Zellmar Bros. Circus 1926 #4

Boss canvasman, Ed Oates, in repose between shows.

Zellmar Bros. Circus 1926 #5

Tillie Keys at left and Mrs. Sims with "Ruth", Engesser's first elephant. It looks to be about a 70' push pole big top in the background. RUTH 1925 Wm. P. Hall Animal Farm 1926-27 Zellmar Bros. Circus 1928-38 Schell Bros. Circus 1938-68 Little Rock, Ark. Zoo (Died in Nov. of 1968) By 1939 the show had four elephants "Ruth", "Mary" and two punks "Patsy" and "Bolo" (a male).

Peter Arno #1

At one time the esteem of the Greatest Show on Earth was such that John Ringling North had little trouble in getting his New York Society friends to get involved in the show. In 1942, not only were Igor Stravinsky and George Balanchine producing music and choreography but artist Peter Arno was given free rein in designing the program from cover to cover.

Peter Arno #2

Peter Arno #3

Peter Arno #4

Peter Arno #5

Peter Arno #6

Peter Arno #7

James William Woodcock

Can't believe how silver his hair is, almost the same color as mine. Even parts it on the left side.

New Arrival!

James William Woodcock born this morning at 10:41 AM, weighing in at 9 lbs./ 4 oz. Early reports indicate that he is an uncommonly fine fellow.

RBBB Blue Unit 1994 #1

Running late this morning, Melissa and Shannon off to St. Joseph's Hospial last night for the forthcoming blessed event, no word as yet this morning. These pictures just received from Eric Beheim who took them at San Diego in 1994. As I have mentioned before, this situation came about by chance. Ben had our elephants with Big Apple while Barbara and I were at home when the Ringling train wreck and Ted's unfortunate death precluded my return to the show. There were 23 elephants, the most ever carried while indoors but it was a clumsy arrangement. Jimmy Silverlake was in charge of "King Tusk", Graham Chipperfield was there with his three elephants, Patty Zerbini had her elephant "Luke" as well as presenting the two mother cows and their calves "Romeo" and "Juliet" that she and Ted had brought on the show. I handled the remaining fourteen. A large stock pen was erected in the elephant tent so the punks could roam and nurse at their leisure and all four were transported back and forth from the train in a large wagon.

RBBB Blue Unit 1994 #2

How could Shannon possibly know that in 12 short years, he would be blissfully married with three children and a fourth almost here.

RBBB Blue Unit 1994 #3

Tom Haffner on the way in for Menage.

RBBB Blue Unit 1994 #4

RBBB Blue Unit 1994 #5

I believe this is Tony Hughes and Melody Heizhusen getting ready for Opening.

Epilog/ RBBB Blue Show 1995

This picture was taken early the next season when we showed Florence, SC. A big day since Big Apple Circus was wintering there and everyone visited, I assured Mr. Binder that I would be back in the Fall. Erik Jaeger took this picture of his son on "Romeo". During the 8 day lay-off in Orlando, I had the two mother cows "Alana" and "Icky" sent home to Williston along with their stock pen which I replaced with a wooden deck for the punks to stand on. I had just enough time to get them laid down and sat up before we went out on the '95 tour. Most importantly tho, we no longer needed the transport wagon since "Romeo" and "Juliet would now march to the train with their adopted mothers "Siam" and "Calcutta" and see what the world contained beside themselves.

Unidentified elephant #1

Sent by Chuck Pankow from a 1907 Chicago Daily News article regarding a Shrine event. Possibly Mabel Hall's "Charlie". My first thought was that since Ringling Bros. Circus opened indoors in Chicaco each Spring, he might be from their herd but I doubt it.

Unidentified elephant #2

Ellen DeGeneres TV Show 2004. Sent by KLSDAD.

Unidentified elephant #3

From Gordon Taylor.

