reply: 29 March, 2007 - Try www.circusmuseum.nl search for 'acrobatiek' or mail me the picture. Herman Voogd, hvoogd@teylersmuseum.nl

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Reply: 03 March, 2007 - Don't know if this is who you mean but there was an 11 year old boy known as Young Nicolo who worked in the American Museum in 1865. He worked with three trapezes, flying between them and ending in a plunge to a bed on the stage. According to records he was lost at sea the year after appearing for Barnum. Robert Momyer

Reply: 03 March, 2007 - My "Twentieth Century Circus People, 1901-1950" (Lingdales Press, Formby, 2003) contains the following entry; - LOYAL-REPENSKY Troupe. Bareback riders. Fourteen members of the same family, father, mother, children, nieces and nephews, including the Loyal Sisters and the seven Repenskys. Justin Loyal performed a somersault between two horses. Noted at the Crystal Palace Circus, Sydenham, 1931-32 season, and with Bertram Mills' Olympia circus, 1934-35 season. In 1935 were in Germany, later going to America to join Ringling's, Barnum and Bailey's circus. Still in the USA in 1940. Zephta Loyal, known for her somersaults from the back of one galloping horse to another, died on 29th April 1996, at Longview, Texas (Sources - World's Fair, 2/1/1932, p.1, col.4; ibid, 26/8/1933, p.32, col.2; ibid, 23/2/1935, p.46, col.1; ibid, 19/10/1940, p.14, col.3; A.S. Williamson, 'On the Road With Bertram Mills'(London, 1938), p.237; Willan G. Bosworth, 'Wagon Wheels' (1935), p.183). Could this be your man? John Turner

Reply: 08 March, 2007 - Dear Raymond, Justino's son, Timi is a bareback rider at Arabian Nights in Kissimmee, FL. Contact me at circus4youth@earthlink.net and I will put you in touch with him. Jim Cole

Reply: 12 March, 2007 - Edwin, Please see entry #212, which I found looking on this datbase under the search category. There are a few leads and entries, one of which is mine. I had the honor of meeting your Grandfather when he was performing in the early 60's at Santa Cruz Beach doing the 'Adagio of death'. See this section for lots of leads. Good thing to note that when you want infdo on someone circus it might just be right here under you nose! Good luck in your search! R.T. Carr, Stanford Ca, rtcarriii@yahoo.com

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Reply: 28 February, 2007 - The Clark & Walters title was used twice and Cole & Walters once and possibly there is some confusion between them. Herb Walters (born Herbert Walters Channell) and a man named Clark had a show called Clark & Walters during the 1910's, but I have the impression it was a dramatic show, possibly with vaudeville numbers between the acts.
      Then fast forward many years: Mr Walters framed a small circus in about 1950 and called it Cole and Walters (his daughter was married to a man named Cole at the time). This show eventually used the title "Famous Cole." Herb sold this circus to Bob Couls in about 1961. Then in his retirement he got lonesome for the road so he framed another small circus and called it Clark & Walters. This show he later sold to the Silverlake family and it was still out in the 1970s.
      In 1962 Mr Walters worked with a lady named Velma Lowry in writing his autobiography, which came out under the title "Fifty Years Under Canvas." You might locate a copy through ABEbooks.com. It does mention some of the people the original Clark & Walters show. Ree-gards, Ole Whitey

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Reply: 27 February, 2007 - Amy: February 28, 1924, in the Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin, newspaper there is an article concerning the new Gill Bros. Garage with an indoor circus. This circus is identified as the Barlow Indoor circus Co., St. Louis. Quote: The circus brings eight acts, including Delano Brothers, Acrobats; Virginia Smith, Siner and dancer; Vera Patiche, Ballet dancer; Delno Sisters, Acrobats and Contortionists; Kovno, a slack wire artist; Grace Wilbur, English juggler and baton swinger; Three Delaney Borthers, comedy acrobats, and one other act. Unquote. I also found in the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper, an article with the “February’s Graduates” from Public School No. 11, located on Washington Ave, near Greene. One of the graduates was a Grace Wilbur. If you know that your relative came from New York city area or Brooklyn, this might be the same person. Good hunting, Richard Georgian

Reply: 28 February, 2007 - The Nov-Dec 1992 and May-June 2005 issues of "Bandwagon" have some coverage on the Newtons. Both issues are available for purchase. Check this website for ordering information. A couple Newton letterheads were published in the 1960s and an Orange Bros. and Moon poster was printed on the cover of another issue. That was another Newton show title. Fred Dahlinger. [Newton Bros. Circus, William "Honest Bill," Newton. Newton was proprietor of Lucky Bill & Honest Bill shows. J. Griffin]

Reply: 27 February, 2007 - The book "Fairground Strollers and Show Folk", by Frances Brown (Ronda, Taunton, 2001) might be a good place to start! Available at £19.95, ISBN No. 0-9521282-1-7, should not be didfficult to obtain. Full of family history and family trees as well as personal anecdotes. My own books "Victorian Arena; the Performers", vols 1 & 2 (Lingdales Presss, Formby, 1995 & 2000) contain many references to both families. Why don't you ask the British community by posting your query on the 'Forum' section of www.circusbiography.co.uk? Good luck, John M. Turner.

Reply: 19 Apr 2008 - Hi, Am Ellen Freeman-Biddall gt gt granddaughter, are you still interested in the family? Helen