Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Precious memories

I received this from Paul Tharp the other day. What great old memories!

Silly Rumors

New listings on my Circus Store website

I have added more posters to my Circus Store this weekend and will be adding many new Heralds tomorrow. There are more Conover Photos going to be added soon as well. I've been scanning and cropping photos all weekend long. Check out the new items at www.thecircusworld.com

So far behind!

Greetings to one and all. I have been having so much trouble with blogger over the last few months, I have just about stopped posting here anymore. It just isn't fun when nothing works like it's supposed to. I have learned a few back door items to get this up and I may continue messing with it somemore. Last night I put 12 new posters up on my website for sale. No bidding, just a great purchase price.

I have been a seller on eBay for over 12 years and have had a bunch of fun during that time but since the economic crash in 2007, it's not the same anymore either. So I have everything off of eBay right now as well.

You can see the newly listed posters at http://www.thecircusworld.com/circus-posters Remember, Christmas is coming!

Happy Halloween!

Hunt Bros. winter quarters

 Bob Momyer was kind enough to send in this photo of the sign that marks where the Hunt Bros. winter quarters used to be. There is a fast food joint there now. Thanks, Bob. We appreciate you sharing this photo.

The Kelly Farm

I was told yesterday that the Paul Kelly farm is now up for sale. I'm not surprised. The elephant barn had already had the roof collapse in it. You and I both know that a bulldozer will clean the place out one of these days. Certainly the oldest winter quarters still standing is the Ringling facilities in Baraboo, then the Cole Bros. Circus winter quarters in Deland which dates back to the 1920's or earlier when Johnny J. Jones had it. There's the remaining structures at the International Hall of Fame which were the American Circus Corporation winter quarters and there are two remaining buildings in York, SC of the old Barnett Bros. Circus. The ring barn still stands in Macon, Ga. that was part of the Sparks winter quarters and later used by Floyd King and Company.

Does anyone know if the Sig Sautelle building still stands or any of the Hunt Bros. buildings? When were the first Kelly-Miller buildings erected and do they still exist?

The Paul Kelly farm would be the only other winter quarters remaining from the 1940's.

Eddie Kelly

I received word from Jim Elliott the other day that Eddie Kelly had passed away. Eddie as many of you remember was the quite behind the scenes kind of guy around the Kelly farm with his mom and dad performing the animals. Eddie was always a kind soul whenever I visited and they always hated to see us leave.

Just this past summer, the CHS Convention was held in Peru. We were told that Eddie was in a facility. The original CHS visit to the Kelly farm had been cancelled after Dorothy passed away at the age of 100 in December. Since that time, someone had been stealing everything they could get their hands on out of the barns. They were actually arrested while the CHS Convention was there.

I've since heard that the buildings have deteriorated to the point that the elephant barn has had the roof cave in. This seems to point to the end of a long line of circus history at the Kelly farm.

I posted what I could find abount Eddie in the next post.

Eddie Kelly

Edward B. Kelly 83 of Peru, IN passed away at 12:15 AM Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at Caring Hands Health and Rehab. He was born in Chicago on March 28, 1930 the son of Paul B. and Dorothy Rush Kelly.


Ed graduated from Chicago Vocational High School in 1951 and attended Chicago Teachers College for one year. He enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1948 and served with the 210th Field Artillery and the 33rd Infantry Division and was discharged in 1955 as a Corporal.

Ed was a circus trainer of elephants and horses and was instrumental in the operations of the Kelly Circus Winter Quarters. He was a member of Terrell Jacob’s Cheerful Gardner Tent #107.

He is survived by two sisters, Dolores Doll of Bourbon, IN and Marilyn Sullivan and her husband Mike of Tarpon Springs, FL. Six nieces and nephews Kathryn, Patrick, Paul, Sharon, Michael and Susan. Ten great nieces and nephews Kelly, Thomas, PJ, Matthew, Anna, Steven, Shea, Tara, Abigail and Alexis. Two great-great niece’s Karle and Kaylee.

