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Founded in 1939, the Circus Historical Society, Inc. (CHS) is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to recording the history of the American circus from the first one in Philadelphia during 1793 to today. Membership includes people from all walks of life including historians, scholars, circus personnel, memorabilia collectors, Americana specialists and just folks who share both a love of the circus and a desire to preserve and disseminate its great and interesting heritage.
      As in most organizations that share a common interest, the CHS members gather annually at a different location annually in North America to hold a convention. Papers are given, films and slides are presented, meaty tidbits of circus history are exchanged, current circus executives set forth their views and challenges, friendships are renewed and new ones made, all in the interest of circus history preservation. These sessions represent the culmination of a focused year of circus research and writings on the part of many CHS members and are cherished visits to the circus past and present.

Officers and Trustees 2006

President, Robert F. Sabia. A Connecticut product and a US Army veteran, spent adult life in business, much of it on the international circuit. An attorney by education (member of PA Bar), ran construction business on west coast, mass transit systems on east coast, telecommunication systems throughout Europe, Middle East, Asia and South America, extensive involvement in US chemical agent destruction program, and power plant construction. Life time avocation has been the study of the circus business of the past. Member of CHS for over forty years. Retired in Williamsburg, VA some five years ago.

Vice President, Judith L. Griffin. Joined CHS in 2000, after spending twenty years trying to track her family relative, James L. Hutchinson's connection with the circus. It is a familiar tale, her mother said that one of the family was connected to the circus. After a number of failed efforts to find much information on "Hutch" (part-owner, Barnum & London, 1881-1887), she developed a web page with a small amount of information. It was not too long afterwards that, as a result of the website, she heard from another relative, a Stuart Hicks from Australia, who was also looking for information on Hutch, and who had a suprising amount of additional information. When she learned about the Circus Historical Society and joined in 2000, she received research advice that resulted in a wealth of information. The result of the connection with the relative in Australia has resulted in collaboration on a biography of James L. Hutchinson, a work in progress. Another interest is the early aquatic acts performed on circuses before 1900 (water queen and man-fish). In 2001 the CHS asked her to develop a web site for CHS, which went on the web in May 2002. The website continues to be a 'labor of love,' growing from about four visits a day to over 1,000. Judy is a retired teacher/consultant for children with Autism and a past President of the Autism Society of Wisconsin. She has a BA from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI and a MSE from the University of Wisconsin.

Secretary-Treasurer, Alan Campbell. A graduate of Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, and was an Air Force pilot during the Viet Nam war, attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. From 1969 until his retirement in 2000 he flew for Delta Airlines. Alan livea in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, GA. He joined CHS in 1998 and in 2003 was made a Trustee and Secretary-Treasurer.

Trustees

• Alan Campbell, see above.

• Fred Dahlinger, Jr. has been researching circus history since 1966. His initial exposure to the topic came via books at the public library, but he became engrossed after reading a newspaper article delineating the history of circus parade wagons. He has: published over fifty papers on the topic; authored two books and co-authored a third with Stuart Thayer; produced a video documentary and two compact disks; designed and installed exhibits about circus history; and served as an authority for many telecast documentaries. A degreed engineer from Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Fred managed large engineering and construction projects for eighteen years before making a career change and being given oversight Circus World Museum library and archives and related activities. He ultimately served as Director of Collections and Facilities and in 2005 became Circus Historian for Florida State University's Ringling Circus Museum. He served as President of the CHS, initiated the reorganization in 1997 and continues his service by serving as a trustee. His ambition is to build awareness and appreciation for the major role that the circus played in American history and to engage new generations in studying it.

  Judith L. Griffin, see above.

• John H. McConnell has simultaneously pursued two careers – one in business and one in circus. Business wise he has held several executive positions in corporations and operated a management consulting firm. Circus wise he has general managed and marketed the Royal Hanneford Circus and The Big Apple Circus. He has also marketed specific engagements for Cristiani Bros. Circus, Mills Bros. Circus, Zerbini International Circus, Circus Flora, Hamid Circus, Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. He owned and produced Circus Royale from 1986 through 2005, and he has written two books and several articles on circus history.

• Fred D. Pfening, Jr. is the retired chairman of The Fred D. Pfening Co., a manufacturer of bakery equipment founded in 1919. He attended Ohio State University where he was editor of Sundial, the collage humor magazine and was a member of the O. S. U. Junior Class honorary society. He is the oldest living member of the CHS, membership number 36. He served as CHS president in the 1960s. Pfening has edited Bandwagon since 1961. He has written over 125 articles for Bandwagon. Other articles have been published in White Tops, American Cinemaphotographer and various bakery magazines.

• Fred D. Pfening III is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan and holds a master's degree in economic history from Ohio State University. He has been a CHS member almost his entire life, having joined in 1961 when only twelve years old. He is a past President (1986-89), has bee a Trustee since CHS was reorganized in 1997, and has served as Managing Editor of Bandwagon. He is CEO of the Fred D. Pfening Company, manufacturers of bakery and allied machinery, Columbus, Ohio.

• John F. Polacsek became interested in tracing the routes of early circuses after discovering an 1835 metal printing plate that a branch of the Zoological Institute used to advertise their menagerie while traveling through Ohio. He extended his research and in 1974 produced The History of the Circus and Menagerie in Ohio Prior to 1860, as his Masters Thesis at Bowling Green State University. By researching early circuses he has used newspapers, diaries and route cards, and route books to verify a number of circus routes. He has also provided numerous photographs for the route books, and advertising that has been issued by the Carson & Barnes Circus. In addition to being a Director of the CHS he has served as the President of the organization.

