Here are some great photos taken by John Heidl in the Peru winter quarters right before the huge Ringling ordered fires. Notice the John Robinson cottage cage wagon in the middle.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
John Heidl photos from Peru, Indiana
The Back ends of the Snake Tab and the Five Graces Bandwagon taken in 1940.
John Heidl photos from Peru, Indiana
Taken in 1941. The note on the back says the Ringling cage to the left was saved but the pole wagon was burned.
Bandwagon
The November / December 2009 issue of the Bandwagon will be arriving at member's doorsteps in the very near future. Being 70 pages long, it is packed with several articles about Charles Sparks, Noyelles Burkhart, Circuses in Australia and much. much more.
For those that would like to join the Circus Historical Society, go to the website at http://www.circushistory.org/ where the join now button is at the very top right corner. It takes just a couple minutes. Enjoy!
Automobile wagon
A Good friend sent me this picture today. This is the auto wagon that was posted a couple days ago on the Royal American Shows. Here we see the other side of the wagon on the Ringling show where the side door allowed the driver to get into the vehicle.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Royal American Shows Auction
I found this on the internet this evening. The Royal American Shows came to an end in 1997 with Norton Auctioneers conducting an auction at the Winter quarters in 1999.
Norton Auctions Off Royal American Shows Memorabilia For Big Dollars
By Tim O'Brien
Publication: Amusement Business
Date: Monday, May 10 1999
Auctioneer David Norton, came to Nashville for the OABA Board of Directors meeting directly from the Monday, April 26, liquidation auction of the legendary Royal American Shows, in Tampa."It was an amazing day," he told AB. "There were tears, there were smiles, and
there was a lot of interest in the memorabilia."
The show played its last dates in 1997, following an illustrious run that had earned it the title of the world's largest midway (AB, March 15). The show once traveled through the United States and Canada on 99 railroad cars and played the biggest of the state fairs and Canadian exhibitions. The remains of the carnival were sold by Norton Auctioneers, Coldwater, Mich., at the show's winter quarters near the Tampa airport. Carnival executives, employees, railroad and circus buffs from 26 states and two countries attended the sale.
"The auction ended an era that will not, nor could ever be, duplicated," Norton said. For decades, the show carried its own neon, wood, blacksmith, carpenter and plumbing shops. Much of that equipment was sold. Such famous side show acts as Gypsy Rose Lee and Sally Rand were featured in the show's girlie show revues, which featured Las Vegas-style costumes. A Sally Rand autographed program fetched $385 and Gypsy Rose Lee programs sold for $110 to $137 each, while assorted girlie show revue programs went as high as $440. Old revue show costumes from the 1950s brought in more than $6,000, despite their poor conditions, Norton said.
Only a few rides were left to sell. A Majestic trailer-mounted bumper car unit sold for $220,000, a Chance Merry-Go-Round went for $88,000, and Winky the Whale ride went for $19,800. One generator was hammered for $31,900.Norton was pleased to report that nostalgia seekers and memorabilia buffs were not disappointed in the many lots that offered a huge array of carnival collectibles. A PTC carousel rounding board sold for $22,100, an old wood ball toss game went for $3,300, and various carnival postcards went for up to $200 each.
Other highlights included the sale of several large gaming wheels that averaged $925 each. The show's old Caterpillar rubber treaded dozer was purchased for $4,400 and is heading for a permanent display at the Gibsonton (Fla.) Showmen's Museum. An old office trailer brought $17,000 and "is reportedly on its way to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wis.," according to Norton. Old wagon wheels were sold from $175 to $275.
Old advertising items and novelties with the Royal American Shows logo, such as ash trays, lighters, jacket patches and key chains brought some of the day's most heated bidding, Norton said. The ashtrays sold for $197.50 each; the lighters, in lots of five, for $60 each; the jacket patches for $100; small lots of key chains for $38.50; a deck of playing cards for $55; and ball caps for $65.Nearly 400 showed up for the sale and nearly 200 ended up bidding.
