Sunday, August 31, 2014

Not Many Posts

I have reluctantly walked away from my blog here as I am having more and more trouble trying to get anything to post. I had a great time doing it but it isn't worth the frustration anymore. Follow the Circus Historical Society posts on Facebook for your daily dose of good stuff.

Bob

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Dick Dykes

I was saddened to learn today that fellow circus blogger, Dick Dykes, known as the Balloon Man, passed away in a Dover, Delaware hospital. He posted on his blog as recently as June 25th. Go visit his blog and remember a fine man and a good friend.

The Balloon Man

Monday, February 03, 2014

Several posters for sale


I have added several new posters for sale at my Circus Store - The Circus World LLC. Simply go to http://www.thecircusworld.com  and look around. You'll find hundreds of old time circus photos, programs, posters, Books, etc.

Monday, January 20, 2014

The Good old Days!

Ah, the good old days. This is the Barnum & Bailey train as taken in 1909. It must have been a water stop to have the bottom sideboards off of all the cages. The photographer is not indicated but this is now part of the Conover Photographic collection.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Monday, December 23, 2013

Precious memories


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

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Sunday, December 15, 2013

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

Sunday, December 08, 2013

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!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Monday, October 21, 2013

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.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

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.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

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.