Saturday, April 19, 2014

1931 Snyder Bros. Circus #11


7 comments:

JIM ELLIOTT said...

Interesting little show. Can anyone tell me more about this show?

Hal Guyon said...

I`m guessing that the large hip roof tent is the Big Top.

Dick Flint said...

Snyder Bros. was out in 1931-32 and was operated by Frank "Zeke" Snyder of upstate New York (the spawning ground of many, many small shows in the first half of the 20th century--from Sig Sautelle to the "original" Jimmie Cole). Snyder was a rural mail carrier who got the bug. In 1930 he purchased a defunct road show in Syracuse. An elephant was purchased from Benson Wild Animal farm in Nashua, New Hampshire. Some of acquired animals were farmed out at zoos during the winter, but some lions, wildcats, monkeys and bears were kept in Synder's barns at his home beginning in September. Henry F. Fredericks, for many years with Walter L. Main's circus and other outfits, was secured to act as manager. Mrs. Snyder was secretary and treasurer (aren't all show owner's wives?). Described by the local newspaper on opening day as Snyder's "dream of a life-time," a street parade was given at noon (but only for the first season). The side show, with Snyder's animals, was packed, and when the sale of tickets for the main show took place it was estimated that 700 crowded into the first performance (full capacity for the 60' round with two 30s; the lot was the local airport!). Gus Kanerva, on Kelly-Miller in the mid-40s was with it as was clown and comedy ring performer Buck Leahy (who I remember meeting in the 1960s. It moved out that first season on ten trucks and played only New York state. That first winter was spent in an airplane hanger in Red Bank, NY. 1932 found it venturing into some adjacent states, even to NH where many stands were played. A Billboard writer referred to it as a dog and pony show, generating a quick response that it was not as it carried a menagerie, side show, wild west, and a ten piece band. The show closed abruptly mid-July. Snyder's widow later said while the Depression affected cities early on, agricultural regions were not affected as quickly.
The show was off the road in 1933 but went out again in 1934 as Cole & Rogers. That's another story!
Dick Flint
Baltimore

John Herriott said...

Thanks Dick for the info. Guess I was wrong but still believe "Tiger Bill" had a circus out at sometime. I was on KM with Gus Kanerva. He was a nice man and did good head balance. I believe he starte3d Tiny Gallagher on the head balance on KM. thank again Dick. Your knowledge of Circus History in commendable. johnny

Dick Flint said...

Johnny, you're almost correct! Its the 1934 Cole & Rogers that was the old Snyder Bros. equipment that Tiger Bill and one of the Newtons were involved in. More later when I can. It's your knowledge and memory that is impressive! I enjoy looking all this stuff up and I'm just addicted to the blog and Buckles' happy focus on history.
Dick Flint
Baltimore

Paul Binder said...

Buckles

I'm an avid daily follower of your blog. I never miss an edition. I acknowledged it in my acceptance speech at the Ring of Fame this past January. Of course I was on cloud nine that day, so I might have acknowledge the man in the moon...but I wanted to pay my respects to your year's of knowledge of and participation in the Circus community.

Buckles said...

Damn!......I wish I'd known that, I would have asked for a raise!