Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Pawnee Bros. Circus


According to Bob Parkinson's book "Directory of American Circuses 1793 to 2000", the Pawnee Bros. Circus was owned by Ralph Green. It only worked in 1951. These photos were taken on April 1, 1951 in Warner Robbins, GA. At least the show was well painted.

Pawnee Bros. Circus


Pawnee Bros. Circus


Pawnee Bros. Circus


Pawnee Bros. Circus


Sunday, June 27, 2010

Cole Bros. Circus - 1948


The Cole Bros. Circus had a wide variety of show equipment over the years. Having bought some from Wm. P. Hall and the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch show, I believe I have read that they had bought some railcars from carnivals as well. I could be wrong. Can anyone help?

Cole Bros. Circus - 1948

The way this car has the angled braces going up in different directions, tells me this was a stock car at one time and has been cut down and is now being used as a flatcar. Anyone have any other thoughts?

Cole Bros. Circus - 1948


Cole Bros. Circus - 1948

This straight sided flatcar doesn't have the rounded ends like a Standard Steel Co. car. I'm wondering if this is one of the straight sided Mt. Vernon's similiar to the #8 flatcar still in existance at the Circus World Museum?

Friday, June 25, 2010

Baraboo Gala breaks records

Two thumbs up to all the volunteers and businesses that made this year's Circus World Museum Gala a huge success. Featuring food and drink from 32 of the area's top chefs, the gala raised a record $170,000 for Circus World Museum operations. More than 500 guests were treated to a smorgasbord of food and fun, including performances by many of the acts that are featured this summer at Circus World Museum.
What's truly amazing is that organizers had to spend only about $2,000 to pull off this event. Scores of businesses and individuals from Baraboo, Wisconsin Dells and the Madison area contributed tens of thousands of dollars in food and merchandise that enabled organizers to host yet another first-rate event. As in past years, the tireless efforts of co-chairs Merlin and Jenele Zitzner of Baraboo and Jonathan and Susan Lipp of Madison were integral to the success of the event.
The significance of the event was best summed up by Steve Freese, CWM executive director: "When you can generate that kind of revenue with, you know, only $2,000 in expenses, I think every non-profit in America would like to have our formula for doing it."
While we're on the topic of fundraisers, another thumbs up to the Baraboo-area residents who joined forces to raise $38,000 during last weekend's Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. Dozens of participants gathered in memory of their loved ones who died of cancer, or in support of those who are currently afflicted with it.
About 20 volunteers worked to make this year's event happen and area businesses supported it with donations for a silent auction. Said event organizer Morgan Jones: "I just thank everyone, for coming and for being involved. It's a big effort by everyone, so it's always appreciated."

Thursday, June 24, 2010

NEWS FLASH



The P.T. Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, CT. suffered damages today when a tornado ripped through Bridgeport, cutting power, toppling trees and collapsing at least one building near down town. ( Thursday June 24, 2010 )

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Another Version of BillBoard cover


Here's another version a few years later.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Billboard 1917

I love the artwork in this old Billboard issue. Not many of the Billboards had color covers.

Billboard 1917

This was the Back Cover.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Ammo cages


Ringling along with many other entertainment entities, utilized a great deal of military surplus after World War II was over. Most noticably Ringling utilized the many hospital cars to become coaches on the train and these little wagons that carried different sizes of ammunition when ships were reloading at docks were bought up, cut down, rebuilt and modified to become an entire new fleet of cages for the Greatest Show on Earth.
Here are some of the ammo cage wagons loaded on a flat in the Sarasota Winter Quarters in 1952. I don't know that a picture has ever been found of what the ammo wagon looked like in the military. I understand it only had one wheel with the rubber being in great shortage during the war. We have found photos of the ammo tops now. The photos I have seen are stacks of different sized drawers.

Ammo cages


I never paid attention until a good friend told me today that this Side Show air Calliope was an ammo wagon chassis as well.

Ammo cages

Here are the Ammo cages almost completely set-up on the lot in the early 1950's.

Ammo cages

I threw this one in here as this is the only photo I have seen of the 1954 paint job. This is a Howard Tibbals photo from the Ringling Museums.

Ammo cages


Here's one of the ammo cages at the Circus Hall of Fame in the 1960's at Sarasota, Florida. I don't know who, what or when the center plate with the lettering was added.

