Family Fun Circus

Here are a few more pictures from Chris Grieder up in Minnesota that he took in July of 2008. Is this Nosey?

Family Fun Circus

Family Fun Circus

Family Fun Circus

Family Fun Circus

Family Fun Circus

Family Fun Circus

This picture is on their website. Is this a banner, a truck, main entrance? Any ideas?

Family Fun Circus

I received a phone call from the American Legion national headquarters in Indianapolis yesterday asking me how to get a hold of the Family Fun Circus. I found these two pictures on their website and an email address.

Has anyone seen the show? Any comments, recommendations or knowledge as to where they'll be at soon, who owns it etc.?

Great Circus Parade Train

RBBB in Hartford, CT. July 5, 1944

Barton & Bailey

This photo was taken in 1915. The Barton & Bailey show folded in Montana and Wm. P. Hall paid the freight to get it back to his farm. Incidentally, John Barton continued to pay his debt to Wm. P. Hall and a couple years later a note is found in the Wm. P. Hall papers at CWM that says his debt was paid in full.

That's not to say that other people didn't pay their debts, but Mr. Barton's note is the only one that still survives.

Barton & Bailey

This is the five act that came from the Wm. P. Hall farm. Comprised of Alice, Annie, Lizzie, Boo, and Diamond, as far as we know, it was the only five act ever put together and leased out from the Hall Farm. Alice, Annie and Lizzie had all came from the Campbell Bros. Great Consolidated Shows when they folded in 1912. Boo came from the Ringlings and Diamond later went on to be known as Black Diamond.

Barton & Bailey

This is only identified as 1915 in Montana. This is from the Richard Conover collection.

Barton & Bailey

This photo was taken June 6, 1915 in Lima, Montana. It is from the Donald Carson collection.

Barton & Bailey

This photo was taken June 6, 1915 in Lima, Montana. It is from the Donald Carson collection.

Model Builders Show at the Ringling Museums today

We were presented with a couple photos taken at the Circus Model Builders show held in the Ringling Circus museums today. I'll bet they had a great time. All photos are courtesy of Randy Peterson.

Model Builders Show at the Ringling Museums today

Model Builders Show at the Ringling Museums today

Cottage style rooflines

The John Robinson Ten Big Shows had the greatest assortment of Cottage cages of any show on the road. This is from the turn of the century. Richard Conover gave countless hours towards researching these various cages. This is one of them that has never been identified by a number. Does anyone have a photo of this cage where the cage number can be seen?

Cottage style rooflines

Here it is from the back end in a 1907 photo taken on the John Robinson Circus.