Friday, April 23, 2010

Show Painter 1962 #5


Scan12837, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

When the panels were folded out, this wagon became
the walk-thru marquee.

Jack Mills was quoted as saying, "Never invite the public
to walk up and down steps or ramps unnecessarily,
you are just inviting law suits..

Posted by Buckles at 4/23/2010 06:13:00 AM

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I never understood the reason for a 'walk through' wagon as an entrance. Although this is K-M, I just read on a route card for 1976 Carson & Barnes, the circus I worked for, it was the first year for that show to use a canvas marque. Dion

23 April, 2010 09:17
Buckles said...

D.R. justified this by saying that the marquee was always the first thing to blow down.
This arrangement also eliminated two ticket wagons since the ticket and concession offices were in each end of the vehicle.
Three small concession trailers were carried inside and were spotted down the center of the midway making an attractive appearance and being self contained and raised off the ground, eliminated beefs from the Health Dept.
But all this aside, he simply loved to change things. Half way thru the season you would see him with a tape measure and note book ready to make more changes.

23 April, 2010 13:16
Anonymous said...

A visible walkover was used on show fronts to demonstrate that people were buying tickets and going into the show. It encouraged lookers and gawkers to do the same, even if some of the early "buyers" were shills.

The platform was also where the bally was staged, so with a wide front there was little choice other than to have a walkover arrangement.

24 April, 2010 10:37

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