Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Parker & Watts Circus 1938/ Big Top Interior


This is the Parker & Watts Circus co-owned by my old friend Ira Watts. Not bad looking at all, I think this tent is as big as you can get without having to use two rows of quarter poles. Maybe 100' across with three 40' middle pieces. At right is the back door and band stand, flanked by two sections of "star backs" seats with small flaps that fold up and for an additional fee were available to the public. The seats in the far end of the tent are the bleachers (blues) constructed of soft pine and at left on the front side, might be a chair grand stand, if so, this is where high society would be seated.
The thing that impresses me the most is the number of banners hanging from between the quarter poles. The show's "banner man" would spend the morning soliciting the local merchants to have their businesses advertised during the performance. Something Watts would be good at. They seem to have hung them completely around the tent this day.

Posted by Buckles at 8/23/2005 07:25:00 AM

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Buckles - What part of the country did this show travel in?

23 August, 2005 09:08
Buckles said...

Parker & Watts was only out for a couple of seasons and I think their route was confined to the MidWest and Prairie States.

23 August, 2005 10:51
Anonymous said...

As I recall, P&W was out 1938-39 and toured the Midwest. This was Bud Anderson's former Seal Bros. Circus and featured a horse-drawn daily street parade. A history on this show appeared in Bandwagon magazine a few years back.

25 August, 2005 22:18
Anonymous said...

My grandmother Ardus Shawcroft was said to have run off with a driver from this circus, possibly John? Watts. She lived near Alamosa, Colorado, on a farm with six sisters. Their parents died of inflluenza and the one brother capable of working the farm was soon after dragged to death by a horse riding mishap. The oldest sister taught school, but soon lost control of the younger sisters. She returned home a few years later with my father, Hershel Eugene Watts. John? Watts later died in a car or truck accident. Does any of this sound likely?

26 November, 2005 22:35
Richard A. Marvez said...

Hello All! By some odd coincidence a gentleman by the name of Jim Watts entered my shop yesterday and a rambling conversation ensued. I found out the Jim is related to Ira M. Watts of the former Parker & Watts Circus. Jim gave me the phone # of his father who know resides in Haines City, FL. I spoke with James Watts Sr. today and he told me of his uncle Ira M. Watts. James told me of running away to be with his uncle and the circus as it traveled throughout Kansas and beyond. James is a living encyclopedia of the life and history of the Parker & Watts Circus. I would hope that greater detail might be had by initiating a conversation with this fine man who was delightful in every way.
Beat Regards to All...Richard A. Marvez

20 May, 2015 14:53
Unknown said...

Hello all. Our mom has done research in her uncle Charles Parker who was the co-owner with Ira Watts. Any information on their circus would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Cathy Rautio.

16 May, 2019 15:12

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