Ammo cages

This was taken at Circus World in Florida. At one time this cage still had a leopard in it at Circus World. Where were all these cages located after the close of the Big One under canvas? Were these all at the Deitch Zoo in New Jersey for the Madison Square Garden dates?

Ammo cages


This was taken at Circus World Amusement Park in Florida in the 1970's or perhaps very early 1980's.

Ammo cages


This is one of the four ammo cages now calling the International Circus Hall of Fame in Peru, Indiana home.

Ammo cages

This was the clean out or back side of the cages. This one is At Peru, Indiana facing an ever uncertain future.

Ammo cages


Taken l;ast year at the International Circus Hall of Fame in Peru, Indiana, this photo gives a real good view of the front of the cages. Both of these were at Circus World before coming here.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Robbins Bros. Circus

Babe Woodcock and the good Colonel were still living in Lancaster, MO. after Billy Hall's death in 1932. Fortunately for us, she took several photographs over the years including these next few. This first one is sitting on one of Billy Hall's spur tracks. The next two were taken in December of 1934 after the Robbins Bros. Circus equipment which had been sitting idle for almost 3 years, was sold to Jess Adkins and Zach Terrell to form the nucleus of the new Cole Bros. Circus.

Robbins Bros. Circus

A lot of detail in these photos. Does that ticket wagon look familiar? Don't feel bad, someone had to tell me too!

Robbins Bros. Circus

Loaded and ready for the trip to Indiana.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Wm. P. Hall farm


Babe Woodcock took several photos at the Hall farm in December of 1934 as the old Fred Buchanan Robbins bros. Circus was being loaded on the traincars to leave Lancaster, MO. for the very last time and become the newly formed Cole Bros. Circus.
This photo was one of them she took. It is at the Wm.P. Hall farm in Lancaster, Missouri. I say IN Lancaster, Missouri because a well practiced youngster with a sling shot could dern near hit the County Courthouse from the Hall barns. The barn behind this wagon housed the elephants in the lower level. The water tower appears beside the barn and the train car behind served as the infamous Hall office for about 20 years. This particular wagon changed several times over the years and still survives today. Perhaps Anonymous can fill us in on the beginning history of this wagon.

Robbins Bros. Circus

Having toured the country on the 1938 Robbins Bros. Circus, we see that this wagon has had the pipes removed, had corners designs added to the center opening and recieved a pretty nice paint job. Now with the undergear gone, this amazing photo was taken in 1956 at the Bradley farm in Rochester, Indiana where this once proud parade vessel was now being used as a coal bin.

Cole Bros. Circus # 82

Fully restored now at the Circus World Museum, it has now had a unafon added to the inside.

Billposters at work

Here are a few pictures of something we will never see again in our lifetimes. These are large billing stands. Perhaps, we'll get a comment or two. I believe these were also referred to as daubs but I'm not a billposter to know for sure.

The stand was for the Great Wallace Shows as they appeared in Schenectady, NY. This photo appeared in the Billboard on June 5, 1900 on page 5.

Billposters at work

Here is another spread posted by head billposter C.H. Benedict and his crew in Schenectady, NY.
This is in the Billboard on June 9, 1900 on page 5.

Billposters at work

This is a Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus billing stand taken in Columbia City, Indiana. The show played there July 23, 1910. Notice the billposters at the bottom of the photo. This was in the Billboard July 30, 1910 on page 18.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Gala of Chefs at Baraboo

Friends of Circus World to gather at annual Gala
By Brian D. Bridgeford /News Republic Posted: Thursday, June 10, 2010 9:22 pm

Friends of Baraboo's Circus World Museum will enjoy an evening of fine food and drink Sunday when the museum holds its annual Circus of Chefs, The Gala 2010, organizers say.
The festivities begin at 5 p.m. and take place in the W.W. Deppe Wagon Pavilion on the south side of the Baraboo River near the Parkinson Research Library on Lynn Street. Tickets are $125 per person with $100 of that amount being a tax-deductible donation to the museum, according to the CWM Web site.

Chefs, vintners and brewers representing 34 area restaurants, wineries and breweries will be sharing their creations with guests, said CWM Executive Director Steve Freese. It represents the largest group of food and beverage providers who have yet come to The Gala.
"People will have an opportunity to taste appetizers, entrées and desserts from the chefs, plus beer, wine and coffee from the beverage purveyors," he said. "We have Yahara Bay Distillery providing the vodka for the (complimentary) martini bar."

