Under the Marquee
Under the Marquee is your best source for the latest developments in circus history! Circus history is the focus of our blog and our e-newsletter, the Advance Car. Content is curated and vetted by knowledgeable circus historians.
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The Mystery of the Poisoned Elephants
The Mystery of the Poisoned Elephants On the morning of November 5, 1941, the 47 elephants of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey herd did their chores as usual, unloading the circus train and helping to set up the big top on Atlanta’s Highland Avenue...
Barnum & Bailey Circus – 1910
This photograph of the Barnum & Bailey midway shows "Zip The Whatisit?" playing his violin. Zip is believed to have first started working for P.T. Barnum in 1857 - and continued to perform as a sideshow attraction until his death in 1926. The photograph was taken...
Al G. Barnes Sells-Floto Circus – 1938
Although this photo appears in the Al G. Barnes Sells-Floto program of 1938, it is older than that and could have been taken on Ringling-Barnum or any of the "Corporation Shows" that were purchased by John Ringling in 1929. -Chris Berry
Al G. Barnes Sells-Floto Circus – Ticket
The Al G. Barnes and Sells-Floto title was used in both 1937 and 1938. -Chris Berry
Sells-Floto Circus – 1922 – Boston – Rail Yard
This photograph of the Sells-Floto train prior to being unloaded dates from late May 1922. This image is among the thousands of negatives in the Leslie Jones Photo Archives at the Boston Public Library. From 1917-56 Leslie Jones took many photos of circuses in Boston...
Sells-Floto Circus – 1922 – Boston – Back Yard
Leslie Jones was a prolific photographer for the Boston Herald-Traveler newspaper. Thousands of his negatives are now at the Boston Public Library including hundreds of never before published circus photos. This photograph was taken on the Boston lot of the...