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Reply: 25 Aug 2010 - Robert L. Parkinson's Directory of American Circuses lists a Masterson's Show for 1911, L. Topping, proprietor. J. Griffin.

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Reply: 18 Aug 2010 - There are numerous entries in Google for the sale of chameleons in the post-WWII era. A good article about the trade, Tom Parkinson's "Life Among Lizards Not Always Rosy," Billboard, January 5, 1957, pages 1 and 56, dates their first sale to 1905, with a presence on circuses by the early 1920s. The article is available on-line via Google Books. You will find past CHS query 2927 to be of further interest. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 18 Aug 2010 - Live Chameleons on a string tied to a safety pin were sold at Polack Bros in 1949. I’m not sure that the target was ladies for their dresses. I remember mostly parents buying them as pets for their children. RAG

Reply: 19 Aug 2010 - RBBB also sold small turtles in boxes. I recall that specifically from 1942 when a girl who went to the show with us bought one. Her mother had given her $5 to spend and she used it all. That was extravagant. In 1942 $5 was worth $65 in today's dollars. RJR

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Reply: 17 Aug 2010 - The Van Amburgh Great Golden Menagerie only played in Windham, New York on October 23, 1876. Ted Bowman Circus Route Collection

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Reply: 16 Aug 2010 - These are just what the seller told you. They were used at the top of posters to put a title on them. In your case the title would have white letters on a blue background, assuming they were printed on white paper. Read about letterpress printing at this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterpress_printing. Regards, Dave

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Reply: 12 Aug 2010 - The fire took place the evening of Sept.30/Oct. 1 1924 during a move from Chico, CA to Willows, CA. An account of this appears in an article written by Joe Bradbury for The White Tops Nov/Dec 1963 on page 13. Flint.

Reply: 13 Aug 2010 - Pat, found this old newspaper clipping: Circus Horses Burn to Death - San Francisco, Oct.1, 1924 - Thirty high class horses of the Al G. Barnes circus were burned to death at Nord, Calif., today when the second section of the circus train caught fire. The animals were valued at $25,000. The fire was caused by the explosion of a lantern. Tom

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Reply: 10 Aug 2010 - Posting the birth and death dates of the person of interest is a fundamental step in starting any research on a person. They set forth a possible timing for their participation in the circus business. Do you have them for Mr. Reed? Have you checked census records or other local documentation for him? Was he a farmer, a man familiar with work horses?
    Otsego County is not too far south of Utica, NY, where Alexander Robinson (1812-1887) resided and sometimes quartered his circus (organized in 1861). There's a brief biography of him on this website, under Slout's "Olympians of the Sawdust Circle." You can navigate there by going to the home page and then to the History icon on the left margin. The entry was based in part on the New York Times of March 2, 1887, which is available on-line and also contains an inaccuracy or two. Further information on the Robinson family genealogy is in Richard E. Conover's book "Give 'Em a John Robinson."
    "Olympians" lists a William Reed as boss hostler (the man in charge of the "baggage stock," the work horses of the circus) for the John Robinson circus, 1866, 1871 and 1872, sources not given (possibly "New York Clipper" rosters?), but a check of the rosters in the back of Gil Robinson's book "Old Wagon Show Days" lists Aleck Reed in 1866, 1871, 1872 [A. Reed] and 1873. Whether they are one and the same person I don't know. Sometimes people were given nicknames based on their past life experiences. "Aleck" might be a derivative of Alexander; Alexander Robinson was listed as Aleck Robinson in the Robinson book rosters. Steve Albasing, a Ringling wardrobe man, was nicknamed "101 Heck," after having served on the Miller Bros. & Arlington 101 Ranch Wild West.
    It may also be pertinent that W. W. Cole wintered his circus in Utica, NY in the winter of 1881-1882, opening there in the spring. There's coverage of this in "The Ways of the Circus" and also Slout's "Chilly Billy."
    The above is not intended to limit the search or the possibilities of employment for your ancestor, but only to suggest two possible affiliations based upon the limited information provided. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 16 Aug 2010 - Thank you for that information but I see that William M. Reed died in 1849 in Middlefield NY. I do know that he was just released from NYS Penitentiary and thats about it. Anything else you can add to assist me would be appreciated or anyone else. Thank you, Cathleen J. Palmatier

Reply: 17 Aug 2010 - Your best source for information on the circus before 1849 will be Stuart Thayer's book, "Annals of the American Circus 1793-1860." Perhaps you can obtain it via interlibrary loan. The index doesn't list your ancestor, but frankly few workingmen ever gained recognition beyond a place on the payroll list, unless they did something noteworthy, or bad. You might scan local newspapers, and also the routes listed in Thayer, to see which circuses and menageries may have come into the area. Often locals just tagged along to see the world or find cheap transportation elsewhere. After fulfilling their desire for wanderlust, they often returned home. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 25 Aug 2010 - Fred Dahlinger, Thank you very much for you time and information. Cross your fingers : ) Thanks again, Kate

Reply: 10 Aug 2010 - Greetings, There are certainly several Institutions of Academia and the Circus both that would cherish your collection. At the drop of a pin, I would suggest the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin or the Ringling Museums in Sarasota, FL, as both having great circus collections. Academically, I highly recommend the Illinois State University and their incredible Special Collections Division of the Milner Library. Princeton University has a good collection of Circus Posters on line for your viewing pleasure. I would aslo offer an alternative idea first. There are several people who have circus blogs that offer photos and stories of the circus for one and all on the internet to read, see, learn from and enjoy. Without a doubt, the most well seen blog is operated by legendary elephant trainer, Buckles Woodcock. I would ask you to consider allowing a Circus blog of your choice to post these items in your collection for the world to see before you kindly donate them to a final resting place. Sadly, with the huge Circus collections, many items don't get seen by many at all once they get in a Museum, Library or other holdings. Please visit Ken Young's website at www.kenyoung.net/circus.html to find a wide variety of circus blogs, Museums, and Circus related Associations. I hope this helps. Bob Cline

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Reply: 05 Aug 2010 - You could try contacting the newspaper [the "Daily Oklahoman" was quoted in an Atterbury advertisement] that published the image, to determine if they retained the print in their photo "morgue." If the newspaper no longer exists, their photographic holdings may have passed to a local library or historical society. If it's a publicity still that was supplied by the booking agent or Atterbury, monitoring on-line auctions might be a possibility; more than one copy would likely exist. You might also contact dealers who sell such materials on-line or directly at their shops. Fairs that have maintained a photo archive, such as the Minnesota State Fair, might also have retained prints of acts at the fair. Atterbury was booked into St. Paul at least once.
    If you do a Google search for "Sky Kings" + Atterbury, one hit will be an Atterbury advertisement in the June 26, 1954 issue of "The Billboard," which includes an image of a double sway pole act. A hit for the May 27, 1957 issue doesn't list anyone named Linda, but she may have been part of an ensemble presentation. Bill Atterbury and partner Darrell Hornbeck were operating their Atterbury and Hornbeck Enterprises out of a 40-acre site at Springfield, MO at the time and had a Chicago agent, Ernie Young Agency, booking their acts. Fred Dahlinger

