Wagons at Circus World in Florida

The other day on Buckles blog ( http://bucklesw.blogspot.com ) The issue of Circus World was explored. I asked who bought the wagons that were there. Dom Yodice was able to give the following reply:

"Bob, The former Ringling wagons that were at Circus World were as follows: 3 short ammo cages, #83 giraffe wagon, #145 prop wagon, #61 prop wagon, #124 large office and #10 menagerie supply. Supposedly #11 generator was also there but I don't remember seeing it. Alan Hill purchased the three ammo cages and the 85 hippo cage plus some of the small spec floats. He used them for several years at the Sarasota Festival. I don't recall who purchased the other wagons.The giraffe wagon, #145 props and two of the ammo cages are currently at the Circus Hall of Fame in Peru. The hippo den #85, #73 ammo cage and #10 menagerie supply are currently at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo as you well know. I don't know the final disposition of #61 and #124. Perhaps someone can help us with those two wagons. Dom Yodice"

So now, I offer the photos of wagons I took at Circus World during my visits. Maybe someone can help identify the actual wagons now that we can see them.

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

I'm pretty sure this was an original RBBB cage also. As close as the bars are, I doubt that this was built for Circus World.

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

One of the Ammo cages was still good enough to house leopards.

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

Is this the Office wagon # 124?

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

I think the number 115 is decieving as 115 had been one of the Side Show Banner Wagons and all 4 of those are at the Ringling Musuems. This was taken in the backyard area away from Public view.

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

This is Numbered 74 and painted yellow. The next photo shows the bars cut in the front corner for the kids so I'm wondering if these are in fact the same cage or not.

Wagons at Circus World in Florida

Same cage painted Red.

Circus World Museum - 1960

Circus World Museum - 1960

This is one of the two remaining RBBB Giraffe wagons. The other one went to Circus World, the Florida Amusement Park and now resides at the International Circus Hall of Fame in Peru, IN.

Circus World Museum - 1961

This is the RBBB Warren flatcars and stock car # 349 taken a year later from a different angle.

Circus World Museum - 1960

These were the two Warren flatcars that were bought from RBBB along with the stock car. For the first few years, they were here outside and occasionally had a wagon or two on them.

Circus World Museum

This is the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI. The photo was taken in 1968. Notice the BLUE railcar behind the Merry-Go-Round. This was a Baggage car that the Museum utilized for a lot of exhibits on the inside where the customers could walk thru the car.

According to the work that Fred Dahlinger Jr. did while he was employed at the Museum, this car was built by the Barney and Smith Co. in 1911. It served on the Milwaukee Railroad as car # 1025. It was gifted to the Museum by the CMStP&P Railroad in 1964. ( Can someone help with those initials? )

Somewhere along the line it was repainted Yellow. It was last used in the 1980's as an exhibit car.

Circus World Museum

Now retired, the car sits on a storage track outside of the train shed buildings. In the previous picture dated 1968, you can see the customers had access to the many exhibits inside the RBBB advertising car and inside this one. Now neither are used for any exhibits.

Cole Bros. Circus

I Think this is the same cage as seen in the next picture 40 years later. I've been told this was built on the Cole show in 1937. My dad took this picture at the Paul Kelly farm in the late 1950's. If it is indeed the same cage, then it is at the International Circus Hall of Fame in Peru, IN. now.

Circus Hall of Fame

I took this picture at the Paul and Dorothy Kelly farm a couple years before they had their sale. This cage wagon went to the Circus Hall of Fame I believe. Does anyone have a picture of it now?

Circus Hall of Fame

Here's a picture I took at the Paul and Dorothy Kelly farm a couple years before they had a sale that sent this and the cage behind it to the Circus Hall of Fame. As Dave Price pointed out today, this is the only Curtis cage or Corporation Cage as they weere sometimes called that exists anywhere other than the survivors at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI.

Circus Hall of Fame

I had the opportunity to speak with Director, Tom Dunwoody at the Circus Historical Society convention last September. He told me the International Circus Hall of Fame was now 16 years old and had just completed the most successful season ever. They have made great strides in preserving what they have.

