Now that's a lot of elephants

Please note the use of one of those round thingys on the ground. Of course no one has this many elephants on the road anymore either.

Hold your horse, Here comes the elephants!

What a sight this would have been. Note the fine dress of the day by the Elephant Department. Things have really changed.

Now watch that first step.

Another Christmas card sent to my aunt & uncle years ago.

Unknown Tiger Act

I have many of my aunt & uncle's old Christmas Cards that was sent to them over the years. This particular Tiger Act is unknown. There isn't even a signature on the card to know who sent it. It is definitely a mighty short arena. It would never get in California now a days.

Welome to Downtown Atlanta

I was just in Atlanta further advancing my research of Circus history for a couple days. After a fabulous journey into the Circus past, I took a mini 4 hour vacation downtown. Here you are in walking distance of CNN, the World of Coke, and the Georgia Aquarium. All these photos were taken on May 16, 2008. Enjoy a little diversion.

This fine piece of Coca-Cola Memoribilia was issued in 1931.

Welcome to the Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium's Beluga Whales

The African Penquins

Georgia Aquarium's Zebra Sharks

Al G. Barnes in the beginning.

The Al G. Barnes Circus was a three, four, and eventually five ring circus featuring the greatest animal acts of all times over the years. Here we find a part of the Al G. Barnes Circus that really isn't talked about that much. This is the beginnings of his fabled career where he has a Dog & Pony show out of New Jersey. We will all remember years later his quarters in Baldwin Park, Ca., carrying Tusko and Black Diamond the two huge male elephants, Mabel Stark, Louis Roth, Walter McClain, and the list goes on and on. This ad was placed in Billboard on October 1, 1904 as found on page 25.

You don't see this anymore.

Here is an ad for a classic thrill act of the day. I wonder how many people it took to assemble this rigging? You couldn't find enough people that could work on this safely now with all the OSHA requirements in place today. The artwork is just fantastic. Another credit to the great artists of the times that were employed in the printing houses of Letterhead and Litho companies. This ad was in Billboard on May 9, 1908 on page 31.

Wagons "R" us!

The Beggs Wagon Co. turned out many a wagon for the entertainment industry over the years. They made anything from a simple buggy to the ornate parade wagons of the day. While just slightly related, I have an article from 1908 about the parade wagons at the Wm. P. Hall farm being re-painted and gold leafed. It took almost $30.00 worth of Gold Leaf to do a wagon in 1908. That compares to the $35,000.00 it will take to do the last pony float at the CWM next summer. This ad was in Billboard on January 4, 1908 on page 16.

Here's is a Circus For Sale.

Anybody need a good circus? Apparently Not. Willie Sells and Martin J. Downs offered their show for sale at auction. It is quite possible that the sale never occurred as the Sells & Downs show made the 1904 and 1905 season. This ad was found in Billboard on January 23, 1904 on page 24.

Need any show equipment?

Every show has stuff they don't use any more. Here was a classic example of surplus equipment for sale from one of the biggest names in the business. The ad was found in Billboard on January 25, 1908 on page 23.

A Terrific Circus is for sale!

The Adam Forepaugh and Sells Bros. Circus could safely be considered as one of the biggest shows in America behind the Ringling Bros. World's Greatest Shows and behind Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth. When the show went up for sale, the owners were James A. Bailey, W.W. Cole, Lewis Sells, & Peter Sells.
The day came for the auction, and the auctioneer asked if anyone wanted to buy the entire circus first before the auction started. Sure enough, James A. Bailey joined forces with the Ringling Bros. and bought the show. No item was offered for sale leaving many a person talking about the auction that never was. William P. Hall met Walter L. Main there. Mr. Hall complained about being let down as he had come to buy Circus equipment and animals and got nothing. Mr. Main then informed him his complete show was for sale. Mr. Hall and Mr. Main both went to the Geneva, Ohio winter quarters of the Walter L. Main show where by an agreement was reached and Wm. Hall had bought the Main Circus. This would eventually become the Great Wm. P. Hall Shows in 1905.
This ad was found in Billboard on September 17, 1904 on page 32.

And Another Circus for Sale!

Here we find the Great Pan-American Shows offered in its entirety for sale. The show was owned by Frank Lemen. Wether this equipment and animals was sold or not is unclear but Frank Lemen returned to the Circus Business again the next year as Lemen Bros. Circus. This ad was found in Billboard on March 12, 1904 on page 18.