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Reply: 03 Aug 2010 - Heinz Bros. wasn't a circus, unless it's one that's fallen through the cracks of history. There was a Heinz Bros. traveling carnival. McKennon's book "Pictorial History of the American Carnival" lists: Heinz & Beckman 1915; Ed Heinz 1916; and Heinz Bros. 1917-1929. It was a railroad show for at least part, if not all of its existence; in 1915 it was a fairly substantial 24 to 26-car operation. The status after Beckman went elsewhere is unknown to me. I don't recall seeing any significant writing about the show or its principals, other than long time showman Fred Beckman, who was profiled by McKennon in his Vol. II, pages 7-9.
    There are references to Heinz & Beckman in 1915 issues of the "New York Clipper," and probably the "Billboard." If you can obtain those journals for 1917 on microfilm, via interlibrary loan, they might provide further information about Grace Burton. Sometimes they printed show rosters and you may learn what Ms. Burton did from them. The journals also printed the show routes, which would confirm or refute the possible presence in Illinois.
    I know of no major repository of material on the Heinz operation. There is a piece or two of Heinz business correspondence, filed with the William P. Hall Papers in the Circus World Museum library, but they don't relate to ms. Burton and are from 1920. They may reveal the show winter quarters, and that might be a location to initiate a search for additional Heinz documentation, including information about Ed Heinz. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 05 Aug 2010 - Mr Dahlinger, I want to thank you for your reply. Wow, I am really excited about the information. I have a letter that was written by Grace Burton in 1917. She stated that she was a show girl in the Heinz Bros. Show. I am trying to confirm if this was her real name or a stage name. She gave up a baby for adoption in 1916. This letter was part of the correspondence with the adoptive parents. On the adoption deed she was widowed, then she stated her husband was looking for the baby to take it away. If that weren't enough she then claimed that she was divorced. She claimed the baby was born in Texas but all signs point to St Louis, MO. I think the only true statement was her association with the Heinz Bros. Show. If I can find some traces of her and confirm her claims that she was a show girl in the Heinz Bros. Show, then this will help me. Her biological grand-daughter has asked me to help find out what I can. Kristi

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Reply: 03 Aug 2010 - Lucy, A search of the Era theatrical newspaper, in the 19th Century British Library Newspapers Collection, will reveal various adverts/reports of these two appearing at provincial UK Music Halls etc. (If you live in the UK your local library should be able to help you, or point you in the right direction to gain free on-line access). Paul Griffiths

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Reply: 05 Aug 2010 - Posting the birth and death years, and the locales of residence of the Frank Gardner of interest to you may help to refine his identity. What is revealed in the photo of him reportedly taken on the circus? The most famous Frank A. Gardner (1855-1905) in the circus business was a rider and a proprietor. You can see an image of Frank Gardner on this website at: http://www.circushistory.org/History/BiosF.htm There's a biography there and also in Slout's Olympians, also on this website. Go to the history button on the home page and follow it. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 05 Aug 2010 - A roster for the 1914 Oklahoma Bill's Wild West can be found in "Billboard," March 28, 1914, page 49. Other issues of "Billboard" and New York Clipper" may contain further references to Mr. Raso. Rhodes (died 1932, age 58) had a long and interesting career in show business, most frequently associated with exposition attractions, but also including traveling shows, notably the 1910 Young Buffalo Wild West. If you trace his career, you might find additional references to your grandfather. Attraction contractors formed relationships with responsible performers and perhaps Rhodes employed your grandfather more than one time. There are brief rosters for Rhodes 1913 and 1914 ventures on the CHS website. Simply Google "Major C. F. Rhodes" and they will be listed. The 1914 operation may have been at Point Breeze Park, Philadelphia, all season. In 1915, Rhodes was at the San Francisco Pan Pacific Exposition, opening for the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch, and perhaps your grandfather followed him there. Fred Dahlinger

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Reply: 05 Aug 2010 - There is the distinct possibility that Stevens wasn't with or operating a circus per se at the time, based upon earlier operations. He might have been appearing on a theater stage with other family members, and fellow traveling performers. A Google search turned up the Wellington, New Zealand, Independent for 19 December 1865. It carried an advertisement for Professor Stevens' English Troupe, which included Pablo Fanque and a seven-year old William O'Dale Stevens on the trapeze. "Professor Stevens's English Troupe" can also be found in 1866 New Zealand newspapers. Here's the website for New Zealand newspapers: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast
    There's a similar website for Australian newspapers: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper. An April 1865 entry exists for Stevens International Circus, so the man may have been using different venues and formats depending upon the time of year and locale. No hits popped up for either the father or the son, so some additional searching is mandated.
    Rationally, it would seem that an Australian or International-titled circus could have served as an identification for the troupe as they turned towards England. Thus, ascertaining the identity of the troupe while in Australia seems to be a logical step in your search. The 1883 "New York Clipper" obituary of William O'Dale Stevens, which presumably served to support a cameo biography in Slout's recent "Olympians of the Sawdust Circle" [both on this website, under "history" on the home page] suggest that the family went, in sequence, from Australia to Madagascar, where the elder Henry Peter Stevens reportedly passed away in 1872. The last mentioned information would seem to have originated with family members, at the time of the son's passing in 1883. Is there any external corroboration for the location and date?
    I would also suggest perusing the extensive recent works of Mark St. Leon concerning Australian circus history. At least one volume covers routes and another foreign troupes visiting the country. I would suspect that Mark knows of Stevens presence in Australia. Here's a link: http://www.pennygaff.com.au/market.html. You can contact Mark by going to the home page and then clicking on his name. I did check his earlier "Spangles and Sawdust, The Circus In Australia" for Stevens, without success. His inclusion may depend upon whether Stevens was in a circus, or only on stage, during his time in Australia.
    You might check also for Stevens coverage in "The Era," which is available on-line with key word searching at UK libraries. It may have reported on his activities and passing in Madagascar. I would also recommend consulting Dr. Turner's several biographical dictionaries of British circus personnel. Unfortunately, they contain no documentation. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 06 Aug 2010 - Hello, Professor Stevens with sons William O"Dale and Charles William were active in Australia and New Zealand 1865 and 1866. In Australia they are noted from February 1865 with W. H. Foley's Californian Circus before appearing with Cousins Oriental Circus (a theatre show). After this they were a stage show called Professor Stevens English Troupe, the same show arriving into New Zealand in November 1865. They stayed till June 1866 and played theatres except one short season as a tented show in Wellington during December 1865. Professor Stevens supposedly had appeared in England as a juggler and acrobat with Howe's and Austin's American Circus also the Alhambra Palace. His performances before Royalty are listed as Her Majesty Queen Victoria, The King of Prussia, King of the Belgians,King of the Netherlands and the Emperor of Austria. In December 1866, approx. six months after leaving New Zealand, in Victoria, Australia it was reported in the Hokitika Star that the youngest son Charles William Stevens had been killed instantly when he landed on his head instead of his feet,dislocating the vertebrae in his neck whilst performing a "risley" act. It was also reported that such was the horror of the event, Professor Stevens had been confined to an asylum as a dangerous and probably incurable lunatic. I have no other references following this item. William O"Dale Stevens returned to Australia and New Zealand with W.W. Cole's Circus 1880/81 with his wife Linda Jeal. John Sullivan. New Zealand.

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Reply: 21 Aug 2010 - Sorry, no update on the ultimate disposal of the "4-Paw Hotel" collection, but it might have been based upon the life-long gathering of materials by the Shropshires. Here's a run-down of their affiliations, based upon on-line Billboard issues and entries at Circus World Museum [Draper file and yellow tickets]. Fred Dahlinger

James Shropshire

c1883 born [Billboard, June 5, 1948, page 47]
c1904 start in show business [Billboard, May 16, 1959, page 57]
Year? With B. E. Wallace [Billboard, June 5, 1948, page 47]
Year? With Sanger [Billboard, June 5, 1948, page 47]
Year? With M. L. Clark [Billboard, June 5, 1948, page 47]
Year? With Mighty Haag [Billboard, June 5, 1948, page 47]
Year? With Yankee Robinson [Billboard, June 5, 1948, page 47]
1917 LaTena, side show assistant manager, Punch and Judy [LaTena route book]
1921 Howes Great London, side show, asst. manager [HGL route book]
1923 Gentry Bros.-James Patterson, side show and annex manager [GB-JP route book, Billboard, December 8, 1923, page 81]
1923? With World Bros. [Billboard, June 5, 1948, page 47]
1924 Gentry Bros.-James Patterson, side show and annex manager [GB-JP route book, Billboard, January 10, 1925, page 74]
1924 Gollmar Bros., late in season [Billboard, January 10, 1925, page 74]
1925 Gentry Bros.-James Patterson, side show [Billboard, March 21, 1925, page 98; March 28, 1925, page 74; September 5, 1925, page 61]
1925 Walter L. Main, side show manager [WLM route book]
1926 Walter L. Main, side show manager [Billboard, March 20, 1926, page 211; August 7, 1926, page 62]
1927 Walter L. Main, side show manager [Billboard, March 19, 1927, page 197; May 7, 1927, page 62]
1928 Gentry Bros., side show manager [Billboard, March 24, 1928, page 174; May 5, 1928, page 13]
1929 Gentry Bros., side show manager [Billboard, May 4, 1929, page 59]
1930 Robbins Bros., side show manager [Billboard, May 31, 1930, page 112; May 10, 1930, page 82]
1931 Robbins Bros., side show manager [Billboard, May 30, 1931, page 85; July 11, 1931, page 30]
1933 Sam B. Dill, side show manager [Billboard, August 26, 1933, pages 50 and 53]
Year? With Hagenbeck-Wallace [Billboard, June 5, 1948, page 47] 1930/1939? acquired the 4-Paw Hotel, London, KY [Billboard, May 16, 1959, page 57]
1943 operating 4-Paw Hotel at London, KY [Billboard, November 6, 1943, page 39]
1947 selling mechanical apparatus, pygmy elephants and leopard figures [Billboard, November 15, 1947, page 76]
1948 operating 4-Paw Hotel at London, Kentucky, visited by Deacon Albright [Billboard, January 10, 1948, page 46]
1948 died May 17, age 65, London, KY, burial in Maysville, KY [Billboard, June 5, 1948, page 47]

