Bertram W. Mills' Circus 1926-27 #9

Ernest Schumann and a few of his New Horses. ERNEST SCHUMANN was born in British India. He is rated as one of the world's greatest horse trainers and has specially prepared a new act with new horses for this engagement. Ernest has a particular partiality for London, in considerable measure due to his big success here but principally because he was married during an Olympia engagement; he and his horses have come direct from Gothenburg, Sweden.

Bertram W. Mills Circus 1926-27 #10

Schumann's Ponies. (I might add that accompanying Mr. Schumann, riding Dressage, was his brother Oscar Schumann and included as well in the Circus Staff, was Willy Schumann, long time Bertram Mills Equestrian Director.)

Bertram W. Mills' Circus 1926-27 #11

Chaffer's Midgets, except when performing in the circus, will be found in Tiny Town. CHAFFER'S MIDGETS are mostly from the Austrian Tyrol. They are all bright up-to-date people. Stature is the only thing wherein they differ from the rest of us. One of the ladies speaks seven languages. They have traveled from Riga, Latvia.

Bertram W. Mills' Circus 1926-27 # 12

Miss Katie Sandwina- the World's Strongest Woman KATIE SANDWINA is one of fifteen children, all famous for their strength. Her father is a well-known continental circus proprietor. She is married and has two fine youngsters, who bid fair to develop a strength rivalling that of their mother. She has journeyed from Russia.

Bertram W. Mills' Circus 1926-27 #13

Bertram W. Mills' Circus 1926-27 #14

From Dave Price

This just came in and my first thought was of Paul Ingressia who for many years was involved with the Milwaukee Parade and always on the lookout for off beat things like this. This looks like something the Barnes Show would do. By the way, Paul sent me an article from the New York Times Magazine entitled: ARE WE DRIVING ELEPHANTS CRAZY? Their behavior in the wild has grown strange and violent in recent years. Researchers say our encoachment on their way of life is to blame. AN ELEPHANT CRACKUP? Attacks by elephants on villages, people and other animals are on the rise. Some researchers are pointing to a species-wide trauma and the fraying of the fabric of pachyderm society. Elephants of decimated herds have exhibited behavior typically associated with post-traumatic stress disorder in humans. Written by CHARLES SIEBERT. (I personally think the solution is quite simple. Round them all up and ship them to Tennessee).

Bucky Steele Elephants #1 (Wayne Jackson Collection)

These pictures are rather convoluted with Bucky Steele the only common denominator. Maybe Mr. Jackson will elaborate. Here we see Bucky with "Zola" and a newborn calf "Shoney" but no details as to the location or the idenity of the people in the sleigh.

Bucky Steele Elephants #2

"Zola", Buke", "Wimpy", "Chang" and "Lulu" presented by Barbara Tata with Mr. Steele in the background.

Bucky Steele Elephants #3

Barbara Tata with "Wimpy", "Chang" and "Lulu".

Bucky Steele Elephants #4

The only name included with this picture is "Jody". I am told that about this time, Carol Buckley got her start as an "elephant groupie" with this combination.

Bucky Steele Elephants #5

"Wimpy", "Chang", "Lulu" amd Churchill".

Barnett/Wallace #1

Most of these picures from Ross Hartzell, unfortunaely I'm still having problems with my computer and several are incomplete, I've asked Shannon to check this out for me several times but to no avail. This one baffled me at first, the elephants didn't look right, until it occurred to me that this is probably 1934, the season they leased the "Ranch Herd" from the defunct 101 Ranch Wild West Show. At years end they were purchased by Adkins and Terrell for their forthcoming Cole Bros. Circus. If you click on this picture, it will enlarge somewhat. The way things are going, looks like I will have to approach my Banker, (Mrs. Woodcock) regarding a loan for a new computer.

Barnett/Wallace #2

Ross isn't sure who the flag bearer in this excellent picture is. Probably one of the Rogers girls.

