Circus clown and founder of Circus Smirkus, Rob Mermin, joined us for a great discussion about his travels, experiences, and the development of the youth movement in the Circus business.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
CHS Convention
During a break, Side Show legend, Ward Hall holds court with Fred Pfening III, David Carlyon, John Goodall, and unidentified.
CHS Convention
David Carlyon gave a great talk on the Strobridge Litho companys evolution of advertising with words and pictorials.CHS Convention
John McConnell gave a great presentation on the life of the Shrine Circus in Detroit.
Monday, September 22, 2008
CHS Convention
Paul Horsman is here selling his circus books at the convention. The Big Circus auction is tonight.CHS Convention
Lane Talburt presented several video interviews dealing with the old time Circus Side Show and its future. Here was an interview with Tommy Green who is a sword swallower and talker for Ward Hall and Chris Christ. Tommy has a BS degree from Rutgers University.CHS convention
Richard Flint gave a great talk of the life and times of famed African-American elephant trainer Eph Thompson.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Clown College Reunion
World's top clowns gather in Baraboo for show tonight
By Brian D. Bridgeford / News Republic
Many of the world's best clowns will be in Baraboo this weekend as they hold a 40-year reunion of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College graduates at the Circus World Museum.
Tonight at 7 p.m., the clowns will perform a show called "40 Years of Laughter" in the museum's Hippodrome as a benefit for Circus World Museum.
On Tuesday afternoon, Baraboo professional clown Greg DeSanto and CWM volunteer Jeff Tobin were moving giant clown props around the museum's Elephant House as they set up exhibits on the history of the college and those who trained there. At least 165 clowns from the United States, Germany and Mexico are expected to attend the event, DeSanto said.
The Clown College was founded in Venice, Fla., in 1968, shortly after entertainment promoter Irvin Feld bought "The Greatest Show on Earth" from the descendants of Baraboo's five Ringing brothers, he said.
"When he looked at the show, there were 14 clowns working. They were great clowns, but the youngest clown was in his 50s, the oldest clown was in his 80s," DeSanto said. "(Feld) saw that the art form was dying."
Feld set up the College of Clowns, later changed to the Clown College, so new performers could learn the arts of clowning from the old masters, he said. The college received 2,000 applications each year, but only 50 performers were selected to participate.
The 10-week program ran six days a week. People learned about every aspect of being a clown — make-up, acrobatics and slapstick gags, even throwing pies, DeSanto said. A 23-year veteran performer, DeSanto said he attended Clown College in 1985 and also taught at the program.
The Clown College ran for 30 years, mostly in Florida, but also ran for three years in the early 1990s at Circus World Museum.
"It was the salvation of American-style circus clowning in America," DeSanto said. "I believe there were about 1,272 graduates from the college."
Even after the Clown College ended, various kinds of clown training programs continue around the United States, such as a clowning camp held periodically at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, DeSanto said.
Among the circus clown memorabilia that is part of CWM's legacy of the Clown College is a prop pizza oven painted with the words "DeSanto's Pizza." DeSanto said he first used it in 1985 to create a routine in Clown College that the managers of the Ringing Bros. Circus liked so much they had him perform it for two years on the road.
"At the end, I put my head in it and it explodes," he said. "A lot of kids remember it because there's a big explosion.
"A lot of drama and a lot of flying powder and pizza dough," DeSanto said.
New Jersey clown Pat Cashin said he graduated during the Clown College's final year in 1997. He was in town to help set up the reunion, but usually works with the Kelly-Miller Circus. It is owned by John Ringling-North II, a descendant of Baraboo's Ringling brothers.
Cashin said he loved the circus as a child, but it was at age 29 that he won admission to Clown College and started a whole new life performing. It is hard work setting up his show and the gags, but he enjoys it.
"It was the chance to start a whole new career," he said. "Once you get out in front of an audience, it's all worth it."