Elizabeth [Mrs. James] Shropshire

1921 Howes Great London, mind reader [[1921 HGL route book]
1923 Gentry Bros.-James Patterson, side show and annex, psychic reader [GB-JP route book]
1924 Gentry Bros.-James Patterson, side show and annex, mind reading [GB-JP route book]
1953 Operating 4-Paw Hotel in London, KY, visited by Mrs. Howard King [Billboard, November 14, 1953, page 60]
1954 Operating 4-Paw Hotel, London, KY, visited by Mr. and Mrs. Howard King [Billboard, December 11, 1954, page 65]
1959 died May 16, London, KY, was in circus business 35 years with late husband, 20 years operating 4-Paw Hotel, buried in Maysville, KY [Billboard, May 16, 1959, page 57]

1) Alfread Court (Popular in Circus World)
2) Kane Jones (Press Reporter)
3) Captain Roman Praske (Animals farm House & Museum)
4) Mabel Starf (Animal Trainer)
5) Malewin Hildreth ( Circus Fan Association)
6) Robert Ringling (Circus, Sarasota)
7) Henry Ringling North (Ringling Brothers & Barnum Baily Circus)

Please help me for Research. Take Care! Thanks and Regards, Anand Dhotre. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.

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Reply: 28 Aug 2010 - Circus Hagenbeck went to Calcutta. Search for “Calcutta” on http://www.circusmuseum.nl/eng

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Reply: 28 Jul 2010 - The history of circus stake drivers was covered in a three-part article in "Bandwagon." The first appeared in the Jan-Feb 1999 issue, the remaining two parts appearing within the year. The development of the triple hammer design is in the Bill Curtis section. You might also peruse Joe Bradbury's comprehensive series on the Cole show, and the 1938 Robbins outfit, for further details concerning that particular driver. Fred Dahlinger

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Reply: 18 Jul 2010 - Kate, not quite of the date you are looking for, neither is it quite 'on the road' but a fascinating account of the funeral of a lion keeper, in 1894, can be found by following this link. From my enquiries, I think that the choice of cemetery, in this case 'Odd Fellows', was purely arbitary!

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn94052989/1894-02-17/ed-1/seq-8/;words=Thieman+LIONS+Carlo+lion+lions

Hope it may be of interest. Paul Griffiths

Reply: 19 Jul 2010 - A death on the road of a performer or worker could mean an immediate burial if it was an accident, a hushed up burial at night if the person had a disease, or the local county or city coroner taking over depending on the situation. In many cases local contacts took over the funeral arrangements if the deceased was a Mason, etc., and in some cases the owner of the show paid the funeral expenses. You might try looking at the New York Times Index and put in the words 'circus funeral'. There was the Orton Circus railroad car fire in the 1880s when the bodies were buried together, a few cases where lightning struck the tent, and the Stowe Circus disaster on the Mississippi River where it took a week or more to recover the deceased. When D. R. Miller the owner of the Carson & Barnes Circus passed away his remains were placed in a mortuary until the end of the season when a funeral was held in Hugo, Oklahoma. It was held under the big top and there was a regular parade to Showman's Rest which is the part of the local cemetary dedicated to those who follow the circus during their life. JFP

Reply: 07 Aug 2010 - Hello William: Most traveling circuses do not publish their routes any farther in advance than two weeks at the most. The reasons for this are many, but the primary reason is that show owners and promoters are extremely competitive and most show owners are very protective of their routes. In some cases, shows have been known to discover another show’s route and will “jump ahead” of another show basically “stealing” their business. In the past, route “wars” have broken out between shows. When another show jumps ahead of an opposing show, they often times will tear down the other shows posters and some have even been known to paste over another show’s title with their own. Most of the general public doesn’t know the difference between one circus and another, so unscrupulous shows use this to their own advantage. Although this was quite common in the past, it still happens today, thus the secrecy of show routes. The only exception to this are the shows that are toured under the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey title by Feld Entertainment, Inc. There are now 3 completely different circuses that tour under the RBBB title throughout the USA and the Feld Organization that owns the shows does publish their routes for the entire year. These can be found on their web site www.ringling.com. Most Shrine Circuses also will post their dates months in advance, as these shows are scheduled well in advance and many appear annually around the same time of the year. You can do a web site search for Shrine Circus and there is a web site that lists most of the Shrine Circuses throughout any given year. This is about the best you can do as far as locating shows very far in advance. The other possibility is to contact any particular shows you may be interested in seeing and give them a specific date or location where you may be trying to see them and they may offer you one or two specific dates, but beyond this you’d be asking for the moon. The other possibility would be to purchase a subscription to the Circus Report magazine, which is published in Las Vegas, which comes out every other week with current route listings for most circuses. Once again, though, even Circus Report usually does not publish routes more than 2-3 weeks in advance at the request of the shows, show owners and promoters. Neil Cockerline

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www.worthpoint.com/pmimages/images1/1/0907/22/1_8c969b1710ee7193a2788a90941fb5e8.jpg

Or www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/circus-cc-performer-little-agnes-with-dumbells

I think (not sure) she was named "Little Agnes." She may have been a performer in a circus in France or Germany, not sure though. She did feats of strength around the years 1894 to 1915, feats of strength such as harness lifting a 400 lbs cannon, holding heavy barbells on her outstretched arms, lifting heavy round kettlebells and lifting several people off the ground at one time. She may have (not sure) worked in the circus Hucke. Please respond to FitnFunKatrina25@aol.com or respond on this board. Thank you. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.

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Reply: 08 Jul 2010 - The first time I find an elephant on the Sun Bros. Circus was in 1903 when they got ALICE. ETTA died in the Tornado in January of 1918. Hope this helps. Bob Cline

Sun Bros. Circus (George, Gus, & Peter Sun - owners) 1892 to 1918

Alice, Asian Female, 1903 to 1918, Went to Johnny J. Jones Carnival
Etta, Asian Female, 1907 to 1918, Died in Macon, Ga. Tornado Jan.4, 1918
Gyp, Asian Female, 1917 to 1918, Went to Johnny J. Jones Carnival
Sue, Asian Female, 1911 to 1918, Went to Johnny J. Jones Carnival

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Reply: 27 Jul 2010 - Paul, You may want to check with Dick Kohlreiser. Jake Conover should know how to reach him. WRAC