Al G. Barnes Program 1929 #1

Mr. Barnes ran into personal financial difficulties and sold his circus to the mighty American Circus Corporation. 1929 was the first season under the new ownership. (You will notice that the steel arena remains in the center ring throughout the entire performance. A remnant of the early days when the the Barnes Show was 100% animal acts). General Manager....................................S.L. Cronin Assistant Manager..................................Charles C. Cook Treasurer..........................................Theo. Forstall Secretary..........................................Jack Youden Equestrian Direcor.................................John T. Backman Assistant Equestrian Director......................Bert Dennis Musical Director...................................C.E. Redick General Agent and Traffic Manager..................F.J. Frink AL G. BARNES' SUPERB OPENING SPECTACLE "ALADDIN AND THE PARADE OF GOLD" Aladdin.................Stella Keffer Her father..............Walter Dupree Fairy Queen.............Ethlyn Allis Mephisto................Jack McAfee (Beween the first and second parts will appear the famous Klinkhart Midgets in the "March of the Wooden Soldiers"). Music and lyrics by Charles Redrick and Morrey B. Streeter; Costumes by Reed, Houck and Smith; Elecrical effects by Charles Cook; Produced under the direction of John T. Backman.

Al G. Barnes Program 1929 #2

"Sofia, Ida and Agnes Klinkhart with "Jiggs" the chimpanzee with a college education". Display No. 1 A troupe of Royal Lilliputians, the smallest people on earth and Mr. Sky-High, the tallest man in the world. Display No. 2 "Tusko" and "Mighty Tusko" the largest beasts that tread the earth today. *(In 1929 "Tusko" remained in quarters all season, only "Black Diamond" was on tour, that's his picture on the front cover. Elephant boss that season was E.W. Jackson.") Display No. 3 "Lotus" the biggest blood-sweating hippopotamus in captivity. Valued at $50,000. Display No. 4 Mr. Al G. Barnes' blue ribbon winners- three and five gaited saddle horses. These equines are genuine thoroughbreds. Display No. 5 Ring 1 Highly trained ponies and leaping greyhounds presented by Bert Dennis. Steel Arena A group of pumas and leopards, offered by Miss Bobby Todd. Ring 3 Favorites of the childen- ponies and high jumping greyhounds by William Keffer. Steel Arena

Al G. Barnes Program 1929 #3

"King, is the leader of the zebras with the Al G. Barnes Circus and Miss Billie Mack is one of the favorite trainers" Display No. 6 Ring 1 Ponderous pachyderms that obey their trainers- Patsy Clancy, Betty Miller and Anna Velde. Steel Arena Natural enemies- a riding Royal Bengal tiger and an Arabian horse- offered by Alma Taylor. Ring 3 Elephants that dance and perform comical stunts- presented by Rhea Jack, Hazel Prosser and Dixie Whitaker. On the track- Louis IV, the monkey that rides a bicycle as well as a human. Display No. 7 A trilling display high in the air on the trapeze by pretty feminine and masculine aerial artists. Display No. 8 Ring 1 Sunkist beauties driving handsome horses at tandem. Steel Arena A snarling and fighting group of Royal Bengal tigers, subjugated by Louis Roth, premier trainer. Ring 3 California beauties driving high-stepping horses at tandem. Display No. 9 Funny clowns of all nationaliies and their boon companions, the musical elephants on the hippodrome track. Display No. 10 Mlle. Letourneau, dainty and fearless gymnast, hanging by her heels in mid-air.

Al G. Barnes Program 1929 #4

"Louis Roth noted subjugator of jungle brutes with "Chevrolet" a trained bear. Display No. 11 Ring 1 Remarkable feat of horsemanship by the Stick Davenport Troupe. Steel Arena The original riding four- An exclusive Al G. Banes novelty. Ring 3 From England comes these equestrian wonders, The Mark Smith Family. Dis[lay No. 12 "BIMBO" the only singing donkey at large, and his clown friends. Display No. 13 Ring 1 Zebras from Africa performing under the direction of Bert Dennis. Steel Arena The fearless little girl that wrestles a full grown Siberian tiger, Miss Betty Kenyon Roth. Ring 3 Europe's noted trainer and his African zebras, Max Sable. Display No. 14 Hey-Hey- Cook brothers and their Phunny Phord- bringing a car load of mirth and fun to the hippodrome track. Display No. 15 Twenty comely and shapely aerialists. Exponents of physical culture, swinging in mid-air. The Hollywood beauties of the Silver Whirls.