Greg DeSanto's wife, Baraboo professional clown Karen DeSanto, said she was a California resident who already had her own clowning business with several employees when she auditioned to come to chilly Wisconsin for the 1993 session of Clown College. The program began each year after CWM's performance season closed at the end of summer, and she remembers celebrating Halloween in Baraboo.
Clowns have to learn many of the circus skills to perform their gags, she said, but for her the toughest thing was learning acrobatics.
"I could never do a cartwheel as a kid," Karen said. "When they told me I had to fly on a trapeze, and I had to swing in a thing called a Russian swing and I had to do triple stand, stand on somebody's shoulders and somebody stand on my shoulders, I said 'you got to be kidding me.'"
Despite, not being "built for it," Karen said she learned those skills.
Clown College provided the foundation of her future life, DeSanto said. She and Greg lived for a time in New York City and have traveled around the world for clowning performances.
"It broadened my horizons. I've traveled the world doing this," she said. "The circus opened up a whole world of experiences and friendships."
Greg was an instructor at Clown College, and after the course both of them were selected to travel with the Ringling Brothers "Greatest Show on Earth." While working together, romance blossomed and they were eventually married.
"We both thought each other was funny, and you know what happens then," Karen said.
Cashin said people coming to "40 Years of Laughter" will be seeing some of the most talented, experienced clowns in the profession.
"There will be a greater collection of circus clowns here than anywhere in the world," he said.
Karen DeSanto agreed some of the best clowns in the world are in Baraboo this weekend.
"Clowns from all the years of Clown College who have worked in the business all these years will bring their talents to Baraboo to perform," she said. "It's going to be an outstandingly funny, great show."
If you go
* What: "40 Years of Laughter" clown show
* When: 7 p.m. today
* Where: Circus World Museum Hippodrome
* Admission: $7
By Brian D. Bridgeford / News Republic
Many of the world's best clowns will be in Baraboo this weekend as they hold a 40-year reunion of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College graduates at the Circus World Museum.
Tonight at 7 p.m., the clowns will perform a show called "40 Years of Laughter" in the museum's Hippodrome as a benefit for Circus World Museum.
On Tuesday afternoon, Baraboo professional clown Greg DeSanto and CWM volunteer Jeff Tobin were moving giant clown props around the museum's Elephant House as they set up exhibits on the history of the college and those who trained there. At least 165 clowns from the United States, Germany and Mexico are expected to attend the event, DeSanto said.
The Clown College was founded in Venice, Fla., in 1968, shortly after entertainment promoter Irvin Feld bought "The Greatest Show on Earth" from the descendants of Baraboo's five Ringing brothers, he said.
"When he looked at the show, there were 14 clowns working. They were great clowns, but the youngest clown was in his 50s, the oldest clown was in his 80s," DeSanto said. "(Feld) saw that the art form was dying."
Feld set up the College of Clowns, later changed to the Clown College, so new performers could learn the arts of clowning from the old masters, he said. The college received 2,000 applications each year, but only 50 performers were selected to participate.
The 10-week program ran six days a week. People learned about every aspect of being a clown — make-up, acrobatics and slapstick gags, even throwing pies, DeSanto said. A 23-year veteran performer, DeSanto said he attended Clown College in 1985 and also taught at the program.
The Clown College ran for 30 years, mostly in Florida, but also ran for three years in the early 1990s at Circus World Museum.
"It was the salvation of American-style circus clowning in America," DeSanto said. "I believe there were about 1,272 graduates from the college."
Even after the Clown College ended, various kinds of clown training programs continue around the United States, such as a clowning camp held periodically at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, DeSanto said.
Among the circus clown memorabilia that is part of CWM's legacy of the Clown College is a prop pizza oven painted with the words "DeSanto's Pizza." DeSanto said he first used it in 1985 to create a routine in Clown College that the managers of the Ringing Bros. Circus liked so much they had him perform it for two years on the road.
"At the end, I put my head in it and it explodes," he said. "A lot of kids remember it because there's a big explosion.