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Reply: 05 Jul 2010 - If you can access the "Grant's Pass Daily Courier" from 1932 [it has been microfilmed and is a candidate for digitization; see:

http://libweb.uoregon.edu/diglib/odnp/

and have your mother's birth date, you ought to be able to determine which shows were in the area at the time of her arrival. I would look for advertisements for both circuses and traveling carnivals [perhaps in association with a fair], as well as other forms of outdoor entertainment [repertoire theater troupes, for example]. Many different things have been termed a circus, when they are not. Currently you can search the Portland Oregonian on-line:

http://libweb.uoregon.edu/govdocs/indexing/index.html

There were no hits for "circus" in 1932, but you might try searching for other terms. Another possibility is to access the microfilmed copies of the weekly-issued "Billboard" magazine. It published routes for just about all forms of outdoor shows. That will also enable you to discern what show employed the Walkers. You might also be able to learn a bit more about the show, what the Walkers did, etc., by searching back and forth in earlier and later issues, once the show name is established. Speak to your local librarian about securing the microfilm copies via interlibrary loan. I wish you success in your searching. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 07 Jul 2010 - A Norwegian Circus Historian Hermann Berthelsen published last year a book about circuses in Norway back from the 18th century and until today. The book is written in Norwegian. But you could try to contact Hermann Berthelsen. He has a large circus collection called “Det glade arkiv” and might be able to help you. Kind regards, Ole Simonsen, www.circus-dk.dk

Reply: 18 Jul 2010 - Ole, Thank you for this information. I will definitely try and contact Mr. Berthelsen. June

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Reply: 29 Jun 2010 - Banners have been covered a couple times on the CHS website. For example, go to query 3345 below. You can go through other earlier listings, doing edit or Google searches, among others. There are a few recent publications, four or five books and a couple articles, then one must seek out primary documentation in directories, newspapers, vital records, etc. Providing the name of the person in question and some basic information would perhaps suggest other resources. Unless a banner painter was a shop owner or was contracted directly by a sideshow operator, circus, carnival or amusement park, it's unlikely that their name would appear on the artwork. The seller's name was the one typically placed thereon. The banner work is employment, not genealogical per se. If you're searching for geographic location, which might lead to family, that's a possibility. Employment records that provide address, next of kin, etc., might provide some clues, but I've never seen any surviving records for banner shops, tent manufacturers, etc. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 29 Jun 2010 - In 1976 Carson & Barnes played Joppatown, Md. June 23; Gaithersburg, Md. on June 24-26; and West Friendship, Md. June 27-30. In 1977 they returned to Gaithersburg for a June 24-26 stand, followed by a June 27-July 1 stand at Laurel, Maryland, and played Fairfax, Va. July 2-3. In 1978 the Red Unit played Hagerstown, Md. June 19; Westminster, Md; June 20, and Damascus Md. on June 21. The 1978 Blue Unit played west of the Mississippi. In 1979 the farthest East the show played was Wellsville, Ohio, and the same is true for 1980. No Washington D.C. dates but the Gaithersburg lot is closest. Ted Bowman Circus Route Collection

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Reply: 27 Jun 2010 - A. Morton Smith clipped and bound some Billboards for 1940, and a partial Goodman Wonder Show route with the dates being the 'week of' in a location show. June 10-15 Davenport, Iowa, June 22 Duluth, Minn., July 6 Iron Mountain, Mich., July 13 Ironwood, Mich., Aug 10 Lacrosse, Wis., Aug 17 Owatonna, Wis., Aug 24-27 Sioux City, Iowa, Sept 2-7 Lincoln, Neb., Sept 8-14 Tulsa, Ok., Sept 15-22 Hutchinson, Kan., Sept 28 Witchita, Kan., and Oct 18-27 Waco, Texas. Ted Bowman Circus Route Collection

Reply: 15 Jul 2010 - Thank you very much for the info. It looks like there was another Iowa stop between June 15 and June 22nd. I can search old newspaper micro films now for further info.

Reply: 22 Jun 2010 - Vicki, try searching at http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/ Good Luck! - Tom H.

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Reply: 20 Jun 2010 - When you state Forepaugh's, do you mean the actual American circus of that name, Adam Forepaugh's 1860s-1894, or the subsequent Forepaugh-Sells show of 1896-1907 and 1910-1911, or the British Fourpawr's, part of the Anderton & Rowland story? Scrivens and Smith cover the latter to some degree in their recent book.
    There are illustrated Barnum & Bailey route books for the first few years after the show returned to the US in 1903, covering to about 1907. Have you checked these, or do you know exactly when Twigg was with B&B?
    Programs survive from most of the great New York Hippodrome stage productions. They would be a good place to start. You'll find them in more prominent theater and New York City area collections. There was a long run in a private collection that was broken up more than a decade ago, so Hippodrome ephemera collectors may also be in possession of them. They are typically well illustrated, include the cast, etc. Those same facilities will also hold other photography relating to the Hippodrome. There's also the book "The Mighty Hippodrome" that may be worth checking. Just recently a photograph showing a circus tent interior on the stage of the Hippodrome sold on ebay. It was from one of the well-known photographic image supply houses that has been digitizing their holdings and selling off originals.
    Have you been in contact with the British circus fans group, checked the Victoria & Albert, also the holdings in the Fairground Archive at Sheffield University? If he was close with Marceline Orbes, you might even examine group photographs that include him; maybe Twigg can be found therein?
    There were no immediate Google hits for "Ortho Twigg," nor any in a couple newspaper databases; is it possible that he had a stage name? If he was part of an equestrian group act, his name may also have been obscured. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 21 Jun 2010 - On this website at Frost’s Circus Life and Circus Celebrities Chapter Twelve [http://www.circushistory.org/Frost/Frost12.htm] there is a brief mention:
    It may be interesting to some persons to know how an affair of this description is managed. The proprietors themselves are most industrious and indefatigable, and they have in their service, as acting manager, a very clever and experienced gentleman named Twigg, late lieutenant in one of Her Majesty's regiments. Mr Twigg engages several persons, whose duty it is to make arrangements in advance for the numerous company and stud. They hire ground suitable for the purpose, and engage bill-posters, who placard the town with large and brilliantly-coloured pictorial representations of the performances, and distribute printed bills, containing the names of the performers, also giving a description of the procession, and the route it will take in parading the town. These are distributed in all the villages within a radius of fifteen miles. jim@stockley.co.za

Reply: 30 Jun 2010 - Thank you both for all your wonderful information. You are obviously far more advanced than I am in this area! – Brilliant suggestions thank you again. Lucy

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Reply: 28 Aug 2010 - Search with the word “optocht” on www.circusmuseum.nl. There are many pictures of parades in The Netherlands but also in Paris on this site. Herman Voogd.

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Reply: 24 Jun 2010 - Dear Friend: Martha Gray (Grey) does not appear in the 1921 or 1923 route books nor in the 1922 program. There is no mention of any Martha nor Miss Virginia. She may have adopted her new husband's name and if we knew same, perhaps this might provide some guidance. R F Sabia

Reply: 25 Jun 2010 - Thank you for researching Martha Gray for me. In the May 8, 1920 issue of The Billboard it says "Johnson-Virginia - Slivers Johnson, a clown, and Miss Virginia, both members of the John Robinson Circus, were married in Peru, Ind., April 16." On their marriage license it says performer, for her present occupation. Sliver's real name is Walter William Parker, so maybe she used Parker for her last name or maybe Johnson. Thank you, Tom Parker.

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Billboard Oct 23, 1948. King Continues to Chalk Up Good Biz in South. Dyersburg, Tenn., Oct. 16 - The tour of the Southland is proving a winner for King Bros. The show has been getting a good share of full ones and overflows at various points in Tennessee. Here in Dyersburg, which is more or less the hometomw of the the King family, the folks gave with a strong matinee crowd and capasity at night. The King family lived here for many years. In addition, Felix Morales and his family resided on a farm here for several years..." I would like to know more about the history of the Morales family. Best regards, Earl Willoughby, Dyer County Historian. Reply to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.

