One of my favorites...RBBB Backyard, July, 1941--what a great shot, terrific color--very tight backyard...interesting to see different color tents and sidewalls, sort of a hodge podge. |
Monday, June 07, 2010
From Jerry Digney #8
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5 comments:
Great color shot of the backyard. Can see the open top wagon #49 in the right forground which carried ringstock poles and canvas. The Mack truck on the left is in the WWII green paint scheme, but was surprised at the lettering done in yellow. Gray roofs on the baggage wagons. Menagerie tent in rear with the big top and the ac vents just visable on the far right behind the tree. Small blue top maybe the backyard grease joint or butcher supply (concessions).
p.j.
I agree, a great photo.
I have a fine aerial shot of the set up at New Bedford, Mass on July 4, 1941. That was a one day stand and the gorilla suspension tent was in use that day. I believe it was put up everywhere in ’41. The menagerie was too crowded with other stuff to try and put the two long gorilla cages in there end to end with viewing from both sides plus all the “Mr. and Mrs” trimmings including the two level viewing platforms.
Now, what was not set up all the time was the giraffe island inside the menagerie. I think it was used only at the longer stands such as Chicago and Los Angeles. I feel confident that the giraffes were conventionally exhibited when I saw the show in Atlanta in 1941 - -a two day stand.
Remember, the giraffe pen in that TRUE-VUE film strip shows the conventional one. And, those menagerie pics all seem to have been shot in ’41.
In this color pic, the tent right behind the green Mack truck is the “horse fair” (red and white striped sidewalls and red top). 1941 was its last year. It was connected to the menagerie in the background.
However, in the New Bedford photo it is not so connected because the lot was too narrow.
The menagerie had a red top and blue sidewalls, just the opposite of the big top which was blue above and red on the sides. The red top of the menagerie faded badly as the year wore on.
The yellow side wall tent in the right foreground was the dressing room. The side show also had a yellow top.
Robert Good wrote that the 1941 show was so huge that there was not enough flat car space to haul it all. He said that 8 to 10 highway trucks were required, the so-called fifth section.
Once again I am reminded of what the late Col. Woodcock told the late Joe Bradbury, namely that 1941RBBB was the largest circus he ever saw. From my experience, admittedly far less that of the Colonel, I would say the same.
While on the subject, I can state that in Atlanta in 1942, there was no separate gorilla suspension tent. The two gorilla wagons were inside the menagerie. The reason was that all the lead stock had burned up earlier in Cleveland so there was ample room down the middle of the 6-pole tent for the two gorilla wagons.
Thank you Richard for the information on the other tents. Had forgot about the horse fair tent being last used in 1941. And you can see one of the 60 series wardrobe wagons next to the dressing tent.
p.j.
Does anyone know where the show lot was located when the GSOE would come to Los Angeles and appeared under canvas? ~frank
God Bless the Circus Historians for they shall enlighten all who are willing to learn.
Always awestruck
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