Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Ben Wallace # 5


After the heat blew over Wallace returned to using his own name again and in 1895 it became "Great Wallace Shows".
As is well known he bought the defunct "Carl Hagenbeck Wild Animal Show" in 1907 and the great Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was thus created, much to the dismayof Mr. Hagenbeck who was unaware his name would be included in the sale.
In the lower right hand corner you can see "Rhino Tab" printed, this vehicle didn't transport a rhino but was so called due to the beautiful rhino carving on it's side.
"Tab" means Tableau which was the term used for an elaborately decorated baggage wagon that could be presented in parade. In plural they were called "Tableaux".

Posted by Buckles at 11/09/2005 06:59:00 AM

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I figure the quality of the Peru show must have been exceptional to make up for the heat that it carried operating under the Wallace name for so many years. Other than the two seasons in the mid-'90's the show seemed to play the same towns under the Wallace name and play fast and loose with the same people again and again without wearing out their welcome. Wallace must have been a pretty complex guy. Ruthless on the road, but generous to his community. It's too bad the Hagenbeck-Wallace title can't be dusted off and taken back out on the raod for a 100th birthday party. It deserved better than to become an in-house prop company

09 November, 2005 11:29
Buckles said...

It goes without saying the show didn't work the flat stores when showing Peru. I read somewhere that on the lot, Wallace was always referred to as "Mr. Johnson".

09 November, 2005 11:54
Anonymous said...

In agreement with Ben Trumble, I add in disgust, and sad dismay, that at least the current owners of the Hagenbeck-Wallace title have removed "circus" from the tarnished name of what they offer now.

10 November, 2005 03:57

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