From Jerry Digney

DeMille, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Dorothy Lamour, Cecil B. DeMille, Betty Hutton and John Ringling North, travel by train ("The Chief") thru Chicago in 1951 enroute to Philadelphia for location filming on The Greatest Show on Earth. This year is the 60th anniversary of its release!

Braathen Photos #1 (From Chris Berry)

ht_circus_chrome_pics_12_77_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. “A Passion for Circus” As an avid circus goer, Sverre Braathen found an outlet to show off his hobby by photographing the Ringling Bros. circus throughout the Midwest in the 1940′s-50′s. He was born in North Dakota in 1895. An attorney by day, Braathen however always made time in his busy schedule to follow his true passion; the circus. He followed and photographed many circuses but didn’t start using the Kodachromes until 1941. The people at the Milner Library at Illinois State University have put together an online archive, “A Passion for Circus,” of all his works. Here are a selection of the impressive Kodachrome slides produced by Mr. Braathen. "I received this set of pictures from three or four different people over the last few days but since other material had already been introduced into the "Dooms Day Machine" and are irrevocable, I had to wait until today. For the benefit of the few who might have missed these, I will do so this morning. Mr. Berry gets the credit since his came in first. I met Mr. Braathen a few times while we were in Baraboo but never really knew him. A great fan of Circus Music and a close friend of Merle Evans." Buckles

Braathen Photos #2

ht_circus_chrome_pics_06_131_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. The elephants, dressed with their purple blankets, get ready for a production number, August 18, 1945. The Ringling Brothers have seen issues arise over the years from PETA and other activists groups for the mistreatment of their animals. The elephants in particular.

Braathen Photos #3

ht_circus_chrome_pics_07_117_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Emmett Kelly against a blue sky in August 18, 1945. He and Otto Griebling were the two best clowns the show ever had.

Braathen Photos #4

ht_circus_chrome_pics_08_609_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. One of the shows highlight acts was “Clown with a big rope and a small dog.” Seen here is clown Charles Bell with his small dog outside the tents.

Braathen Photos #5

ht_circus_chrome_pics_09_236_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. The Sideshow banners line the midway. The acts of the Sideshow were used to draw crowds and featured human oddities, feats like fire eating and sword swallowing, and other unusually rare sights.

Braathen Photos #6

ht_circus_chrome_pics_03_238_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Elena Gabriele, left, and Marion Seifert sitting on their horses, August 17, 1945. Gabriele’s former lover and ex-clown, Polidor, killed her with an axe some years later.

Braathen Photos #7

ht_circus_chrome_pics_13_45_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. A red cage gets pulled by two elephants, September 6, 1943.

Braathen Photos #8

ht_circus_chrome_pics_11_1_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Natalia Tock, from Poland, wears her red Jungle Drums wardrobe as she heads to the tent, July 10, 1950. The circus is home to many immigrant families looking to get out of the hardships of their native lands.

Braathen Photos #9

ht_circus_chrome_pics_15_68_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Sandy Marlowe holds a lion cub, August 30, 1952. She is the daughter of Ray and Theol Marlowe. Theol was a former Nelson Girl and the Nelson Troupe was one of the greatest risley acrobatic troupes of all time.

Braathen Photos #10

ht_sverre_braathen_circus_thg_120125_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Two girls in Changing of the Guard wardrobe and a clown. State Fair Park lot, August 17, 1945.

Braathen Photos #11

ht_sverre_braathen_circus_girls_thg_120125_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. (left to right) Evelyn Kent, Margaret Smith, Laura May Petrillo, Brenda Gorring, Gladys Rimmer, aerial ballet wardrobe. All are from England except Laura May Petrillo. July 25, 1952

To Roger Smith

01-29-2012 05;50;20PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Here am I holding Shannon and Brandy's older sister in 1970 the following year.

Brandy Loter and "Peggy"

01-29-2012 07;21;27AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. A descendant of the Loter and Conley Families as seen in the Sarasota Circus Festival Parade a few years back.

Circus Pages #10 (From Josip Marcan)

DSC_0392, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #11

DSC_0409, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #12

DSC_0368, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #13

DSC_0448, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #14

DSC_0452, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #15

DSC_0327, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #16

DSC_0324, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #17

DSC_0406, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. (CONCLUDED)

This Morning's Tampa Tribune!

01-28-2012 09;57;28AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #1 (From Josip Marcan)

DSC_0360, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Hi Buckles, here are some pictures of Circus Pages,playing Ft.Walton Beach,Fl. So.1.22.12 at 4:00 PM. Very entertaining show.

