Sawdust and Spangles: September 2010

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Clyde Beatty

I found this really great photo of Clyde Beatty in the Hagenbeck-Wallace winter quarters rehearsing his act tonight in a 1934 hagenbeck-Wallace Courier. Amazing!

The circus film Trapeze was about the desire to do a triple somersault by a young flyer who found the one man that knew how to do it. Featuring Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster and Gina Lollabrigida, it became a circus classic.

Filmed in 1956 in Cirque D'Hiver and at the nearby Billancourt Studios, Eddie Ward, famed flyer on American Circuses served as the Technical Director. Burt Lancaster had gotten his start in the Circus back in the late 1930's on Kay Bros. Circus and had become a flyer. He did his own flying in the movie.

Tony Curtis was the youthful, physically fit flyer with a dream to catch the Triple Somersault that had eluded all others except, Mike Ribble who was only the 6th man to ever perform the triple.

Tony Curtis died in Las Vegas last night at the age of 85.

Trapeze

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Ringling History

Ringling made Circus History today when a steam engine pulled the Ringling train for the first time since 1955. The video is already on you tube. Thanks to Richard Reynolds III for the history and the heads up.

Circus Artists

Here are a couple of the gifted Strobridge artists that were found in Billboard on October 6, 1900 on page 6.

Circus Artists

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Circus Artists

This fine old poster was found on eBay a while back. It makes a fine example of the unsung heroes of circus lore and legend, the artists. The people that worked for the Litho companies took their exquisite talents and brought a fantasy world to life in forms we could only imagine. I've painted before and have done well although I have painted anything in about twenty years.

As a Circus researcher, the art is something I have NOT studied but have always been mesmerized by. That is one of the HUGE reasons I can't wait to go to the CHS Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio next June 9, 10, and 11th to see the fabulous Strobridge exhibit that will be on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Having over 200 original works of art to display, there will also be historical documentation to accompany it all by some of the leading circus and art Historians in the world. You won't want to miss this one!

Couriers

This wonderful courier is from the 1901 season of the Adam Forepaugh and Sells Bros. Circus. Notic at the bottom it was equally owned by James A. Bailey, W.W. Cole, Lewis Sells and Peter Sells. This great Courier was produced by the Courier Litho Co.

Couriers

This was the centerfold of the courier.

Couriers

This is the back cover of the courier.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Couriers

This amazing courier is dated 1909. I've read a little discussion about the artwork / phtography issues in the past. I would swear the tiger here is a photograph. Not being an expert, was there color photography in 1909? The Courier was produced by the Regensteiner Colortype Co. out of Chicago. It has four color pages inside as well as front and back covers.

Couriers

This is a really colorful centerfold from the 1909 Ringling Courier. Too bad it got ripped in half and every page was taped back together again.

Couriers

This courier dates back to 1919. Produced by Erie Litho Co., it was 16 pages long but four of them were blank pages. I guess it made it look big.

Couriers

This full color centerfold is part of the 1919 Sparks Courier.

Couriers

This great piece was from the Ringling's 1917 season. I can find no markings to indicate who the printer was.

Couriers

This centerfold out of the 1917 Ringling Courier, was all done in Sepia tone.

Couriers

This grand courier from the Campbell Bros. Great Consolidated Shows dates back to their 1906 season. It was produced by Erie Litho Co.

Couriers

This was the centerfold from the 1906 Campbell Courier. It was all done in sepia tone.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Biller Bros. Winter Quarters - 1950

These were taken at their Athens, Georgia Winter Quarters. The trucks were well painted.

Biller Bros. Winter Quarters - 1950

Was this one of the two RBBB cages they bought? Notice it still has the foot board on the front.

Biller Bros. Winter Quarters - 1950

Prince El KiGor's Arena and cat truck.

Biller Bros. Winter Quarters - 1950

Prince El KiGor's cage truck.

Biller Bros. Winter Quarters - 1950

Monday, September 20, 2010

Carnival Posters

Here's a little trip down memory lane of some of the great carnivals and the posters they used to advertise their appearances. ( YES, I have the digital pictures, NO, I don't own any of these posters. )