"A lot of drama and a lot of flying powder and pizza dough," DeSanto said.
New Jersey clown Pat Cashin said he graduated during the Clown College's final year in 1997. He was in town to help set up the reunion, but usually works with the Kelly-Miller Circus. It is owned by John Ringling-North II, a descendant of Baraboo's Ringling brothers.
Cashin said he loved the circus as a child, but it was at age 29 that he won admission to Clown College and started a whole new life performing. It is hard work setting up his show and the gags, but he enjoys it.
"It was the chance to start a whole new career," he said. "Once you get out in front of an audience, it's all worth it."
Greg DeSanto's wife, Baraboo professional clown Karen DeSanto, said she was a California resident who already had her own clowning business with several employees when she auditioned to come to chilly Wisconsin for the 1993 session of Clown College. The program began each year after CWM's performance season closed at the end of summer, and she remembers celebrating Halloween in Baraboo.
Clowns have to learn many of the circus skills to perform their gags, she said, but for her the toughest thing was learning acrobatics.
"I could never do a cartwheel as a kid," Karen said. "When they told me I had to fly on a trapeze, and I had to swing in a thing called a Russian swing and I had to do triple stand, stand on somebody's shoulders and somebody stand on my shoulders, I said 'you got to be kidding me.'"
Despite, not being "built for it," Karen said she learned those skills.
Clown College provided the foundation of her future life, DeSanto said. She and Greg lived for a time in New York City and have traveled around the world for clowning performances.
"It broadened my horizons. I've traveled the world doing this," she said. "The circus opened up a whole world of experiences and friendships."
Greg was an instructor at Clown College, and after the course both of them were selected to travel with the Ringling Brothers "Greatest Show on Earth." While working together, romance blossomed and they were eventually married.
"We both thought each other was funny, and you know what happens then," Karen said.
Cashin said people coming to "40 Years of Laughter" will be seeing some of the most talented, experienced clowns in the profession.
"There will be a greater collection of circus clowns here than anywhere in the world," he said.
Karen DeSanto agreed some of the best clowns in the world are in Baraboo this weekend.
"Clowns from all the years of Clown College who have worked in the business all these years will bring their talents to Baraboo to perform," she said. "It's going to be an outstandingly funny, great show."
If you go
* What: "40 Years of Laughter" clown show
* When: 7 p.m. today
* Where: Circus World Museum Hippodrome
* Admission: $7
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Campbell Bros. Great Consolidated Shows
The Circus Historical Society Convention is going to be this Sunday through next Wednesday at Springfield, Massachusetts. We will all be at the Big "E" on Wednesday enjoying the Fair and Circus activities. I'll be one of a dozen or so speakers this year. I'll be talking about my latest research project, the Campbell Bros. Great Consolidated Shows. I'll have my computer with me to keep the Circus Store, www.thecircusworld.com going and I'll try to post a few things from the convention if I can. Stay tuned for more exciting news.Campbell Bros. Great Consolidated Shows - 1906
This is the front cover of the 1906 courier from the Campbell Bros. Great Consolidated Shows.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
The 2009 tear off desk calendar by Taschen.
This is amazing. It's easy to see why this will become a collectors item real soon.
2009 Taschen desk Calendars
Many of you have heard about the Amazing new book called "The Circus 1870-1950" by Noel Daniel, Dominque Jando, Linda Granfield, and Fred Dahlinger Jr. You might not know there are three 2009 calendars based on the photos in this book.The desk calendar is 5.1" x 4.3" in a plastic tray. There are 640 tear off pages with many never before seen photos.
The wall hanging calendar has 24 laminated pages and its almost 12" x 12".
The daily diary is a small book with the wire"O" binding. It is 6.9" x 8.7". There are 124 pages in it.