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Reply: 01 Aug 2010 - I think I replied to this once already, but maybe I did it wrong. To read the story I wrote about Miss India for The People's Press, go here:

www.peoplespressnews.com/peoplespress/newspaper/article.cfm?img=page1.gif&issue=207

Thanks to Jerome Jacobson for all of his help with the photos and story. Barb

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Reply: 13 Jun 2010 - The Drake Circus title was not around that long. It was used is 1905 as the Drake & Faulkner's Greatest United Railroad Shows for the show played Shippensburg, Pa., July 1, Chambersburg Pa. July 3, and Greencastle Pa. July 4. It appeared again in 1929 opening at Waynesburg, Pa. on May 27, being managed by Dr. Jim Davidson from the winterquarters in Charleston, West Virginia. Ted Bowman Circus Route Collection

Reply: 11 Jun 2010 - Since you don't indicate the survival of any papers or photographs relating to your uncle's experience, his memories will be the key to the determination of the show where he served as a roustabout. You'll need to try and make further incursions into what recollections remain intact. Be careful when you pose questions to him not to include an "answer" in the question. Some people, when interviewed, give answers that they believe the people want to hear, or that will serve as their legacy. Don't ask "Were you born in 1924?" ask "When were you born?" If you cannot obtain a specific answer, which isn't uncommon, try and focus in on it with questions that relate to it: "Were you born before the Great Depression?" or "Who is the first president that you recall?" People often forget specific numbers and such, but recall related events, locales, people, etc.
    The answer you seek is in a big haystack. The best way to start is to remove as much of the extraneous hay from the pile as possible, leaving only the prime material for examination.
    Name - Without the person's name, respondents have nothing to start with. Your uncle's name, as well as nicknames and any aliases are necessary for any reasonable search.
    Time frame - The data you provided suggests your uncle was born c1924. That would make him 18 years old during early WWII, perhaps meaning he was drafted, or enlisted, and therefore not a roustabout until mid-1945 or later. That seems to concur with your statement of post-war service. That helps to limit the time frame of the search. How long was he on the road?
    Residency - Where was he born and in which community or cities did he reside? They might provide a clue as to where he could have joined a troupe. Perhaps family members or documents and photos that exist will provide clues as to residency. Once you establish where he lived, you can trace residency through city directories and other documentation. Local newspapers can serve to identify the shows that passed through a community. If you have access to them, via a library or historical society, they can possibly provide an answer, or clues.
    Social Security - This system started about 1938 and records do survive. Perhaps there's some reference to your uncle's show employment?
    Show type - Many people mistake a carnival for a circus. If he remembers mechanical thrill rides, as one would experience at an amusement park, that means he was with a carnival, and not a circus. Did the show move every day, or just once per week? If just once per week, it was probably a carnival. If it was a carnival, that's an entirely different line of investigation.
    Show movements - Did the show move by railroad train, or over the highway, in trucks and trailers? Knowing where he slept each night will be a clue - in a railroad car, in a hotel, in a truck, or on the lot in a tent? This knowledge can limit the searching.
    Job - You state "roustabout," which most people would identify as unskilled labor generally used to erect tents and perform other duties on an outdoor lot. But, your description specifies two circuses that presented performances in buildings. They might have had some roustabouts for general labor, but it also suggests, perhaps, service as a prop man, someone handling "properties" into and out of the ring for performers. Can your uncle clarify specifically what he did for the show?
    Billboard - The original "Billboard" magazine served as the news continuum of the outdoor show business from c1900 until 1960. A number of issues are available on-line via Google Books - advanced book search. The search engine misses many entries, but if you know of community names pertinent to your uncle's story, try searching using "Billboard" as the "title" and then the city name and state in "with all of the words." You can also limit the searching to single years. You can try searching for his name, but roustabouts were seldom listed. Billboard published the routes of shows and once you have a candidate for the title you can do further searching for it.
    There are also other techniques that can be used to eliminate other possibilities. For example, if he might have been with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows, their employment records from 1938-1956 do exist and can be consulted. These are in the Circus World Museum library.
    If you are able to garner further knowledge, post the new knowledge and perhaps readers will be able to assist you in your quest. Fred Dahlinger

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Reply: 24 Jun 2010 - I do word and phrase searches in Google Books-advanced search, to try and locate early and common public use. They aren't necessarily authoritative, but they can be revealing. The results of a phase search for "back lot" + circus yielded 355 hits total; 6 before 1900, but none pertinent, with "back lot" usually meaning the land behind a house; 41 hits between 1901 and 1950 with useable fruit; and the remainder 1951 and later.
    Margaret Mayo, Polly of the Circus, 1910, used "back lot"; Courtney Ryley Cooper, Circus Day, 1931, page 234, also used it. The Mayo book was a trade book; Cooper had direct knowledge of circus vocabulary. Mayo (1882-1951), was an actress, playwright and screen writer, per an on-line biog. Polly had first appeared as a stage play in 1907 and was made into films in 1917 and 1932. It's likely she may have been the vehicle by which the term gained transfer and use in the circus world.
    Back lot was used in a July 5, 1947 Billboard account, page 104, in an interview with Bev Kelley, and again in the issue of June 24, 1950, page 88, a spotting of John Ringling North there; and so on. When the "New York Clipper" and the "Billboard" before the 1940s become available in digital form, earlier references will likely be found.
    There are no circus route books on Google [or I've not encountered them], nor programs, couriers and quarter sheets (aka "heralds"), but some standard memoirs like Conklin, Thompson and such are available. That means it'll take a manual search to find "back lot" in circus-issued documents. There are maybe two dozen route books transcribed on the CHS website, under the history button on the home page, and you can quickly go through those with a edit-search.
    The "Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang" and Don Wilmeth's 1981 volume, "The Language of American Popular Entertainment: A Glossary of Argot, Slang, and Terminology," might be places to look. The "Oxford English Dictionary" has limited application in many instances.
    Bottom line, looks like it was used a bit early in the 20th century, and by "Billboard" columnists, like Tom Parkinson, in the late 1940s and 1950s. A crossover from Hollywood is possible, given the writings of Margaret Mayo and the hiring of circus equipment and animals by the movie makers in the 1910s, 1920s and thereafter. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 12 Jun 2010 - Unless I've missed something, I don't think that any human has yet been able to fly, in the sense of initiating self-sustained movement from the earth's surface against gravity into the air, as is able to be accomplished by a bird, without the aid of some external source of energy or Providential intervention.
    Flight has been a goal of man for centuries. Manifestations usually take the form of:

1. balloons [filled with "lighter than air" gases, namely hot air, helium or hydrogen];
2. gliding apparatus [wings or contoured surfaces that might utilize the principle of the airfoil discovered by the Wright brothers];
3. ground propulsion devices that overcome gravity [like a sling shot device];
4. devices with on-board propulsion [exemplified by the airplane]
5. combinations thereof.

    Circuses, in reflecting human interest, have presented all of these types before the public. It was a time when Jules Verne novels inspired people to overcome gravitational and other limitations on the human body. The late Victorian era American circus was only too happy to bring such possibilities before the public.
    Ballooning was an extremely popular free act in the years after the Civil War, especially in the 1860s-1870s, when war-surplus apparatus and expertise was readily available. The W. C. Coup circus had a balloon-style airship in the 1880s, shown in a poster [see the Freeman Hubbard book "Great Days of the Circus," page 69, with a man propelling the blade], and there were other examples, including a balloon race on the Coup show in the 1880s. A book, "The Eagle Aloft," is a good reference, and articles on the topic have been authored by Bob Parkinson and William L. Slout in "Bandwagon."
    Gliding with somewhat of a controlled, gravity-propelled descent to earth was usually accomplished by jumping from an elevated perch, quite probably from a small platform attached near the top of a big top center pole. The c.1882 portrayal of the Aeriel act suggests this arrangement. The poster you enjoyed in the Durant book, or elsewhere, is now at the Cincinnati Art Museum. This may be a case wherein an act was proposed but never came to fruition. A quick search failed to reveal any confirmation on the Aeriel act. William L. Slout's book on the history of the W. W. Cole circus doesn't mention it. Gliding around within the confines of the big top may not have been feasible.
    Propulsion devices include the human cannonball act and others means, including pseudo-arrows [Alar, on Barnum & Bailey, and later a revival recently on RBBB]; a lever-throw device [Lulu, the Human Meteor], which were popular from the 1870s unto even today. Fred D. Pfening composed a two-part survey of cannon acts in "Bandwagon." The Alar apparatus was patented, as were others. The Lulu contraption looks like something that a modern-day pumpkin chucker or reality show would-be might fearlessly ride.
    There was a Professor Harriman's steam air ship portrayed in one 1880s circus poster for the S. H. Barrett circus, right out of Jules Verne. Several shows have had airplanes as curiosities, like one Newton operation and Fred Buchanan's Yankee Robinson in the 1910s. One or two traveling shows utilized helicopters as novelties after World War II.
    The challenge is there for someone to gather together the documentation on flight and the circus and to synthesize a story from it. We should also mention the many aerial acts, in particular the trapeze acts that utilized a pendulum effect to create interim flight moments, and looping auto daredevil acts that leaped across "chasms." Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 16 Jun 2010 - Thank you for your through answer, very appreciated. - Leslie