The International Circus Hall of Fame also prepares each spring with a work week, where Circus enthusiasts are all given the opportunity to come to Peru for a week and plant gardens, paint wagons, do some restoration, etc. as is needed in the final preparations to opening another season in the former American Circus Corporation barns and quarters.

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

You may remember this as being on the inside of the main entrance building beside the Two Hemispheres Bandwagon while in Sarasota. This wagon has been under cover for a very long time and is in very good condition. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't this a Sig Sautlette Bandwagon?

Circus Hall of Fame

As you can see from one of the photos below, this wagon is looking a lot better now!

Circus Hall of Fame

When the Circus Hall of Fame was open in Sarasota, all the wagons sat outside all the time. By the time it closed, they were not in the best of condition anymore. The Circus Hall of Fame wagons were then taken to the Royal American Shows winter quarters in Tampa, Florida where they sat outside in the weather for several more years.

By time the International Circus Hall of Fame had been established in Peru, Indiana at the old American Circus Corporation winter quarters, these wagons had been sitting outside for over 35 years since RBBB closed under canvas.

When John Zweifel sold most of the Circus Hall of Fame collection to Peru, there wasn't much to talk about with some of these wagons. Peru, then found themselves in the battle of time and temperature in trying to restore what they could and create a new Museum at the same time.

Circus Hall of Fame

Now moved to Peru, IN.

Circus Hall of Fame

Now moved to Peru, IN.

Circus Hall of Fame

Now moved to Peru, Indiana.

Circus Hall of Fame

As many of you know, the original Circus Hall of Fame was in Sarasota, Florida just down the street from the Ringling Art Museums. When RBBB closed up under canvas, 90% of what they owned wasn't needed anymore. Every body was buying equipment and animals. Rail cars were sold off as scrap metal and a few to individuals. Clyde Beatty bought one of the arenas. The Ringling Museums and the Circus Hall of Fame bought a lot of the surplus wagons for their Displays.

Around 1980, my Dad and I toured Florida for a couple weeks. When we visited the Royal American Shows winter quarters in Tampa, Florida, we found a good majority of the old Circus Hall of Fame wagons that had come from Ringling stored there. The Circus Hall of Fame had been sold and closed. Royal American had bought a lot of the Ringling train cars including the Thrall flats. A couple of the stock cars were sitting on the ground being used for storage sheds.

It doesn't take a lot to realize that when the International Circus Hall of Fame in Peru, IN. was established 16 years ago and they bought some of the Circus Hall of Fame collection from John Zweifel, that the wagons were in pretty bad shape and falling apart a little bit more every day. Some were basically junk metal. They were falling apart.

Circus Hall of Fame

This is some of the old Circus Hall of Fame wagons in storage at the Royal American Shows winter quarters in Tampa, Fl.

Circus Hall of Fame

This is some of the old Circus Hall of Fame wagons in Storage at the Royal American Shows winter quarters in Tampa, Fl.

The "Texas"

A Couple weeks ago, well maybe it was last summer now, it seems like just yesterday but ... What? 40 years ago? Well anyway, several of us Journalistic type folks were all having this conference on reporting the news at the Circus World Museum. It was truly amazing to see how things looked at the time. On the particular days that Jim Peterson and I were there strolling around interviewing all the wagons about their life histories and such, we ran into fellow Circus Historical Society member Steve Flint who was busily painting the "Texas" railcar. After much time was spent visiting, we watched Steve removing the rust, priming the car, bondo in the cracks kind of stuff and offered our expert advise at the same time. We headed up the hill and visited with Slick and Slim a little while before they had to load the train, and when we headed back down the hill, this car had changed right then and there. Well naturally we wanted to interview this Mr. Flint as this was amazing. We were told he was already up in the wagon barns helping rebuild a wagon or two. We couldn't find him as he had gone to the train sheds to paint one of the flatcars with another Graphic artist. By time we got through those gates and saw the artist at work, Mr. Flint had finished his car and headed up to the Library to do some research. We never did get to interview him. we just went to the Log Cabin for supper instead. Such is the life of these journalistic endeavors, Right Jim?

