Monday, April 12, 2010

Cole Bros. 1943 #4


Scan12794, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"Columbia Tableau- Reserved Seat Ticket Wagon and
inside Side Show paraphenalia.
#91 Jack Wagon"
Bill Woodcock Sr.

Posted by Buckles at 4/12/2010 06:49:00 AM

12 comments:

J Goodall said...

This was the first parade vehicle acquired by the Circus World Museum. John MK. Kelley, founder of the museumn obtained it from Cole Bros Circfus in 1954.

The wagon was built by Bode Wagon Co., Cincinnatti in 1902 for James E. Bailey, owner of Barnum & Bailey Circus.

In 1927, it was acquired by Christy Bros. Circus and later by Cole Bros. The wagon was converted to a ticket wagon after Cole Bros stopped giving street parades.

The viewer can see a small window near the drivers footrest. That window no longer exists after an earlier restoration by Circus World Museum.

12 April, 2010 09:02
Dick Flint said...

Actually, it was acquired from the Cole show by Connecticut model builder Bill Brinley who had exhibited his model as a promo ahead of the show when owned by Hopalong Cassidy (Wm Boyd). It was Brinley who sold it to CWM/Kelley.
Dick Flint
Baltimore

12 April, 2010 10:24
Anonymous said...

Didn't Mr.Brinley have some other large or pony size wagons in his collection?

12 April, 2010 11:53
Dick Flint said...

Yes, he did but I would characterize them as small pony size. I think some of them went to Commerford.
Dick Flint
Baltimore

12 April, 2010 15:22
Harry Kingston said...

Mr Flint,
Please tell us more as I never knew Cole show was owned by William Boyd.
I read in the Bandwagon that Wirtz and Tavalen(spelling) not looking at my old Bandwagon mag. bought it from Zack for the 1949 season and tried to go after Ringling but that did not work.
You are the history man so please tell us more and go into detail as circus history is facinating.
I knew William Boyd was featured with Cole like Ken Maynard was way before.
Harry

12 April, 2010 16:23
J Goodall said...

Dick, I am confused. After consulting Bob Parkinson's book, "Directory of the American Circuses", I find Zack Terrell owned Cole Bros 1941-1948, Jack Tavlin 1949 and finally Arthur Wirtz 1950-1953.

There is nothing showing that Hopalong Cassidy owned Cole Bros Circus.

13 April, 2010 14:24
Dick Flint said...

Wm Boyd owned 1/3 of the Cole show for a brief period and last night I sent a post to Buckles with a scan of the cover of the Cole 1950 program with Hopalong Cassidy on the cover; I assume it may get posted tomorrow. Rumors, first denied by Wirtz, circulated early in the year that William Boyd had bought a stake in the show. The best confirmation of actual ownership, however, is in Billboard for Feb 3, 1951, page 50, reporting that Wirtz was planning to buy the 1/3 interest held by Boyd and his manager Robert Stabler (who was the circus's v-p). Incidentally, Bob's Directory does not name the other 1/3 owner of the Cole show, James D. Norris of the Detroit Stadium.
No historian is perfect; that's why properly citing sources is important so later folks can double check. I even misled a bit in today's post about blankets on the spec bulls!
Dick Flint
Baltimore

13 April, 2010 16:44
john herriott said...

financial interest in the show, and in fact after Jersey City and the show went under canvas Boyd was not happy and was glad to leave. I knew Bob Stabler, a nice fellow and Hoppys mgr. They never exercised any mhgmnt-owner characteristics. They were never on the train and did not even have a dressing room, etc. Hoppy would arrive from the hotel already in the Hoppy wrdbe. The horse went overland in a pick up horse trailer owned by Hoppy and a father-son wrangler took care of Topper. No stable tent, etc. When in Miami [Ojus] Wirtz flew in with Sonja Heinie for PR photo op about getting hay for elephants [he beat the creditors from the Yavlin year before episode in court] and the news was put out that she also owned part of the show. She was prominent in the seats and introduced on opening night in the Chacago Stadium. [she starred and was in the Wirtz "Holiday Ice Revue] for man years. I was there and recall all during those years. My father was Eques. Director replacing Leo Hamilton when we went under canvas and continued in that capacity for some subsequent stadium dates and replaced Frank Orman as mgr. when Orman left to mnge Clyde Beatty circus. Wirtz was knocking on the door to get the Garden Circus but it fizzled when his indoor-ballpark endeavors were not up to ecpectations as he had no desire to be in thetent show biz. He paid of the 125 grand to Terrel owed by Tavlin associates and beat the creditors in court [namely Jacks of Hollywood and Kenuckly trailors, so actually he acquired the whole Cole Bros. physical equip. for the aforemention 125 Gs. He foreclosed on Terrell Jacobs mrtgage and we moved to Bunker Hill. Its quite a story and I was there during most of it. [Korean war interruption]. VP Bill Horstman was the guy that handled circus things for Wirtz. Also managed Wirtz owned Bismark Hotel in chgo. There is lots more. Johnny

14 April, 2010 08:53
Harry Kingston said...

Mr. Herriott,
If there is lots more on Cole Bros. and if you are willing to tell us that would be great.
Your information is the best since you were there for us that like circus history.
Please add more.
Harry

14 April, 2010 09:55
Unknown said...

I'm interested in any info on this thread. My great uncle was Roy McAndrews. He was the third partner of the 1/3 ownership of the Cole Brothers Circus during 1949. He was partners to McEuen and Tavlin. I'm trying to gather more info. Anything would be much appreciated!

20 February, 2011 12:05
john herriott said...

I was aware of the two MCs associated with Tavlin, but believe after their losses in 49 season they thru it into Tavlins hands as the creditors were numerous [jacks of Hollywoog, Kentucky trailers]. They were not circus people, but Abbie Tavlin was. He had been a high stepping butcher on Ringling and grew to be quite prominent and cobbled up the deal to buy Cole. He brought alot of cronies from RBBB with him.[they did not last] and being that Terrel still was owed alot of scratch he had alot of his people there. Treasurer Lauron Russell and Frank Orman as key people. Once Wirtz stepped in and paid off Terrel [they had done business before] and had lawyers now beat out the creditors Tavlin's importance minimized and at the time of the Early closing [aug. 5] Tavlin was totally eliminated. I don't know if Wirtz paid him off but I doubt it. When I was with Hoxie years later Tavlin came to visit on the Jersey shore. He bremembered me and reminiced. He was running a successful PR firm in New York. Quite a guy. I heard that he had the record of sales of bottle Coke as a seat butcher in his early Ringling days. Enough forr now. John Herriott

21 February, 2011 07:09
john h. said...

We had only heard of Tavlins backers McKuen and McAndrews and that they were from Texas. We on the 50 season never saw them. Tavlin lived in the private car "Estrella" but had it lettered "HOPALONG CASSIDY". hOPPY never was in the car. It was said that Sanja Heinie also owned part of the circus. She appeared in Quarters in Ojus,Fla. and posed with Wirtz in front of a big hay pile in news copy of her and Wirtz were feeding the elephants after the show went broke. She also was in audience opening night in the Stadium in Chicago [She starred in Wirtz "Hollywood On Ice" show. I am sure Hoppy got a piece of the action during his time of appearance,etc. but doubt if he had any investment whatsoever.So they were just names Wirtz could use. Just like Feld saying he bought Circus WilliaMS TO GET GUNther when he onkly booked the Williams animal acts. Later he would buy the animals, but never the

21 February, 2011 08:36

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