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Reply: 10 Jun 2010 - Pan American Shows was utilized in three different periods as a traveling show title, and by as many different types of outdoor attractions: circus; animal show; and carnival. The most ambitious time was 1902-1904, when the title replaced "Lemen Bros. Circus" on a railroad outfit led by Frank V. Lemen. It was a grift outfit and was eventually taken over by others and sold to William P. Hall. Bert Chipman's 1933 book "Hey Rube" provides a lot of interesting reading about Lemen's activities.
    Bob Parkinson's circus title list includes the year of 1908 as one for activity, but provides no details. It's possible that it relates to further use by Lemen, again. In 1906, his circus bore the name of Capt. Hale's Fire Fighters, so a title conversion wasn't anything out of the impossible.
    In the 1940s-1950s there were several railroad car-based animal operations, traveling zoos or menageries, as well as others that moved on motor trucks over the highways. The railroad outfits were: London Trainway Exposition and Combined Musee (1940, proprietor unknown, one car, featured the world's largest hog, 1465 lbs., and perhaps a mermaid); Congo Cargo (1946, Sam Houston, three or four cars); British Africa Zoo (1951-1953, Howard Y. Bary, three cars); and Pan American Shows, of which there were two different editions, one on rail and the other on trucks. The general idea was to park the cars near a railroad station or in a freight yard, open the doors, and have the people walk through, the show publicity being newspaper ads, posters, handbills and local signage. The day when people went to such places for education or entertainment had passed and all of them eventually failed.
    Someone named C. C. Smith operated the Pan American Show Train of 1943. It had a whale, a mermaid [!], a headless woman illusion, Popeye and a Punch & Judy outfit, and moved on a single railroad car. This outfit may have been on tour in 1942, as an advertisement exists that was used in one of these years: 1936, 1942 or 1953. The same mermaid cut had been used previously by the London Trainway Exposition, suggesting that they were somehow connected, suggesting operations 1940-1943. It may have been a successor to the Pacific Whaling Company operations.
    Circus man W. F. Duggan, Sr. ( -1951) operated the Pan-American World-Wide Animal Exhibit from 1947 to 1949, and perhaps into 1950, too. The outfit was framed at Seguin, Texas, identified as the Dailey Bros. Circus winter quarters, during the winter of 1946-1947. It moved on trucks and showed under two tents, a 36 x 120 big top and a 22 x 40 sideshow. Duggan presumably realized the shortcomings of being tied to the tracks. The 1949-1950 version of the Pan-American Animal Exhibit and Monkey Circus is best known from surviving illustrated couriers. Though a "Mr. Paul Rice" of Rich Hill, Missouri, is mentioned as the proprietor, Duggan was the proprietor. The elephant Nancy was with it, and she is known as a Duggan asset. The courier stated "Exhibits Carried on Own Cars," but that was misleading. It was a truck and not a rail outfit. There is further information about Duggan's circus career in Joseph T. Bradbury's article, "Duggan Bros. Circus 1934," White Tops, LVIII, 2, pages 4-9.
    Pan American Shows is also listed by Joe McKennon's "Pictorial History of the American Carnival" as being an active carnival title 1934-1959, but no details are provided. I don't recognize it as a railroad outfit, so it must have moved on trucks. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 09 Jun 2010 - Dion, you can buy a copy of your book and CD by sending $18.00 to: Dennis J. Younger, 1258 Randall Street, Apt. 215, Winona, MN 55987. Information is at this website: www.freewebs.com/circusdays2005, where there is also a contact e-mail address given. Fred Dahlinger

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Reply: 09 Jun 2010 - If you would consider allowing the Barnett Bros. Route Card to go to the York County Historical Society in South Carolina which is across the street from the original Barnett Bros. Circus winterquarters, I will gladly cover all expenses. Tell me how to get with you and I'll send you the money and the correct name and address to send it to. Bob Cline fivetiger@shtc.net.

Reply: 29 Jul 2010 - Are you able to identify if the 1977 program is for the Red Unit or the Blue Unit? Jen

Reply: 07 Jun 2010 - Dear Janet Woods Leahy: Fred Hatfield, nephew of the Campbell Bros. circus owners, was associated with the Campbell Bros. in the circus business and billed as one of the brothers. He was the son of Francis and Josie Hatfield and came to Fairbury with his parents at the age of 13. His wife was the former Delta Woods. After the dissolution of the circus (1912), he still continued in the show business, having a dog and pony show at the time of his death, July 16, 1939. He was the ring-master in the circus. When the Campbell brothers first started in show business (1894) Fred was listed as a talking and singing clown. In 1896 they started out as the Campbell Bros. as a wagon show. Fred Hatfield held many staff positions from 1896 to 1912 when the Campbell Bros. Consolidated Shows when bankrupt in Fairbury, Nebraska.
    Fred Hatfield was the son of Martha Josie Campbell, born February 25, 1855 and Mr. Hatfield. Fred was born in October 1877.
    Mary Albina Campbell, nee Connell, born July 8, 1834, at Adams County, Ohio. She was married on March 18, 1854 in the State of Indiana, Lafayette, Tippecanoe county and married by a Jared B. Mershon, Minister of the Gospel. Mary Campbell’s father was a Stephin Connell of Ohio. Mary Campbell’s children were:

Martha Josie Campbell, born February 25, 1855
Allen G. Campbell, born March 4, 1858
Edwin T. Campbell, born May 26, 1860
Virgil Campbell, born July 2, 1868
Jennie Campbell, Born July 2, 1868 (twins)
Charles Campbell, born October 2, 1870

    I hope this helps, and when my book: “Cossacks, Indians & Buffalo Bill” comes out you may discover move Campbell Bros. show information. Richard A. Georgian, Email: rgeorgian@embarqmail.com

Reply: 07 Jun 2010 - In 1999, on another website, you posted a query about Verda Delta Woods Hatfield and gave her birthdate as August 24, 1890 in Gibson, County, Indiana. That data proved to be key to readily finding answers to your question.
    Princeton, Gibson County, Indiana, was the home of long-time showman Ernest A. Harrington, who operated variety tent shows, a circus, and one of the last Uncle Tom's Cabin shows. His circus of 1932-1934, as well as a brief biography, is covered in Joseph T. Bradbury's article "Harrington's Nickel Plate Show, A Depression Circus Lasting Three Seasons." It was published in "Bandwagon," July-August 2001, pages 16-25. Therein, in the 1932 coverage, it is noted that Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hatfield presented the ponies and aerial act. The specific article is in "Billboard," June 4, 1932, page 53. Perhaps the Hatfields were hired because of Ms. Wood's pre-existing knowledge of Mr. Harrington's activities?
    Another article, in "Billboard," May 21, 1932, page 34, declares: "Freddie Hatfield, known to the old-timers as Fred Campbell, of Campbell Bros.' Great Consolidated Shows." Fred and Delta Hatfield were found in the 1920 US Census, in Enid City, Garfield County, Oklahoma. Both were residing in a rooming house, married, Fred, age 43, a waiter, and Delta, age 29, unemployed. One assumes that they partook in the same show activities subsequent to their marriage.
    There is a good possibility that Hatfield's marriage to Ms. Woods was reported in the matrimony listings of "Billboard," but unless someone has already found it, the entry will take some work to locate. Fred Hatfield's name did not come up in regular 1910 census searching, but he is in the 1910 census at Fairbury, Nebraska, listed as a single man, age 31 [T624/848/92]. The marriage to Ms. Woods must have taken place sometime later, between 1910 and 1920. Only ten years later Hatfield's age was given as 43, so it had some "variability."
    The Campbell Bros. show history was recently covered by Bob Cline in "Bandwagon," January-February 2009, pages 3-29. Therein Hatfield's birth and death years are given as 1876 and 1937 (and also 1939). I assume that an obituary for him could be found in "Billboard." He's identified as a nephew of the Campbells. His mother, "Josie" Hatfield (-1949) was a sister of the Campbell brothers. There is further data given therein about Fred Hatfield's circus activities, including: Cole Bros. 1913, with Lee Greer; Greer and Hatfield's Trained Animal Shows in 1916; Glenn and Hatfield in 1922; Campbell and Hatfield in 1923; and Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield had a Lee & Howe circus reported as active 1931-1934. He gives Delta Hatfield's death as 1939, which conflicts with your 1973 date. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 09 Jun 2010 - Thank you for your replies. Yes I just recently got back into researching Delta. Access to the 1920 census gave me the info that her husband was named Fred Hatfield. I cannot find Delta in 1910 census but found both Fred and Delta listed in 1930 census in Fairbury Nebraska (Listed as absent) in Campbell household. Fred is listed as proprietor of Traveling Circus and Delta is listed as actress of same. Family story is that Delta was so distaught when Fred died very suddenly that she spent time in a psychiatric hospital. She definitely did not die in 1939 because my father met her several times after that. Will see if I can track down Fred's obituary. Thank you again - Janet Woods Leahy