Looking for a Job?

Every show needed help to get it up and down from town to town. The New York Clipper gave great detail to the shows of the day but not too many advertisements. Billboard however had a fullline of ads through out each publication. This help wanted ad was in the Billboard on December 10, 1904 on page 27.

Help Wanted ads from the Past!

Here was a great example of help needed by the "Horse King of the World" in his one season of circus ownership. Wm. P. Hall always claimed he found it much more profitable to buy and sell circus equipment, rail cars, wagons, and animals than it was to own his own show. This was found in Billboard on March 25, 1905 on page 30.

A fantastic elephant trainer most people never heard about.

Here we find an ad for probably the most successful elephant trainer no one ever heard about. Eph Thompson came up through the Adam Forepaugh dynasty and eventually went to Europe where he was allowed to be successful. He was extremely good at his training of elephants but was hindered in the United States due to the segregationist beliefs of the times. After years of success in Europe, Mr. Thompson returned to the ZUnited Staes with his own outstanding elephant act. This ad was found in Billboard on December 22, 1906 on page 20.

Here is another prime example of the great artwork that accompanied the turn of the century entertainment industry. This want ad was placed as early as any I have seen being in the Billboard on August 10, 1907 found on page 29.

Now we have thee largest supplier of animals in America from the late 1800's thru the turn of the century. Carl Hagenbeck had his own show at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair under the direction of his son Lorenz. Eventually his show was bought by ben Wallace in the latter part of 1905. 1906 saw the new Carl Hagenbeck and Wallace Circus hit the road. Mr. Hagenbeck was furious that his name was being used and even filed suit to stop the use of his name. Alas, the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus is remembered throughout the course of Circus history. This particular ad was placed in Billboard on January 12, 1907 as found on page 27.

Here we find an ad from one of the biggest animal dealers in America. There was a steady flow of stock animals as well as orders being taken. This was found in Billboard March 3, 1904 on Page 8.

There were times when a show's needs changed and they had surplus equipment and / or animals to sell. Here we find an ad offering two female Asian elephants for sale. They were bought by William P. Hall in Lancaster, Missouri and then he contracted with the Campbell Bros. Circus less than 10 days later to lease to own. Mr. Hall got Alice back in 1912 when the Campbell show was foreclosed by the bank. Lulu's disposition is unknown after this. This ad was found in Billboard on March 23, 1907.

Menagerie suppliers

Any circus worth its weight carried animals. Every wagon show needed lots of horses to move from town to town. Menageries were an attraction all by themselves in the mid 1800's without any performance. So for the interested parties that needed animals for their shows, there were various brokers or dealers that could supply the animals that were required. Some were placed by order, some were ready for instant delivery being held in warehouses and some zoos for the time being. This particular ad was in the New York Clipper on March 11, 1899, on page 34.

Circus for sale!

There were times when a show didn't quite make as much as they hoped for and then had to dispose of said items. Especially anything they had to feed. Here we find the John F. Hummel show up for sale in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1898. We know from other historical references that the Campbell Bros. out of Fairbury, Nebraska bought all of the train, the Elk, the Kangaroo and the sacred cattle. I don't know who bought the rest. This ad was found in the New York Clipper on Dec. 3, 1898 on page 683.

Help Wanted # 1

Every show on the road needed help to move the show, advertise, perform, book it, take care of animals, railraods, etc. Some shows used really nice artwork in their ads such as seen here by the The Great Floto Shows. The contact was Otto Floto. the show had not started to use the Sells Floto title yet. That would come about in 1906. This fine ad was found in the NY Clipper on October 29, 1904 on page 845.

Help Wanted # 2

The Great Walter L. Main show posted this ad in the NY Clipper on March 11, 1899, page 34. How about the term "Chandelier" man? Things have really changed over the years.

Circus Printers # 5

There were occassions when the Printing firms were still owed substantial amounts of money from unpaid bills when shows went under. Here we see Leon Washburn selling his entire circus through the Donaldson address. This ran in the April 22, 1899 issue on page 157.

As you can see, I haven't posted in awhile. I sent them all in backwards. Better luck next time.

