Sunday, March 26, 2006

Jess Adkins


Mr. Adkins was insistant on maintaining an elaborate street parade throughout his tenure as manager of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus. It was said that his show netted more money than Ringling-Barnum, the parent company.
In fact when he left after the 1934 season to join Zack Terrell in framing the Cole Show, Hagenbeck-Wallace only lasted one more year before it was taken off the road.

Posted by Buckles at 3/26/2006 11:25:00 AM

2 comments:

B.E.Trumble said...

I think Joe McKennon called Adkins one of the all time great managers because he could put together a spectacular performance, a parade, and run the show on an incredibly small nut. i think he pulled the same trick off in the late 30's running the Robbins title to funnel money to the Cole show. It seems like many of the railroad era managers never successfully transitioned to truck shows. Dill did it, albeit briefly. Sparks did it. Adkins was only in his mid-50's when he died. I wonder if he could have made the jump?

26 March, 2006 12:07
James A Cain Jr said...

In reference to my great grandfather Jess Adkins making the jump to a truck show. I believe he could have, however knowing his love of the Circus and the love for the animals and also the way he just did things his own way, I'm sure he would have found a way to thrill the audience however he had to. He was a true showman and loved what he did. He loved to entertain and see the faces of his audience light up in amazement. He lived and died doing what he loved and was meant to do. "The Great Showman"

24 July, 2021 22:59

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