Norton would not release the sales figures but said they far exceeded pre-auction estimates.
Norton Auctions Off Royal American Shows Memorabilia For Big Dollars
By Tim O'Brien
Publication: Amusement Business
Date: Monday, May 10 1999
Auctioneer David Norton, came to Nashville for the OABA Board of Directors meeting directly from the Monday, April 26, liquidation auction of the legendary Royal American Shows, in Tampa."It was an amazing day," he told AB. "There were tears, there were smiles, and
there was a lot of interest in the memorabilia."
The show played its last dates in 1997, following an illustrious run that had earned it the title of the world's largest midway (AB, March 15). The show once traveled through the United States and Canada on 99 railroad cars and played the biggest of the state fairs and Canadian exhibitions. The remains of the carnival were sold by Norton Auctioneers, Coldwater, Mich., at the show's winter quarters near the Tampa airport. Carnival executives, employees, railroad and circus buffs from 26 states and two countries attended the sale.
"The auction ended an era that will not, nor could ever be, duplicated," Norton said. For decades, the show carried its own neon, wood, blacksmith, carpenter and plumbing shops. Much of that equipment was sold. Such famous side show acts as Gypsy Rose Lee and Sally Rand were featured in the show's girlie show revues, which featured Las Vegas-style costumes. A Sally Rand autographed program fetched $385 and Gypsy Rose Lee programs sold for $110 to $137 each, while assorted girlie show revue programs went as high as $440. Old revue show costumes from the 1950s brought in more than $6,000, despite their poor conditions, Norton said.
Only a few rides were left to sell. A Majestic trailer-mounted bumper car unit sold for $220,000, a Chance Merry-Go-Round went for $88,000, and Winky the Whale ride went for $19,800. One generator was hammered for $31,900.Norton was pleased to report that nostalgia seekers and memorabilia buffs were not disappointed in the many lots that offered a huge array of carnival collectibles. A PTC carousel rounding board sold for $22,100, an old wood ball toss game went for $3,300, and various carnival postcards went for up to $200 each.
Other highlights included the sale of several large gaming wheels that averaged $925 each. The show's old Caterpillar rubber treaded dozer was purchased for $4,400 and is heading for a permanent display at the Gibsonton (Fla.) Showmen's Museum. An old office trailer brought $17,000 and "is reportedly on its way to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wis.," according to Norton. Old wagon wheels were sold from $175 to $275.
Old advertising items and novelties with the Royal American Shows logo, such as ash trays, lighters, jacket patches and key chains brought some of the day's most heated bidding, Norton said. The ashtrays sold for $197.50 each; the lighters, in lots of five, for $60 each; the jacket patches for $100; small lots of key chains for $38.50; a deck of playing cards for $55; and ball caps for $65.Nearly 400 showed up for the sale and nearly 200 ended up bidding.
Norton would not release the sales figures but said they far exceeded pre-auction estimates.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Horse Traders
This is from March 31, 1909 in the Adams County Free Press. I've been doing a lot of research on Wm. P. Hall. I've done enough to be giving a presentation on him at the CHS convention in July of this year. Known as the "Horse King of the World", he wasn't the only trader in town. The next ad is for Bert McClain who was Billy Hall's main buyer and right hand man for over 40 years.
The rest of these ads are for other horse buyers who all appearred in the same sales barns that Billy Hall has been found buying horses in.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
More RAS
These next photos were all taken at the WQ out by the Football stadium in 1981 after my Dad had his heart attack. While he was out of work, we spent two weeks in Florida together visiting many of the show locations.
More RAS
Taken at the old WQ at the Florida State Fairgrounds. I guess I got this one out of order. Blogger is messing up downloading pictures today. I may never get done at this rate. Just makes me want to pull my hair out, but there isn't much left to pull.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Royal American Shows
My Dad visited the Royal American Shows winterquarters in 1978. It was now over by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football stadium. Previously the winter quarters had been at the Florida State fairgrounds.
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