Saturday, July 09, 2011
Thursday, July 07, 2011
America's Elephants
If you didn't know it before, I wrote a book about the elephants in America two years ago. It is only available as an e-book. This is the technology movement as book publishers are slowly fading out. Anyway, you can find out about it and buy it on my website at http://www.thecircusworld.com/americas-elephants or you can find it on Amazon.com. Wednesday, July 06, 2011
The Greatest Show on Earth
While it remains slightly unclear to me who actually coined the famous quote, "The Greatest Show on Earth," Barnum's association with this iconic phrase can be traced back to 1872 when along with his partners, Wm. C. Coup, Dan Castello, and S. H. Hurd toured under the title of "P.T. Barnum's Grand Traveling World's Fair, The Greatest Shows on Earth."
The Greatest Show on Earth
This Gargantua poster was used in the 1940's. It claims the Greatest Show on Earth has been around for 80 years. Does stretching the truth sound familiar here?
The Greatest Show on Earth
The Sells-Floto Circus along with the rest of the American Circus Corporation had been bought by John Ringling in 1929. Here we find a 1931 Sells-Floto poster proclaiming the hallowed Greatest Show on Earth. Was this poetic licence since John Ringling owned them all or did someone overstep their bounds?Didn't the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus try using the Greatest Show on Earth in the early 1960's only to be hit with a lawsuit?
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Happy Birthday Mr. Barnum
Whether he was showing Tom Thumb, Jumbo, Jumbo's skelton and the grieving wife, Alice, Jenny Lind, Chang and Eng, the Feegee mermaid, his Aquarium, or Wax Museum, P. T. Barnum was a showman of colossal character. Happy Birthday Mr. Barnum.
Happy Birthday Mr. Barnum
Phineas Taylor Barnum, the master showman, who was born on this date in 1810 and who lived until April 7, 1891, was not as great a circus Impressario as he was a Side Show owner. His Museum's offered the strange, the odd, the unusual and if things, weren't strange and unusual at the time, he made them up. He was truly a master at creating a display that made people talk about him. Circusly, he is probably most well known for procuring the largest elephant of that time period in JUMBO from the London Zoological Association. His name has lasted for over two hundred years in the Circus business.
Happy Birthday Mr. Barnum
Ladies and Gentlemen, in the great tradition of showmen around the United States, we bring you THREE rings of fun, action, and excitement!
Happy Birthday Mr. Barnum
Continuing in the manner of the great showmen of the world, we find Stephen T. Flint checking the train schedules to make sure the show will go on. Oh, by the way, Happy Birthday Steve!Monday, July 04, 2011
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Circus City Festival, Inc.
When you get to Peru, Indiana this year, be sure to go to the Circus City Festival, Inc. performance arena. The Gift shop is inside and carries this fabulous book filled with classic Peru circus photos. This is one you'll definitely want on your book shelves at home.
Circus City Festival, Inc.
One of the greatest youth circuses in the country is presented in the Circus arena in Peru, Indiana each year. Admitedly, I have not been able to see it in years but the lasting impression it made was one of awe and wonder. Several of their alumni have gone on professionally such as Brian and Tina Miser and some of their acts have gone to Monte Carlo to compete. If you can get to Peru, Indiana anytime between July 16 and 23 to catch a live performance, you won't be disappointed.Circus City Festival, Inc.
You'll certainly want to see the only circus parade in Indiana this year at the Circus City Festival, Inc. on Saturday morning. This photo is from the Circus City festival, Inc. website.Circus City Festival, Inc.
Naturally, a huge circus town like Peru, has a lot of historical figures there. Jess Adkins, Ben Wallace, Art Johns and many others are buried not too far from the Circus arena in Mount Hope Cemetery.
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