Thursday, September 20, 2007

Cole Bros. Circus 1930's #7


Scan000010197, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

# 62 Cole Bros Columbia Bandwagon is in the collection at Circus World Museum. The wagon was constructed by Bode Wagon Company of Cincinnati in 1902 as the lead bandwagon for Adam Forepaugh & Sells Bros. Circus.

Following the closure of the Forepaugh show in 1907, Columbia was transferred to Barnum & Bailey for the 1908 season where it carried the side show band in parade. The sideshow band was replaced with the show band in 1916.

In preparing for the sale of the Bridgeport quarters, RBBB sold 21 wagons to George Christy on December 31, 1925. Christy sold the wagon to Jess Adkins and Zack Terrell for their Cole Bros. Circus in 1935.

Columbia was acquired by a circus fan in 1952 and John M. Kelley, founder of Circus World Museum, prevailed on the owner to sell it to Kelley in 1954 for the proposed Circus Museum.

Dick Flint said...

The circus fan who obtained Columbia from the Cole show was model builder Bill Brinley of Meridan, Conn., whose miniature show had done advance PR for Cole when Hopalong Cassidy had it.
Dick Flint
Baltimore

Anonymous said...

The waqon was used as a ticket waqon in the late 40's and the ledge was over most peoples eye sight. My dad purchased tickets and of course the change was short, he just stood there until the seller finnaly gave him the correct change. Luckily there was no canvasman standing there to shove him away.