From Hagenbeck Wallace Shows 1914. Eddie and Jennie began performing for the great Ringling Brothers' Circus in 1906. With the exception of the 1907 season, which they spent with the Van A mburgh Circus, Eddie and Jennie were with the Ringling show through 1912, performing a swinging ladders act as well as their double trapeze. A double trapeze consists of one trapeze hanging above another. From this the aerialists perform a series of contortions, flips, and drops and catches. The act was performed without a net or safety device of any kind. At the height of their career, the Wards' double trapeze performance consisted of eight or more stunts, and took seven minutes. Two of their stunts, the foot-to-foot catch and the break-away trick, were said to be innovations of the Wards. |
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Six Flying Wards (From Mike Naughton)
Posted by Buckles at 9/17/2008 06:15:00 AM
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8 comments:
I found the article above on the Internet; I'm not the author.
Can anyone verify this information--Billy Ward clowned on Ringing (that part I know is true) and was found dead in the building's shower the morning after a performance.
This was told to me 30+ years ago so the details may be murky.
I think Billy's photo is a few photos below with the three men in the center and Billy on the right.
Other familiar faces in that 1931 photo are Harold Ward and Wayne Larey in the center with Eilene Voice and Mayme Ward in front.
Correction-I meant is that Billy Ward in the 1931 photo with the four men and Billy (?) on the right.
I'm quite sure that is Mayme Ward on the left. John Herriott, would you agree?
Dick Flint
Baltimore
Let us not forget the Ward tie to Baraboo, when is was still in High School and the Baraboo Band played in the Circus Parade, Mayme was the wardrobe person at Circus World in the early years and she was the one responsible for the outfitting of all the participants with her staff during the Schiltz Circus Parade years in Milwaukee. Well as a "punk" I had to be fitted for my band uniform and we did it at Mayme's house on the back side of the Museum. This was my first "run in" with Mayme. As one might say she could chew and spit we the best of them and if you did not watch out and you came in the front door with the wrong attitude or question you could be seen "flying" out the back door. She was a great ole girl and part of the legacy of CWM and all it's special people. Sure glad to have known and experienced this special person. Ralph from Baraboo
Steve Gossard wrote an extended article about the Ward flyers. It's in Bandwagon, Nov-Dec 1986 issue. He's also written about other flying acts and his book on the topic is the best thing in print.
By the time I first met him, Billy Ward was clowning for RBBB, in 1960 for sure, and maybe as early as 1957. I cannot confirm the circumstances of his passing.
Roger Smith
Eileen last named was spelled Voise not Voice...
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