Lane Talburt at the Clown Hall of Fame

Mable Stark letter - page 1

I have been asked by a friend to sell a few items for him. This is a two page letter written on Hotel stationary from West Baden, IN. WQ in 1928 by Mable Stark to her sister who is apparently named Mable as well. You can find this on eBay right now.

Mable Stark letter - page 2

You should be able to enlarge this simply by double clicking on it. As you can see, Mable has signed it.

Baraboo - Saturday

The three Amigos. Randy Peterson, myself and Steve Flint. I'm mighty glad to have great friends like these guys. We've had a lot of fun over the years.

Baraboo - Saturday

My good friend, Mort Gamble. Mort was my first boss on Circus Kirk when I joined in 1973 working in Concessions.

Baraboo - Saturday

Life on Circus Kirk was the opening discussion panel at the CHS Convention with Larry Cimino ( Press ), Charlie Boas, ( the only member to be on the show every season ) Mark Beard Winthrop ( Sparky the Clown and head electrician ) Sue Montague ( animals ) and Jim Keiffer ( Finances )

Baraboo - Saturday

The Ring Barn now has a really nice dispaly about the Gollmar Bros. Circus. This poster was just one of the many great items on display.

Baraboo - Saturday

This is some of the Walt Heist collection that has been put on display.

Baraboo - Saturday

The Circus Model Builders gathering.

Baraboo - Saturday

Before the digital age, we still hung paper. Here is one of the one sheets we used.

Baraboo - Saturday

It doesn't look like much, but this was the sign that hung in the East berlin offices of Circus Kirk for all those years.

Baraboo - Saturday

All of the Circus Kirk crowd got together after supper to keep telling stories as best we could remember them. Funny how everybody remembers something you don't. We had a fantatstic time.

Baraboo - Friday

While more presentations were getting underway at the CHS Convention, I took off to the Circus World Museum where many more friends were set-up at the Circus Model Builders showing in the Deppe wagon building.

This is a beautiful circus parade model going through the town.

Baraboo - Friday

This was a beautiful John Robinson's 10 Big Shows cottage cage built in about 1" scale.

Baraboo - Friday

This is the 1/2" scale Swan Bandwagon I built and carved 30 years ago.

Baraboo - Friday

This was a beautiful set-up scene.

Baraboo - Friday

These were 1/2" scale models and created in great detail.

Baraboo - Friday

Matt Wittman and friends. I can't tell, does anyone remember is this Kevin Wall and Amy Cohen?

Baraboo - Friday

Alan Campbell and Steve Gossard.

Baraboo - Friday

The Banquet prepares to get underway with the arrival of Maureen Brunsdale from the Milner Library at Illinois State University and the illustrious Ward Hall.

Baraboo - Friday

Friday's Banquet Speaker was Vaness Toumlin speaking on the National Fariground Archives in England which covers, circus, side shows, carnivals, and has now bought Blackpool Tower.

Baraboo - Thursday

The Clarion Inn has been one of the most gracious hosts we have experienced in years. Today begins the CHS Convention.

Baraboo - Thursday

One of the great things about being at the CHS Conventions are the networking of circus minds and the visiting amongst friends. John Gilmore, professional photographer, and his lovely bride, Kristin Spangenberg of the Cincinnati Art Museum meet a new friend.

Baraboo - Thursday

Richard Georgian, noted Wild West and Cossack author, visits with Pete Shrake from the Circus World Museum Library.

Baraboo - Thursday

Deborah Walk of the Ringling Museums was just one of the varied presenters on Thursday.

Baraboo - Thursday

The CHS auction is always a huge crowd pleaser. There were too many items available for all of this blog. There were programs all over the place from the incredibly rare, to the 30s and 40s to modern day shows. Something for everyone.

Baraboo - Thursday

There were lots of vintage route books available.

Baraboo - Thursday

There were numerous original Kelty Prints.

Baraboo - Thursday

This beautiful 1906 courier is heading back to Paris, France to the Circus Art Museum as Dr. Gerard Borg's winning bid of $170.00 was the top bid.

Baraboo - Thursday

Daniel Lyon took home this great half sheet litho for the small sum of $250.00.

Baraboo - Thursday

Ray Gronso and Gordon Taylor were both here. Ray took home this beautiful Barnum and Bailey One sheet with the high bid of the night of $1000.00

Baraboo - Wednesday

What a great week this is going to be. The model Builders are rolling into town. The Circus Kirk alumni are already arriving. The Historians are arriving.

While Wednesday morning was tied up with the Board of Trustees still in the Strategic Planning Sessions, Registration for the CHS Convention began at 1PM. The reunions began and it was great to see so many wonderful friends coming in town again and the excitement of getting to make some new friends as well.

While our supper became a working session for our committee, the Board of Trustees annual meeting began at 7:30 PM. My night was over by 11:30.

Baraboo - Wednesday

Here are a few of the model circus wagons in the Circus World Museum Library.

Baraboo - Wednesday

The Model Builders are coming!

Baraboo - Wednesday

The Model Builders are coming!

Baraboo - Tuesday

Well, Tuesday morning is here already and I only have the morning to be in the Library before meetings start in the afternoon.

One of the great new additions in the Library is the exhibition of some of the model circus wagons in their collection. This real beauty was built by the late Joe Taggart.

Baraboo - Tuesday

Here's a terrific Courier from the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus in the 1930s.

Baraboo - Tuesday

This 1898 John Robinson Route Book comes from when the Ringling Bros. leased the John Robinson circus for the season.

Baraboo - Tuesday

This is just one of the amazing posters in the CWM Library.

Baraboo - Tuesday

After leaving the Library, I took a quick trip down Water Street and photographed a few of the Historical Buildings plaques.

Baraboo - Tuesday

Baraboo - Tuesday

The Office Building has not been opened to the public yet.

Baraboo - Tuesday

Some of the buildings plaques are removed right now during some of the restoration processes.

Baraboo Tuesday

The Strategic Planning Sessions began Tuesday afternoon. This involved a wonderful facilitator named Jenny Erickson from the University of Wisconsin - Baraboo Extension who had submitted homework to all the Trustees all winter long.

These sessions engaged all the Board of Trustees to address our strong points, our weaknesses, etc and to eventually begin a more structured direction to address anything that comes along.

Baraboo - Monday

It's going to be a great day. This is a day I've been looking forward to for a long time. I get to spend the entire day in the Research Library. In addition to some great research, some of the greatest circus historians will be dropping in as well.

Baraboo - Monday

Louis DelMoral is here with three of Carson & Barnes elephants.

Baraboo - Monday

Here's the completely rebuilt US Bandwagon. Based on a handful of carvings that John Zweifel had saved from the Sarasota WQ, the wagon was built new from the ground up. Once built, it was valued at more than the Two Hemispheres Bandwagon when the train was insured to go to Milwaukee.

Baraboo - Monday

This is one of the beautiful carving displays inside the shop building. What did the carvings come off of? I don't know. I'll have to do some asking around on this one.

Baraboo - Monday

Here is the former Royal American Shows Giavoli Band Organ which still gives concerts during the day.

Baraboo - Monday

This is one of the four corporation cages that exists here at Circus World Museum.

CHS trip - 2012

It is almost time for the Circus Historical Society's convention. I'm heading in to Wisconsin having left South Carolina early Sunday Morning. There's almost 120 registered for the Convention, the largest in years.