Barnett/Wallace #3

This is one of my pictures showing Helene Hartzell and "Della", this elephant was purchased in 1933 from the famous magician, Howard Thurston. We joined the show in 1937, the first year they used the Wallace tile. This may have been bought about by the the absence of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Show in 1936.

Barnett/Wallace #4

Elephants in this 1939 picture are "Junie", "Della", "Freida" and "Alice" with Bert Pettus in charge. Ladies are Eliz....., Marie Pettus, ........, Monte Knight, Dorothy Lewis, Helene Hartzell and Flo MacIntosh.

Barnett/Wallace #5

This picure of "Little" Johnny Hartzell came from my mother's collection. As far back as the 1920's she had a hobby of adding color to pictures that she liked.

Marion Knowlton

"When I was a kid, second only to my family's annual trip to New Orleans to see the Ringling Show (under canvas of course) was our visit to the big Cole Bros. railroad show. One of my earliest boyhood crushes was on a lovely Cole Bros. performer named Marion Knowlton. As I recall, she worked elephants, horses and other animals. She had a great ring presence and sparkle. All these years later I still remember her with great affection. I'd be delighted if you or one of your circus history experts could tell me more about her. Perhaps a photo? I'd be grateful to know a bit more about this wonderful performer." Jack Ryan

Pat Anthony #1 (Jim Cole Collection)

"June 1972: Miller-Johnson Circus". (Comments by Mr. Cole)

Pat Anthony #2

"June 1972: Miller-Johnson Circus".

Pat Anthony #3

"July 1969: Milwaukee Parade, Pat Anthony with Terrell Jacobs grandson "Cap"".

Pat Anthony #4

"February 1987: Pat Anthony, Pat White and Gee Gee Engesser".

Pat Anthony #5

"February 1981: Dave Hoover had just purchased some cats from Pat Anthony and we see both trainers in the arena practicing the barrell."

From P.J. Holmes

Longtime reader of your blog site and fan of your writing in the Bandwagon. Couple of weeks back you reprinted the story by Tom Parkinson of your dad from the Bandwagon in 1964. It talked of his early years with (Campbell, Bailey & Hutchinson Circus and Wild West) and I remembered that I had purchased, a few years ago, a couple of route cards and 3 post cards from this show. This one shows the train after a fire dated 1921.

"The Greatest Show On Earth" 1951 (Group 2)

A reminder that these are Eric Beheim's View Master Transparencies.

Otto, The Count and Emmett

The Famous Ken & Nicole Circus Concert Band

Flo White and Lou Jacobs

Unknown clown and Paul Jerome

Paul Wenzel

Rose Float

To Paul Ingrassia

Father Calahan, the Deacon and Bill Johnson 1969.

(Trouble again completing pictures)

Hi Buckles-I'm the youngest of the Johnny and Helene Hartzell boys, I don't believe we were on the same lot since the Sid and Lovie days (James Bros.) or maybe the Charlie Germaine days (Miller-Johnson). It's been a while. I ran across your blog a while back while doing an internet search for La Tosca. I immediately subscribed and now look forward to every new post. Incidently, I'm married to Tosca Cannestrelli's daughter Lisa. Twenty eight-eight years now since we tied the knot. As I know your family had a history on Ray Rogers Shows (my grandfather) I thought you might be interested in the attached photo. It's always been one of my favorites. Ross Hartzell

The Hartzells #1

Johnny Hartzell and Cyril Simmons. (Here are some pictures of your folks from my collection. The title for this ground bar act is not quite as catchy as the one used by Burt Lancaster and Nick Cravat at about the same time, "Slick tricks on the hickory sticks!")

The Hartzells #2

Wallace Bros. Circus 1937- Norma Rogers, Ursaline MacIntosh, Eddie Hendricks, Helene Rogers and Flo MacIntosh. (Mr. Hendricks would be eventually replaced by that Internationally acclaimed wire walker, Belmonte Florenz).

The Hartzells #3

Wallace Bros. Circus 1944, the Flying Hartzells, Jackie Heitler, Helene and Johnny Hartzell.

