Sunday, November 26, 2006

Corporaion Letterhead (Front Cover)




This American Circus Corporation letterhead is one of my most prized possessions.
It opens like a menu and shows features of the Corporation Empire on the front, inside and back.
It was sent to my father, who was visiting his mother in Hot Springs on 1/31/30 by Sells-Floto boss elephant man, Clyde "Highpockets" Baudendistl, at the Peru Winter Qiarters.

"Hows this for a letterhead Bill................................................Peru Ind Jan 31-30
Friend Bill just a few lines...Am well...Hope you and your mother are the same...have been flooded out Except the bull barn...all Barns had from 1 to 3 feet of water in them. Terrell arrived today and ask if I could load 15 bulls in that car...said that is what he wants... All so (3) Camel skids...I have every thing ready for Road...3 Acts Very good. All Painting and Repairing done Except car chains to Repair...I have 24 Hooks in Canes...I suppose you know about Our Boss dying Mr Mugivan he had a $12,000 Bronz Casket and a very large Funeral...Write when you can
........................................Your friend Highpockets 272 So Broadway Peru."

Highpockets was so impressed with this letterhead that he made notations throughout:
Notations above: "Lorett Tucker"............."Wallace Bulls".....
I might add that my father joined the Floto Show soon after and remained for the next few seasons.

For those unaware, these pictures will enlarge if you click on them.Posted by Picasa

Posted by Buckles at 11/26/2006 05:52:00 AM

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

This multi purpose ;
( Stationary / Brochure )
is a clever layout & design .

26 November, 2006 09:20
Anonymous said...

When I was visiting the Circus Hall of Fame, in Peru, last year, Tom Dunwoody showed me some of the incredible collection of photos and route cards that are not on display, much of which is his personal collection. These are kept in the old house that had been the WQ office. The house is scheduled for restoration when funding becomes available.

I understand that much of the original Circus Hall of Fame collection was not included in the sale when it went from Sarasota to Peru.

26 November, 2006 09:35
Anonymous said...

I'm amazed at how much more elaborate the letterhead appears to be than the previous stationary I've seen from the Corporation before the Ringling buyout. In a sense the letterhead is pretty clear on why Ringling bought out the shows. the titles, the titles, the titles. Interesting that Highpockets stilled Mugivan the boss, though he'd sold out before his death.

26 November, 2006 11:02
Buckles said...

I agree with you completely yet it appears that it's the first time Highpockets had seen it.
Maybe like Bud Copeland says, it is a brouchure and only normally used by the front office or the Press people.

26 November, 2006 17:34
Anonymous said...

You're probably right. Gollmar is probably the kicker. The Sparks title was notable for not being there, as it certainly was in '31. Then again back in September somebody sold this same four page letterhead on Ebay, describing it as 1930's vintage. If the letter dates from late '31 and the decision has been made to pull Sparks off the road for '32, that would explain that. I know you're spot on in that Mugivan had a piece of the Yank title, along with Sells Floto and the Bill title beginning in 1920. I suppose at that point he and Bowers had the name "Robison" sewed up from three different directions.

26 November, 2006 18:18

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