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Reply: 30 May 2010 - It was the "real" Ku Klux Klan, which extensively infiltrated American life in the 1920s. Bob Morton's circus was sponsored by the Ku Klux Klan at Sarasota, FL in October 1926 and may have been the troupe in the 1925 operation. The booking was apparently accepted like any other fraternal sponsorship. Morton's indoor fraternal circus activity commenced sometime 1916-1918. Here's some background:

http://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/stories/stories-by-jeff-lahurd/separate-but-not-equal/

and this is an advance story: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1787&dat=19261001&id=
X98cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FmQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4325,3435633

The group's underlying agenda was not presented in the announcement. The "Billboard" obituary for Morton (1894-1956) is here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=hwoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA76&dq=bob+morton+circus&hl=en&ei=
Vi4BTIFKkJI2tZfcOw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=
1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=bob%20morton%20circus&f=false

I believe that a piece of ephemera, perhaps a handbill, survives from a KKK-titled or associated circus. The circus was not always compliant with the Klan. George Conklin's memoir recounts a fierce battle with one local group, the worst in his memory:

http://books.google.com/books?id=sbzZMD7BRNEC&pg=PA238&dq=KKK+circus&hl=
en&ei=FDEBTMbFJIz8NZGlyDs&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=
5&ved=0CDYQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q&f=false, pages 238-241.

The Circus Fans Association long staged a Koo Koo Klub feature at their national conventions, but the K K K-style name was derived from the initials of an Evansville, Indiana newspaper editorial cartoonist with circus enthusiasm, Karl Kae Knecht (1883-1972), who helped to organize the group in the 1920s. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 31 May 2010 - Thank you Fred, for responding to my question. Times sure have changed in America since the early 20th Century, but unfortunately racism is still prevalent. My grandfather has such a fascinating life story and I enjoy hearing about his days with the circus. Tom

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Reply: 27 May 2010 - The challenge of identifying the two circuses in the life of film maker Benjamin Brodsky (August 1, 1875/1877, Tektarin, Russia--February 15, 1960, Los Angeles, CA) is two-fold. First, there is no hard, factual information on his initial arrival and residence in America. This may be due in part to his Russian name and the aliases that he employed (Brasky, Bratushki, Polaski and Borden). Immigration, naturalization and census documentation remains to be identified. Secondly, his memoirs and other tertiary accounts provide very little in the way of characteristics that can be used in an analysis. He provides no show or personnel names, no specific locations with dates, no circus titles.
    Birth years of 1875, 1877 and c1881 have been found in the literature (c1881 from his 1906 marriage license with Mamie Lebowitz). His mother died when he was 14 and presumably he knew of it first hand, before quitting his blacksmith apprenticeship and leaving the area of Odessa, Russia, embarking on the odyssey that ended with his landing in New York City on an English freighter. That would place his immigration sometime in or after 1889, 1891 or 1895. He somewhat indicates going to work directly for the circus upon arrival. In New York, that would mean a summer season, May to October.
    His circus ownership was reportedly incurred at the age of 19; it could be 1894, 1896 or c1900. The latter date would seemingly be in conflict with his statement that he had owned the second circus before going to the Philippines after the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. That leaves the other two possibilities. He indicated that there were two owners of the circus and that he toured with it for four seasons before becoming half owner. That would establish circus employment as 1891-1894 or 1893-1896.
    The scenario that best fits the data he provided is: birth in 1877; arrival in the US in mid-1891; circus activity 1891-1894 with ownership in 1894.
    Brodsky reportedly put down $9000.00 for his half-share in the circus, after it had been seized and placed up for sale by a sheriff. That is a bit of an unusual twist, but perhaps it's possible. The value suggests a small to modest railroad circus. Brodsky's name doesn't appear in any circus title list, so he must have been a silent owner, or what is termed an "angel." The chance that it was a carnival is likely precluded by the 1891-1894 timing, before the carnival business really prospered. He makes no mention of when or how his investment in the circus came to a conclusion.
    The accounts I found don't include the "Saturday Evening Post" article that you mention, nor the advance man position, the $150,000 advance budget, the Florida winter quarters or the travel to the Pacific Northwest. The latter two geographic factors would point to the troupe as being a railroad circus. No overland outfit ever spanned from Florida to the Pacific Northwest. A railroad circus would also be attested to by a $150,000 advertising budget, which would have been a show the size of Barnum & Bailey or Ringling Bros. It is, as you suggest, likely exaggerated to some degree. None of the railroad shows that wintered at one point in Florida in the 1890s, those of W. C. Coup, George W. Hall Sr. and W. H. Harris, quite match the array of criteria.
    The second circus with which Brodsky was engaged was one that he acquired in Canada and took to China. No specifics are given for it. It failed there, in time for him to be in the US for the Spanish-American War of April-August 1898. He arrived in Manila after the conclusion of hostilities.
    If you can provide a citation for the SEP article, or specific quotations, they will help to identify the circuses in which Brodsky had an ownership interest. Perhaps the material therein, with the analysis above, will be adequate for someone to identify the specific shows in which Brodsky invested his money.
    For those intrigued by the Brodsky story, recommended reading includes: “Hong Kong Cinema” by Law Kar, Frank Bren and Sam Ho, 2004 [partially available on-line] http://languagetips.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2010-03/13/content_9583826.htm; and http://www.offscreen.com/index.php/pages/essays/100_hk_cinema/. Fred Dahlinger

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Reply: 19 May 2010 - I suspect it's rooted back in much earlier customs (like June weddings for example), but the "first of May" was traditionally the day when the roads were dry and the weather warm enough for a traveling circus to give its first performance of a new season. In turn, it created the circus slang phrase "first of May" (akin to novice or rookie) referring to anyone just getting starting in the business, and/or just hiring out with a show. Lance Burton

CHS Convention, July 21-24, 2010   Information

Reply: 21 May 2010 - I think the Ringling vet's name was Henderson (?) Rick.