The "Texas"

Was this on the John Robinson Show at one time? It seems to me that I have read it that before. Needless to say, Jim and I were quite surprised to see this sitting on the shores of the Mighty Baraboo.

The "Texas"

Jim Peterson and I came back from the wagon pavillion about two hours later and Whoo Hoo, this car had already been repainted. Man that Steve Flint was fast.

Do you remember these?

These were on my Dad's show for many years. I'm guessing they are close to 1/2" scale. These were all steel trucks with wooden wheels and bought back in the 1930's as he had them as a child growing up. Remember the wooden Cheese boxes? Those made up the rest of his trucks for the seats and canvas, poles, etc. The whole show is still in the steamer truck at home.

Do you remember these?

The slide is stamped 1961. It was in a large group of Circus World Museum slides. The only thing I am sure of is th horse skull did not belong to "Slick" or "Slim." I know Jim Peterson is glad to hear that!

Do you remember these?

This slide is stamped 1968. This is another old Hagenbeck-Wallace wagon. I might be wrong but I believe the "Pop" Wonder Circus was from the movie "Jumbo" with Martha Raye and Jimmy Durante.

Do you remember these?

The slide is stamped 1968. The wagons would have been old Hagenbeck-Wallace equipment that was left in the Al. G. Barnes winter quarters in California and disposed of from there. Louis Goebels took a lot of these and they were used in various movies over the years. This one starred in "The Big Circus" with Victor Mature.

John Robinson calliope

There was some discussion a few days ago on the Circus Historical Society's Question and Answer board about the John Robinson calliope. This slide was taken in Chicago. There was a Chicago Railroad Fair that was held from 1948 through 1949. Could this have been the taken at nearly the same time? A good friend has identified landmarks in the background putting this in Chicago. The two previous Senhauser wagons in parade were all taken at the same time. The little bit of history I have was given to me compliments of the Joe Bradbury files.

This recorded file says the wagon was built by Bode wagon works in 1917. ( That is disputed now ). It was on the John Robinson Circus from 1918 to 1922. During the years of 1923 and 1924, it was kept stored at the Peru, IN. winter quarters. During the winter of 1924 / 1925, it was sold to Floyd and Howard King. The calliope was on their Walter L. Main Circus in 1925 to 1927. In 1928, it went out with their Gentry Bros. Circus. It was on the Gentry Show again in 1929 until the Gentry Show went Bankrupt.

It was then sold to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

Now if you'll go to http://www.circushistory.org/Query.htm then find question # 2783, as Paul Harvey says, you can get the "Rest of the Story".

Added to all this is the fact that this calliope did indeed leave the Museum on several occassions for parades and charitable events. Sadly, the entire circus wagon collection at the Henry Ford Museum is stored in a warehouse and has been for several years now.

Norm and Bob Senhauser

Norm and Bob Senhauser were great Circus Fans from the Urichsville, Ohio area. I met them several times as a child growing up going to CFA tent gtaherings, conventions etc. Bob is pictured here with the white Mack truck that is now at the Circus World Museum. I can only assume that this was bought by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. and then donated to the Circus World Museum. I have a couple real good friends who assure me that this Mack truck has no Circus background and more than likely was bought from the City of Chicago Water Dept.

Norm and Bob Senhauser

Originally built as a cage for the Gollmars about 1910, this wagon remained with the Gollmars through 1916. James Patterson, who was a carnival owner, bought the Gollmar show in 1917. so it was there in 1917 on the Gollmar-Patterson Show and on other James Patterson shows from 1918 to 1921. In 1922 the show was called the Patterson's Trained Wild Animal Shows. From 1923 to 1925 it was called the Gentry-Patterson Shows.

In the winter of 1925 / 1926 the wagon was sold to Floyd and Howard King. The King bros. had it on their Gentry Bros. Circus from 1926 to 1927, on their Walter L. Main Circus in 1928 and on their Cole Bros. World Toured Shows in 1929 and 1930 until they went bankrupt in Scottsville, KY. on Aug. 30, 1930. It was bought by H. C. Ingram and Ben Rutherford and shipped to their quarters in Peoria, ILL then later to the Venice Transportation Co. in East St. Louis, MO.