• Richard J. Reynolds III of Atlanta, GA, holds undergraduate and law degrees from Emory University. He has been a CHS member since 1958, has served as President (1998-2001), and has been a Trustee since the 1997 reorganization, which he spearheaded. He practiced law in Atlanta for 33 years, until his retirement from the firm of Troutman-Sanders in 1991. He has written extensively for Bandwagon.

• Robert F. Sabia, see above.

• Al Stencell, Past President. Al is a Canadian and has been a trustee since the 1997 reorganization. A retired showman, he worked his way up through concessions, novelties and bill posting until becoming a showman. From 1973 to 1976 he was part owner of Royal Bros. He and his wife founded and operated Martin and Downs Circus from 1977 to 1983. In 1983 he built Super Circus International and toured it until 1992. A gifted raconteur, his knack for story telling led to writing two popular books, with a third soon to be published.

• Stuart L. Thayer, Trustee Emeritus. He is a past President of CHS. An expert on the development of the American circus between 1793 and 1860, he has authored a number of books and articles on the early circuses.

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History of the Circus Historical Society

      According to Don Smith, founder of CHS, the idea for the society began in the early 1930s. An ex-showman and dealer in circus photographs, Charles Bernard and Smith corresponded on the possibility of the organization. In 1932 Bernard wrote an article for Billboard, mentioning the possibility, but there was little response. Smith continued to pursue the idea of a national group, and proposed it in his communications with fans and collectors.
      At the 1939 CFA convention, Smith suggested that CFA members might be interested in collecting items for a Circus Museum, members showing little interest. Harry Hertzberg was of the opinion that he had already collected everything worthwhile. When he returned home, he was even more determined to form the Circus Historical Society, but everyone said "it could not be done." He had also been meeting with Bette Leonard, a performer with the Seils-Sterling Circus, who was enthusiastic about the idea. She promised to contact fans and collectors during her circus tour. By the end of 1939, there were a dozen active collectors lined up, and it was announced that the Circus Historical Society had been organized.
      The ten charter members of the newly formed Circus Historical Society formed in 1939 were: Don F. Smith, President; Walter Tyson, Vice President; Arthur Stensvad, Bette Leonard, Bill Kasiska, Robert Green, Eddie Jackson, Bill Green and Charlie Campbell.
      The group set as their goal, the purchase of a Circus Bandwagon, to be presented to a worthy museum, and the geographical divisions of the society were to be named after famous parade wagons. In his remarks at the 1959 convention, Smith noted that he believed it was through CHS efforts, the world had become Circus Museum conscious. That there was "definite assurance that the few remaining circus treasures may be preserved for posterity, because of The Circus Historical Society."
      The first national CHS convention was held April 11-14, 1946 at Peru, Indiana, with 104 people attending the banquet. Though the society was founded in 1939, because of the war it was seven years before a convention could be arranged. At the 1996 convention, President Fred Dahlinger related that the roster of members in 1946 listed a total of 246 members. By 1996 there were about 1,200 members, a 500% increase.
      The second president of CHS was Walter Tyson, Canada's leading fan and circus collector. Another early CHS president was John Van Matre, who also later published Banner Line, a monthly publication devoted to the circus and circus history.
      In 1961 Fred D. Pfening, Jr. was President, Charles Philip Fox, President, and Robert C. King, Secretary and Treasurer. At that time CHS had Directors: Division 1, Robert Conover, Ohio; Division 2, Roy Arnold Massachusetts; Division 3, Paul Ruddell, Washington DC; Division 4, Fred Bailey Thompson, Georgia; Division 5, Sverre O. Braathen, Wisconsin; Division 6, Betty Leonard, Kansas; Division 7, Glen R. Draper, Idaho; Division 8, Bob Taber, California; Division 9, E. W. Cripps, Canada; and Division 10, Edward A. A. Graves, England.
      The first CHS publication was called SPEC, but in the spring of 1942 the name was changed to Bandwagon, with Don Smith as editor, printed by Fred D. Pfening, Jr., current Bandwagon editor. When the society had difficulty getting out an issue of Bandwagon due to lack of funds, the charter members dug into their own pockets and went out and signed up more members. In 1946, the dues were $1.00 and a subscription to Bandwagon was $2.00, an eight single-sided mimeographed publication.
      During the 1940s Bandwagon was published in Canada by the then President Walter Tyson and Secretary John Lyon. In 1947 Harry Simpson merged Bandwagon with his hobby publication and it became Hobby-Bandwagon. In March 1951 Simpson resigned, and President Bette Leonard appointed Agnes W. King editor. During her years Bandwagon grew in stature and size. In August 1957 it was enlarged from pocket size. In 1961 Agnes King resigned and Fred D. Pfening Jr. became the editor. By 1996 Bandwagon had become a bimonthly journal, recognized around the world, filling 300 pages with significant narratives about the circus.

Sources: Smith, Don F., "They Said It Couldn't Be Done - We Did It!," White Tops, July-August, 1959, p. 9. "Bandwagon Cycle," Bandwagon, Vol. 5, No. 6 (December), 1961. Dahlinger, Fred Jr., "Circus Historical Society's 1996 National Convention," Bandwagon July-August, 1996, pp. 38-39.

List of Presidents and dates and places of past conventions