The Hartzells #4

Helene Hartzell with Wallace Bros. Circus.

The Hartzells #5

The Flying Hartzells with Circo Americano in Puerto Rico 1955. Fay Alexander, Helene and Johnny Hartzell.

Paul Miller Shopping Center Show 1959 #1

In the mid 1950's an Agent named Howard Schultz booked my dad's elephant act on routes appearing at Shopping Center parking lots. These places were popping up everywhere and were anxious to do unique family events for publicity. It was very lucrative for us but the most boring experience of my life. We would simply park the elephant truck at a designated spot, they would run a light cable and water hose out to us, fence off an area and erect a sign "Elephant Shows 12:00, 2:00, 4:00 and 6:00", that was about it. We didn't carry a ring curb and as a rule there was no music. When the audience had gathered around the fence we started, our elephants did a lot of stuff, the dinner table, barber shop and close with the regular act, maybe 15 or 20 minutes in all but invariably several people would come around afterward and say, "Is that all? I thought there would be a complete show!" It was during these days while showing at a Mall at Rochester, Minn. in 1956 that I read in the paper the Ringling Show had folded in Pittsburgh. The perfect setting for this glum piece of news. However it wasn't long before all this changed, the Shopping Centers discovered that they could bring in a complete circus performance, including carnival rides and even get paid for it. Here we see the Paul Miller operation in 1959 and the priemise hadn't changed all that much, but now they moved the public from one venue to another. The truck in this picure had a large stage on the opposie side on which juggling acts, balancing acts. etc. performed and from where they would be directed to the next event.

Paul Miller Shopping Center Show 1959 #2

Cal Lipes' pit show, very well painted. I am especially impressed with "Big Ben" about to swaller a cow. You don't see that every day.

Paul Miller Shopping Center Show 1959 #3

This venue is simply an open ring and here we see Todd Henry's libety act. I never met Mr. Henry but I was well acquainted with his brothers Glen and Bum, all descendants from the J.E. Henry Show.

Paul Miller Shopping Center Show 1959 #4

This is not a pony ride but a mechanic act. A young man has been seleced from the audience and after a rope has been attached, the pony will galop around the ring and the result would be something like "Cucciloa" in the De Mille Movie. Actually, this would be a sensation on the Ken & Nicole Show today, the announcer could talk uninterruptedly for at least 10 minutes. The man holding the pony is George Thompson (Red Cap) who at one time worked the famous John Robinson Military Elephants and later the Dolly Jacobs Elephants.

Paul Miller Shopping Center Show 1959 #5

As I recall there were about six cats in the act and maybe you lion guys can come up with more details.

Paul Miller Shopping Center Show 1959 #6

I remember Swede from Barnett Bros. Circus when I was a kid, in fact his son Hunky and I would run wild all over the lot. Oddly enough, last night I received an execllent picture of that show from Ross Hartzell the grandson of the show's owner, Ray Rogers.

Bertram W. Mills Circus 1926-27 (Continued)

Bertram W. Mills' Circus 1926-27 #5

BABY JUNE, THE CYCLING ELEPHANT, is British. She was born in India and educated in Shirley, Surrey. Baby June has the distinction of being the youngest and smallest performing elephant in the world. She is owned by the Australian magician, The Great Carmo, and this is her first engagement.

Bertram W. Mills' Circus 1926-27 #6

Bertram W. Mills' Circus 1926-27 #7

Bertram W. Mills' Circus 1926-27 #8

Charlie Gray Commercial #1

Hi Buckles, I saw on the Blog that some people thought we filmed those commercials on Blue Screen and added the girl after, let me assure you we did not. The shots were all done with the little girl right there and George was a little soldier. You can see the 4 commercials at: www.itsthemirrors.com. Here are some of the photos from the shoot. We filmed the beach scene up on Lake Huron and we had to swim George out to a platform and when they shot we had to duck under the water. Lake Huron is cold and it is deep too. Charlie