Circus Printers # 4

The Donaldson Litho Co. would eventually become one of the greatest printers of Circus paper in America. They would rank right up there with the Strobridge, Erie, Courier, Enquirer, and Riverside Printing firms. This ad appearred in the October 22, 1898 issue on Page 583.

Circus Printers # 3

The Ackermann-Quigley Lithographing Co. operated from 1894 to the 1930's. The company moved three times over the years in Kansas City, Mo. The president was J.A. Quigley and Vice-president was G.A. Ackermann. In later years the Ackermann would be dropped.

This oufit printed for many shows over the years including the Campbell Bros. Great Consolidated Shows out of Fairbury, Nebraska. When the bank foreclosed on the Campbell show in 1912. the Ackermann-Quigley Lithographing Co. filed a suit for $10,000.00 in unpaid printing costs. This ad ran in the June 13, 1908 issue on page 453.

Circus Printers # 2

This was a Printing firm that was used by the Great Wm. P. Hall show in 1905, its only season on the road.

This appearred in the March 25, 1899 issue on page 75.

Circus Printers #1

Around the turn of the century, The entertainment world was covered by many different forms of press but the New York Clipper and Billboard were the most predominant. Flyers, Handbills, tickets, posters, show cards, and anything else relating to publicity was being printed by many different Printing houses. These many have been by woodblock printings, engravings, typesettings or lithograhy methods. Here are a couple of the lesser known and more famous Printing houses as they advertised in the New York Clipper. This is from April 29, 1899 found on page 174.

The Lerches # 1

This is one of several Press Photos that Bill and Gen Lerche used over the years. This particular shot was printed in Southern Sawdust in 1975. Bill Lerche started in show business in 1916 doing comedy routines, traps and rings. He toured on the Hagenbeck-Wallace show, John Robinson, M.L.Clark and Sons, Campbell Bros., and Harris Bros. Shows as well as smaller dog and pony shows, vaudeville dates, and fairs before even meeting Gen in 1924.

The Lerches # 2

This is Bill and Genieve Lerche. Bill met Gen in Upper Sandusky, Ohio on July 4th, 1924 while he was performing with another performer named Betty Zenaro. Betty and Gen had grown up together. Bill and Gen were married in January of 1926. Betty later married Fred Leonard. Betty Leonard and Gen Lerche remained close friends throughout the rest of their lives. Bill and Gen performed up till 1941 when the depression had hurt everyone the worst and settled in Bellevue, Ohio.

The Lerches # 3

This is Bill and Gen working their ring act on the fair circuit around the late 1930's I believe. They offered the clowning routines, the Comedy Table Rock and the Ring act on various shows such as Cooper Bros. ,Haag Bros., Conroy Bros., Zellmar Bros., Cole and Rogers. They also made a living working the vaudeville circuit, fairs and festivals, theaters and night clubs.

The Lerches # 4

This is Billy Lerche doing his Comedy table rock on the fair circuit. The table rock was a comedy of errors in assemblying these four tables on top of each other. We still have them in the barn and trust me they are not light. Once on top of each other, Billy crawled in and out of each one until he reached the top while sitting on a chair and getting the tables rocking back and forth. When they finally were going to fall, Billy rode the chair all the way down, did a somersault with the chair and finished the routine sitting in the chair to the howls and laughter from the entire audience.

50 years ago, the circus was thought to be changed and ruined. Who could have possibly thought that they would see what is called a circus today. ( Double clicking the image will make it larger to read. )

Believe it or not, this is from a 1978 Circus Program. Really! So how has it changed? Well one show in particular has no rings at all, no cannon act, no flying trapeze, no lions and tigers and Bears, oh My, no High wire, no liberty acts, others have no elephants, no tents anymore, some have no animals at all. Some even call the acrobatic Theater a Circus now. And to think that thirty years ago we wouldn't realize how much it has changed!

This is the 1937 Seils Sterling Clown Band. If the tune is as snappy as the wardrobe, you just know they were a Happy lot. The Hodgini family presented their riding act in the show then doubled in Brass as part of the Clown Band as well.

This is a really serious number being presented by the 1941 Cole Bros. Circus Clown Band. Musical Director was Otto Greibling. Oh how times have changed. There used to be a Clown Band, Minstrel Band, Side Show Band and of course the Big Top Band. Now you can't even find a band.