Once you've seen one, its easy to see how these are going to become valuable collectors items one day. I have been able to get them all now and have them on my website at http://www.thecircusworld.com
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The Cheapest way for a showman to buy equipment was from other showmen
Showmen always found the scratch to get a show on the road and maybe make it for a couple years, then everything was up for sale whether they sold it or whether it was re-possessed. Here we find the Young Buffalo show's equipment up for sale. Note the ad says fully equipped. An ad from a week prior stated all lithographs in the advertising car, the safe, all bedding, Mattresses, ranges, Tables, Chairs, Ice Boxes, carpets, etc were included. The sale was held at the Hotchkiss, Blue, and Co. Ltd. Railroad Manufacturers plant. This ad was in the Billboard on October 17, 1914 on page 22.
More Cars for sale
I don't know a thing about this company but apparently from their ad, they manufactured rail cars. The ad comes from the Billboard on October 17, 1914 on page 22.More CWM 2009 news
Got an announcement today that CWM Inc. will be sponsoring the Circus Model Show in the Old Ringling Wagon Shop across the street from CWM next year. The dates are June 12 and 13. The building that the show will be held is now known as the Baraboo Arts and Banquet facility. More information should be available soon.
Ned Kronberg
Ned Kronberg
Friday, September 12, 2008
CWM in 2009
2009 season taking shape for Circus World
Brian D. Bridgeford / News Republic
Circus World Museum Executive Director Steve Freese and ringmaster Dave Saloutos plan to emphasize magic acts and more live animals in next summer's performance season.
By Brian D. Bridgeford / News Republic
More magic and animal acts will be featured along with a classic American circus show when Circus World Museum begins its 2009 performance season in May, museum managers said Thursday.
Members of the Circus World Museum Foundation Board, Executive Director Steve Freese and program director and singing ringmaster David Saloutos discussed budget issues, particularly the summer performance season. CWM Foundation is the nonprofit group that runs the museum on behalf of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, which owns the museum property.
A plan put forward by Saloutos proposed continuing popular events such as an American-style circus performance and the Kids World Circus. It would drop the Razzle Dazzle Revue Variety Show next summer in favor of a large magic show in the hippodrome and an additional animal act. A second magic program would end each day, he said.
The Chinese acrobats who were the centerpiece of the show in 2006 and 2007 were popular with many people, Freese said. However, American circus performers are more popular with the museum's circus enthusiasts.
Saloutos said he talks with visitors regularly and bases his proposals on their comments. Also, visitors should know CWM offers something new every year so they will be inspired to come back, he said.
"Although the Razzle Dazzle was probably one of our most popular performances, I'm recommending not doing that this year and going with a magic show instead in there just to change things around," Saloutos said.
Circus World Museum officials plan to contract with an elephant trainer who will have the staff and number of animals to make more rides available, Freese said.
"The animal encounters is clearly something people wanted to see," he said.
Freese said the cash-tight museum plans to spend the same as the last two years for the summer performances, about $318,000. However, they will be reducing costs for some programs and shifting more funding to animal acts and other areas.
State Historical Museum Director Ellsworth Brown encouraged CWM's managers to keep a close eye on whether their choices match what the public wants and balances financial issues.
"I'm interested in the economies that should or shouldn't be affected by what we are doing," he said.
Freese said CWM's visitor numbers for 2008 had risen over 2007 until June floods forced the museum to close for a week. Popular special events like a Wild West Show and growing popularity of the museum with previously untapped groups such as Hispanic families show CWM can grow its audience, he said.
After discussion, board members voted unanimously to give Freese and Saloutos a go-ahead for their plans.
Saloutos said popular illusionist Tristan Christ will return next summer. However, he would not reveal which other acts will join the lineup until he has contacted them and confirmed they will sign contracts.
Freese said that CWM's staff will be tight next summer. Saloutos will be devoting most of his time to organizing the Great Circus Parade, which is set to take place July 12 in Milwaukee.
Brian D. Bridgeford / News Republic
Circus World Museum Executive Director Steve Freese and ringmaster Dave Saloutos plan to emphasize magic acts and more live animals in next summer's performance season.