He was preceded in death by his father Paul, his mother Dorothy and his brother-in-law Frank Doll.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Edward B. Kelly will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday October 12, 2013 at the Saint Charles Catholic Church, 58 W. 5th Street in Peru, IN, with Reverend Donald Eder officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Peru. Family and friends will gather from 2:00-6:00 PM Friday at the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home, 84 West Main Street, Peru, IN. There will be a prayer service at 5:30 PM Friday at the Funeral Home.

Ed was an unsung, underappreciated hero caring for both of his parents at home until their passing. Ed will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through the Funeral Home.

Old Milwaukee Days

Old Milwaukee Days # 1

Old Milwaukee Days # 2

Old Milwaukee Days # 3

Old Milwaukee Days # 4

Old Milwaukee Days # 5

Old Milwaukee Days # 6

CHS Elections

Good Morning,
       As all of the Circus Historical Society members are now receiving their Bandwagons, they'll also find an election ballot for Trusttees of the CHS. There is also room for Write-in Candidates and JOHN PETERS has asked me to let you know he would like to be a write-in. Please vote for him. Here's a little Biography about John for those that might not know him.

I was born in 1945 (just turned 68) and raised in Peru, IN and became a circus fan at an early age. I was a performer in the Peru circus as a clown for several years and served as the youngest member of the Circus City Festival board before drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict. Shortly after my two years of service I married my wife, Evangelia "Lee" and we briefly lived in Indiana, New York, West Virginia and the last 13 years in Florida. In 2012, I was the Grand Marshal in the Peru circus parade. My aunt is Joanne Griebling, Otto's daughter.




I'm employed by Roebic Laboratories, Inc. or Orange, CT as Vice President Global Sales & Market Development. We have 2 grown children and 3 grandchildren. I have been a member of the CHS since around 1964 (member #1069) and also a member of CFA, CMB, and the WCA. I'm also a member of the Circus City Festival and the International Circus Hall of Fame, both located in Peru.



I'm submitting my name to be placed on the ballet to become a trustee for the CHS. I feel I have the time to offer my services and make a contribution to the CHS.



John Peters, CHS#1069

Jupiter, F

In my opinion. . . .

          I don't try to voice my opinion very often rather, I prefer to share our circus history for all to enjoy. Sadly, the announcement of the Feld organization wanting to have their wagons and artifacts returned that have been on loan to the Circus World Museum since the mid 1980s has brought out lots of resentment by some and even bad information by others. I just read today where someone was under the impression that many of the wagons at CWM were on loan. NOT TRUE! Yes, the Two Hemispheres Bandwagon is owned privately by John Zweifel but everything else at CWM is there to stay once these six wagons leave.
         In my opinion, I see this as a good thing. There's is not doubt in my mind that the Feld organization will take as good as care as possible of these fine examples of the circuses before them. In fact, I imagine, they'll all be spruced up and put in tip top shape again in Florida for the magnificent display they have planned. Yes, the costumes and floats from the Chinese based spec display will all be coming out of the Feld Building. Quite Frankly, YEAH! I love Circus World Museum as much as anyone else does. I don't get to go every year but when I do get to go ( 6 times in the last 10 years ) I've seen the same exact exhibit of RBBB Costumes and floats. Actually, the display has been there for nearly 20+ years.
         With the Feld artifacts being removed, the Circus World Museum now has a golden opportunity to display some of their amazing artifacts that they never had a place for in the last 30 years. Just imagine some of the great Circus Parade wardrobe on display, old time circus side show banners, props, or other wagons being highlighted? The Possibilities are endless. The Cinderella float was splendid in the ring with miniature spotlights on it at the Cincinnati Art Museum display of the Amazing Circus Poster Exhibit. Imagine that on a slowly revolving turntable. Ah, yes, the possibilities are endless.
         Having the hugely successful gala in the Feld Building has been mentioned as a terrific idea with great possibilities. It's already air conditioned for one. What would you be more excited about? Going to see the same thing again and again and again or going to see something entirely new and different? That's just MY opinion. I'm sure everyone has one.

         Here's looking forward to a bright future for our beloved Circus World Museum.