This is one photo from the Cecil B. deMille movie the "Greatest Show on Earth". Eugene "Arky" Scott was in charge of the Ringling elephant herd and was represented by the evil Klaus or Lyle Bettiger. Jeannie Sleeter was the foot in the face girl portrayed by Gloria Grahame. If my research is correct, the Ringling show went out in 1951 with 25 elephants while this movie was being made.

This is an extremely colorful ink blotter issued with the showing of the "Greatest Show on Earth" in 1952. Many posters, photos and other memorabilia were produced for the show making it a Great collectors Movie. The newly remodeled Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida shows four of the model Railroad cars used in the wreck scene. All but 5 of them are owned by Howard Tibbals who helped build the huge $5 million dollar Tibbals Learning Center in cooperation with the Florida State University at the Ringling Museums.

1953 - Diano Bros. Circus

The 1953 season saw the introduction to the Circus World of an all new motorized show entitled Diano Bros. Circus. The show was a labor of love for Anthony "Tony" Diano from Canton, Ohio who was an avid animal collector and a prospering businessman in the building trades with his Concrete company. Circus owner Ben Davenport teamed up with some of his elephants and equipment to make the entire show one of the largest animal collections on the road.
The season was hit hard with turmoils, law enforcement interventions and bad business. It only lasted the better part of one season and disbanded with Ben Davenport giving up his male elephant Tommy to Tony Diano as part of the settlement of properties.
The show carried a total of 15 elephants. Ben Davenport owned eight. They were:
Myrtle, Jenny, Cutie, Luna, Hank, Tommy, Tex, and Nellie. Tony Diano owned seven elephants. They were: Mysore, Calcutta, Katy, Young Tusko, Betty, and two female Africans named Uganda and Nackatala. Upon recieving Tommy at the end of the season, Tony Diano kept three of these Tommy, Mysore, and Calcutta along with two others he added later named Minnie and Dolly until he sold them all to the Ringling show in 1985 when his health was starting to fail. Tommy then passed on the Show Business trail as "King Tusk".

Frank "Cheerful" Gardner

Frank Gardner - 1884 to 1952.

Frank was born in Janesville, Wisconsin and started working on the Ringling Bros. Circus in 1903. He was nicknamed "Cheerful" but was anything but according to those that knew him. He learned the trade as a young man under George "Deafy" Denman. By 1906 he had gone to work for the Carl Hagenbach Zoological Exposition in St. Louis. In 1907 he went to work for Ben Wallace when Mr. Wallace bought out the Carl Hagenbach exhibit and promptly started the legendary Hagenbeck and Wallace Circus. He had the Herds over the years on Sun Bros. Circus in 1910 and Cole Bros. World Toured Circus in 1918. By 1923 he had taken over the John Robinson herd and then in 1925 for whatever reason, the John Robinson herd and the Hagenbeck-Wallace herds traded places. He had become a legendary herd boss and trainer known for his swinging pendulum head carry. From 1925 to 1934 he held the entire Hagenbeck-Wallace herd in his control with as many as 29 elephants in 1934. He remained with the elephants under Ringling's ownership until 1943 and continued throughout the rest of his career on various shows. He was inducted into the International Circus Hall of Fame in 1981.

Baby Elephants

This came with three other postcards all issued from the Barnum & Bailey Circus. A Baby elephant is always a welcome sight and one that draws a crowd. This photograph shows a young elephant but not one that was born in the United States.

Over the years, several sucessful births occurred among circuses in the US most notably the Sells-Floto circus having 4 births with their male "Snyder" being the father every time. The Ringling Bros. while still in Baraboo were fortunate enough to have two live births. Thanks to Richard Reynolds III, a distinguished animal historian from Atlanta, evidence has been concretely shown that the Howe's Great London Circus experienced the first birth of an elephant in America in 1875 in St. Joseph, MO. more than 5 years prior to the famed Barnum & London birth.

There have been many a show that claimed to have a newborn elephant this year or that, however it was usually a youngster and an adult exhibited together with the public none the wiser. The importance of a breeding program has intensified tremendously in the last 15 years with successful endeavors such as the African Lion Safari program in Ontario, Canada, The Ringling program in Florida, Gary and Kari Johnson's Have Trunk will Travel in California, the Portland Zoo's program, the Carson & Barnes program, and many others.