By Brian D. Bridgeford / News Republic
More magic and animal acts will be featured along with a classic American circus show when Circus World Museum begins its 2009 performance season in May, museum managers said Thursday.
Members of the Circus World Museum Foundation Board, Executive Director Steve Freese and program director and singing ringmaster David Saloutos discussed budget issues, particularly the summer performance season. CWM Foundation is the nonprofit group that runs the museum on behalf of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, which owns the museum property.
A plan put forward by Saloutos proposed continuing popular events such as an American-style circus performance and the Kids World Circus. It would drop the Razzle Dazzle Revue Variety Show next summer in favor of a large magic show in the hippodrome and an additional animal act. A second magic program would end each day, he said.
The Chinese acrobats who were the centerpiece of the show in 2006 and 2007 were popular with many people, Freese said. However, American circus performers are more popular with the museum's circus enthusiasts.
Saloutos said he talks with visitors regularly and bases his proposals on their comments. Also, visitors should know CWM offers something new every year so they will be inspired to come back, he said.
"Although the Razzle Dazzle was probably one of our most popular performances, I'm recommending not doing that this year and going with a magic show instead in there just to change things around," Saloutos said.
Circus World Museum officials plan to contract with an elephant trainer who will have the staff and number of animals to make more rides available, Freese said.
"The animal encounters is clearly something people wanted to see," he said.
Freese said the cash-tight museum plans to spend the same as the last two years for the summer performances, about $318,000. However, they will be reducing costs for some programs and shifting more funding to animal acts and other areas.
State Historical Museum Director Ellsworth Brown encouraged CWM's managers to keep a close eye on whether their choices match what the public wants and balances financial issues.
"I'm interested in the economies that should or shouldn't be affected by what we are doing," he said.
Freese said CWM's visitor numbers for 2008 had risen over 2007 until June floods forced the museum to close for a week. Popular special events like a Wild West Show and growing popularity of the museum with previously untapped groups such as Hispanic families show CWM can grow its audience, he said.
After discussion, board members voted unanimously to give Freese and Saloutos a go-ahead for their plans.
Saloutos said popular illusionist Tristan Christ will return next summer. However, he would not reveal which other acts will join the lineup until he has contacted them and confirmed they will sign contracts.
Freese said that CWM's staff will be tight next summer. Saloutos will be devoting most of his time to organizing the Great Circus Parade, which is set to take place July 12 in Milwaukee.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Let Freedom Ring!
I find it very interesting that as much as we talk about how things have changed over the years, this is 100 years old and says the same thing we believe in today.In my time not associated with the Circus, circus research, my circus website, conventions, and all, I'm a Volunteer Firefighter in our Community. That also keeps my plate full being the Training Officer for our Dept., an Instructor for the South Carolina Fire Academy, a Hazardous Materials Technician, a member of the Regional Emergency Mangement Team, a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators Inc. and the Sec./Tres. of the Chesterfield County Firefighters Association. We do remember 9-11 and the many lessons still to be learned from such a catastrophe.
Actually, I'm considering giving up sleeping. It's taking too much time out of my schedule.
Arms Palace Horse Car Co.
Another Car manufacturing Company was the Arms Palace Horse Car Company. They didn't necessarily manufacture the car as presented in Fred Dahlinger Jr.'s fantastic photo documentary called "Show Trains of the 20th Century". On page 115, he carries a photo of a steel car made by the Pullman company for the Arms Palace Horse Car company in use on the Cetlin and Wilson Shows. Even though I studied the Cetlin & Wilson Show for over a year and wrote a lengthy article about it in the Carnival Midway, I was not able to determine when this car was taken off of the road or where it went. This ad was in the Billboard on October 17, 1914 on page 22.
Very Early Mt. Vernon Car Mfg. Co. ad
While the Mt. vernon Car manufacturing Company was very well known by the 1920's, this very early ad was found in Billboard on May 13, 1905. It would really be interesting to see a catalogue of the cars available back then.
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