George Christy bought it in May of 1936 and moved it to his S. Houston, TX. winter quarters where it remained until 1948. In 1949 it was restored and sold to the Chicago Railroad Fair. It stayed there until 1952 when Norm Senhauser bought it.

Norm used it in various parades and at circus gatherings for years until he sold it to the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. in 1964. They donated it to the Circus World Museum where it was restored and painted an orange all over the body instead of just part of the sides as it had been for the last twenty years at least. The wagon is 13' long, 7'11" wide and weighs about 2 tons.

Norm and Bob Senhauser

This wagon is a rather unusual one with the twelve spoke wheels and different paintings on each side. the other side has a tiger painted on it. This wagon is generally called the Lion and Tiger tab.

Norm and Bob Senhauser

This wagon originated as the Kangaroo tab for the Gollmar Bros. Circus about 1910 and remained there through 1916. In 1917, James Patterson bought the Gollmar show thus moving this wagon into the possession of the Patterson-Gollmar Circus.

From 1918 through 1921 it remained on Patterson Shows and in 1922 was on the Patterson trained Wild Animal Shows. From 1923 to 1925 it was on the Gentry-Patterson Shows and sold to Floyd and Howard King in the winter of 1925 / 1926.

The King Bros. had this wagon on their Gentry Bros. Circus in 1926-1927 then on their Walter L. Main Circus in 1928. In 1929 and 1930 it was on their Cole Bros. World Toured Shows until they went Bankrupt in Scottsville, KY. on Aug. 30, 1930.

It was then bought by Ben Rutherford and H.C. Ingram for their show out of Peoria, Ill. It went to the Venice Transportation Co. in East St. Louis, Mo. where it stayed for an unknown time. It was definitely in the Christy Bros. winter quarters in S. Houston, TX. by June of 1936 and remained there until 1948.

The wagon was restored and sold to the Chicgao Railroad Fair in 1949 and remained there through 1952 when Norm Senhauser bought it. Norm used it in parades and Circus Gatherings for years until he sold it to the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. in 1964. They donated it to the Circus World Museum where it was again restored and returned to the Kangaroo Tab. The wagon is 13'8" long, and 7'11" wide.

Norm and Bob Senhauser

Once it was given to the Circus World Museum, it was restored and is now referred to as the Kangaroo Tab.

Norm and Bob Senhauser

The Sea Serpent tab was built by the Sullivan and Eagle wagon works around 1910 for the Sparks Circus where it remained until the winter of 1924 / 1925. It was then sold to Floyd and Howard King who used it on their Walter L. Main show in 1925, the Gentry Bros. Circus in 1926 and 1927, back on the Walter L. Main show in 1928 and in 1929 and 1930 it was on their Cole Bros. World Toured Shows.

After the King Bros. went bankrupt in Scottsville, KY. on Aug. 30, 1930, the wagon was bought by H.C. Ingram and Ben Rutherford who took it to Peoria, Ill. It was then sent to the Venice Transport Co. in E. St. Louis, MO. While the next few years are vague, the wagon was definitely in the Christy Bros. winter quarters by June of 1936.

It stayed in the Christy winter quarters from 1936 to 1948 when it was taken to a Chicago Fairgrounds. It stayed there from 19549 till 1951. In 1952, Norm Senhauser bought it and took it to his Urichsville, Ohio home. Norm kept if and had it in various parades and circus gatherings until he sold it to the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. which then donated it to the Circus World Museum. The wagon is 13'2" long, 10' tall, 7'11" wide and weighs about 3 tons.

Norm and Bob Senhauser

Once it was given to the Circus World Museum it was fully restored and returned to its former glory. This is the only wagon known to still exist from the Sparks Circus. To see some of an actual rebuild on this wagon, go to Tim Perkins website at http://perkyshome.blogspot.com/

Tim worked in the shop at the Circus World Museum for many years. He has photos, none of us could ever hope to see unless he shares them with us.

Show Printers

While we have all heard of the Big Companies like Strobridge, Donaldson, Enquirer. Erie, or Riverside, there were other show printers as well. These were all from 1902 as found in the New York Clipper.