Al G. Kelly & Miller Bros. Circus 1947

This is a smaller version of what the Kelly-Miller big top looked like when I first saw it in late 1949. On the back is written "70' with five 20' middles". The rings are off-set and for some reason the ring on this end has two center poles in it, of course it's a Hell of a lot better than no rings at all. Looks like two wooden bull tubs, maybe they came with "Mary Ann" and "Mona" in 1944. Putting up a push-pole top this size revolutionized the business but when I first saw it I was appalled. Mostly because the center poles were rarely vertical or aligned and the lack of a chair grandstand, not even star backs. The reserved section was said to have been made of soft pine. The show was built for speed tho, always up and ready by 10 AM and put away by 11 PM. but with no outside rigging it could and did blow away on occasion.