Harold Ronk Collectin #1 Vol. 3 (From Robin Estes)

Harold Ronk Collection #2

Harold Ronk Collection #3

Charly Baumann

Harold Ronk Collection #4

Harold Ronk Collection #5

Harold Ronk Collection #6

Cossacks 1976.

Harold Ronk Collection #7

Stephenson Family

Harold Ronk Collection #8

Stephenson Family

From John Goodall

Comment from ToddP

Buckles: Forgive me. Memory loss. But during the grand opening, I seem to recall the people-performers taking their bow on the front track and the elephants doing a long mount on the rear track. If I am correct, how did the long line of elephants exit? After the long mount did they continue counter clockwise around the track and out? Or did they turn 180 degrees and exit on the rear track?Thank you. --ToddP You are right to a point, the performers did indeed style on the front track at the close of Opening giving the illusion the number had concluded. But instead as they exited, we came down the back track on a run, circled the arena and into the long mount as seen above. Quite a piece of showmanship and a powerful way to open a show. I couldn't say just how this was done, but when I came around the turn the front track was always clear. The show girls simply stepped up on the ring curb as you can see, the others must have run for their lives. Karen would know. The cross mount at the conclusion of the elephant display was also on the front track. Buckles

From Jim Cole

Buckles, A little photo enhancing works wonders!

Barnum & Bailey floats and tableaux #1

This looks like the Banum & Bailey Winter Quarters in Bridgeport, Conn. My father's favorite tableau dated back to Barnum, Bailey & Hutchinson in the 1880's and still exists in Baraboo. Every time I passed it I thought of him.

Barnum & Bailey floats and tableaux #2

Another magnificent tab, similar to the first. Jim Peterson was born too late. I'm sure this group got the attention of many a horse and carriage

Barnum & Bailey floats and tableaux #3

Written on the back is "The King of Babylon surrounded by his Courtiers".

Barnum & Bailey floats and tableaux #4

The beautiful carvings on this unidentified wagon suggest that it might contain a band organ. The riders are attired in oriental garb.

Barnum & Bailey floats and tableaux #5

This vehicle is also unidentified but as grueling as street parades could be in those days, at least this one provided some shade for the ladies.

Barnum & Bailey floats and tableaux #6

Although labled "Cleopatra's Barge" it appears that several "Musketeers" have gotten on the wrong float.

Barnum & Bailey floats and tableaux #7

Lots of pictures of these wagons, although damaged, I like impromptu shots like this.

Barnum & Bailey floats and tableaux #8

Dated Owensboro, Ky. 1910, this unusual picture of the Two Hemispheres band wagon shows some people posing on the ladders that must have been used to load and unload the band.

Barnum & Bailey floats and tableaux #9

Alas, all my father wrote was "One of the finest tableau wagons ever built". Nothing more.