Circus Pages #2

DSC_0356, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #3

DSC_0462, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #4

DSC_0443, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #5

DSC_0442, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #6

DSC_0430, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #7

DSC_0423, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #8

DSC_0432, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #9

DSC_0330, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. (TO BE CONTINUED)

From Chic Silber

TOLEDO, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Hi Buckles This was never high on the favorites list I heard that it may have been torn down Perhaps Randy can update us I have a bunch of Toledo stories I'll save for another time Chic

From Bob Swaney

!cid_X_MA1_1327325646@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Monte Carlo Gold Shared between Rene Casselly (Germany) and a Chinese springboard act.

From Kari Johnson

!cid_C50495DB-B890-4E69-A431-4625D9DE581C@dslextreme, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. I am updating my Elephant Update list. I send elephant pictures like this one of the lovely and talented Dixie, as well as legislative alerts and articles I think friends will be interested in. If you do not want to be on this list or want me to use a different e-mail address please let me know. If you know of someone who would like to be added just have them e-mail me. Thanks! ~Kari

From Army Maguire

30174341-01_big, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Buckles

01-26-2012 07;18;23PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Dave Price

BucklesNash, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Red Show animal walk night before last in Nashville.

To Chic Silber #1

01-26-2012 11;41;07PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Is this the building you and Jeff were referring to light-wise? Blue Show in 1995, "Anna May" and Vica, a girl from the Russian bear-horse act.

To Chic Silber #2

01-27-2012 05;05;45AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. This was Vica's first shot at an "up and over" during her initial practice session. Barbara was amazed at how fast she caught on. Is this trick done any more? Used to be fairly common.

From John Goodall

bilde, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Catherine Carden directs Carol, Patty and Duchess When she’s not on the road, Catherine Carden likes to relax at her family farm in Myakka City. It’s a relatively normal household — with three very big exceptions. There’s Carden, her husband and their two sons, of course. And then there’s the three Asian elephants in the backyard. That’s life as Carden has always known it. The seventh-generation circus performer grew up with elephants Carol and Patty. Then she married elephant trainer Brett Carden, and he brought Duchess into the mix. “This has been my life every day for 38 years,” Carden says. The Cardens and their three elephants perform this weekend when Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus comes to Germain Arena. In addition to the elephants, the brand-new show features motorcycle daredevils, a clown, a strongman, acrobats and more. Carden says she’s always been fascinated by elephants. So she understands why circus audiences love them, too. Elephants are practically synonymous with the circus, she says. And they’ve been in the public eye even more lately, thanks to the best-selling book “Water for Elephants” and last year’s movie adaptation (Carden hasn’t seen or read them yet, but she says they’re on her to-do list). “They’re amazing animals, no matter who you are,” Carden says. “And you don’t get to see them every day. It’s not like you’ll find them in somebody’s yard.” Unless, of course, you’re talking about her yard. Showman P.T. Barnum — who founded the circus that eventually became Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey — recognized the audience’s love for elephants. "Clowns and elephants are the pegs on which the circus is hung,” he once said. Carden certainly agrees. “They’re big, they’re beautiful, and they perform so majestically,” she says. “You’re in awe of them.” She laughs. “Clowns are good, too, I guess,” she says.

From Mike Naughton

images, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. We regret to inform you of the death of Penny Wilson Rodriguez who died yesterday evening after a very long illness. This information came from The Wilson Family. Joanne Wilson's email is Bigpoodles@aol.com. The circus community will miss a very dear friend.

Liebling Family Circus #1 (From Jim Cole)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8313942@N07/6764904109/, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. The Great American Family Circus....AKA Liebling Circus Sunday Jan 22, St. Cloud, FL. Osceola Flea Market. While the more sophisticated circus fans were in Monte Carlo this past weekend for the 36th Annual Festival, us Florida rednecks had our own circus shin-dig!

Liebling Family Circus #2

!cid_8B1B181DE53448DEBE6AFAF992559630@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #3

!cid_A1553277F7ED43A8B281070D3B1E0CBA@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #4

!cid_790D90DCA6154FD3BFFE877B3A39E512@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #5

!cid_51714D56E176488888361C81A70F3F17@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #6

!cid_516CADAB46884B3CBDFE9690E0F9BB16@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #7

!cid_DF058A0367134D9182D759AE28F8A80F@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #8

!cid_FF02371355304C07AA73FF4D94AC8784@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.