Al G. Barnes Circus Program 1935 #1

At one time when Mr. Barnes still owned this show, the complete performance was done by animals, an arena remanied in the center ring throughout the performance. He had an extensive menagerie and it was said that everything in it appeared in the show even if it was merely to walk in Spec. In 1935 (now owned by Ringling) it was still thought of as an animal show. The arena remained in the ring through about one third of the performance before it was taken down. After Spec, two aerial acts worked while the chute was being set up and the first act arena act was Capt. Terrell Jacobs and a large group of lions. Two acts later, a three ring display showed elephants and ponies in the each end ring while LaVerne McLain presented a riding tiger on an elephant in the arena. Later another display had hounds and ponies in the end rings and in the arena, Laura Roth was "The dancing girl in the lions' den". No idea what that might be. And finally Display #10 introduced Miss Mabel Stark and her performing tigers, after which the arena was dismantled.