Friday, January 12, 2007

From P.J. Holmes #1



Have enclosed a couple of Barnum and Bailey photos.The shot of inside the big top is from 1913 and shows the set up for the opening spec or pageant along the back side. Notice the detail with the gas and electric light fixtures both being used. They didn't trust electric lights,and had the gas lamps for a back up. Detail of the ringcurbs matching inside and out,etc. And this was moved everyday.
The photo was taken by Lasere who had also performed on 4-Paw Sells.
The second photo was also taken by him and shows a great close-up shot. I am sure the driver had to put cotton in his ears sitting that close to the air calliope. Of course these had been taken after the passing of King Otto in 1911,but you could still see all his work as he had pushed his bothers to purchase Barnum and Bailey after the death of James Bailey.
thanks again for the great job with the blog,

regards,
P.J.Holmes

"To the uninformed, in this magnificent picture you will notice that in this six-pole Big Top, a stage has been added on each end between the center pole and the first row of quarter poles. This allowed the Barnum & Bailey Show to present seven-act displays. It would appear that circus goers got a bit more Bang for their Buck in 1913 than those attending the Incredible Show today."
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Posted by Buckles at 1/12/2007 06:14:00 AM

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

HAVE NOT BEEN TO A RBBB SHOW SINCE THE EIGHTIES,AND WOULD NOT GO TODAY IF THEY PAID ME.

12 January, 2007 07:31
Anonymous said...

A seven-act display would almost be the entire BLUE UNIT line-up these days.
THIS JUST IN! St. Armands Circle Association has announced plans to re-configure the historic site into St. Armands Diamond. RUMOR has it that the committee was considering outfitting the 2007 inductees with BELLO WIGS during the ceremony. This idea was scrapped when someone pointed out that upcoming honoree ALBERTO ZOPPE in a BELLO WIG would too closely resemble ALBERT EINSTEIN and cause terrible traffic jams. Asked to comment on the BELLO WIGS, the now deceased Clifford Vargas, also a 2007 inductee replied, "Honey, I love to dress up but I wouldn't be caught dead in a BELLO WIG."
Stay tuned for more late breaking news.

12 January, 2007 07:32
Anonymous said...

This Excellent Photograph of this presently Antiquainted Circus Arena says so much about the realm.
No " Happy Talk " NEEDED to have the Attendees Brainwashed into believing what they are NOT Seeing IS what they ARE Seeing & Why .
To just walk around within this arena " AS IS " would be worth the Admission Price for a fool as me .
Most of all ;
I hope this type of " NURTURING Presentation " that Buckles puts forth daily will catch SOMEONES
( A strong contender is needed )
attention with some " Spunk " ,
Cleverness , Forsight , Ability & A STRONG , STYLISH NEW REVIVAL OR VENUE WILL COME OUT OF IT , MAINTAINING THE CLASIC TRADITIONAL STYLE OF THE CIRCUS IN ALL ITS GLORY .
THE SHIP IS NOT SUNK -
IT'S JUST SINKING !

Hea ; " YOUNGBLOOD "

( are " you " out there ? )

12 January, 2007 10:34
Anonymous said...

My name is Brandon and Im totally new to this blog. I was a HUGE circus fan as a kid growing up in the 80's ( to me the Golden era as far as todays RBBB is concearned). Now grown I love taking my kids to the shows-despite the $10 snowcones and $20 cotton candy--but they love it. Anyway I stumbled on to this site and move viewing all the photos and reading all the comments. Its sounds like there are alot of people in here who really know what they are talking about! While never in a show-I really wanted to go to clown college until they closed it!! But I consider myself pretty knowledgable as far as RBBB history goes. I have a pretty extensive collection of programs from 2006-1960 ( missing a few, EBAY has been great for finding the older shows I never went to). My first ringling show was 115th edition and save 2 years I've been to everyone since . I too think it is "the incredible shrinking show" I've neve been able to figure out why the show has gotten so small? Perhaps some of you can shed some light on a few things I've been pondering for a while.

1) While I figure its money, Why does RB have like 7 elephants now instead of 20? and what did they do with them all?

2) I know I'm young and never got to see the old shows in the tent, but do many think that the RB era from like the 60's - 90's was a second golden era? If not what do you think was the most profitable era of the modern RBBB

3) When do you think that RBBB really began to change from the three ring spectacle to "Ringling on Ice"- I know last year was the first time without rings, but it seems like they had been moving in that direction for a few years.

Look foward to seeing everyones comments and responses!

12 January, 2007 15:17
Anonymous said...

Harry Kingston says,

Pete Holmes, Thanks so much for the fantastic photo of how it used to be down the sawdust trail.
Just to think all that was put up and taken down in less than a day and moved on to the next town.
To start with an empty lot and then have a tented city and then and empty lot again except for
empty peanut sack's and wagon ruts, it is hard to believe how they did it. Good old circus logistics.

12 January, 2007 15:19

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