Buckles Blog: Cole Bros. Circus 1930's #2

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Scan000010191, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Anonymous said...: Great pictures again, Buckles. Awesome, awesome era. Twice a year I make a trek to Baraboo, when there are not many people, and stand in the quiet wagon barn, and ask myself, "how in the world, did this turn into today's Circus state of affair's?"; 20 September, 2007 12:01
Anonymous said...: This is Ringling Bros Lion Tableau is in the Circus World Museum collection(it was formerly known as Lion and Mirror Tableau ).

The wagon was built in 1882 by Sebastian Wagon Co. of New York City as a telescoping Tableau for Adam Forepaugh Circus. The figures of St. George battling the dragon (a carved replica of which is a pony float at CWM) were raised and lowered into the body of the wagon for transportation. The figures were removed from the wagon in the winter of 1888-89.

The Lion Tableau was purchased by Ringling Bros. Circus in 1890 and was a featured attraction on that show between 1890-1903. The Ringlings never assigned a number to the wagon. It was the lead bandwagon and simply known as the "Big Band Wagon".

The wagon was restored in 1999-2000 in CWM wagon shop and gold leafed. The Lion Tableau was a featured attraction in the Great Circus Parade in Milwaukee on July 16, 2000.; 20 September, 2007 14:14
Anonymous said...: The Lion Tableau didn't arrive in Baraboo until late 1890 [December 29 was the actual date], so it was not on the show until 1891.; 20 September, 2007 17:53

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