Al G. Barnes Program 1929 #5

"Maybe Milt Taylor is telling Alma Taylor just how he directs the traffic in the big top of the Al G. Barnes Circus." Display No. 16 Ring 1 Spotted Liberty Horses in an amazing routine presented by Mark Smith. Steel Arena "Rex" the famous riding lion. Ring 3 Libety horses of cream color under the command of Bert Dennis. Display No. 17 Champions of the far western pastimes- A reminder of the big concert and after-show. Don't fail to see these noted cowboys and cowgirls. Display No. 18 Ring 1 Sacred oxen, water buffalo and American bison trained by William Keffer. Steel Arena Seals and sea lions that are almost human. Offered by Prof. Chales. Ring 3 From the sun-tanned Sahara- Camels worked by Max Sable. Display No. 19 Fleet ostriches with jockeys in a race around the hippodrome track. Followed by the "Fool's Convention" A reunion of the scampering rascals and merry jesters. Display No. 20 Ring 1 Zeigfeldian Beauties in a series of poses. Steel Arena Posing equines that form pretty pictures. Ring 3 Canines that group themselves into marvelous art displays.

Al G. Barnes Program 1929 #6

"Miss Bobby Todd and "Vallejo" one of the performing pumas" Display No. 21 Ring 1 Dancing on the silver thread by the Matlock Troupe Ring 2 Wire artist Yassu Kobiash, Japanese lady Ring 3 The peerless wire walkers- The Backman Family Beautiful performing South American and tropical birds offered by Golda Backman and Miss Post. Display No. 22 All eyes in the air "Simba" the famous aerial lion. (Balloon Lion) We have with us again the cowboys and cowgirls that have captured important championships at the big rodeos. Display No. 23 Ring 1 From Bavaria come the famous comedy riders- The Klinkhart Midgets. Ring 3 Europes best midget horsemen and women- The Klinkhart Midgets. Display No. 24 From the highest dome of the big tent to the ground- a sensational backward slide by Miss Bertha Matlock' Display No. 25 Forty Singing Girls and Two Score of Dancing Horses- "Kentucky Thoroughbreds" take possession of the entire hippodrome track. The "Merry Andrews" the famous clowns make their last appearance in grotesque heads and figures. (By this time they had already removed their makeup). Display No. 26 Ring 1 Latourneau Duo and the Willis Troupe of acrobats. Steel Arena The largest and most vicious group of Black Mane African lions ever assemled- John Meyers, trainer. Ring 3 The Matlock Acrobats in a series of startling feats and tumbling contests. Display No. 27 The Grand Finale Specticle "America". Closing with a series of fast jockey races on the hippodrome track. The after-show and concert contains many sensational features.- It is worth your time and small admission price.

Ortonville, Iowa

Here's a very nice article sent to me by Mike Naughton about the Orton Family and Ortonville, Iowa. Has some very nice pictures. Courtesy of the DesMoines Register. Town hosted traveling circus By CHRISTINA SMITH REGISTER STAFF WRITER July 5, 2006 The intersection of U.S. Highway 6 and Dallas County road R-16 a few miles west of Waukee boasts commercial buildings and cornfields. There isn't a home, gas station, cafe or post office. But, had you been at the intersection 90 years ago, you would have seen homes and been able to buy a loaf of bread or a cup of coffee. You would have also seen lions, leopards, monkeys, flying acrobats and a 100-foot swing pole in the town of Ortonville. Ortonville, located about four miles west of Waukee, was named after Hiram Orton, who moved to the site in 1866. But Ortonville wasn't just any town — it was home to a traveling circus show that started in 1852. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

Gentry Bros. Steam Calliope #1

Built around 1900, this calliope was with both Gentry Bros. Dog & Pony Show and Genrty Bros. Circus thru 1916 when the Gentrys sold out. Why these two gentlemen are hitching a ride and obstructing the view of the man at the keyboard is unknown. That's the fireman at the rear and as usual, since this was always the final unit in circus parades, kids all over the place.

Gentry Bros. Steam Calliope #2

Gentry Bros, Circus in 1922, now owned by Newman and Austin. Posing proudly is Maestro "Deacon" Albright.

Gentry Bros. Steam Calliope #3

My father wrote on the back of this picture "John Robinson Circus, air calliope. Old Gentry steam calliope". The boiler, whistles and keyboard have been removed and replaced with by this much smaller air calliope and operated by a generator which probably made more noise than the instrument. This is confusing to me since I always thought that this wagon came with Floyd King's purchase of the Gentry-Patterson Circus in 1926. Perhaps a Wagon Historian can straighten this out.