Reply: 22 May 2010 - The Bob Brisendine collection is at Emory University. http://www.circushistory.org/History/Historians.htm. There is a brief description of it within this website. The link provided has been changed to a log-in. Try this link to the catalogue description: http://marbl.library.emory.edu/findingaids/browse_results?q=findingaids/content&id=brisendine947_1010137. Group 5, the recordings, doesn't associate anything specific with Higgins, but there are a number of unidentified reels. Richard J. Reynolds III may have some knowledge of the reported interview with Higgins. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 22 May 2010 - I knew Doc Higgins in 1966 -1968 when he worked at the Atlanta zoo. Swell chap. I also knew Bob Brisendine well. It was he who put me onto Doc. Bob was a first rate circus historian - a great researcher of show dates in Georgia. Bob called me one day in January 1966, advising that the ex-Ringling vet Doc Higgins was working at the Atlanta zoo. Thereupon, I contacted Doc and we had a lot of good discussions, mostly about animals he worked with on the Ringling circus. I took a lot of notes from my conversations with Doc, and we corresponded some. When he was in Atlanta, he lived at 1540 San Gabriel Ave. Decatur, GA which is a city that adjoins Atlanta on its eastern side. I don't not think Brisendine had any written information from or about Doc, but I do. However, I never did know anything about Doc's veterinary work before he joined Ringling, like where he had gone to school, where he had worked previously, etc. The Social Security death index tells us that he was born on June 21, 1912, that his social security no. was issued in New Jersey, and that he died on November 15, 1999 in Mesa, AZ. As best I recall, Doc left the Atlanta zoo at or near the end of 1968 and re-joined the Ringling circus. It produced a second show in 1969. They named it the Blue Unit, and I think Doc went out with it. Meanwhile, I think the show's main or boss veterinarian, Dr. J. Y. Henderson, was with the Red show. I do not know how long Doc Higgins was with the circus on this go round. The photo of Doc Higgins treating the bear is from the 1955 RBBB route book. The last letter I had from Doc is dated March 30, 1982. He was then living at Lot no. 224, 4500 N. W. Blitchton Rd., Ocala , FL. - Richard Reynolds, Atlanta.

Reply: 22 May 2010 - I met Doc Higgins when I went to work for Atlanta Zoo in the Fall 1968. Doc left in late 1969/early 1970 at which time John Roth turned the position into a Curator of Mammals position (at the time we only had a Curator of Reptiles). I then became the first Curator of Mammals and Jackson became the Asst Curator (the City threw in the Assistant job since the reptiles had one). I don’t know much about Doc but the word on the street at the time was that his vet training was learned on the job at the circus. But I didn’t spend much time with him and did not get to know him well. Vernon

Reply: 22 May 2010 - Here is more on Doc - This is from John Roth who was the Atlanta zoo director from 1967 through 1969 and who now lives in North Carolina - he had a very special interest in the elephants (as he of course worked with many at the Ringling Circus). We became good friends, found then that he and his wife were religious people, often mentioning that God had a Hand in the life of all animals, and that the death of animals are God's decision (not much that Humans could do about it, such was his "Philosophy" about sick animals and about all life). After he returned to Florida, we stayed in touch, he later worked at an Animal Safari Park in Oregon for a while, and then he and his wife moved to the beautiful Prescott Valley in Arizona. I then lived again in Albuquerque and visited them there. After his wife died there, he moved to Mesa and I also went to see him and his new wife, they lived at a trailer park in Mesa, south of Phoenix. We stayed in touch and exchanged Christmas Cards each year even after I moved to North Carolina, then heard that Bill had passed away in 1999. I seem to recall that Bill got his Veterinary Degree at Cornell University, but never had any reason to see verification of that, as he did not "officially" perform any veterinary work at the Atlanta Zoo. During the 1967-1969 period when I was director, the City had an active contract with a local Georgia Vet.Clinic....Bill was often "critical" of the treatments they provided, but always spoke very highly of Dr. Henderson who he said "wrote the book" on circus elephant care. John Roth

Reply: 22 May 2010 - Doc Higgins photo is in the 1955 program. Also I think his name is mentioned in the movie “The Greatest Show on Earth” Bob

Reply: 23 May 2010 - Oh everyone, thank you SOOOO much for your memories and information!!! I am thrilled and I know Suzann will be so excited! I am making her a scrapbook of what I have found, and I can't wait to show it to her!! I really, really appeciate everyone who has written in! From what I understand from Suzann, Doc was trained at Cornell, but as a small-animal vet, not a large-animal. According to family legend (who knows how true this story really is?!) the first time he had to sedate a lion for a minor procedure he was a bit nervous that it would not stay asleep the entire time...the way the story is told, he did his job very well as the lion slept for 3-4 days! My mom and I have a trip planned for this summer to see the Brisendine collection at Emory. This is so exciting!!! Judy Griffin has forwarded me a picture from John Roth of Doc working on the gristmill at the Atlanta Zoo. What a treasure! Thank you everyone! Wendy

Reply: 24 May 2010 - This is off topic and is about Bob Brisendine rather than Doc Higgins, but I don't know where else to work it in. Years ago Kenneth Feld was on the old Larry King Radio Show and one "Bob from Atlanta" called in to ask if Feld were aware of the case of the poisoned RBBB elephants who died during the 1941 Atlanta date and shortly thereafter. Feld said he had not previously known the story. Later when Richard hosted the CHS in Atlanta, Bob made a cameo appearance and I asked him if he had been that "Bob from Atlanta." He replied, "Probably so." Dave

Reply: 25 May 2010 - Here is more from John Roth. - Hello Richard: After looking over the email response I sent you, I suddenly remembered Higgins beloved wife's name. Her name was GENEVA, and they met when she was a seamstress working at a circus (maybe Ringling's or another one at the time? But you probably have this information as well. I have not been in a habit (like you) to keep "old" correspondence and items from the past. Thus now, I don't remember the lady's name who I think was his wife when I visited them in Mesa, Arizona. However it was her who notified me that Bill died in 1999 after receiving my Christmas Card then. She was much younger than Bill, and I think she was the nurse when when Geneva was in the hospital in Phoenix. Anyway, if there is more to "reconstructing" the Doc Higgins history, will appreciate to get email copies. Thanks, John Roth

Reply: 26 May 2010 - Dave, I love your story about Bob from Atlanta! I have a trip planned next month to Atlanta to see his collection at Emory. I can't wait!
    Bob, thank you for the clue about the 1955 program - I have just bought a copy off of ebay and can't wait to see it! Suzann has mentioned to me about the Greatest Show on Earth, that is so cool!
    Mr. Roth, thank you for the added stories! Yes, my husband's grandmother's name was Geneva. She is listed in one Bandwagon article as "Selma Higgins"; Suzann tells me her legal name was Selma but she went by Geneva always. My husband thinks Doc's second wife was Jo Ann, but he's not sure. My own husband is Doc's namesake and goes by Bill...neither one of us knew that Doc was known as Bill to others as well!
    I am putting together a scrapbook of articles and pictures that I have come across, for Suzann's birthday this summer. I have found quite a few gems including a picture of Doc with Frasier the lion and an accompanying article about Frasier's death (Frasier was not a circus lion, but rather with the Lion Country Safari). There are a few other smatterings of articles about a young Ringling giraffe that died, and a new herd of elephants, in which Doc is mentioned. I'm happy to share what I've found with you all! And of course as always if anyone has any other pictures or articles I'd love to include those in the scrapbook. My email address is auntwendy@gmail.com. I've also posted some of what I've found on my blog (May 18th entry, and you can also see pictures of my Bill there!) http://stepinthetrenches.blogspot.com/
    Suzann is going to be so thrilled to read all of your memories of her beloved dad! Thank you all so much for taking the time to comment! Wendy

Reply: 27 May 2010 - If Dr. Higgins was a direct employee of RBBB, rather than a contracted consultant, there will be an employment card for him in the 1938-1956 employment cards in the RBBB Business Records in the Circus World Museum library. Fred Dahlinger

Reply: 08 Jun 2010 - Hello all, I don't want to clutter up the message board, but I thought some of you might be interested in knowing exactly what I have uncovered on Doc. So far I have found mentions of him and a handful of pictures in 29 different places! There are of course quite a few circus items, but several non-circus items as well from his time at the Atlanta Zoo and other places. I've written a list of articles I found in chronological order on the June 7th entry of my blog: http://stepinthetrenches.blogspot.com/. Thank you again to all who took the time to contribute to my efforts! I head to Emory in two weeks, and then I'll start putting the scrapbook together. Suzann is not going to know what to do with herself! :) Wendy

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