The CWM Web site lists a wide variety of restaurants represented, from Baraboo's The Barn Restaurant and Glacier Rock Restaurant and Bar in West Baraboo to Kaminski Brothers Chop House in Wisconsin Dells and Restaurant Magnus from Madison.

This year the museum will have an unusually large number of items to offer through the live and silent auctions, Freese said. In years past CWM has benefited anywhere from $25,000 to $45,000 from items people buy during the auctions.

Wine enthusiasts can participate in the cork sale, he said. CWM will have one of the lion cages filled with bottles of wine with values from $10 to $300. People can buy a cork with a number corresponding to one of the bottles of wine in the cage, Freese said. "There will be like Crown Royal and Wild Turkey and some of the premium alcohol in there," he said. "Everybody's a winner."

Circus of Chefs contributors will also enjoy a circus show right in the Deppe building, he added.
Freese said they have already had a strong response of businesses and individuals purchasing tickets, often occupying whole tables, so he expects a good turn out of guests and a strong benefit for the museum.

The Circus of Chefs is one of the largest fundraising events in Wisconsin, he said.
"We have already sold $131,000 in table sales so we're well on our way to exceeding our goal of $150,000," Freese said. "I think we will hit the 500 mark on guests."
Freese said CWM's staff has been very busy and response from the public has been good since the performance season opened in May.

"We've had enormous (public) turn out," he said. "Opening weekend with the Wild West Show just broke all records for the opening weekend."

Information about the Gala, CWM's summer performance lineup and museum exhibits may be found at the Web site - http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org.
Send e-mail to bbridgeford@capitalnewspapers.com

If You Go
• What: Circus of Chefs CWM Gala
• When: 5 p.m. Sunday
• Where: W.W. Deppe Wagon Pavilion, near Parkinson Library on Lynn Street
• Tickets: $125 per person with $100 a tax-deductible donation to CWM
• Info online: http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org
Thirty-four chefs, vintners and brewers from around South-Central Wisconsin will provide an evening of fine food and drink. CWM will provide a circus performance and live and silent auctions will be held.

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

New on eBay this week


Over 50 years old and still looks great. You can find these on eBay at http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/tigeract

New on eBay this week


This beautiful poster is missing the upper corner. For almost 90 years old, this is nice.

New on eBay this week

This 4 page courier looks like it was printed yesterday. It is handwritten at the top saying 1953.

New on eBay this week


This program is for the 1964 season featuring the Carla Wallenda troupe, the Flying Apollos, and of course, Mr. Beatty himself!

New on eBay this week


This is a hardback with the dust jacket. The book is in very good condition.

Monday, June 07, 2010

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy


Again from 1956, these were not some of the newest coaches on the rails. I'll bet they dated back to the 1920's!

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy


Simple but nice artwork from 1962.

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy


This is actually from 1956 but it shows the IH ad on the generator wagon that was mentioned last week.

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy

Here's a good picture of one of the International Harvester tractors used on the train.

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy


It was mentioned last week that by the early 1960's the show was repainting everything into a red, white and blue stripe pattern. These photos are from 1962.

Saturday, June 05, 2010

CHS Convention

The CHS Convention is rapidly approaching. This year features the thrill of the Flying Trapeze. We are incredibly lucky to have some of the most legendary living trapeze artisites in the world join us all at the same time. This alone will be an event never to happen again.

The best part about the CHS convention is you don't even have to be a CHS member. ANYONE can attend. Get a registration form at www.circushistory.org today!

Friday, June 04, 2010

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy

Here are a few pictures from Circus and Carnival Fan Ed Tracy's sets he offered for sale years ago. This is the World of Mirth Shows taken in 1958.

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy

Loading or unloading? I'm not sure.

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy


Some of you may recognize this flatcar as #55 on the Circus World Museum train after they bought the WOM train.

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy

I think the Hitler exhibit had a car they claimed was his inside the wagon.

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy


What a sight!

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy

Ready to pull out of town. Orange was either the favorite color or the cheapest color. Was this some of the military surplus paint like the Cole Bros. Circus used?

World of Mirth from Ed Tracy

This is the World Of Mirth all loaded up and moving out. This is an old Stock car that has been cut down. If I remember the history right, that was one of the Tim McCoy stock cars from 1938.