Gentry Bros. Steam Calliope #4

This is how I remember her, riding pnematic tires in 1954 with King Bros. Circus. Mr. King had purchased 13 elephants from Arthur Wirtz that year (most had come from the Cole Show) but with a pre-existing contract to make the Texas dates in the Fall. So we finished out the last month of the season with our act "Anna May", "Fanny" and "Lydia" while Fred Logan brought "Kay", Barbara" and "Hattie". We made the daily street parade, immediately followed by the mighty Gentry Bros. calliope and it still made plenty of racket. This is also the occasion that I first met John Herriott, in fact he and Mary Ruth were married in Houston shortly after.

Gentry Bros. Steam Calliope #5

A few days ago I received this post card from Eric Beheim which included the following information: "Purchased by Dr. C.S. Karland Frischkorn, owner of the Karland Shows. Restored, maintained and serviced by students of the Automotive School, Technical Institute, Norfolk Division, College of William And Mary, V.P.I. Norfolk, Virginia." (I wonder if the Shriner is playing "March to Mecca"). While recently going thru my father's Post Card collection, I came across an identical card which tells us that this picture must be well over forty years old. I can only hope that the vehicle may have since been returned to it's days of former glory with Wooden Sunburst Wheels but an unlikely thought from Automotive School students.

The Flying Concellos

Eddie Ward, Antoinette Concello and Art Concello. I was once told that Mrs. Concello's triple was not a clean catch and when she came out of the last revolution her arms were folded across her chest and she was actually caught by her elbows, then at the end of the swing, dropped down, hand to hand. Due to the closeness of the catch, the initial contact was always a slight collision and the man who told me this story said he carried a permanent bruise on his upper chest for the entire season. In any event, it's a Hell of a trick.

The Flying Thrillers

Roy Deisler, Eileen Voise and Harold Voise.

The Flying Eldonas

Eldon Day, Joanne Day and Billy Snyder.

The Flying Wards 1931

Flyer unknown, Harold Ward, Wayne Lary and Billy Ward. In front, Eileen Voise and Mayme Ward.

RBBB Gold Unit Elephant Act 2006

Here is another video clip provided by Mr Anonymous. CLICK ME for video clip Words can't describe it.

To Chris J.

My mother was the horse lover of the family and she collected most of these horse pictures. If you check out the Archives on this site, you can see many of her pictures that have already been sent out. I came across this post card yesterday that you could possibly identify. The hand written title below appears to be "something" Karoly. By the way, might I ask if you are related to Jack Joyce?

To Jim P.

Another picture of Col. Linton in which both he and his horse appear to be of average size. Maybe the horse was standing in a hole in the other shot.

Post Card #1/ Max Dillae

I could finish out the year with the post cards my father saved. Fortunately he labled most of them.

Post Card #2/ "Fearless Fagan"

Floyd Humeston and "Fearless Fagan". Wasn't this a movie lion? I remember Al Capp's detective "Fearless Fosdick".

Post Card #3/ "Found at last"

A "cooch broad" picture for Rebecca.

Post Card #4/ "The big top in moonlight"

This card is dated 1930 in Hornell, N.Y. however I can't identify the show.

Blue Show Elephant Act 2006

This clip sent to my by Anonomous....... Click Me

Barnum & Bailey's Parade #1

Of all the pictures taken of the Two Hemispheres band wagon, this one of the 40 horse hitch passing under the elevated railway in Brooklyn impresses me the most.

Barnum & Bailey's Parade #2

One of the parade wagons built to celebrate Barnum & Bailey's triumphal return to the U.S. after their five year European tour.

Barnum & Bailey's Parade #3

This picture taken in Peoria, Sept. 5, 1891 at what looks to be the Fairgrounds. This beautiful vehicle is acually a musical instrument, "The Melechoir" organ wagon.

Barnum & Bailey's Parade #4

"Egypt" tableau leaving the lot for parade in 1903. In the background at left, the driver's seat on the quarter pole wagon is on a hinge. I suppose this would enable them to load or unload from either end.

"Before the parade passes by!"

See the two boys following the calliope with their arms over each others shoulders? What a day for them to remember.

Cole Bros. Circus horses #1

Boxing horses presented by Mahlon "Alabama" Campbell and Capt. John Smith.

Cole Bros. Circus horses #2

Ruth and Paul Nelson.

Cole Bros. Circus horses #3

Col. Hank Linton

Cole Bros. Circus #4

John Davenport and Estrella Nelson (Mrs. Zack Terrrell)

Cole Bros. Circus horses #5

Jean Allen